“Recession Pop”—upbeat, nostalgic, emotionally resonant music—is one of 2025’s rising Google trends. In economically challenging times, people are gravitating toward music that uplifts, connects, and brings hope. In Grand Junction and Fruita, many young people and students are using music as motivation: study playlists, songwriting, or simply sharing songs that inspire resilience.
The Cory Thompson Scholarship Fund honors that energy. We know that motivation doesn’t just come from lectures—it comes from art, culture, connection. Scholarship recipients often tell us that their favorite songs or musical moments were catalysts for pushing forward during hard times.
How music and trends support scholarship goals:
- Encourages emotional awareness and creativity
- Builds community and shared identity through shared tastes
- Acts as a mental health outlet during study or stress
Check out scholarship prompts that invite creative work at CoryThompsonScholarship.com. Read how music has helped past winners at CoryThompsonScholarship.com. For more creative inspiration in Fruita CO, go to CoryThompsonFruitaCO.com.