Author: Isaac Navarrete

Posted on: 06/26/2025

Meet Helios Ready Now Yuma Scholar: Isaac Navarrete

Kofa High School, Class of 2022

Northern Arizona University

I remember the worry I felt as a senior at Kofa High School because I didn’t know how I would pay for college. My mom, a teacher at the school, always said, “We’ll make it work.” And we did make it work thanks to the Helios Ready Now Yuma Scholarship.

I was surrounded by my mom, principals, and counselors when I was surprised with the news that I had been awarded the scholarship. It was a shocking and exciting moment for me. This scholarship has enabled me to attend Northern Arizona University debt-free and pursue opportunities beyond my imagination.

As a proud Yuman and Kofa graduate, I found my passion for politics and communication early on through work with my state representative. That experience led me to major in Strategic Communication with dual emphases in Public Relations and Advertising.

At NAU, I’ve participated in many programs that have shaped my professional skills and helped me learn outside of the classroom. All of these opportunities were made possible by donor-funded awards, including the Helios RNY scholarship. I have: 

  • Served as Public Affairs Specialist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Office in Arizona, working directly with rural leaders and political appointees. In this role, I have had the privilege of meeting many rural leaders across Arizona and the country, staffing political appointees, and practicing my communication skills outside of the classroom.
  • Interned in Digital Media with U.S. Senator Mark Kelly in Washington, D.C. It has been a dream of mine to work for Sen. Kelly, and I am extremely honored and excited to participate in this opportunity. 
  • Studied abroad in Vienna, Austria, through a faculty-led program called “New Roots: Social Media Storytelling.” I worked with a Viennese-based non-profit that empowers female refugees through photography. That experience sparked my interest in photography and led me to pursue a minor in the field.
  • Represented NAU at New York Fashion Week Fall 2023. This opportunity helped me embrace my creativity and interest in public relations.
  • Participated in the Lumberjack Thrive Externship program through which I was paired with an NAU School of Communication alum who has an executive role in a federal agency. 
  • Completed a Spanish immersion program in Querétaro and Mexico City. Not only did this experience help me stay connected to my culture and improve my Spanish, but I completed my dream to travel through the heart of Mexico.

I’m set to graduate this December and look back with appreciation of the Helios Ready Now Yuma Scholarship for getting me where I am today. After graduation, I hope to continue pursuing politics and public service. My dream is to one day become a U.S. Senator or in a capacity serve those around me.