Meet Our Steven Vairma Scholarship Winners for 2026
The Teamsters Local 455 Steven Vairma Scholarship Fund, which honors the legacy of retired Local 455 Secretary-Treasurer Steve Vairma, awards scholarships annually to outstanding high school seniors who are the sons, daughters, grandsons and granddaughters of active and disabled Teamsters Local 455 members. Here are the 2026 Steven Vairma Scholarship Winners.
Joaquin Bowers, $10,000
Joaquin Bowers, son of Teamsters Local 455 Safeway Beverage Plant member Joaquin Bowers and his wife Candice, is the winner of the $10,000 scholarship to study civil engineering and community-focused infrastructure at the Colorado School of Mines. Bowers, a graduate of Rocky Mountain Prep RISE, achieved a 4.3 grade point average as a dual enrollment student. He received the 2025 First Generation recognition award. A speech and debate participant, Bowers is a Harvard Debate Council honoree. He also is a State Bench Press record holder, lifting 165.2 pounds.
Alizah Almanza, $5,000
Alizah Almanza, daughter of Teamsters Local 455 UPS member Jose Almanza and his wife, Jennifer Martinez-Almanza, is the winner of a $5,000 scholarship. Almanza, a graduate of Liberty University Online Academy, will study hospitality management at Liberty University. Almanza received Association of Christian Schools International awards for fine arts, volleyball and track, and was named to the High Honor Roll in her junior year.
Juliet Salazar, $5,000
Juliet Salazar, daughter of Teamsters Local 455 Frontier Airlines Mechanic Milton Salazar and his wife Zully, is a $5,000 scholarship winner who will study public health at the University of Colorado-Denver to become a nurse practitioner in the field of women's health. Salazar, a National Honors Society member, graduated from George Washington High School (GWHS) as an Honor Roll Student. She was twice awarded the Seal of Biliteracy for speaking multiple languages including Spanish and Mandarin. Her extracurricular awards and honors are extensive: The National Speech and Debate Association awarded Salazar with the Degree of Merit, Degree of Honor, Degree of Excellence, Degree of Distinction and Degree of Special Distinction. She served as President of the Book Club and the GWHS Student Advisory Board. She joined the Chess Club, Mandarin Club, and Tennis Team; was a Project Angel Heart volunteer; and volunteers as a pianist for her local church band.
Jasmine Hernandez, $2,000
Jasmine Hernandez, graduate of Holy Family High School, is a $2,000 scholarship winner. Hernandez, the daughter of Teamsters Local 455 Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits member Benito Hernandez and his wife Violeta, will study nursing at Regis University. Hernandez was a Colorado High School Activities Association Academic All Star winner for all four years of high school for her academic achievement and her participation in softball and soccer. Hernandez was also Honor Roll and Principal's Honor Roll winner.