The Love For Blue Field Trip Scholarship Fund

As many of you know, my Dad owned and operated, Sena's School Bus Company, for 45 years. It was his baby. His pride and joy. My Dad worked with Albuquerque Public Schools, for 62 years. He never retired. And dedicated his life, to Student Transportation Services.

Blue Sena, was passionate about kids. All kids! It didn't matter their background, disability, or economic standings. He thought kids, were the brightest part, of our future. My Dad gave back to his community, in so many ways. In ways, that I don't know how, to begin to tell you.

But I can tell you this, he believed all kids, should have opportunities. The opportunities, that he didn't get. He wanted every child, in Albuquerque, to have a "fighting chance at life." So he gave back. Any group, organization, or sports team that asked, got a donation. My Dad would do without, to give back, to the community he loved so much!

With pride, my Dad donated to all schools. He didn't discriminate. But he did try, to focus his efforts, on the areas of town...that needed it most. The places where families struggled. Parents worked long and hard hours. He wanted those kids, to have the same opportunities, as the kids, in the upper class neighborhoods.

Many times, in these areas, my Dad would donate buses. For fields trips and activities. Many times, donating 3 or 4 buses. Paying his drivers and the gas, out of his own pocket. If we were ever driving, and saw a group of kids walking to a field trip, my Dad would call one of his drivers. Have them pick up the kids. And get them, to where they were headed. He couldn't see kids walking in the rain...or 90 degree weather. He'd do it all, free of charge.

For all these reasons, we felt like, a scholarship was in order. We are going to offer a $250 scholarship, for the 2015-2016 school year. Open to all APS schools. But we are going to concentrate, on the schools in town, that are in struggling neighborhoods.

My Mom and I, are passionate about continuing my Dad's work. And following his lead. To give back, to our community. We are starting here. But know in our hearts, this is just the beginning. We will continue to fundraise, so that we can offer more scholarships like this, in the future. Our next goal is, to be able to offer 4 of these scholarships, every school year.

If you are a teacher, sponsor, student, coach, or administrator...and are interested, please send me an e-mail at LoveForBlue2015@aol.com. And I'll send you, an application. Other than being an APS school, we only have two requests. First that the sponsor or teacher, write a one page explanation of their field trip. Including how their school struggles financially, where they are going, and how the trip will benefit their group. We are also asking that your class, group, or team...if picked, make some cards for the cancer patients at Presbyterian Hospital. That's it.

The deadline is, May 1, 2016. The field trip, can happen, any time between now, and the end of this school year. My Mom and I, will read through the applications, and narrow down the field. If we find that it is too difficult to pick a winner, we will come back to the blog, and share some of the stories. Maybe have a vote.

We have made flyers. And have sent them out, to APS schools. But feel free, to contact me. Either here, via e-mail (LoveForBlue2015@aol.com), or on Facebook. Also, you are more than welcome, to share this. On social media, through your school, anyway you see fit. We can't wait, to start looking through the applications! ❤❤❤