On Sept. 25 two lucky winners won lavish prizes from Evergreen/Scholarship Bootstraps. Betty Knoebel of Medford, Ore., formerly of Evergreen, won a new 2007 Mini Coop S and Chris Payne of Evergreen, won a GrandLuxe Rail Journey valued at $13,500.

The raffle was held at Evergreen High School as the main fundraiser for the nonprofit group Bootstraps, which for more than 60 years has granted scholarships and interest-free loans to qualified students in the Evergreen/Conifer area. Most students go on to attend college in Colorado. The recent raffle was in support of 2008 graduating seniors.

Last May, Evergreen Scholarship/Bootstraps, Inc. awarded more than $171,000 to 29 deserving Evergreen and 28 Conifer seniors.

For 2008 seniors, student applications for aid through Bootstraps must be submitted by March 1, 2008. To be eligible, students must live in the 80439 or 80433 zip codes and be a legal resident of Colorado. At application time, students must be accepted to a college or university and plan to attend the fall 2008 session. The Bootstraps selection committee will meet in April 2008 to assess applications and make the awards.

Through generous community support Bootstraps is again raising money necessary to send kids to college. Donations are accepted year round but if you would like to donate to the 2008 seniors, please do so before March 1. For more information or to make a donation, contact Barb Hadley at 303-674-4733 or go to http://www.evergreenbootstraps.org.