Memorial scholarships are provided by families and friends who have lost a loved one with intention to honor their life and memory. Memorial scholarships provide financial support to students who are committed to furthering their education, and who have been selected to receive a HOPE scholarship by going through the application process.

MARTIN EDUARDO ESQUIBEL
1913 - 1995

Martin Eduardo Esquibel was born on May 1, 1913 in Mora, New Mexico to Martin Esquibel and Rayitos de Hilder. His parents died when he was quiet young. Early years were spent in an orphanage and he was on his own in his early teens.

On January 28, 1935 he married Gertrude Garcia and informally adopted her four younger sisters and two younger brothers as his soon to be wife had been forced into assuming the role of mother with the early death of the senior Mrs. Garcia.

Soon thereafter, Mr. and Mrs. Esquibel began their family which eventually produced five boys and four girls. One of the boys, Paul, died at an early age in the early 1940's.

Martin’s work history was varied. He worked in the beet fields. He was a sheepherder, railroader, truck driver, warehouseman, construction worker on the missile sites and other similarly related jobs. Toward the end of his life he was trying to learn how to operate a computer.

Governor Ed Herschler proclaimed September 5, 1980 MARTIN ESQUIBEL DAY for his dedicated work to ensure that Wyoming citizens are informed of the opportunities and responsibilities of participation in the election process at all levels of government.

His greatest joys, other than his family and dancing, were working the land, working with animals and working with people - all people, a very good and rewarding combination. His greatest thrills, on the other hand were receiving his GED at the age of fifty-four, being selected to attend the National Conference on Aging in Washington, D.C.; being selected as a delegate on two occasions to attend the National Democratic Convention, the first time in New York and the second time in Atlanta; and being nominated by the Green Thumb Program to be Honorary Governor for the day, so proclaimed by then Governor Mike Sullivan.

Martin believed that education was the key to a better life. He encouraged his children and all Hispanics in their pursuit of higher education.

Martin Eduardo Esquibel was a poor man, but rich in spirit. With a generous heart and boundless energy he dedicated his life to family, friends, the community of Cheyenne and the State of Wyoming. In 1996 a street was renamed in his honor.

TRISHA ANN MONTOYA REDMAN
1967 - 1993

Trisha Ann Montoya Redman was a 1985 graduate of Seton Catholic High School. Trisha was an honor student and lettered in three sports, basketball, volleyball and cheerleading. She had an associates degree from Laramie County Community College and planned to continue her education to become a lawyer.

Trisha was proud of her Hispanic heritage and in 1993 presented a SOMOS/HOPE scholarship on behalf of EDS (Electronic Data Systems).

She was a beautiful young woman with a passion for life. Trisha touched many lives during her all too short 26 years. She was a loving, caring person and is remembered for her sparkling eyes and contagious smile which enchanted everyone who came in contact with her.

Trisha was killed in a tragic car accident on August 20, 1993. At the time of her death, she was a manager with EDS. She was married to Robert Redman, a teacher at McCormick Junior High School and head girls’ basketball coach at East High School. Their children are Shane and Tayler.

Steve was born on June 23, 1965 to Robert and Loretta Lucero. The eldest of three children, he had two sisters, Bridgette and Carri. He attended Hebard and Goins Elementary Schools and Johnson Junior High School.

Steve was an exemplary student, excelling both academically and athletically. He tried out for every sport that came along, but was most active in baseball, cross-country running and wrestling. Although he made All American for Cross Country, his real love was wrestling. For over eighteen years, Johnson Junior High School has honored a student as “Outstanding Seventh Grade Wrestler” in memory of Steve.

Given Steve’s accomplishments, some may think that he lived a long life. Needless to say, Steve did have a fulfilling life. Unfortunately, he never got the opportunity to achieve his goals as most boys do. Steve fell while rock climbing at Vedauwoo. Losing our son, our brother and our friend was the worst tragedy of our lives.

Steve was outgoing, fun loving and is fondly remembered by all who knew him. His smile and his laughter remain vividly alive in our hearts and memory. Not a day goes by that he is not missed by someone who knew and loved him. There is no doubt that Steve would have accomplished anything and everything he put his mind to, and did so during his short life of thirteen years.

By giving this scholarship, we, as Steve’s family believe this will give someone the opportunity to fulfill his or her goals, hopes and dreams in a way that he was unable to.

Richard was born on February 22, 1973 to James Montoya and Victoria Perez-Montoya. He was the eldest of four children. He had three sisters; Christina, Laura, and Gina. Richard was born in Los Angeles, California and moved to Colorado at the age of one. He attended a local parochial school and received academic honors for his achievements in English and Math. Throughout his formative years he was active in swimming, soccer, football, basketball, softball, and snow skiing. As a high school student, Richard was on the honor roll every semester and also received a perfect attendance award.

Richard lived life to the fullest. He loved being around people. He had an infectious smile that always made you feel that you were with a friend. He is fondly remembered and missed by all who knew him.

Richard was a junior at Metropolitan State college in Denver. He was majoring in Accounting. Richard was unable to reach his goal because he was killed in a tragic pick-up accident on February 22, 1996. Richard was on his way to Lake Tahoe for a ski trip.

Richard’s mother Victoria Perez-Montoya attended Cheyenne elementary schools and graduated from East High School. Richard’s parents graduated from the University of Wyoming in 1972. 

Dr. Margaret �Margie� Zamudio passed away on December 25, 2009. She was 45 years old. Margie was born in Los Angeles in 1964. She attended UCLA as both an undergraduate and graduate student where she received her BA in 1989, her MA in 1991, and her PhD in 1996 in Sociology. Margie taught at the University of Colorado at Boulder from 1996-2002. Margie came to the University of Wyoming in 2002. She taught in the Sociology Department as well as the Chicano Studies and Women�s Studies program. Margie received tenure at the University of Wyoming in the Spring of 2009.

Margie's advocacy and scholarship on issues of social justice, immigration, race, class and gender provided inspiration to many of her friends, colleagues and students. Her book on Critical Race Theory in Education will be published by Routledge in late 2010. Just before she died, Margie was researching the socio-economic forces behind the immigration of El Salvadorian women in the 1950s and 60s.

Her passion and devotion for social justice and racial equality will be greatly missed at UW. Margie loved the outdoors. The mountains around Happy Jack had a special place in Margie�s heart. Margie was an avid cross-country skier and mountain biker. She also loved camping in the Medicine Bow Mountains�the North Fork of the Little Laramie in particular. Margie is survived by her many family, friends and students who will greatly miss her intelligence, compassion, and wonderful sense of humor.