2024 August InMaricopa Magazine

EDUCATION

CAC Foundation makes big scholarship opportunity strides BY ANGELA ASKEY, CAC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS & MARKETING

A T A TIME WHEN THE COST OF HIGHER education keeps rising, the Central Arizona College Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has been making significant efforts to ensure education remains accessible for students in Pinal County and nearby communities. A testament to the Central Arizona College Foundation’s commitment to student success is the substantial increase in the number of scholarships and the total dollars awarded to students in the most recent academic year. As of the end of May, students attending Central Arizona College have been awarded 299 scholarships from the foundation, up from 258 scholarships in the previous academic year. The total dollars awarded surged from

He added, “For the past two years, we have created a weekly online presence where we are educating our faculty, staff and students on the available scholarships, what the requirements are and what the awarded amount will be per semester for our recipients. Our financial aid department has been incredible during this two-year process and is 100% dedicated to our students on a daily basis.” Founded in 1968 by a group of public- spirited citizens in Pinal County, the Central Arizona College Foundation is committed to increasing resources, raising funds and building partnerships to support the mission of Central Arizona College. The collaboration between the college and the foundation exemplifies a successful model of community and corporate partnership in educa- tion. Endowments and scholarships established by corporations, foundations and individuals provide a steady and significant source of fund- ing for the needs of the college and students. Newly created scholarships include Women in Engineering Scholarship, Calib Rodriguez Culinary Scholarship, James Whitson McQueen IT & Nursing Scholarships, Bright Night Energy Electrician/HVAC Certification Scholarship, as well as Goldman Pearl Undergraduate, Transfer, Promise and Literary Arts & Languages Scholarships. Additionally, over the past year, scholarships honoring former instructor and Cross Country/ Track and Field Coach George Young, and Director of Financial Aid Elisa Juarez, have been created to memorialize the contribution of these beloved individuals to the CAC community. In addition to these individual scholarships, the Central Arizona College Foundation proudly partners with Central Arizona College to provide the Pinal Promise, formerly known as Promise for the Future, which provides two academic (fall/spring) years of tuition to all students who reside in Pinal County and graduate from a Pinal County high school.

$164,000 in the 2022-23 academic year to an impressive $213,592 last year. “The CAC Foundation is dedicated to the students and families of Pinal County,” says Craig Kurtz, executive director of the Central Arizona College Foundation. “Our goal is to get our students across the finish line with an associate’s degree or a trade certification with zero debt or close to zero debt.” CRAIG KURTZ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CAC FOUNDATION

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