Janet Stellema ’86, the daughter of Dutch immigrants, grew up in Rockford, Illinois, dreaming of becoming a naturalist like her favorite camp counselor.

At Colorado State University, she pursued this passion, majoring in conservation education. Her degree included a mandatory summer course at Pingree Park (now called Mountain Campus), which was Janet’s most challenging time financially.

“I was a scholarship kid who also worked,” Janet explains. “That summer, I had to pay tuition with no income coming in.”

She went on to become a successful science and math educator in Colorado, but she never forgot the difficulty of that period. Over the years, she’s heard from former students who have faced similar financial strains.

Her experience and those stories led Janet to establish an annual scholarship to support Mountain Campus students in need. Additionally, Janet chose to endow the scholarship through a gift in her estate plan. A blended gift is a way to make an impact now and after one’s lifetime.

“For me, this was a full-circle moment and a way of making the world better,” Janet says. She was also inspired by her wife, Jenny Price, who has funded scholarships at her own alma mater.

With their legacies in place, the couple has felt a burden lift. “There is a sense of freedom knowing that our money is going where we want it to go,” Janet says. “We can live life to the fullest because we know the causes important to us will be supported.”

Will You Join Janet in Giving Back?

You can choose to make a difference for CSU students, faculty, and programs. We have many ideas for how you can do this, and some options do not even require cash. To learn more, contact the Office of Gift Planning at (970) 491-4254 or giftplanning@colostate.edu.

“This scholarship has helped me to be able to get the education I’ve always wanted and helped me focus on my education at CSU.”
— Calea Cruz, Janet Stellema Scholarship recipient