Thank you to our Presenting Sponsors APS and Peter Banko
Sponsorships And Tickets Are Available Here
Join Us At The Heard Museum
5:30 p.m. VIP Reception I 6:30 p.m. Program Begins
Heroes of Education honors champions of education in Arizona and recognizing those who have a proven personal and professional commitment to supporting students and educational opportunities.
Celebrating A Recent Graduate
As We’re Heading Back To Class
Meet Amber Hernandez, a recipient of both the Education Scholarship Endowment and H.E. Hendrix Scholastic Scholarship, at Mesa Community College (MCC). Amber’s a first-generation college student who recently graduated from MCC with an associate degree and a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education – Dual Language. She pursued this degree pathway because Spanish is a highly spoken language in Arizona, and she wanted to have the skills needed to teach students from all backgrounds.
“Maricopa Community Colleges has helped me achieve this goal by giving me quality instructors, resources, and classes that I’m able to attend both virtually and in person,” said Hernandez. “Along with offering eight-week classes, scholarships allowed me to take more credits per semester, which allowed me to get to my bachelor’s degree faster.” Check out Amber’s video.
The Maricopa Community Colleges offer the most affordable path to a bachelor’s degree by providing a 75% savings on tuition – about one quarter the cost of a public, in-state university. Degrees offered include:
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
- Behavioral Sciences
- Business Administration (Accounting and Management)
- Data Analytics and Programming
- Early Childhood Education-Dual Language
- Elementary Education and Special Education
- Information Technology
- Nuclear Medicine Technology and Computed Tomography
- Public Safety Administration
- Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Our 10-college system offers multiple programs that address Arizona’s workforce needs in critical, emerging and high growth industries. For a list of future-ready career paths students can pursue this new semester, check out this article.
Maricopa Community Colleges Experience
Record Enrollment Growth
Enrollment is rising at a record-setting pace at Maricopa Community Colleges. Following 11 consecutive semesters of enrollment gains, the system is now experiencing double-digit growth heading into the Fall 2025 semester. The growth aligns with nationwide trends—with two-year institutions reporting a 6% increase in enrollment during the Fall 2024 semester—outpacing both public four-year and private nonprofit institutions.
“Community colleges have a reputation for creating accessible pathways to higher education, so it’s no surprise that we are seeing enrollment growth,” said Dr. Steven R. Gonzales, Chancellor of Maricopa Community Colleges. “Often, the issue isn’t that students don’t want to pursue a postsecondary education; it’s whether they can afford to go to college. As the Valley’s most affordable higher education provider, we offer learning opportunities that allow our students to pursue their passions and build meaningful careers.”
The 10-college system serves more than 140,000 students annually and educates more Arizona residents than any other college or university in the state. Read more.
EmpowerED For Student Success Campaign
Continues To Provide Funds For Student Success
As the Foundation and 10 colleges embark into the 3rd and final year of the EmpowerED for Student Success campaign, we are thrilled to share that we’ve raised an incredible $15,357,101 towards our $20 million campaign goal – thanks to the generosity and commitment of our wonderful donors.
Your support is powering life-changing opportunities for students and driving lasting impact in our community and we’re deeply grateful for every contribution that has brought us this far.
As we enter the final stretch, we invite you to join us in our efforts to make the last $4.7 million a reality. Together, we can cross the finish line and empower our students for success. To learn more about the campaign or make a contribution, please visit mcccdf.org/empowerED.
Launch of Maricopa Promise
Creates Opportunities To Support
Postsecondary Education
Our economy depends on a skilled workforce and Promise Programs help by closing the achievement gap for Arizona’s low to moderate-income populations, while diversifying a skilled workforce. Thanks to a cross-section of funders the Maricopa Promise program will launch across all ten Maricopa Community Colleges, this Fall.
Maricopa Promise, which will envelop the five existing Promise Programs funded by the Town of Queen Creek and the cities of Mesa, Peoria, Scottsdale and Tempe, will provide a pathway to making college more affordable, lowering student debt and encouraging those who think they can’t afford higher education by utilizing one model with uniform guidelines and parameters. Additionally, the program will go beyond the cost of tuition and will encompass childcare, transportation, housing, food and books along with multiple support and career services.
