FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Pikes Peak State College to Receive $325,000 Reisher Scholars Program Grant to Expand Student Scholarship Opportunities 
Funding from The Denver Foundation celebrates 25 years of the Reisher Scholars Program and invests in Colorado student success 
Colorado Springs, CO – Monday, August 3, 2026 – Pikes Peak State College (PPSC) is set to receive a $325,000 grant from the Reisher Scholars Program at The Denver Foundation as part of a landmark $25 million statewide investment celebrating the program's 25th anniversary. The funding will support PPSC students over the next two academic years, expanding access to scholarships and helping more Colorado students achieve their educational goals. 

The anniversary investment recognizes colleges and universities across Colorado that share the Reisher Scholars Program's commitment to increasing access, opportunity and student success. PPSC is among the current and future Reisher partner institutions selected to receive anniversary funding. 

"At Pikes Peak State College, we believe every student with the talent and determination to succeed should have the opportunity to earn a college degree," said Dr. Lance Bolton, president of Pikes Peak State College. "This generous investment from the Reisher Scholars Program will help more PPSC students stay focused on their education, complete their credentials, and enter Colorado's workforce prepared to make an immediate impact. We are proud to partner with The Denver Foundation in creating brighter futures for our students and our state." 

The Reisher Bridge Scholarship program is funded by a Denver Foundation five-year, $5 million dollar grant awarded to the CCCS Foundation supporting students completing an associate’s degree prior to transferring to a 4-year Reisher partner to complete their bachelor’s degree.  

The initial cohort of students were awarded in Fall 2023.  In the first three years of the Reisher Bridge Program, 93 PPSC low-income, first-generation students received scholarship support totaling more than $150,000 on their pathway to a bachelor’s degree (the actual amount is $158,500).  Reisher Scholarship Navigators from the system office guide the scholars through the transfer process by connecting the scholars with resources at PPSC as well as their transfer college during their last year of enrollment.  

"This investment celebrates 25 years of transformative partnerships and positions the Reisher Scholars Program for its next chapter of growth," said Javier Alberto Soto, president and CEO of The Denver Foundation, which administers the scholarship program. "By putting significant resources directly into the hands of institutions that share our commitment to student success, we are strengthening relationships statewide and opening doors for the next generation of Colorado scholars." 

The Reisher Scholars Program has helped thousands of Colorado students complete their college education by providing renewable scholarships and personalized support through partnerships with colleges and universities across the state. 
 
About the Reisher Scholars Program at The Denver Foundation 

The Reisher Scholars Program has supported Colorado students for 25 years through partnerships with colleges and universities across the state. Made possible by the Reisher Family Foundation, the program is administered by The Denver Foundation. For more than 100 years, The Denver Foundation, together with its donors and community partners, has worked to build a stronger, more thriving Colorado. Centered in racial equity, the foundation prioritizes housing, climate and environment, youth well-being and economic mobility. Throughout its history, the foundation has awarded more than $1.6 billion in grants to nonprofit organizations. For more information about the Reisher Scholars Program, visit denverfoundation.org/scholarships/reisher. 
 

About Pikes Peak State College (PPSC): 

Established in 1968 and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, Pikes Peak offers associate degrees, certificates in career and technical fields and a growing number of bachelors’ degrees. With four campuses, various off-campus locations, two military education centers, and hundreds of online classes, PPSC provides access to a quality, affordable and flexible education to more than 17,000 students annually with both credit and non-credit classes. To learn more about scholarships at Pikes Peak State College, visit pikespeak.edu.