About Lt. Col. Cecil Lynn's
Memorial Scholarship
The Lt. Col. Cecil Lynn Memorial Scholarship empowers a community of student-athletes who exemplify academic excellence, leadership, and service. United by a shared commitment to higher education, we honor Lt. Col. Lynn’s legacy by supporting and uplifting one another on our collegiate journeys.
Meet Our Scholarship Recipients
Nick Jones
Taos High School ~ 2026
Nicholous “Nick” Jones will be attending Texas State University in San Marcos where he will bring a strong foundation of academic achievement, athletic leadership, and community service. At Taos High School, Nick graduated in the top ten percent of his class with a 4.2 GPA while completing AP, honors, and dual-credit coursework. A multi-sport varsity athlete, he balanced academics with soccer, basketball, football, track, part-time work, volunteering, and tutoring fellow athletes. Nick plans to study exercise and sports sciences working towards a Doctorate in Physical Therapy.
Emma Gurule
Eldorado High School ~ 2026
A dedicated student-athlete and accomplished leader, Emma Gurule will continue her academic journey at the Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado majoring in Biochemistry following a distinguished record of achievement at Eldorado High School. She graduated with a 4.575 GPA while contributing to National Honor Society, Eldorado’s sports medicine athletic training program, Each Heart and Mind, and the Girls Academy soccer league advisory panel. A four-year varsity soccer standout and team captain, Emma helped lead Eldorado to two state championships. Her honors include New Mexico Player of the Year, All-American, All-Region, District Player of the Year, All-State, and All-Star recognition. She brings exceptional work ethic and leadership to the soccer program at Fort Lewis College.
Desta Rose
Logan High School ~ 2026
Desta Rose has built a reputation as a dedicated scholar, accomplished multi-sport athlete, and respected leader at Logan High School. A member of the National Honor Society, Desta has demonstrated strong academic achievement alongside years of competition in volleyball, basketball, and track. She is known for her discipline, dependability, and determination, consistently giving her best effort while encouraging those around her to do the same. Desta leads by example, earning the respect of her peers and serving as a role model for younger athletes through her responsibility, perseverance, and positive attitude. She will continue her academic journey at the Eastern New Mexico University.
Samantha Lynn
Arizona College Prep High School ~ 2026
Samantha Lynn will attend Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University, where she plans to study business administration and pre-law with a concentration in sports management. A cum laude graduate of Arizona College Prep High School, Sam competed in varsity volleyball and track while taking on several leadership roles, including co-president of the Black Student Association. She also competed in statewide DECA tournaments, demonstrating her interest in business and leadership. Beyond school, Sam is active in her church’s worship band and performs piano and vocals at charitable events. Her scholarship is awarded by the Lynn Foundation and not through the NMAA.
Makenna McBee
Eunice High School ~ 2025
MaKenna cheered and ran track at Eunice High School. Makenna will be attending West Texas A&M to study nursing a nod to her passion for positive connections and desire to make a meaningful impact on the people whose lives she touches. She is determined to continue to stay active and participate in intramural sports, campus church groups, and any other opportunities thrown my way!
Isaac Castillo
Cobre High School ~ 2024
Isaac Castillo played basketball and ran track and field at Cobre High School in Bayard. He is attending New Mexico State University and is studying computer science in hopes of securing a job in cybersecurity. He sees himself working for a government agency like the Forest Service when he graduates, a nod to both his desire to innovate at the highest level and still give back to the rural community that is such a large part of his upbringing. When not in school, Isaac is on a field, in a gym, or on the courts as sports are still very much a part of his life. But Isaac has discovered that his is an accomplished artist with a talent for writing poetry.
Sofia Gurule
Eldorado High School ~ 2024
Sofia was a soccer phenom at Eldorado High School in Albuquerque. She played hard and endured multiple knee surgeries as a result. But she never quit. She never backed down, and she still plays soccer, albeit at a recreational rather than competitive pace. Yet, Sofia still finds time to serve as an assistant soccer coach at her Alma mater while completing her first year at UNM in a combined BA/MD program, which will fast-track her admission to medical school once she completes her undergraduate studies. The Lynn family is incredibly proud of Sofia and looks forward to having a doctor in its scholarship family!
Isabelle Sena Melrose High School ~ 2023
Isabelle Sena played basketball and volleyball at Melrose High School was a cheerleader and a member of the school track team. The Lynn family knew she was destined for greatness and would be a wonderful role model and ideal representative of the Lynn Scholarship. They were not wrong. Isabelle is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Business with a concentration in Marketing at Eastern New Mexico University. Isabelle is focused on her school work, but also enjoys staying active and playing intramural sports on campus or a casual game with friends. Regardless of the sport or activity, Isabelle strives to stay balanced and keep fit.
RyLee Crandall
Artesia High School ~ 2022
RyLee is one of the first scholarship recipients and left Artesia High School to an awaiting softball scholarship at Baylor University. After two years and a stand out pitching performance in the NCAA Softball World Series, RyLee entered the transfer portal in 2023 and landed at Oklahoma State University where she is now a senior studying Marketing and Data Analytics. After graduation, RyLee would like to work in the fashion industry as a sales data analyst. RyLee traveled extensively with the Cowgirls her junior year, including games at Arizona State University and University of Arizona where the Lynn family watched and cheered her and the team on. “We made a commitment to RyLee that we would support her and go to her games,” said Cecil Lynn III. “My family, including my dad’s sister and brother, saw her play at Baylor, and we were excited to travel to Phoenix and Tucson to watch her play.”
Melaki Jones
Española Valley High School ~ 2022
Melaki was a star basketball player at Espanola Valley High School. His tenacity on the court and in the classroom earned him an inaugural Lynn Scholarship. Today, Melaki is a senior at the University of New Mexico, majoring in Business with a concentration in Management. But Melaki is not waiting until he finishes school to ply his trade. He currently owns his own photography business while finishing up his senior year in finance. Melaki continues his love of sports, playing basketball and golf in his spare times. Melaki takes his role as an ambassador for the Lynn Scholarship seriously and has always been available when needed help the Lynn family get the word out about their mission and the scholarship.
Details
The Lt. Colonel Cecil A. Lynn Jr. Memorial Scholarship, based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, honors the legacy of Col. Lynn—a distinguished military officer, sports official, and community leader. Established by the Lynn family and endowed through the Albuquerque Community Foundation, the scholarship is administered by the New Mexico Activities Association (NMAA) Foundation. It supports a community of high school student-athletes across New Mexico who demonstrate excellence in academics, athletics, and leadership, fostering a network of peers committed to higher education and mutual support.
How To Apply
The Lt. Col. Cecil Lynn Jr. Memorial Scholarship is categorized as an “at-large” scholarship by the New Mexico Activities Association (NMAA) Foundation. This means there isn’t a separate application specifically for this scholarship. Instead, recipients are selected from the pool of applicants who apply for other NMAA Foundation scholarships.
To be considered for the Cecil Lynn Memorial Scholarship, you should complete the general NMAA Foundation scholarship application. The application portal and detailed information about various scholarships are available on the NMAA Foundation’s Scholarship Forms page:
https://www.nmact.org
Eligibility
- Must be a graduating senior from a New Mexico high school
- Must have participated in high school athletics or school activities
- Demonstrated strong academic performance (GPA and coursework rigor reviewed)
- Exhibits leadership, sportsmanship, integrity, grit, and community commitment
- No separate application — eligible students are automatically considered through the NMAA Foundation’s general
scholarship application pool
The application deadline is typically February 1st each year. For the most accurate and current information, please refer to the NMAA Foundation’s official website.