To: Honorable Mayor and Members of Town Council
From: Kristin Read, Assistant Town Manager
Title
2026 Rising Star Scholarship Recipients
Body
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Executive Summary
The Town of Castle Rock Rising Star Scholarship honors local high school seniors who have made significant positive contributions in the community. This program aims to foster civic engagement, celebrate local youth leadership and strengthen ties between the Town and its residents.
Four $1,000 scholarships will be awarded, which are nonrenewable and directly distributed to the recipient’s higher education institution of choice.
Applications were accepted February 4 through March 31. Twenty-two applications were received, but two applicants were determined by staff to not be qualified. These are the number of applications from each high school:
• 8 Castle View High School
• 7 Douglas County High School
• 2 Colorado Early Colleges
• 2 Renaissance Secondary School
• 1 Rock Canyon High School (Castle Rock resident)
The application process had four parts: 1) fill out an application form online at CRgov.com/YouthCommission; 2) submit a personal statement, sharing future aspirations and the impacts of contributions to the community to date; 3) submit a letter of support from a non-family member that speaks to the contributions; and 4) submit a media release form.
The Youth Commission at its April meeting voted to award the 2026 Rising Star Scholarship to these recipients:
• Annabelle Clayton, Renaissance Secondary School
• Quinlen Dow, Castle View High School
• Matthew Kelsey, Douglas County High School
• Jesminda Richmond, Douglas County High School
Youth Commission Chair Evan George and Vice Chair Abigail Reynolds will present the winners to Town Council. Mayor Gray will recognize each winner with a certificate, and Commission Liaison Councilmember Dietz will present them each with a Star award. Families and friends of the recipients have been invited to join this celebration.
Attachment
Attachment A: Presentation