The Peoria Unified School District (PVUSD) graduating class of 2024 achieved a landmark accomplishment by securing a record amount of scholarship awards, over $20 million higher than awards earned last year, which was also a record number. The collective efforts of PVUSD seniors resulted in an unprecedented amount of scholarship awards at $98.9 million.
Cactus High School was especially committed to encouraging more seniors to apply for scholarships. This year’s scholarship awards illustrate the hard work seniors put in to apply for and earn scholarships. Multiple Cactus High School seniors earned a significant amount in scholarship awards this year.
This year’s total scholarship awards include scholarships for in-state and out-of-state colleges and universities for students pursuing a wide range of fields. They are based on academic merit, athletics, arts, community service, and more.
A few highlights from this year include the following:
Cactus High School senior, Tristan Glaze, received the 2023-24 National Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) Scholarship, which is a full-ride scholarship in the amount of $180,000. This covers tuition, room, board, and additional fees. Glaze will be attending Arizona State University serving in their NROTC program, studying engineering.
Cactus High School senior, Cougarjade Reyes, earned the AFJROTC J-100 Scholarship, valued at $250,000 and can be used at any host or crosstown school with AFROTC. He plans to study cybersecurity at Arizona State University. Reyes was selected as the national keynote speaker for the NICE K12 Cybersecurity Educational Conference. He serves as the group commander for Cactus High School’s AFJROTC program and is co-captain of the team competing at the JROTC National Fitness Competition. Reyes was also ranked number one out of 150 ambassadors at the Hugh O’Brien Youth (HOBY) AZ Seminar and was asked to represent Arizona at the HOBY World Leadership Congress in Chicago.
Centennial High School senior, Danny Avila, earned more than $1.5 million in scholarships from more than 12 colleges and universities.
Mikah Dyer, a senior at Ironwood High School, is a National Flinn Scholar. He will receive an all-inclusive package at an Arizona public university that includes tuition, room and board and an opportunity to study abroad. The scholarship, considered to be the most prestigious merit scholarship in the nation, provides an opportunity for a three-week intensive overseas seminar, at least one additional study-related travel in the United States or internationally, mentorship, invitations to cultural events and membership of a community comprised of scholars and alumni. The package is worth an estimated $100,000.
Ironwood High School senior, Yusur Al-Mosawi, is the recipient of a Questbridge scholarship and will attend Notre Dame. Ironwood is also home to senior Angeline Mohatt who was awarded the C-CAP America’s Best High School Chef and won a scholarship to attend the Culinary Institute of New York.
Liberty High School senior, Leyah Fonseca, who also attends the MET Professional Academy, received a $10,000 CMiC / Allen Berg Memorial Scholarship for her work in the ACE Mentor Program, an after-school program for engineering students who work with industry professionals. Fonseca is the only student in Arizona to be awarded this scholarship.
Zane Tallman, a senior at Liberty High School, will attend Westpoint Military Academy Preparatory School in preparation for admittance to Westpoint Military Academy. Other notable scholarship recipients from Liberty include Taylor Colangelo who earned $1.6 million in academic and athletic scholarships and Ryan Wolfer with $1.75 million in athletic scholarships.
Anahli Trujillo senior at Peoria High School, received the 2024 El Valle Puede Scholarship in the amount of $50,000 from the Phoenix Suns/Phoenix Mercury Foundation and the Helios Education Foundation. This scholarship is granted to Latino high school seniors to support them in their pursuit of postsecondary education.
Raymond S. Kellis High School senior, Raul Santiago, is a Dorrance Scholarship recipient. The Dorrance Scholarship is a need-based award that aims to instill college-going traditions in future generations of Arizona families, to provide financial access and academic support for recipients, and to enhance college persistence through unique enrichment experiences, such as study abroad, innovation, and cultural enrichment. The program includes a $12,000 scholarship per academic year for four years. The total program is valued at over $100,000. Santiago went through three meticulous phases of the application. He plans to major in computer science and attend Arizona State University, The Barrett Honors College, next year.
Sunrise Mountain High School senior, Trinity Sadoski, earned a NROTC full-ride scholarship that she will use towards Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
