Established in 1989, the Erin Trujeque Memorial Scholarship is awarded to students who have undergone treatment for childhood cancer in New Mexico and wish to continue their education beyond high school. Erin Trujeque died of cancer in 1985 at the age of 12.

School is not always easy for a child diagnosed with cancer. Long term absences and affects from cancer and its treatments can make learning difficult. Financial burdens as a result of a cancer diagnosis can make saving money for college extremely difficult on families. The Erin Trujeque Memorial Scholarship was established to assure that children who may not be eligible to receive other scholarship assistance or afford college would still be able to attend.