LINGLE – Lingle-Ft. Laramie 2024 graduating senior, Marcos Bailey Martinez was the proud recipient of the Arnold Quinonez Memorial Scholarship, established under the auspice of Our Lady of Guadalupe Society Scholarship Committee of the St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Torrington.

Martinez plans to attend Casper College this fall.

“I am going into their music education program and going to either go for elementary music, or it’s most likely going to be k-12 music ed,” Martinez said. “I am going to be performing in their choirs and their bands at Casper College.”

Quinonez, a former parishioner, was an active member of the Guadalupe Society, the Men’s Club, and the Knights of Columbus and he also directed the Guadalupe Choir, according to Margaret Puebla, chairman of the scholarship committee member.

“He (Quinonez) was a successful music educator in Nebraska and Wyoming for 38 years and was known as ‘Mr. Q.,” Puebla said.

“This scholarship means a lot to me because it’s my church and I love the church,” Martinez said with a smile. “I am really grateful for the support I got from like a part of my family.” 

“Stemming from a life of poverty, he vowed to help struggling students realize their dream of pursuing a higher education. Upon retirement, he discussed establishment of a college scholarship with his wife, Maria, or ‘Mary,’ as many knew her. She set up a memorial for that purpose upon his death, December 22, of 2005,” Puebla said. 

Martinez filled out an application for the scholarship.

“Most of it was general information but you have to write an essay about like what you want to do and how you are connected to the church and stuff like that,” Martinez explained. “Important people in your life and a little story about yourself. That was the main part of it,” he added. 

“We actually do have a list of criteria tied to the requirements of the application,” Puebla said. “It isn’t just, you know, you have to get points to get it and of course, the essay is extremely important too. Out of all of the wonderful essays, his tops.”

With graduation ceremonies just wrapping up over the weekend, as Martinez reflected back on the last few years, he had one small thing to say, “Never be afraid to ask.”