Kofa High School senior Carlos Salazar is one of six students nationwide to receive the Albert Lee Wright, Jr. Memorial Migrant Scholarship funded by the National Association of State Directors of Migrant Education (NASDME).

Salazar, who is a part of Kofa’s migrant program, traveled to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to receive the scholarship at the National Migrant Education Conference and give a speech to an audience of migrant educators on May 1.

“This scholarship means a great deal to me,” Salazar said. “Since I came from a migrant family we don’t earn a lot of money and so $5,000 can go a long way for me, and this definitely helps ease the burden on my family.”

Salazar plans to attend Arizona State University in the fall with a goal of obtaining his Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and becoming a Border Patrol Agent. 

“Carlos is going to achieve all his goals because he is determined to have a career,” Kofa Migrant Advisor Leticia Pereda said. “I would love for all the students to take advantage of these opportunities that they have…and I hope we find more stories like Carlos’.”

Diana Ochoa, who was a member of Kofa’s Class of 2019, was the last Yuma Union High School District student to receive the Wright Scholarship.

According to the NASDME website, the scholarship is named after Wright, who was an advocate for migratory students, and is intended to assist dedicated migrant family students with a significant financial need who have moved with their family or on their own for agricultural or fishing employment.