Education Forward Arizona Celebrates 1,000 Graduates and 20 Years of Impact
Education Forward Arizona is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, marking two decades of impact and honoring the achievements of more than 1,000 graduates.
Since its inception, Education Forward Arizona has awarded more than $27 million in scholarships, helping students from diverse backgrounds access higher education and achieve their academic and career goals. These graduates have contributed an estimated $2.2 billion in economic gains to Arizona, reinforcing the long-term value of investing in education.
“For the past two decades, we have done more than just advocate for access to quality education for all students,” said Rich Nickel, President and CEO of Education Forward Arizona. “We have directly supported them in pursuit of higher education. The ongoing success of our 1,000 graduates is a testament to the power of education to transform lives, uplift communities and drive economic growth. Postsecondary education remains one of the best investments we can make, and we are committed to ensuring more Arizonans have access to these opportunities.”
One alumna is Araceli DeLeon, a member of the first cohort of scholarship recipients. A 2005 graduate of Arizona State University, she now works as a Legal Administrative Assistant at Swift Transportation, a role she has held for nearly five years after dedicating 15 years to the company.
“I am eternally grateful for the support I received from Education Forward Arizona,” DeLeon shared. “The scholarship helped me fund my education and set me on a path toward success. Now, I focus on my family and ensuring my children have access to the same opportunities I did.”
Over the past twenty years, Education Forward Arizona scholars have graduated from 47 institutions, including two-year colleges. Half (49.7%) earned degrees from Arizona State University, 20% from the University of Arizona, and 18% from Northern Arizona University.
Many of these students were supported through key partnerships with organizations that are committed to ensuring access to higher education. Among other sources, funding came from:
- GEAR UP (376 graduates)
- Helios Education Foundation (256 graduates)
- Freeport-McMoRan (109 graduates)
- Carstens Family Funds (105 graduates)
Another alumna, Griselda Zetino, is pursuing her passion for education as director of communications at Helios Education Foundation. A 2011 graduate of Arizona State University, Zetino spent more than a decade as a journalist in Arizona, covering critical issues for both local and national media outlets. Her outstanding efforts earned several honors, including an Edward R. Murrow Award for Hard News in 2022 and the Arizona Broadcasters Association’s Newcomer Award in 2019.
“Receiving a scholarship helped make attending and graduating from college a reality for me,” she shared. “I faced significant financial barriers to higher education but thanks to this scholarship and guidance from the organization, I became the first in my family to attend and graduate from college. Beyond financial assistance, this scholarship was a powerful reminder that there were people and organizations who believed in my potential and were willing to invest in my future.”
Alumni from the organization’s 20 years’ worth of graduates gathered recently for a special event that highlighted the organization’s commitment to advancing postsecondary education in Arizona and the significant economic benefits it brings to the state.
“As we celebrate this milestone, we also recognize that our work is far from over,” added Nickel. “None of this would be possible without the dedication of our partners, donors and supporters. Thanks to their generosity and belief in the power of education, we are on our way to helping the next 1,000 students graduate and thrive.”
Education Forward Arizona remains committed to closing educational attainment gaps and ensuring every student in Arizona has the opportunity to succeed. By continuing to invest in scholarships and initiatives that promote higher education, the organization is building a brighter future for individuals, families, and the state as a whole. Findings from the recent study Billions to Gain, conducted in partnership with the Helios Education Foundation, show that with a 20% increase in enrollment, Arizona would gain more than $5 billion per high school cohort from higher lifetime earnings, better health and increased workforce productivity.