Each year, Hispanic Heritage Month offers a moment to celebrate the rich culture, leadership, and achievements that have helped shape Arizona. It also reminds us how deeply Arizona’s success is tied to the strength and contributions of Arizona’s Hispanic community. At Education Forward Arizona, we proudly celebrate the students, families, and leaders who continue to shape our state’s future through education.
Arizona’s Future Depends on Latino Student Success
Nearly half of Arizona’s K–12 students are Latino. Their success is essential to Arizona’s economic growth, workforce development, and quality of life. Our state cannot reach the Achieve60AZ goal—60% of adults with a degree or credential by 2030—unless all students have the opportunity and support to thrive.
Every student deserves access to a high-quality education, regardless of their zip code. When more students continue education after high school, Arizona has everything to gain—billions in economic growth, stronger communities, and a brighter future.
Empowering Scholars and Building Opportunity
Through our scholarships and mentoring programs, Education Forward Arizona supports hundreds of Hispanic and Latino students as they pursue college degrees and career goals. Many are the first in their families to attend college—trailblazers navigating higher education and setting examples for future generations.
Thanks to the generosity of our donors and partners, we’re helping ensure that historically underserved students can achieve their goals and move Arizona closer to meeting its statewide attainment goal. Reaching 60% attainment will transform communities, strengthen our economy, and open doors for thousands of Arizona families.
Scholar Spotlight: Isaac
Among the inspiring students we serve is Isaac, an Education Forward Arizona Scholar from Yuma who attends Northern Arizona University. This past summer, Isaac interned with Senator Mark Kelly’s office in Washington, D.C., where he witnessed a Senate floor vote firsthand. He also works with the USDA, is graduating early this fall, and plans to attend graduate school—with aspirations of one day serving as a U.S. Senator.
Isaac says Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate progress and reflect on what’s still ahead:
“Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the achievements of our local trailblazers and leaders. It’s also a time to reflect on the progress we’ve made—and the representation we still need in leadership, media, and higher education. I’m grateful to those who fought for a seat at the table, and it’s important we continue their legacy. This month, students should celebrate themselves and think about how they’ll make an impact. I think about first-generation students who are breaking barriers and paving the way for others.”
Scholar Spotlight: Alumna Valery
As an Evaluation Assistant at Arizona State University, Valery supports the Arizona Housing Analytics Collaborative (AzHAC), where she collaborates with state and local partners to strengthen data systems that inform homelessness prevention and housing stability efforts across Arizona. Through this work, Valery helps advance data-driven strategies that promote equitable housing outcomes and stronger communities statewide.
Her reflection during this time of year:
“Hispanic Heritage Month is about honoring the strength and love that keep our families and communities together, even in the face of challenges. It’s a time to celebrate the generations before us who built a foundation of resilience and unity, and to recognize the importance of continuing that legacy. It reminds us that families are the heart of our culture that when we stay connected, uplift one another, and pass down our traditions, we preserve not just our heritage but our collective strength. Hispanic Heritage Month is also a call to keep families together, to nurture the bonds that give us purpose, and to ensure that future generations carry forward the same pride, perseverance, and sense of belonging that define who we are.”
Spotlight: Alumnus Luis
After graduating in 2022, Luis began a career in technology and product development. Today he’s helping to lead product strategy and development for transportation technology solutions.
He cares deeply about how those who have gone before him have shaped his own future:
“Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to honor the stories and sacrifices that shaped who we are today. It’s also a reminder to carry that pride and resilience forward to open doors for the next generation the same way others opened them for us.”
Spotlight: Alumna Sasha
Sasha is pursuing her master’s in healthcare innovation at Arizona State University while working at Navi Nurses. Her work reflects a deep commitment to advancing innovation and equity in healthcare, and she aspires to continue building solutions that promote high-quality, patient-centered care.
Sasha shares how her history impacts her future:
“Hispanic Heritage Month reminds me to be proud of where I come from and grateful for those who built the foundation that allows me to dream bigger and open new doors. It reminds me to keep learning, keep growing, and to trust that I belong in every space I step into.”
A Month to Reflect, Celebrate, and Act
Isaac’s, Valery’s, Luis’, and Sasha’s stories—along with those of hundreds of other Education Forward Arizona Scholars—reflect the promise and potential of Arizona’s Hispanic students. This month and every month, we celebrate their achievements and reaffirm our commitment to helping every student in Arizona pursue education beyond high school and succeed in college, career, and life.
Together, we can ensure a stronger, more equitable future for all Arizonans.
