The Telluride golf course might still be covered in snow but it's not too early to think about golf. The early bird(ie) who registers before May 1 for Strokes of Genius, a charity golf tournament that raises money for scholarships for Telluride graduates, saves $50 off the entry fee. Formerly called the Benchmark Invitational, Strokes of Genius will be held on the Telluride Golf Course July 24-26.

Now in its 16th year, Strokes of Genius has become a proud Telluride tradition and is one of the main scholarship funds for graduating seniors enabling Telluride students with both financial need and academic merit to pursue higher education. Since its inception, Strokes of Genius has distributed nearly $200,000 to fund partial college scholarships for 56 Telluride High School graduates.

Telluride High School Seniors interested in applying for a Strokes of Genius Scholarship may pick up an application from College Counselor Karen Lavender. Scholarship criteria to be considered in selecting finalists include financial need, academic excellence, exceptional character, community involvement, leadership potential and content and originality of a written essay. Scholarship applications are due April 27 at 8:15a.m., and scholarship awards will be announced at the Telluride High School awards ceremony on May 27.

The scholarships distributed by Strokes of Genius have truly made a difference in many Telluride graduates lives. These students are now thriving at their universities and colleges of choice. Chloe Werner, a 2008 Telluride graduate and Strokes of Genius Scholarship recipient, recently made the Dean's List (3.75 or above GPA) at CU Boulder. This achievement ranks Werner among the top students at CU.

This year's Strokes of Genius will be held July 24-26 at the Telluride Golf Club. The tournament includes many social events such as a Calcutta and awards dinner. For more information on the tournament and to register, visit telluridefoundation.org/stroke or call the Telluride Foundation at 728-8717.

The Telluride Foundation exists to create a stronger Telluride community through the promotion and support of philanthropy. It is a nonprofit, apolitical community foundation that provides year-round support for local organizations involved in arts, education, athletics, charitable causes, land conservation and other community-based efforts through technical assistance, education and grant making. As a grant maker, The Foundation awards grants to qualified applicants that serve the people living and working in the Telluride area for the purpose of enhancing the quality of life within the region. For more information on the Telluride Foundation, visit www.telluridefoundation.org.

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