Investing in Tomorrow’s Leaders
We believe a thriving community depends on supporting the educational aspirations of students to help ensure they have every opportunity to become future leaders in a talented and skilled workforce. Scholarships and awards at the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona are as unique and diverse as the donors who establish them. These programs are made possible by the generosity of donors who want to support students in need of financial assistance to achieve their dreams.
UPDATE: We recognize the challenges that have come up in our application portal transition and we want to ensure that you have the time and flexibility needed to complete your application submissions to the CFSA Scholarship Program. We are extending the application deadline to Wednesday, March 5, 2025 at 5:00 PM MST.
Application Information
Eligibility Requirements
Baseline eligibility for most scholarships through CFSA will include the following requirements:
- Applicant must have a 2.5 GPA or higher.
- Applicant must be a high school graduate.
- Applicant must have graduated from a high school based in Southern Arizona, including Yuma, Pima, Santa Cruz, and Cochise counties or certain regions of Graham, Greenlee, Pinal, and Maricopa located south of the Gila River.
Please note: CFSA policy prohibits the disbursement of scholarships to for-profit educational institutions. If you intend to enroll or currently study at a for-profit institution, your application will not be eligible for these scholarships.
In keeping with the Foundation’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, CFSA policy also prohibits the disbursement of scholarships to any institution that discriminates in their employment practices and delivery of programs and services on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship, color, disability, economic circumstances, ethnicity, familial status, gender or gender identity, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, and/or veteran status. If CFSA determines that an applicant’s institution violates this policy, the applicant will be notified of the conflict.
Applications Open: Monday, January 6, 2025
Application Close: Wednesday, March 5, 2025
Recipients Notified: Monday, April 14, 2025
Please reach out to CFSA’s Scholarship Team at scholarships@cfsaz.org or call (520) 289-8003.
Scholarships
The Betty Smedley Memorial Scholarship is a corporate scholarship established by members of the Smedley family in honor of the late Betty Smedley, who was a founding member and dedicated much of her life to Hughes Federal Credit Union.
Qualified applicants must be an employee or the dependent or spouse of an employee of Hughes Federal Credit Union. The qualifying individual must have been employed for at least six months as of the application due date and work an average of at least 10 hours per week.
Scholarships are offered for one academic year. Recipients may reapply for up to four years of funding. Renewal of the scholarship is not guaranteed.
Applicants must have a minimum 2.5 GPA.
The Boilard-Harkin Scholarship was established to support students beginning their post-secondary studies at a community college. Awards are only given to students who are or will be attending community colleges. The scholarship awards up to $1,250 to recipients annually, and recipients may reapply for a second year of funding.
In addition to Baseline Criteria, applicants must enroll at an accredited community college.
The Bridget McCabe Memorial Scholarship was established to support students at any stage of life who have a love of learning. The scholarship awards up to $1,000 to recipients annually and is not renewable.
In addition to Baseline Criteria, applicants must demonstrate a lifelong love of learning.
The CFSA General Scholarship is renewable for up to 4 years, provided GPA and enrollment eligibility are maintained by the recipient. The first-year award is $2,000. The second-year award is $2,500. The third- and fourth-year award amount is $4,000 per year. The scholarship may be used at a community college or 4-year university. Students transferring from community college to university may carry the scholarship with them.
Applicants must maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA and be enrolled full-time to be eligible for this scholarship. Recipients must reapply to renew funding each year. Recipients who do not remain enrolled continuously during the 4 years of the award period must reapply and will be evaluated with other new applicants. No recipient will receive more than 4 total years of scholarship funding.
The Habib Yusif Sabbagh Scholarship was established to support refugee and immigrant youth escaping conflict in the Middle East attending the University of Arizona or Pima Community College. The scholarship awards up to $2,000 to recipients annually, and recipients may reapply for a second year of funding.
In addition to Baseline Criteria, applicants must:
- Be a refugee or immigrant escaping conflict in the Middle East, preference may be given to those of Iraqi descent.
- Enroll at the University of Arizona or Pima Community College.
The Jacques-Wegner Scholarship was established to support students attending a 4-year college. This scholarship awards $3,000 annually, and the recipient may re-apply to receive the scholarship up to four times.
In addition to Baseline Criteria, applicants must enroll at an accredited 4-year college or university.
The Marge Christensen Gould Memorial Scholarship was established in memory of Marge Gould.
Marge Gould taught at Catalina High School for 28 years, retiring in 2014. For over 18 of those years, she was the coordinator and teacher for the LEARN Program (an alternative literacy and workplace skills program for at-risk students). This scholarship is intended to continue her legacy. This scholarship awards $1,500 annually, and the recipient may re-apply to receive the scholarship up to four times.
In addition to Baseline Criteria, applicants must be graduating seniors from Innovation Tech, Catalina, Project More, TAP, Sunnyside, Desert View, or Star Academic High Schools.
The Michael and Carolyn Stelman Scholarship was established to support students who are pursuing an education in the areas of Culinary Arts, Music, or Photography. The scholarship awards up to $1,250 to recipients annually, and recipients may reapply for a second year of funding.
In addition to Baseline Criteria, applicants must pursue a major in the areas of Culinary Arts, Music, or Photography.
The Pauline Miguel Scholarship was established by Pauline Miguel’s daughters in her name to honor her commitment to the educational success of members of the Tohono O’Odham Nation. The scholarship awards a single $1,000 scholarship annually and cannot be renewed.
In addition to Baseline Criteria, applicants must:
- Be a graduating senior from Ajo, Baboquivari, Pueblo, Tucson, Desert View, or Sunnyside High schools.
