GARNA Announces Brett Beasley Memorial Scholarship Awardee

The Greater Arkansas River Nature Association (GARNA) is proud to announce Salida High School graduate Abigail Nelson as the recipient of the 2026 Brett Beasley Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $2,000. 

Open to Chaffee County residents entering their first year of post high-school learning, the scholarship commemorates US Forest Service – Salida Ranger District employee, and GARNA partner and friend, Brett Beasley, who passed in January of 2017. 

Nelson will be pursuing biological engineering at Montana State University, combining a deeper understanding of different natural resource-related fields with conservation. She is spending the summer as a recreation ranger for Colorado Parks & Wildlife at the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area after spending the spring as an intern with the agency through the internship program at Colorado Mountain College.

“I am at a loss of words to describe my appreciation for this scholarship,” says Nelson. “It will help me to assist those in need, as well as secure a future for generations to come.”

One of Brett’s core values, as a steward of public lands, was to provide a diversity of high-quality education and volunteer experiences in the Upper Arkansas Valley. Thus, this scholarship program was established to support Upper Arkansas Valley students who have demonstrated volunteerism, experience with local public lands and trails, a passion for the outdoors and an interest in pursuing a career in recreation and natural resources. 

The scholarship is funded by the Beas Knees Citizens Race and individual donors. To donate to the Brett Beasley Memorial Scholarship, visit GARNA.org and click the donate button, choosing the Brett Beasley Memorial Scholarship Fund. 

For questions, please contact GARNA at 719-539-5106 or director@garna.org.