Sandoval County offers $5,000 scholarships for junior treasurer program

Sandoval County is putting real money behind a program that gives local teens a seat inside county government. The Treasurer’s Office opened applications for its fall Junior County Treasurer Program, and this year each of the two selected students will receive a $5,000 scholarship with support from UMB Bank.

The semester-long program is open to county high school students in grades 11 and 12, making the competition tight from the start. Applicants must submit an online form, a media release form and a short essay of at least 350 words explaining why they should be chosen. The deadline is July 31.

Jennifer A. Taylor, Sandoval County’s treasurer, said the program is meant to give young people real-world experience in government, finance and community service. The county describes it as the only program of its kind in New Mexico, and the new scholarship incentive raises the stakes for students who want more than a line on a résumé.

The curriculum reaches deep into how county money moves. Participants learn property tax collection, how those dollars are allocated, and how the county funds services such as DWI programs, fire and 911 services, libraries, public safety initiatives, senior programs, road and infrastructure projects, landfill operations and detention center management. The county also includes customer service training, government investments and transparency in financial reporting.

Students chosen for the semester are also expected to attend a County Commission Meeting, a Board of Finance Meeting and a Sandoval County Investment Committee Meeting. The program adds 90 hours of on-the-job shadowing, and the county says that time can count toward elective high school credit. After finishing, participants receive a plaque of recognition and a medallion at a County Commission Meeting.

The structure matters in a county where debates over roads, public safety and local services often hinge on budget decisions most residents never see up close. Former participants have said the experience helped them understand real-world finances and build skills that extend beyond politics, which is part of why the program has drawn attention since it launched in 2023.

Taylor was re-elected in November 2024 and later expanded the program from two students to four for the 2025 class. Two of those students, Giavanna Almanzar of ASK Academy and Mario Templeton of Rio Rancho High School, were recognized by the county commission on March 26, 2025. With the new scholarship funding attached, Sandoval County is making the same pitch again: this is not just an internship, but a direct path into the financial workings of local government.