- Preference is given to descendants of and/or members of the Tohono O’Odham Nation.
This Pizza Hut of Arizona, Inc./Kyte Enterprises Scholarship is a corporate scholarship established to benefit the employees and their dependents of certain Pizza Hut of Arizona stores.
Qualified applicants must be an employee, or the dependent or spouse of an employee of Pizza Hut of Arizona, Inc. or Kyte Enterprises. The qualifying individual must have been employed for at least two years as of the application due date and work a minimum average of 20 hours per week. For eligible stores, contact the Vice President of Human Resources at Pizza Hut of Arizona, Inc.
Scholarships are for one academic year. Recipients may reapply for up to four years of funding. Renewal of the scholarship is not guaranteed.
Applicants must have a minimum 2.5 GPA. Enrollment at for-profit educational institutions does not qualify for this scholarship.
The Ray Davies Community Services Scholarship was established by action of the Tucson Mayor and Council to authorize the Human Relations Commission to sponsor the scholarship to recognize student volunteer activities.
The scholarship provides financial support for Southern Arizona students who can demonstrate financial need, the potential for academic success, and a history of community service.
CFSA is privileged that the Rosa Louise Parks Scholarship is the only other scholarship in the country that Rosa Parks lent her name to besides those offered through her Detroit Foundation.
During her visit to Tucson in 1990, the then chair of the Tucson Human Relations Commission, Ray Davies, approached Mrs. Parks with the idea of the Commission establishing a fund at CFSA named in her honor. She understood that the Tucson Human Relations Commission had been making itself present in the community to address all forms of discrimination in keeping with its goal of promoting understanding, respect, and cooperation of all people.
Mrs. Parks had a deep love for all children and wanted the education of children to be her legacy. The scholarship provides financial support for Southern Arizona students who have financial need and the potential for academic success in college.
This Skyline Country Club Scholarship is a corporate scholarship made possible through the generous donations of members of Skyline Country Club to benefit employees and their families.
Qualified applicants must be employees, dependents, or spouses of Skyline Country Club employees. The qualifying individual must have been employed for at least six months as of the application due date and work an average of at least 10 hours per week.
Applicants may apply to receive either academic tuition support or funds toward their annual PGA Membership dues. Scholarships are awarded for one academic year. Recipients may reapply for up to four years of funding. Renewal of the scholarship is not guaranteed.
Applicants must have a minimum 2.5 GPA.
The Skyline Country Club Scholarship recipients are not eligible for other Community Foundation for Southern Arizona-administered scholarships during the same academic year.
To apply for the scholarship for academic tuition support, please follow the link in the application information table above. To apply for the scholarship toward PGA Membership dues, please follow the link here.
Apply
Splendido Residents Association Scholarships are corporate scholarships generously funded by donations from residents of Splendido at Rancho Vistoso to benefit employees and their families.
Applicant Criteria
The qualifying individual must have been employed for at least six months as of the application due date and work a minimum average of 12 hours per week. All applicants must maintain a 2.5 GPA for high school or undergraduate study or a 3.0 GPA for graduate study. Recipients may reapply for a maximum of four years of funding.
Please see the chart below for the award sizes based on the type of school and course load. Full-time is considered 12 or more credit hours per semester, and part-time is considered fewer than 12 credit hours per semester.
| Four-year College or University | Full-time | $13,000 |
| Four-year College or University | Part-time | $6,500 |
| Two-year Community College | Full-time | $4,000 |
| Two-year Community College | Part-time | $2,000 |
| Business or Vocational Schools | Varies | $10,000 |
| GED Program and ESL Courses | Varies | Cost of the program or courses |
Recipients are selected without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, gender, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, disability, ethnicity, marital status, familial status, gender identity, economic circumstances, and/or veteran status.
Please note: CFSA policy prohibits disbursement scholarships to for-profit educational institutions. If you intend to enroll or are currently studying at a for-profit institution, your application will not be eligible for these scholarships.
The Splendido Residents Association Scholarship recipients are not eligible for other Community Foundation for Southern Arizona-administered scholarships during the same academic year.
To apply for the scholarship for your studies at a four-year school, two-year school, business, or vocational school, please follow the link in the application information table above. To apply for the scholarship toward a GED program or ESL courses, please follow the link here.
Apply
The Southern Arizona Nursing Scholarship was established to reduce the financial burden for students seeking to obtain their Associate of Applied Science in Nursing degree in preparation for taking the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) and acquiring Registered Nurse (RN) certification. The scholarship will support in-state tuition and fees for the length of a student, after prerequisites, for the two-year (4 semesters) Associate of Applied Science in Nursing degree at an eligible non-profit Southern Arizona community college.
Applicants do not need to be graduates of a Southern Arizona high school, but they must be eligible for in-state tuition and enrolled at a Southern Arizona community college to be eligible for this scholarship. Applicants must also be accepted and enrolled in an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing degree in preparation for acquiring RN certification. Preference may be given to first-generation college students.
The Tucson Country Club Scholarship is a corporate scholarship made possible through the generous donations of members of Tucson Country Club to benefit employees.
Qualified applicants must be an employee of Tucson Country Club. The qualifying individual must have been employed for at least one year as of the application due date.
A scholarship of at least $1,000 will be awarded for one academic year. Recipients may reapply for up to four years of funding, with priority given to reapplicants. Renewal of the scholarship is not guaranteed.
Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA. They must also be enrolled at least half-time, a minimum of 6 units per semester. If a recipient falls below this minimum, they may make it up in the winter session or summer term.
Recipients of the TucsonCountry Club Scholarship are not eligible for other Community Foundation for Southern Arizona-administered scholarships during the same academic year.
