1-800-421-5376    admissions@nmmi.edu    FAX: 575-624-8058

New Mexico Legislative Scholarship at NMMI
in honor of General Richard T. Knowles, US Army (Ret)

Recent Legislative Scholarship Recipients

The General Richard T. Knowles Legislative Scholarship program allows each of New Mexico's 112 legislators to nominate a student from their district for scholarship consideration.  In addition, non-selected applicants may be eligible to receive an un-awarded legislative scholarship in an open contiguous district. A student awarded the Legislative Scholarship may receive the award for up to four years. 

Am I eligible to apply?

The Legislative Scholarship is available only to New Mexico Military Institute cadets. 

You must have applied for admission into NMMI before or concurrent to submitting an application for the Legislative Scholarship.  You do not have to be accepted into NMMI when you apply for the Legislative Scholarship, but we must have your application on file.  The fastest and easiest way to apply for admission is to apply online.

Criteria for the Legislative Scholarship is as follows:

• If you are entering the 9th or 10th grade you must have a 2.5 or higher grade point average.

• If you are entering 11th or 12th grade you must have a 2.25 or higher grade point average.

• If you are entering junior college, you must have a 2.0 or higher grade point average for all high school core courses and a 18+ ACT score or a 870+ SAT score.

YOU MUST BE A NEW MEXICO RESIDENT!

When can I apply?  

Applications for first round selection are due March 1 to the Legislative Scholarship Coordinator,  Monica Gonzales.

Award winners will be notified on or after April 15.

If you were not awarded the scholarship in the first round we will  send your application to your other district legislator or attempt to find an open contiguous district and send your application to that legislator for consideration.

If you are applying for admission for a spring semester, you may attempt to apply for a Legislative Scholarship by December 1.  If your district is open we will submit your application  for consideration.   Scholarships awarded in the spring semester are subject to availability and restrictions and there is no guarantee made thereof.  Contact Monica Gonzales for additional information.

What does the application process entail?

To apply for the Legislative Scholarship make sure that you have first submitted an application for admission into NMMI. 

Next you will need to fill out the Legislative Scholarship application  If you do not have a Legislative Scholarship application, please contact the Admissions Office and we will mail one to you or you may download one online (Microsoft Word Version) (PDF Version).  Please type or very neatly handwrite your application.

With your Legislative Scholarship application, please include the following documents:

• A typed autobiographical essay of at least 250 words. Please proof read carefully for spelling and grammar mistakes as your nominating legislator will read this essay.

• A small (wallet size) recent picture.

• Three Letters of Recommendation from teachers, coaches, club or youth group leaders, civic leaders or others who know you well.

• A complete transcript indicating your cumulative grade point average from 7th grade to the current semester. 

Please send your application packet to:

New Mexico Military Institute
Offices of Admissions
Attention: Monica Gonzales
101 West College Blvd.
Roswell, NM 88201

Once we receive your complete application packet we will create a file for you.  Next we will send your file to one of your district legislators.  The legislator will review all of the applications from his or her district, make a selection and notify the Legislative Scholarship Coordinator.  The Legislative Scholarship Coordinator will then notify you that you have been nominated to receive the scholarship.   When you confirm your acceptance of the scholarship, the Legislative Scholarship Coordinator will notify the Office of Financial Aid to disburse funds into your scholarship account at the appropriate time.

If you are not selected by your district legislator we will submit your application to your other district legislator or to a legislator in a contiguous district.  This process will continue until all available districts have been awarded.  

If you are an alternate for a district and the original recipient departs NMMI before the third Friday after classes start, you will be eligible to receive that scholarship and will be notified.

If you still have not received a nomination for a Legislative Scholarship, you can be reconsidered for the next fall semester awarding cycle.  Please contact Monica Gonzales to have your file transferred to the next cycle.  It is highly encouraged that you submit a new autobiographical essay and letters of recommendation at this time as well.

What is the award amount?

The General Richard T. Knowles Legislative Scholarship covers the cost to tuition, fees and an amount applied towards other expenses at NMMI (roughly $3,600.)  The Scholarship may be automatically renewed for a total of four years if the student maintains satisfactory academic progress towards graduation and acceptable performance in the NMMI Corps of Cadets among other requirements.

How can I get an application?

You can receive additional information about the Legislative Scholarship and an application by contacting the Office of Admissions at 1-800-421-5376 or contacting the Legislative Scholarship Coordinator, Monica Gonzales, at 575-624-8376 or via e-mail to monica@nmmi.edu.  You may also download the application in a Microsoft Word Version or PDF Version.

How can I find out who my legislators are?

You can find out who your legislators are by calling your local County Clerk's office and providing your address.  You can also visit the New Mexico State Legislature Web site and click on Find Your Legislator and provide your zip code.  This is also a great resource to learn more about the legislature and how it operates.

I don't qualify for the Legislative Scholarship. What other scholarships are available?

There are many opportunities to receive scholarships at NMMI for both college and high school cadets. There are a total of 176 scholarships (excluding the 112 Legislative Scholarships.)  There are approximately 30 scholarships solely intended for in-state cadets and approximately 25 solely intended for out-of-state cadets.  There are around 20 scholarship that are intended for college cadets specifically.   To apply for scholarships other than the Legislative Scholarship, all you need to do is apply for admission online.  Once you have applied and been accepted to attend NMMI you will automatically be considered for scholarships.   Please visit the Financial Aid Web site for more information or call the Office of Financial Aid at (575) 624-8066.