TORRINGTON – Members of the Guadalupe Society Scholarship Committee of Saint Rose of Lima Parish are pleased to announce this year’s recipient of the Arnold Quinonez Memorial Scholarship, Soraya Moore. Soraya is a member of Saint Rose and will graduate from Torrington High School May 23, 2021. Her plan is to pursue a degree in nursing at Eastern Wyoming College. Her future goal is to seek a career in the medical field.
Regarding the background of the scholarship, Mr. Arnold Quinonez, former parishioner, was an active member of the Guadalupe Society, the Men’s Club and the Knights of Columbus, where he served as treasurer for thirteen years. He also directed the Guadalupe Choir.
He was a successful music educator in Nebraska and Wyoming for 38 years and was known as “Mr. Q.” In 1956 he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Vocal and Instrumental Music and a minor in Elementary Education from the University of Northern Colorado. He held a master’s degree in Music from Vander Cook College of Music, Chicago and another in School Administration and Guidance from Northern State College in South Dakota.
Stemming from a life of poverty, he vowed to help struggling students realize their dream of pursuing a higher education. Upon retirement, he discussed establishment of a college scholarship with his wife, Maria, or “Mary,” as many know her. She set up a memorial for that purpose upon his death, December 22, of 2005. The “Arnold Quinonez Memorial Scholarship” established in his memory, is based on academic excellence and financial need and is available to first-year students, as well as continuing education students.
As the driving force, Mary has graciously made certain that the scholarship continues, as it accrues interest. It is also sustained through private and public donations and an ongoing funding percentage from the Guadalupe Society.
Mary has also been an active Church and community member and worked as the elementary school nurse in the Torrington school system for many years.
A partial list of past recipients includes Greg Logdson, K-12 Physical Education with Coaching, Chadron State College; Gage Correa, Elementary Education, Eastern Wyoming College; Brittney Lopez, Physical Therapy, Northeastern Junior College, Sterling, Colorado; Timothy Becker, Aeronautics, Northwest College, Powell, Sylvia Anaya, Computer Engineering, University of Chicago; and Abby Jolovich, Art Education, University of Wyoming, Laramie.
