Posted on: 05/19/2025

Helios Education Foundation and YUHSD announce Class of 2025 Ready Now Yuma Scholarship recipients

YUMA, AZ – Helios Education Foundation and Yuma Union High School District announced six recipients of the annual Helios Ready Now Yuma Scholarship this week.

 

Each scholarship is worth up to $15,000 per year and is renewable for up to three additional years. The scholarship program is part of Helios’ more than $3 million investment over 10 years in YUHSD students through the scholarship program, which began with the Class of 2019.

 

“At Helios, we believe every student deserves the opportunity to pursue their dreams through education,” said Paul J. Luna, President and CEO of Helios Education Foundation. “The Helios Ready Now Yuma Scholarship is an investment in the talent and potential of Yuma’s students. We’re proud to support these remarkable scholars as they take the next step toward a brighter future for themselves, their families, and their communities.”

 

Students were surprised at school by their school counselors and principals with oversized checks and balloons. A video compilation of the surprises can be viewed on YUHSD’s YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/HeliosScholars25

 

“Receiving the Helios Scholarship is like a blessing since I was really stressing about how I was going to pay for college,” said Gila Ridge High School senior Alexandra Alvarez Cervantes, who is planning to attend Northern Arizona University in the fall. “I was going to get loans and I was really scared of that because I didn’t want to drown myself in debt. I was also debating between not even going to a university and just staying [in Yuma]. So, this solves everything.”

 

The Helios Ready Now Yuma Scholars program supports graduating seniors with financial need who are attending an accredited post-secondary institution full-time and pursuing a 4-year degree in any field of study. Scholarships are renewable if students remain in good academic standing and maintain the required GPA.

 

Seventy qualified applicants were considered by Helios and the Arizona Community Foundation. 

Here are this year’s recipients, their high school, and what college or university they plan to attend:  

  • Salma Murguia, Cibola High School, Arizona State University
  • Alexandra Alvarez Cervantes, Gila Ridge High School, Northern Arizona University
  • Ayzia Ramos, Kofa High School, Arizona State University
  • Yaslin Gutierrez, San Luis High School, Arizona State University
  • Alejandro Bautista, Vista High School, Arizona Western College
  • Lennart Wallstrom, Yuma High School, Arizona State University