G.B. Henderson Scholarship

In honor of Mr. Henderson’s legacy, The Alexander Dawson School will award qualifying middle school students The G.B. Henderson Scholarship Award to cover up to 75-90 percent of tuition for four years. This acknowledgment will be awarded to students who go above and beyond to live Dawson’s Core Values through Mr. Henderson’s legacy of innovation, insatiable curiosity, love of the land, hard work, and a life-long learning mindset.

The G.B. Henderson Scholarship is awarded to top-performing students who are new to The Alexander Dawson School and committed to excellence. The scholarship includes assistance with tuition, class field trips, and a stipend to the campus uniform store.

About the Scholarship

Why G.B. Henderson?

Girard B. Henderson was a man who lived and breathed innovation. He was a true pioneer in every sense of the word and launched project after project with the ambition to look at problems with determination and ingenuity. His long list of inventions exhibits his risk-taking spirit: Mr. Henderson built the world’s first underground cable television system, pioneered satellite communication to deliver television reception to residential homes, and invested in business aviation. Mr. Henderson was an entrepreneur and philanthropist committed to finding solutions, and his curiosity about the world was insatiable.

In 1967, Mr. Henderson opened The Alexander Dawson School, a summer school for underprivileged children near Boulder, Colorado. He later expanded it to a year-round school on a 680-acre ranch in Boulder County before converting it to a college preparatory program. Mr. Henderson believed in an education that integrated love of the land and that nothing without labor would result in civic efficacy and instill the competencies for future changemakers.

Mr. Henderson emphasized the importance of education as a lifelong pursuit. By establishing a scholarship fund, Mr. Henderson’s legacy will encourage students to value a modern education and strive for excellence throughout their lives.

Details

Eligibility Criteria

The G.B. Henderson Scholarship Award Eligibility Criteria:

Applicants must be prospective students applying for enrollment in grades 5-6
Qualify for need-based tuition assistance
Embody and promote the Core Values of the School: Belonging, Engagement, Advocacy, and Resilience
Model hard work, initiative, a love of learning, and innovation
Minimum 3.2 GPA
Positive attendance record
Display upstanding character and ethical decision-making

Selection Process

The candidate selection process will include review of the admissions application materials, scholarship essay submission, 2-3 teacher recommendations, current and previous progress reports, and disciplinary and attendance records. Candidates who are considered will have their family interview with a scholarship committee member.

The scholarship selection committee will convene annually to monitor the progress of current recipients.

Scholarship Monitoring & Ongoing Expectations

The scholarship ensures the recipient and their family receive ongoing support through Dawson’s advisory program and periodic check-ins from members of the scholarship committee. The scholarship committee will track the recipient’s longitudinal progress and success, including:

GPA and progress reports
Attendance
High school and college acceptances
Scholarships, scholastic awards, and leadership positions awarded beyond Dawson's graduation
Involvement in clubs, athletics, leadership opportunities, volunteer work, etc.
Impact on the local community of Las Vegas
Career trajectory and choice (including internships)
Student-created portfolio and capstone project highlight
The recipient must remain in good academic and disciplinary standing for ongoing scholarship awards

Steps to Apply

Apply for Admission

Complete the application process and indicate the student's intent to apply for the G.B. Henderson Scholarship on the admissions application.

Submit the Student Essay

Interested candidates will submit a 350-500-word essay in response to G.B. Henderson’s biographical information (see the About Our Founder section) and their intentions to live his legacy as a recipient of this scholarship. Additional questions that may help students construct a response:

After learning about Mr. Henderson’s life, what do you want your impact on Dawson to be? What impact do you want to make on the world?
Mr. Henderson believed in self-reliance, self-respect, and the value of hard work. In what ways do you demonstrate these characteristics in your life?
Mr. Henderson was a lifelong learner who learned to tap dance, fly a helicopter, and play the organ when he was in his seventies. What are your passions (current or future) and how do those interests embody lifelong learning?

The student essay can be uploaded in the admissions portal after the completion of the application.

About Our Founder

Girard Brown Henderson created the Alexander Dawson Foundation in 1957 to give students access to the highest quality of education in the United States.

Questions?

Please contact Director of Development Chris Estrella at cestrella@adsrm.org.