For the fourth year in a row, Yuma Union High School District seniors will have the opportunity to apply for one of the biggest surprises of their lives.

The window for the 2022 Helios Education Foundation Ready Now Yuma Scholarship application is open. Selected applicants receive up to $15,000 per year, renewable up to three additional years.

The scholarship is exclusively available to one student at each of the six YUHSD campuses with winners announced in the spring by way of a surprise video, complete with balloons and an oversized check.

The program supports seniors with financial need attending an accredited post-secondary institution and pursuing any field of study. Students must be enrolled full-time in an accredited college or university and pursuing a 4-year degree. This scholarship is renewable if students are in good standing and maintain the required Grade Point Average.

For more information and to fill out the required application before the deadline of March 15, 2022, students are encouraged to visit: https://www.azfoundation.org/Scholarships/Scholarship-Opportunities

This is the fourth year of the scholarship program, which has awarded up to $1.08 million in scholarships to YUHSD students during the past three school years. Here are the previous scholars: 

2020-21
Marley Barker, Cibola High School, Arizona State University
Jordan Bunte, Gila Ridge High School, Northern Arizona University
Monthserrat Cano, Kofa High School, Arizona State University
Jovanna Wesley, Kofa High School, Northern Arizona University
Georgette Encinas, San Luis High School, George Washington University
Jethzly Navarro, Yuma High School, Arizona State University

2019-20
Serena Felix, Cibola High School, Northern Arizona University
Adrian Hernandez, Gila Ridge High School, Arizona State University
William Krueger, Kofa High School, Grand Canyon University
Naiara Avila, San Luis High School, Northern Arizona University
Iris Binuya, Vista High School, Arizona Western College
Caroline Martinez, Yuma High School, Northern Arizona University

2018-19
Karen Campa, Cibola High School, University of Arizona
Julieta Taraborrelli, Gila Ridge High School, University of Arizona;
Epiphany Jones, Kofa High School, Arizona State University;
Fransheska Salgado, San Luis High School, Arizona State University;
Lesley Barajas, Vista High School, Northern Arizona University
Anthony Nunez Romero, Yuma High School, University of Arizona.

As part of the awarding of the scholarship, YUHSD and Helios have partnered to surprise students. To see the recorded surprises, visit YUHSD’s official YouTube channel or click the following link: https://youtu.be/p2jWSf6Yr1g

About Helios Education Foundation

Helios Education Foundation is dedicated to creating opportunities for individuals in Arizona and Florida to achieve a postsecondary education. The Foundation’s work is driven by four fundamental beliefs in Community, Investment, Equity, and Partnership.  Helios invests in programs and initiatives across the full education continuum – from early grade success through postsecondary education.  In Arizona, where Latino students comprise the largest percentage of the K-12 public school population, the Foundation is implementing its Arizona Latino Student Success initiative focused on preparing all students - especially students in high poverty, underserved Latino communities - for success. Through Helios’ Florida Regional Student Success Initiative, the Foundation is helping first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented students from the state's large population centers of Miami, Orlando and Tampa Bay achieve a postsecondary education. 
Since 2006, the Foundation has invested more than $242 million in education programs and initiatives in both states. To learn more about Helios, visit www.helios.org