Arizona Diamondbacks and University of Phoenix team up for education

PHOENIX - The Arizona Diamondbacks and University of Phoenix will join together for an evening focused on education during the D-backs home game against the Houston Astros on Friday, Oct. 2 at Chase Field. Five Arizona residents will be recognized with full-tuition scholarships to pursue either bachelor's or master's degrees at University of Phoenix. All the recipients will be attending the game, where Diamondbacks all-star first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, his wife Amy and University of Phoenix president Timothy P. Slottow will present them with their scholarships during a pre-game ceremony.

"A college education opens opportunities that might not otherwise exist, allowing students to not only transform their lives, but the lives of those around them," said Slottow. "We are excited to join with the Diamondbacks to recognize these individuals who are taking that next step in transforming their lives and earning a college degree."

"We are really proud that Paul decided to continue his education and complete his degree with our partner at University of Phoenix," said Derrick Hall, D-backs President & CEO. "Now Paul and Amy both have decided to pay it forward and we are excited to work with them on helping fund education for other deserving students."

This year's recipients will be recognized with the Teaming Up for Education scholarship, now in its second year. Developed with Paul Goldschmidt, a University of Phoenix alumnus, the Teaming Up for Education scholarship provides Arizona residents with full-tuition scholarships to help them achieve their educational and career goals. This year's recipients include:

• Jean-Paul Beleshay: A Tempe resident pursuing an MBA with a concentration in Energy Management in order to help address energy needs in remote communities.
• Ryan DeAustin: A Phoenix resident and teacher pursuing a Master of Arts in Education/Administration and Supervision so that he can step into a larger role as a school and community leader.
• Kimberly Carswell-Hamblin: A Mesa resident pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing/Master in Health Administration in order to excel as a health care professional.
• Michael Carter: A Chandler resident pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Business Management to help him turn his lifelong interest in baseball into a career as a coach or leader of a baseball academy.
• Lara Hoover: A Phoenix resident working for the Arizona Department of Child Safety pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration to help her even more effectively create a safe and healthy environment where children can thrive.

 Additionally, two Arizona residents will receive the 2015 Spirit of Service Award during the pre-game ceremony. University of Phoenix developed this award to recognize its graduates for their efforts to better the communities in which they live and work. This year's recipients are:

• Zeny Stuart: A resident of Phoenix, Stuart earned her Bachelors of Science of Small Business Management from University of Phoenix. She is a former 82^nd Airborne Paratrooper and served in Operation Iraqi Freedom II. She has worked at Madison Street Veterans Association helping homeless veterans get back on their feet, and is currently employed with the City of Tempe where she helps to reduce barriers for the city's homeless population. Stuart also volunteers her time at the Community Housing Partnership, which provides low-cost housing to the public.
• Christa Sorenson: Another Phoenix resident, Sorenson earned a MBA with a Concentration in Marketing from University of Phoenix. She has hosted fundraising events for multiple animal rescue groups in Arizona, individuals dealing with health problems and the Northern Arizona University SkyDome Scholarship fund. She also volunteers to support a number of organizations including Treasures for Teachers, donating clothes to the Sojourner Center for domestic violence survivors and helping with charity events for Children's Cancer Network and Banner Health.

 Representatives from University of Phoenix's School of Nursing will also be on hand as part of the Arizona Diamondbacks' Science of Baseball STEM Showcase. The University will exhibit a working, high-fidelity infant mannequin, which is used to prepare the University's nursing students for real-life health care scenarios. Attendees will be able to actively interact with the mannequin to better understand how it works and is used in the classroom. 

For information on other University of Phoenix scholarship opportunities, and for scholarship requirements, visit www.phoenix.edu/scholarships.

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix is constantly innovating to help working adults move efficiently from education to careers in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant and engaging courses, and interactive learning can help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. As a subsidiary of Apollo Education Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: APOL), University of Phoenix serves a diverse student population, offering associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs from campuses and learning centers across the U.S. as well as online throughout the world. For more information, visit www.phoenix.edu.