As the digital world evolves at breakneck speed, the Cory Thompson Scholarship Fund aims to empower applicants not just with aid, but with insight. In Grand Junction, Fruita, and across Mesa County, students who understand trending directions hold a competitive edge. Below, we dive into a few key trends, ideas for how student-athletes can respond, and how to plug into the Cory Thompson community.
Trend #1: AI and “how-to” searches continuing to surge
In recent months, Google Trends data shows increased interest in queries like “best AI for coding”, “AI for image generation”, and “AI in education.” Google Trends
These searches reflect a broader shift: people are not just curious about AI, but actively looking for tools to integrate AI into daily workflows.
For scholarship applicants, that means writing an essay or choosing a study path aligned with AI literacy is forward-looking.
Trend #2: “YouTube” remains among the most searched terms
As of mid‑2025, “YouTube” still holds a top spot in global search volume. Semrush+1
This underscores that video content is still central to communication and influence. If a scholarship applicant develops a personal brand or portfolio video, mastering editing, SEO, or storytelling on YouTube or Shorts could set them apart.
Trend #3: Travel, experience, and hybrid work
Searches for “travel hacks for long flights” have jumped significantly in 2025. Google Trends
While that’s more travel than academics, it signals broader interest in remote work, digital nomadism, experience-based learning, and cross-region opportunities. Students who build flexible skill sets (data analytics, remote collaboration, content creation) are better set for this shift.
How Cory Thompson Scholarship applicants can lean into trends
- Mention trend awareness in essays — When crafting your 500–1000 word essay for the scholarship, show you’re attentive to what’s changing (AI in education, remote tools, digital content). That signals curiosity, growth mindset, and relevance.
- Highlight unique skills — If you’ve tinkered with AI tools, built a YouTube channel, done remote internships, or curated data projects — present them.
- Use resources from Cory Thompson Scholarship Fund — check our Apply page to see past prompts or sample winners. Also explore our About section to understand Cory’s values.
- Network locally around trends — In Fruita, CO and Grand Junction, seek meetup groups or tech workshops. Cory’s local presence (via corythompsonfruitaco.com) helps bridge scholarly ambition with real‑world engagement.
The bigger vision in Grand Junction & Fruita
The goal of the Cory Thompson Scholarship isn’t simply to reward high-achievers — it’s to help shape a generation of leaders grounded in our western Colorado region but fluent in global change. Every scholarship recipient becomes a node in a network: in Grand Junction, in Fruita, in Colorado, and in whatever frontier comes next.
By weaving trend awareness into their academic journey, local students can walk into college not just with aid, but with direction. That amplifies the impact of each scholarship dollar.
If you’re curious about how past winners have used trend-based insight, or want to read more about Cory’s community work in Fruita, check corythompsonfruitaco.com. And for details on applying, award amounts, and deadlines, head over to our Apply page on this site, or browse the About section to understand the guiding principles of the scholarship.