Benefiting High School Students in the Arts

The Paul H. Mendez Memorial Scholarship honors the life and legacy of a remarkable young man who embodied kindness, resilience, and creativity. Paul was an old soul in a young body—funny, loving, and always ready to brighten the lives of those around him. Raised by a single mother who faced many challenges, Paul chose to focus on the positive and became a source of encouragement for his family and friends. He was a self-taught guitar player with a deep love for music, an artist who was constantly drawing and painting, and a dedicated member of the stage crew, where his natural gift for helping others shone. Although school was not always easy for him, Paul persevered and proudly graduated from Jordan High School in June 2002. Just two months later, his life was tragically cut short.

This scholarship was created to keep his memory alive and to support students who share his passions and determination.

Each year, two graduating seniors who have completed at least two semesters in Art, Stage Crew, or Music, is on track to graduate, and submits an essay describing how the $500 award will support their goals, will be selected to receive the scholarship.

Applications will be accepted from January 7 - April 15, 2026

Please check back in December to download an application.