Change Lives Through Education
Scholarships for tomorrow's leaders.
Made possible by you.
Change Lives Through Education
Scholarships for tomorrow's leaders.
Made possible by you.
EmpowerED
Giving Is Who We Are
We make post-secondary education and certifications accessible and affordable.
Maricopa Community Colleges District Foundation has been awarding scholarships and providing program support since 1977. And we’re just getting started.
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Real Students, Real Stories, Real Impact
We are committed to empowering students and fostering learning through financial support, workforce and skill development, and removing the biggest hurdles to obtaining an education. Support today ensures success tomorrow. That is the mission we fight for.
Real Students, Real Stories, Real Impact
We are committed to empowering students and fostering learning through financial support, workforce and skill development, and removing the biggest hurdles to obtaining an education. Support today ensures success tomorrow. That is the mission we fight for.
Montgomery
"Not only does this scholarship aid me in my educational funds, but it also helps me focus on areas in...
"I want to start by saying thank you. Thank you for supporting me as I continue my educational journey and for seeing the potential and vision I have for my life. I chose to return to school because I wanted to expand more in my career and exceed my expectations in life. Glendale Community College was a perfect choice in deciding where to pick up my college education because it makes commuting to and from home much more accessible. While at Glendale Community College, I plan to receive my Associate in Science with an emphasis in Engineering and continue onward to Arizona State University to earn an Electrical Engineering degree. While in school, I also work a full-time job as an electrician, but I plan to change careers while still expanding my knowledge of electricity and having a bachelor's degree in Electrician engineering will help me do so. Having been an electrician for six years now, I plan to use my degree to get into the field of electrical design in construction or maintaining and developing power systems and power grids. Receiving any amount of funds for my education helps me greatly because I fund my education while still supporting myself. Paying for tuition has its challenges when I want to start building a healthy financial journey and setting myself up forty or fifty years from now. At this point in my life, I feel it is very important to receive any help in tuition funds because about three months ago I sustained a knee injury that required me to take time off from my job and stacked up medical bills. Not only does this scholarship aid me in my educational funds, but it also helps me focus on areas in my life that are equally important. My education journey will be long and slow due to working full time, but my dreams of receiving a degree in electrical engineering and improving my career overall are still big and bright. Again, I would like to express my gratitude for the funds I have been gifted from the James Adam Ross Memorial Scholarship."
Marquita
"I do not have the financial support of any family, nor do I have a lot of resources to support...
"First, I would like to say thank you. I am sincerely honored to be selected to receive this scholarship. This scholarship will help me to continue my education, purchasing textbooks and nursing school supplies. I do not have the financial support of any family, nor do I have a lot of resources to support me in attending college. So, this will greatly relieve any financial burden I may incur as I work toward completing my program. I have always worked hard in school, and I have done well. By receiving this scholarship shows me that my hard work is paying off. I decided to attend Glendale Community College and the Maricopa Nursing CEP program because of its programs accreditation and the stringent application and admission requirements. The faculty who teaches this program are working professionals and provide valuable and relevant information. I take my education very seriously and intend to push through any obstacles I may face. I've gone farther than I ever imagined I could. This journey into becoming a nurse started for me because of the crisis our world faced during COVID-19. As a professional nurse, I hope to fulfill my purpose of helping others by encouraging and advocating for others. I am committed to my education and want to be a role model to my peers by being dependable and hardworking and encouraging to them as well. I will end this by saying how extremely thankful I am for this opportunity and to continue my education."
Megan
"Nursing school is an exciting journey, and this scholarship allows me to pursue my dream of helping others!"
"I am incredibly grateful for the generous Boals Family Scholarship you provided. Your assistance has reduced my financial burden, allowing me to concentrate fully on my studies and take advantage of valuable opportunities at Estrella Mountain Community College. My educational goal is to earn a nursing degree because I am passionate about helping others and making a difference in the healthcare field. I've always been drawn to nursing because of its caring and compassionate nature, as well as the opportunity to provide critical care to patients in need. I believe that nursing is a highly rewarding and fulfilling profession that allows me to make a positive contribution to society. Nursing school is an exciting journey, and this scholarship allows me to pursue my dream of helping others! Your generosity has paved the way for me to participate in internships and other opportunities! These experiences are shaping me into a capable and confident future professional. I am determined to maximize your investment by excelling academically and contributing to the community. Your generosity fuels my desire to succeed and inspire others."
Richard
"My goal is to reach all of the youth who are in low-income housing and in need of therapy but...
