Arizona Diamondbacks to introduce 2014 D-backs Helios Scholars this Saturday
PHOENIX - The Arizona Diamondbacks will recognize eight D-backs Helios Scholars, now in the third year of the program, during a pregame ceremony this Saturday at 4:30PM at Chase Field. D-backs President & CEO Derrick Hall and Vice President of Community Impact Debbie Castaldo, along with Vince Roig, Helios Foundation Chairman, and Paul Luna, President and CEO of Helios Foundation will present the scholars with a scholarship certificate, a new laptop computer (courtesy of Tempe-based IT solutions provider Insight Direct USA, HP, Lenovo and Microsoft), a bike and a D-backs backpack for college.
This year's recipients are:
Tatianna Alvarado, Westwood High School; will be attending Arizona State University
Eugenia Anane-Wae, South Mountain High School; will be attending University of Arizona
Danielle Barrientes, Sunnyslope High School; will be attending University of Arizona
Laura Bernier, Winslow High School; will be attending Northern Arizona University
Miguel Chavira, Mesa High School' will be attending Arizona State University
Jovanna Figueroa, Metro Tech High School; will be attending Arizona State University
Kevin Nguyen, Amphitheater High School; will be attending University of Arizona
Crystal Peralta, Westview High School; will be attending Arizona State University
The Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation launched a partnership with Helios Education Foundation and the Arizona College Scholarship Foundation in 2012 to create the D-backs Helios Scholars program that will provide 40 Arizona High School seniors with four-year college scholarships. The D-backs Helios Scholarship program represents a $1 million commitment to education for Arizona students with $500,000 in charitable support from the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation and a $500,000 match from the Helios Education Foundation.
The 2014 recipients are academically gifted students with incredible stories of personal triumph, leadership, strength, hope and perseverance. All of this year's recipients are first-generation college students.
The scholarships will be administered by the Arizona College Scholarship Foundation and targets students who have completed a college preparatory program, demonstrate academic strength and a compelling desire to attend college, with a priority given to students with limited financial resources. In addition to the scholarship funding, each student will have access to an Arizona College Scholarship Foundation mentor to support their education needs.