Helios Ready Now Yuma Scholarship recipients for 2023 announced
Six students in Yuma were awarded a full-tuition scholarship to attend an Arizona college or university of their choice. The Helios Ready Now Yuma Scholarship worth up to $60,000 helps ensure students have the financial resources they need to pursue a college education that will ultimately transform their lives.
Congratulations to this year’s recipients:
• Taylor Rice, attending Northern Arizona University
• Trinity Guiden, attending Arizona State University
• Dana Valdenebro, attending University of Arizona
• Jacey Leon, attending Northern Arizona University
• Raymond Nunez, attending Northern Arizona University
• Kristy Mojardin, attending Arizona State University
These students were selected from a pool of 80 qualified applicants.
“These students worked extremely hard and are deserving of this scholarship,” said Grace Smith Kaus, director of postsecondary success initiatives for Helios Education Foundation. “We are excited for the bright future that’s ahead for them.”
Since 2019, Helios Education Foundation has been awarding the Helios Ready Now Yuma Scholarship to students in the Yuma Union High School District. One student is selected every year from each of the high schools in the district. The scholarship is worth up to $15,000 a year, and it’s renewable for up to three additional years.
“It means a lot because my family struggles a lot with money,” said San Luis High School senior Dana Valdenebro, who plans to study computer science at the University of Arizona next year. “So, I was applying to all of the scholarships I could to get the money to go to a university and not have a lot of debt. I’m really happy. I feel relieved. I’m shaking right now because I didn’t expect it.”
This year’s recipients were surprised with the news at school. A large check for up to $60,000 and balloons were presented to them by school staff in front of their peers, teachers, and others.
“I’m blessed,” said Yuma High School senior Raymond Nunez, who will attend Northern Arizona University in the fall. “I plan to major in civil engineering and come back and help out the city with new and improved infrastructure.”
Watch the video below to meet the students and see their reactions as they find out they have been awarded the Helios Ready Now Yuma Scholarship.