"I am overjoyed for this opportunity to continue my education with this scholarship. Winston Churchill once said, "Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm." And while I never define my obstacles as ‘failures,' I mark my success by my repeated perseverance through adversity. I have faced several challenges over the years, from being obese to homelessness; yet I continued to earn exemplary grades and graduate at the top of my class. My educational goal is to finish school at South Mountain Community College to earn my AAA and then transfer to an NAU to finish my bachelor's degree. My future goal is to become a therapist who counsels kids who are mentally challenged. My goal is to reach all of the youth who are in low-income housing and in need of therapy but can't afford it because of healthcare issues. My plan is to open an outreach program where kids can come and have a safe place to do their homework and hang out without the influence of the streets and crime. My degree is in applied behavioral health and I have a year left to finish a South Mountain Community College. Again, thank you for this opportunity to continue my education with this scholarship."
Imteaz
"Seeing that I got this scholarship was almost unreal to me because I didn't think I would be one of...
"I just want to say thank you for this scholarship. It means a lot to me! I attended GCC because it was close to my house, but now that I am in my second year at GCC, I love this campus and the people that go there. I'm a Hijabi Muslim, and I never feel like I am being judged based on my religious beliefs, and I am happy to say that! I am majoring in Speech and Hearing Science. I love my major, and even though it's a bit difficult at times, I know it will be worth it. I'm planning on pursuing audiology! Ever since I read about it, I fell in love with the career. After I graduate with my Bachelor's degree, I plan to get my doctorate. I plan to work with kids at a hospital because I have always dreamed of working at a hospital with kids. Getting this scholarship helped me a lot with getting the required books for my classes and helped me pursue my major. I love school, and I love that I get this opportunity that a lot of people would want. My parents have always encouraged me and my siblings to get an education so we can live a life where we don't have to worry about money. I was in the ACE program when COVID happened. I loved all the classes I took, and my professors were sweet and understanding. I'm glad that I applied to the ACE program. Seeing that I got this scholarship was almost unreal to me because I didn't think I would be one of the lucky students to have this opportunity, so I want to thank you for that. I was so excited that I went and told my mom right away, and the smile on her face was proud, so I thank you again."
Omar
"Do not allow yourself to preemptively shut out an opportunity. Never tell yourself you have no chance and let self-doubt...
"My name is Omar, and I now work in IT. However, this wasn't always my trajectory in life. I had previously studied and spent most of my professional life in business and customer service. While I usually was the guy most people would ask about problems such as why an electronic device was not turning on or behaving in a certain manner, I never considered myself for a career in IT, let alone cloud computing. One major deterrent, as many encounter, was always finances. That was until one fateful day through a communication from MCC I learned of the Garcia Family Foundation Cloud Computing scholarship program. I spent some time considering if I should dedicate the time to submit my application. With no formal IT or direct tech experience, why would they pick me over anyone else? Becoming tired with my own indecision I decided to give it a try and put my best foot forward. I tried to highlight any skills that translate or relate to the IT field and above all else my willingness and desire to learn. After a few suspenseful weeks I saw the email notifying me I was in consideration for the scholarship. During the program I think we all learned more about general IT and Cloud Computing than a majority of people learn about the two subjects in their life. Which, while great, was also one of the difficulties of the program. Just as with many other situations I think we are our biggest barricade. At times when the studying was overwhelming, I collected myself and tried to remind myself of why I am doing this to keep moving toward the goal at the end of the road, no matter how rough the journey. For any incoming scholars that may encounter this issue, let your close friends and family know what you are working toward and for their cooperation to help keep you on track and study. Many terms and acronyms are very similar, a letter difference could make or break your scores and credibility. Research studying methods and find what works best for you. Personally, I found great success in flash cards and utilization of the pomodoro technique. Just like many things, those two methods were taught to me by the great professors we had. They are an outstanding resource with experience that cannot be replaced. If there is ever anything you are unsure of, reaching out to someone experienced in the subject is often a great step to learning. With all these components combined I was able to study for and pass my CompTIA A+, Amazon Web Services Practitioner and Cloud Architect certifications. Toward the end of the program the Garcia Foundation and MCC had also put together a job fair for the scholars. It was from this that I was able to be called for additional interviews with one of the companies present and secure an internship. That internship then led to a full-time job that I plan on making my career. Just because I am no longer in college does not mean my learning stopped. On the contrary, I am still learning something new every day and plan on working toward my CCNA certification and implementing my AWS certifications in the future. If there is only one thing anyone who hears my story takes away: Do not allow yourself to preemptively shut out an opportunity. Never tell yourself you have no chance and let self-doubt stop you. The worst they can tell you is no. Even if it is not the definitive best outcome, it can still change your life for the better and help you get out of the cycle and make the change you are looking for. However, none of this would have been possible without the Garcia Family Foundation, MCC and everyone else involved in the process. For that, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to everyone for the opportunity and for taking a chance on me and believing in me."
Leave a Legacy
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