As an organization, Desert Schools truly believes that every student should be able to pursue their dream of obtaining a college degree regardless of their financial situation. Our Desert Schools Community Service Scholarship enables us to award seven deserving high school seniors and for the first year in our history we are proud to have recognized community-minded college freshmen with three Community Service Scholarship Awards. All 10 recipients have displayed both scholastic excellence and community giving.
On May 15, 2012, we held our Eight Annual Desert Schools Community Service Scholarship Awards Ceremony, during which seven outstanding high school seniors were awarded with scholarships (one $10,000 award, one $5,000 award, and five $1,000 awards) as well as iPads. We also awarded scholarships to three exceptional college freshmen (one $6,000 award, one $3,000 award, and one $1,000 award) as well as iPads.
Each of the scholarship applicants were required to complete 50 or more hours of community service between June 2011 and March 2012, in addition to achieving scholastic excellence and being a member of Desert Schools for at least six months.
The following students were recognized for going above and beyond the scholarship requirements and for their commitment to making our community a better place.
Name: Conner Wareing
School: Brophy College Preparatory
GPA: 4.095
Total Community Service Hours: 122
Community Service Description: Volunteering for the Phoenix Zoo working with animals
Future Plans: Attending ASU to major in Interdisiplinary Studies
Scholarship amount: $1,000
Name: Savannah Flores
School: Payson High School
GPA: 3.0
Total Community Service Hours: 200
Community Service Description: Volunteering her time as a student trainer for the Payson High School Athletic program
Future Plans: Attending Yavapai Community College to study nursing
Scholarship amount: $1,000
Name: Justin Fordham
School: Highland High School
GPA: 3.6
Total Community Service Hours: 158
Community Service Description: Volunteer tutor for 6th grade students
Future Plans: Attending Chandler-Gilbert Community College then ASU to become an Anesthesiologist
Scholarship amount: $1,000
Name: Emily Huffman
High School: Boulder Creek High School
GPA: 3.74
Total Community Service Hours: 95
Community Service Description: Volunteer at her school’s key club serving her community
Future Plans: Attending ASU to study Public Service and Public Policy
Scholarship amount: $1,000
Name: Catherine Aparicio
High School: Independence High School
GPA: 3.51
Total Community Service Hours: 109
Community Service Description: Volunteer at St. Vincent de Paul and Maryvale Family YMCA where she feeds the hungry and works with children
Future Plans: Attending ASU to study Art or Photography
Scholarship amount: $1,000
Name: Lauren Regnier
High School: Gilbert High School
GPA: 3.16
Total Community Service Hours: 152
Community Service Description: Volunteer at the Starbright Foundation and Shepherds Care Ministries where she spends time mentoring teen girls who are victims of abuse and sex crimes
Future Plans: Attending Grand Canyon University to study Christian Studies and Business so she can become a Youth Director or a Spokesperson for non-profit organization when she graduates
Scholarship amount: $5,000
Name: Andrew Lee
High School: Red Mountain High School
GPA: 4.6
Total Community Service Hours: 275
Community Service Description: Volunteer through the Boy Scouts where he built 32 physical therapy scooter boards for students with disabilities in the Mesa School District which brings him closer to becoming an Eagle Scout
Future Plans: Attending ASU to become an Engineer
Scholarship amount: $10,000
Name: Joseph Silva
College/Major: Gila Community College /Arizona Education Curriculum Certificate
GPA: 3.91
Total Community Service Hours: 56
Community Service Description: Volunteer at the Payson Police Department while he works part-time and attends school
Future Plans: Attending ASU to study Criminal Justice
Scholarship amount: $1,000
Name: Emmanuel Aire-Oaihimire
College/Major: Paradise Valley Community College /Electrical Engineering
GPA: 3.33
Total Community Service Hours: 170
Community Service Description: Volunteer at the Valley Youth Theater assisting with the production of the play “Hairspray”, the Boys & Girls Club teaching dance, and the YMCA, coaching children in basketball
Future Plans: With his degree in Electrical Engineering, he hopes to create robots that can administer medical treatment to third world countries.
Scholarship amount: $3,000
Name: Joell Springer (recipient of last year’s $10,000 Desert Schools High School Community Service Scholarship)
College/Major: Grand Canyon University/Counseling
GPA: 4.0
Total Community Service Hours: 395
Community Service Description: Volunteer through her university helping with multiple projects including Serve the City Day, CGU Canyon Kids program, and the Run to Fight Children’s Cancer
Future Plans: With her degree, she plans on becoming a counselor to help assist people with their personal struggles in life
Scholarship amount: $6,000
Congratulations to all our scholarship recipients. We wish them the very best.
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