Stand Arizona Renaissance Scholars is featured by local news
- Jan 13
- 2 min read
by Isabela Lisco and 13 News - January 13th, 2026
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) - First-generation college students have three weeks to apply for a $20,000 scholarship. The Renaissance Foundation and Stand for Children Arizona offer the scholarship. Helping students get degrees is critical to address Arizona’s workforce gap.
Fewer than half of Arizonans have a college degree. For Hispanic and Native American Arizonans, that number is even lower.
Arizona’s workforce needs college degrees, but the price tag keeps students away. Hispanic or Native American students who are the first in their families to go to college can apply now to win $20,000.
College costs beyond tuition
College costs more than just tuition. For Nerissa Felix, it was room and board.
“Being able to afford the dorms and the meal plans was kind of scary,” said Felix, a Stand for Children Renaissance Scholar.
For Keisha Orozco Lopez, it was health insurance. Her dream school was out of state, so she could no longer use Arizona Medicaid.
“Yeah, I had to figure out how to pay for that, so I was definitely kind of scared and surprised by the number,” said Lopez, also a Stand for Children Renaissance Scholar.
Workforce gap drives need
The Center for the Future of Arizona tracks a workforce gap. There aren’t enough college graduates to fulfill workforce needs.
Forty-three percent of Arizonans have college degrees. For Hispanic Arizonans, it’s 27%. For Native Americans, it’s 21%.
“In order to meet the workforce needs in Arizona, the untapped potential of Latino and Native American students is really critical,” said Rebecca Gau, Stand for Children Executive Director.
Scholarship impact
Felix and Lopez applied for and won the Stand for Children Renaissance Scholarship last year.
“I basically jumped out of my chair. I was so happy,” Lopez said.
The scholarship pays $5,000 a year for four years -- $20,000 total.
“It just made everything easier – the transition, not being so stressed out about it, and just focusing on the experience,” Felix said.
The impact extends to their families.
“Once you have that first-generation college student, the ripple effects in your family – they matter,” Gau said.
It matters for Arizonans, too. Felix is studying to teach elementary school -- an area that needs more qualified teachers.
“I want to be able to go and make school fun, and somewhere they want to go to and be excited to learn and take their education further, and just – I’m super excited to be a teacher,” Felix said.
Application deadline
Applicants must write a short essay about how they serve their community and submit financial information.
Isabela Lisco is a Report for America corpsmember covering education solutions for 13 News. Her position is made possible through funding from Report for America and the Arizona Local News Foundation’s Arizona Community Collaborative Fund.
