The Betty Montoya Gift of Life scholarship
The Betty Montoya Gift of Life scholarship is open to all New Mexico High school seniors. This scholarship honors former APS teacher and kidney transplant recipient Betty Montoya.
Betty Montoya was an educator in the Albuquerque Public School District and a recipient of a kidney transplant. She taught U.S. History, social studies and physical education at Taft, Harrison and Van Buren Middle Schools for nineteen years. She received numerous nominations and awards during her tenure and was recognized by many, such as Albuquerque Tribune' s Distinguished Teacher of the Year. She was twice nominated for the Christa McAucliffe Teaching Award and Outstanding Teacher of the Southwest. Betty coached tennis, volleyball and softball. She was also team mother and vocal cheerleader when her two sons, Jerry Jr. and Michael, played sports. For many years, Betty took a group of students to our nation's capitol, Cape Canaveral, and Disney World. Betty was also an activist, educating the public about organ and tissue transplantation and was instrumental in establishing the Transplant Recipients International Organization (TRIO) Gift of Life scholarship for New Mexico students. She believed that the students could learn and help educate the public about organ and tissue transplantation and simultaneously have an opportunity to earn a scholarship to further their educational goals. In 1994, 1996 and 1998, Betty represented TRIO NM at the U.S. Transplant Olympic Games and brought home bronze and silver medals. Betty was a wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, and loyal friend. She and her husband, Jerry, were active members of their community. Betty' s compassion for others and her generosity were boundless. She was an inspiration to all who knew her and may her efforts to spread the word about organ and tissue transplantation grow exponentially!