More than 150 Education Forward Arizona Scholars and their families honored in Phoenix
In an effort to expand college access and attainment across the state, Education Forward Arizona honored more than 150 Arizona college graduates in a special ceremony last night at its headquarters in Phoenix.
All of the students, many of which are the first-generation college graduates, received scholarships and/or mentorship support from the nonprofit organization.
The graduates have all earned degrees from various colleges and universities this month, including: Arizona State University, Benedictine University at Mesa, Grand Canyon University, Northern Arizona University, Tohono O’odham Community College, University of Arizona, University of Washington, and Universidad Estatal de Sonora.
“We are beyond proud of each one of these Education Forward Arizona Scholars,” said Dr. Richard Daniel, Executive Vice President of Education Forward Arizona. “They represent the incredible talent of Arizona students and we’re honored to be able to share in their educational success.”
As part of their scholarship opportunity, the students received support from success advisers, who offered coaching and mentoring and helped them to successfully navigate through their college experience. The advisers also connect the scholars with campus resources and provide guidance to keep the students on track to graduate. Toward the end of their college experience, the advisers also help students transition into careers.
Not only have these graduates overcome tremendous obstacles to earn scholarships and start, persist in, and graduate from college, but they also have continuously achieved success while experiencing adversity throughout their college careers. As evidenced by their degrees and future careers, these graduates are going places. They aspire to work in healthcare, mental health, law, engineering, and design and will surely contribute back to the community.
The Education Forward Arizona 2022 scholarship college graduates honored include:
Arizona State University
Alexa Alvarez Valdivia
Athziri Arvizu Leon
Steele Baldwin
Allissia Bandin
Bridget Beltran-Perez
Mikel Bonner
Christian Combs (Lake Havasu)
Kenya Cornejo Ramos
Carina Garcia
Luis Garcia Arellano
Luis Gaxiola Gonzalez
Lusadriana Ibarra Leon
Delanie Cencelewski (Kingman)
Daniela Marquez (San Luis)
Monica Marquez
Jerina Winter Gabriel
Jazmin Gutierrez
Nilda Hernandez
Maricela Moya Pena (San Luis)
Rachell Peña
Jocelyne Meza Marquez
Rosario Tirado Diaz (San Luis)
Abraham Viveros Valenzuela
Aspyn Walters
Marco Zepeda (San Luis)
David Ortiz
Edward Gutierrez (Tempe)
Trevonte McClain
Andrew Garcia (Arizona City)
Shailene Edwards (San Carlos)
Kristiann Ferreira (San Carlos)
Michelle Ramirez-Tunales
Epiphany Jones (Tucson)
Diana Arellano Barajas
Fernanda Damian Melchor
Ashley Hernandez
Gisela Laprada
Melissa Lopez
Nina Estrella
Kevin Evaristo
Kevin Moore (Phoenix)
Denisse Moreno Quiroz
Sergio Navarro
Abigail Garcia
Caitlin Gilbert-Kroen
Gunner Tillemans
Griselda Tizcareno
Chase Walther
Gabriela Lopez
Jose Martinez
Valentino Mejia
Cindy Mojica Bayardo
Erwin Panuco Gamez
Carlos Rivas
Sofia Rocha
Daniel Romero
Airam Sanchez
Nancy Suarez-Castro
Letsy Valencia Canizalez
Cassity Wellington
Yasmin Silva
Monica Lam
Eduardo Teodosio Campuzano
Selena Teran
Benedictine University at Mesa
Gala Escareno
Grand Canyon University
Vanesa Judith De La Vara (Phoenix)
Pricila Hultquist
Tyre Kim (Cottonwood)
Aydee Ramirez
Judit Vargas (Prescott Valley)
Kesha Leon (Laveen)
Sanny Cortes Nery
Erika Magana
Kayre Meza
Michelle Ramirez
Luis Pena Espinoza
Northern Arizona University
Gabriel Castillo (San Luis)
Damira Clark (Cottonwood)
Jakeb Cook
Rene Guerrero
Hayley Cunningham
Jaqueline Martinez (Bullhead City)
Esther Evins
Levi Parker (Clarkdale)
Shawntee Shegogue (Prescott Valley)
Alison Rosenberger
Nelva Valenzuela (Flagstaff)
Margaux Sarno (Prescott Valley)
Kaitlyn Williams
Yasmin Leon
Ana Barrios
Dustin Bright (Flagstaff)
Ackela Eldridge
Alyssa Manion
Jasmine Nava
Sarah Raff
Brian Varela (Flagstaff)
Brooklyn Merrill
Ashleigh Quintana
Airam Valenzuela
Andrea Hernandez Limon (Peoria)
Zowie McShane
Gabriella Muse
Kelly Pearson
Kimberly Rodriguez
Tohono O’odham Community College
Danielle Kouyoumdijian (Tucson)
Universidad Estatal de Sonora
Lizdy Valenzuela (San Luis Rio Colorado)
University of Arizona
Jan Carlo Acuna-Estrada
Jazael Carrasco (Tucson)
Valeria Castro Nunez
Nicole Cuadras
Anthony De La Cruz
Nancy Guzman
Luisa Hernandez
Caroline Karlinsey
Estefany Mota
Audrey Lim
Aaron Massis
Hugo Pedrego Estrada
Brianna Mendoza
Kendra Monroe (Phoenix)
Kaitlyn Moss (Tucson)
Katelyn Prouty
MaKenzi Thompson
Connor Fletcher
Katelyn Calvillo (Avondale)
Brenda Dicochea (Tucson)
Alejandra Becerra Linares
Dylan Boyd
Yasmine Flores
Elizabeth Hall
Anthony Margules
Jake Morin
Reyna Perez
Citlally Salazar
Adriana Sanchez
Zul Santiago
Harun AbdiIram Arce
Daniel Cruz
Paulina Gutierrez (Tucson)
University of Washington
Lawrence Zephier-Reed
Education Forward Arizona champions P-20 education attainment as critical to advancing the state’s economy and improving the quality of life of its residents. We do this by advocating for solutions, implementing innovative programs and services, and using our voice to drive progress towards the goals in the Arizona Education Progress Meter. Learn more at EducationForwardArizona.org.
