EVANSTON — Two Evanston High School seniors are the proud recipients of the prestigious Daniels Fund Scholarship, which provides funding for four years at the college of choice for recipients. Micah Harvey and Jess Richins have both been awarded the scholarship, a testament to their academic and personal success.

The Daniels Fund Scholarship is a last-dollar scholarship, meaning that it covers all remaining expenses   including tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies and other expenses  — after other scholarships have been applied. Only students graduating from high school in Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and New Mexico are eligible, although students are able to attend any college they wish. 

Harvey, daughter of David and Rebecca Harvey, grew up in Evanston and will be attending Weber State University in Utah in the fall. She said she wants to study health promotion or dietetics, with an ultimate goal of pursuing a career in naturopathic medicine. 

Richins, son of Brian and Brenda Richins, is also an Evanston native. He intends to study neuroscience at the University of Colorado in Boulder. He said he hopes to go into research and is excited about the field because of its growth due to advancements in technology and opportunities to get in on the cutting edge. 

The Daniels Scholarship is awarded based on multiple criteria, including strength of character, leadership potential, commitment to community service, academic performance and a well-rounded personality. Financial need is also a determinant. 

The two said the selection process was quite rigorous, including an application requiring short response answers to questions and an in-person interview. The interviews were conducted in February, and Richins and Harvey were notified in March they had been selected. Richins said he was actually headed to Boulder to check out the University of Colorado on the day he found out he’d won the Daniels Award. 

Richins said he chose University of Colorado because of the beautiful campus, the programs offered and the fact that his aunt went to school there and lives in nearby Denver. 

Harvey said she had settled on Weber prior to learning of her status as a Daniels recipient. She chose the school for its environment and opportunities, beautiful campus and the fact it’s close to home. 

Both Harvey and Richins have not only excelled academically, taking advanced placement and college courses, but have been involved in multiple sports and extracurricular activities. Harvey plays on the Lady Devils soccer team and has competed in cross country and indoor track. 

Richins is a member of the Red Devil soccer team and has played football and run indoor track as well. 

Harvey said finding out she had received the scholarship was both exciting and a relief. “I was very excited and there was also this huge weight off my shoulders. All my stress melted away.” 

Though the two are both thrilled to be recipients of the award, they both credited others for getting them to this place. Harvey said she owes thanks to her family, friends, teachers and her church community for all of their support. She also said she feels tremendous gratitude to the Daniels fund. 

Richins also sent a shout out to his friends and staff of all of the schools he has attended, as well as his family. “I have a lot of people to be thankful to,” he said. “My family has always been super supportive, and I wouldn’t have any of this without them.”