Photo Margaret McKinney, Highlands University
The local Viles Foundation receives a check from Los Cien de Highlands for scholarships for Highlands University students. Left Eleanor Wald, a Viles Foundation founding board member; Dr. Clarence Sanchez, Viles Foundation past board president; LouElla Marr-Montoya, Viles Foundation board president; and Anselmo Gallegos, a Los Cien de Highlands founding member.
Los Cien de Highlands Donates to Viles Foundation for Highlands’ Scholarships
Los Cien de Highlands, the Hundred of Highlands, donated $15,829 to the Viles Foundation Sept. 30 to be used for scholarships for Highlands University students.
“Los Cien de Highlands is a group of alumni and friends of the university who came together more than 25 years ago to raise money to assist area students in attending Highlands University,” said Anselmo Gallegos, a Highlands alumnus and one of the founding members of Los Cien de Highlands.
Gallegos said Los Cien de Highlands is an independent organization with 501c3 status. It has awarded college scholarships to Highlands University students since it formed.
“This is the biggest donation the Viles Foundation has ever received, and we’re very grateful to Los Cien de Highlands,” said LouElla Marr-Montoya, the president of the Viles Foundation board, and also a Highlands alumna who received a Viles scholarship when she graduated from high school. “This generous gift will allow the Viles Foundation to help even more Highlands University students complete their education.”
Since its inception in 1958, the local Viles Foundation has awarded more than $2 million in college scholarships to more than 800 students from West Las Vegas High School, Robertson High School, Mora High School, Pecos High School, and Wagon Mound High School. The majority of these students attended Highlands University.
The Viles Foundation has worked to make the dream of a college education possible for youth
who have had one or more of their parents die. Emiteria “Matie” Martinez Robinson Viles, an orphan herself, founded the scholarship foundation.
Viles and her husband, George “Skipper” Viles, owned a dude ranch 26 miles north of Pecos called Mountain View Ranch. Matie Viles started the scholarship foundation after her husband died and she found herself wealthy. She had a strong desire to use the money to help young students pursue a college education. Matie Viles died in 1961 and the Viles Foundation has administered the scholarship program since then.