Maricopa Promise will launch this Fall with initial funding provided by the Helios Education Foundation, American Community Foundation, the City of Peoria, Cowley Family Foundation, SRP and Microsoft. Recently announced funding from the state’s Arizona Community Colleges Promise Program Fund (A.R.S. §15-1705) will open the Promise Program to support additional low-income students across Maricopa County. Each eligible Promise participant will receive a $600 cost of attendance scholarship per semester, for up to four (4) consecutive semesters to apply towards a CCL, associates or bachelor’s degree at any of the 10 colleges.
To learn more about the Maricopa Promise and discuss ways to support the scaling and sustainability of the Program, please contact, Nilam Patel, Chief Development Officer at [email protected].
New Billboards Help Fund Mesa College Promise Program
The Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation (MCCF), Mesa Community College (MCC), and the City of Mesa officially unveiled its Mesa College Promise billboards during a lighting ceremony held at the college’s Southern and Dobson campus. The billboards are expected to raise $400,000 annually for the Mesa College Promise program, benefitting eligible Mesa residents.
Why It Matters
Today, the cost of attending college may feel out of reach for many Americans, with tuition and fees at traditional four-year universities and colleges tripling since 2000. With the lowest tuition rate in Maricopa County, Maricopa Community Colleges remains the most affordable option for earning a credential, associate degree, or bachelor’s degree.
The Mesa College Promise creates impactful change by removing financial barriers to higher education. The scholarship provides two years of fully funded tuition and fees for eligible Mesa residents. Additionally, Mesa College Promise scholars receive personalized support while attending MCC
Where Can Commuters See the Mesa College Promise Billboards?
Operated by Becker Boards, the digital the billboards are located along the south end of MCC’s Southern and Dobson campus. They are visible to both westbound and eastbound traffic along the US 60.
Read the full story here and check out this video. To promote your business on the Mesa College Promise billboards, reach out directly to Willie White at [email protected] or contact former MCCF President and CEO, Brian Spicker at [email protected] to learn more about the program.
Data Center Industry and Maricopa Community Colleges Partner To Tackle Skilled Labor Shortage
Three key partners in Arizona’s growing digital infrastructure industry—QTS, EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure and the Phoenix Chapter of the Association for Computer Operations Management (AFCOM)—are investing in the future of data center talent by contributing a combined $48,350 to launch a new Data Center Operations Scholarship Fund benefiting students at Mesa Community College (MCC) and Estrella Mountain Community College (EMCC).
Administered by the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation, the fund provides tuition assistance to students enrolled in Introduction to Data Centers (course number AIT117) and Power Distribution Systems (course number AIT227) courses as part of a new Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Data Center Operations offered at the colleges. By earning the CCL, students are equipped to serve in high-demand roles such as mechanical, electrical and controls technicians.
Initial contributions include: $33,350 from QTS, $10,000 from AFCOM and $5,000 from EdgeCore.
The gifts will support up to 50 students in Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 semesters, with the fund positioned to grow through additional donations from other data center leaders and community stakeholders.
Read the full story, here.
It’s Not Only Back To School Time, It’s Make A Will Month
As students return for another year of academic growth, it’s a perfect time for supporters of higher education to reflect on the legacy you want to leave behind – especially during Make A Will Month.
A will is more than a legal document. It’s a reflection of your values, your story, and your vision for the future and by including us in your estate plans, you help ensure that future generations of learners have access to transformative opportunities.
Planned gifts support scholarships, educational programs, technology upgrades, and student support services that uplift entire communities, even if it is just 1% of your estate. Your bequest doesn’t just provide funding, it tells a story because when students walk into a classroom, receive a scholarship, or experience a life-changing internship, your legacy lives on through their journey.
Please consider making your mark in a lasting way. Click here to learn why planned giving isn’t just about what you leave behind; it’s about lifting others up ahead.
