Posted January 30, 2026
Northfield High School is proud to celebrate senior Ari Bekelman for reaching the final stage of the most rigorous scholarship selection process in the state. Ari has been named a 2025 Boettcher Scholarship Finalist, placing him among the top 100 graduating seniors in Colorado.
The Boettcher Scholarship is a “full-ride” award that covers tuition, fees, and living expenses at any four-year Colorado university. However, the path to becoming a Finalist is intentionally demanding. This year, the Boettcher Foundation received over 2,000 applications from high-achieving seniors. After a mid-winter cut to 300 semi-finalists, Ari was selected as one of the final 100 students invited to interview with the Foundation’s board — roughly the top ~5% of applicants.
This achievement highlights the depth of Ari’s involvement in the Northfield community. As an International Baccalaureate (IB) student, Ari has consistently demonstrated the strategic thinking and global perspective that the Boettcher Foundation seeks in its Scholars.
“I couldn’t possibly be more proud of Ari, and I think this well-deserved recognition is reflective of his upstanding character as well as his dedication to challenging himself academically throughout his years at Northfield.” –Nick Kresse-Bond, Counselor
Ultimately, just 50 students are awarded the scholarship each year. That means only about 2–3% of the original applicant pool receive the full award — making being named a finalist a significant milestone in itself.
The Northfield community wishes Ari the best of luck as he prepares for his final interview. Regardless of the outcome, being named a Boettcher Finalist is a lifelong distinction that reflects Ari’s position as one of Colorado’s most promising future leaders.