Image

The University of Arizona Hispanic Alumni Club will recognize members of the community who have made outstanding contributions to students, the Hispanic community and education at its Portraits of Excellence All-Stars scholarship fundraising event on Friday, May 3. 

Image

The award recipients are Roger Canchola, local philanthropist and McDonald's franchise owner of six restaurants across Tucson; Marla Franco, vice president for Hispanic-Serving Institution initiatives at UArizona; Oscar Lujan, retired executive director of UA Hispanic Alumni and co-adviser for Latino-serving organizations Gamma Alpha Omega sorority and Sigma Lambda Beta fraternity at UArizona; Sarah Miranda, special events coordinator for the city of Mesa; and Kasey Urquídez, UArizona chief enrollment officer, vice president for enrollment management and dean of undergraduate admissions. 

Image

"UAHA's goal is to bring the community together so we can support our UAHA scholars with scholarships, mentorship and 'ánimo' (a Spanish word meaning "encouragement") – building the leaders of tomorrow and helping them thrive," said Ramon Gutierrez, UAHA board president.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the UAHA Scholarship Endowment Fund. In the 2023-24 academic year, UAHA provided retention programming and nearly $1 million dollars in scholarships for approximately 200 UArizona students. Since 1986, UAHA has awarded more than 3,800 scholarships worth more than $10.6 million dollars, supporting both undergraduate and graduate students.

Image

"Being a UAHA scholar has exposed me to a variety of stories and perspectives through campus resources, Latinx staff and faculty, and opportunities in general," said scholarship recipient Abigail Ortiz-Velez. "Scholars are connected to UAHA alumni, campus organizations and other scholars. The amount of support that scholars receive not only through their first year but in their following years ensures their academic and personal success."

"With the financial support of this scholarship, I was able to live on campus during my first year and experience college to its fullest without any financial burdens. The emotional and academic support that the UAHA board and (Adalberto and Ana) Guerrero (Student Center) staff have offered me exceeds any sort of expectations," Ortiz-Velez added.

UAHA awarded its first scholarships in 1986 and launched its retention program in 1998. The retention program began as a partnership between UAHA and the Chicano/Hispano Student Affairs Office. The retention program is now supported by the Guerrero Student Center and Thrive Center, which help students develop networking and leadership skills while remaining mindful of their heritage.

Image

"The Hispanic alumni community's support and encouragement has motivated me to be successful and have a positive influence on my community as well as on my own life," said Czarina Monge, UAHA scholarship recipient. "This scholarship has significant cultural value for me. It honors my background while acknowledging the struggles and victories that come with being a Hispanic student pursuing a degree. Being a recipient gives me pleasure and a sense of accomplishment, which drives me to strive for academic excellence and make a significant contribution to the representation of Hispanic people in education."

The event will be held at Casino Del Sol Resort Ballroom, 5655 W. Valencia Road. For more information about the award recipients, visit alumni.arizona.edu/uaha_allstars.