Michelle Ann Jimenez was born in Belen, New Mexico, on April 18, 1964. She married at a young age, becoming a mother to four boys. It was important to Michelle to one day have the financial means to provide for her children's college education. To support this, she started by expanding her own education.

Michelle's interest was in the medical field. Michelle began her educational path by receiving her associate degree from the University of New Mexico Valencia Campus. She put 100% effort into her courses, becoming a straight-A student, a master tutor, and president of Phi Delta Kappa. A major accomplishment for Michelle during this time was being chosen as one of 100 applicants selected to work for the summer conducting research at Lovelace Hospital research laboratory.

After graduating and in between semesters, Michelle volunteered as an emergency medical technician with a local fire department. By this time, her goal was to become a physician's assistant; therefore, she took whatever actions she could to help reach this goal. Unfortunately, on May 29, 1998, Michelle was killed by a drunk driver while crossing the roadway. She left behind her four boys who ranged from 15 years of age to 7.

Despite the unfortunate tragedy that halted Michelle's dreams and goals, her drive and dedication created a legacy for helping others. This legacy has been revealed through the Michelle Jimenez Memorial Scholarship, which has helped many students achieve their educational goals. It is with honor and pleasure that Michelle's family strives to keep Michelle's memory alive through this scholarship.