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Queen Creek, San Tan Valley students receive Desert Financial scholarships

The scholarship program includes Community Service Scholarships for high school seniors who volunteer in their communities and Adult Learners Scholarships for adults 25 or older who are pursuing certificates or degrees. Nearly 250 Arizona students applied this year for the 60 available scholarships. 
Kelly Mixer

The Desert Financial Foundation recently awarded $192,000 in college scholarships to 60 Arizona students, including two in Queen Creek and two in San Tan Valley.

The scholarship program includes Community Service Scholarships for high school seniors who volunteer in their communities and Adult Learners Scholarships for adults 25 or older who are pursuing certificates or degrees. Nearly 250 Arizona students applied this year for the 60 available scholarships. 

“We are proud to have given away more than $1 million in scholarships to high school seniors and adult learners in the past eight years,” said Jeff Meshey, vice chair of the Desert Financial Foundation. “An educated workforce increases economic opportunity for everyone in our community – which is why supporting education has been a top priority at Desert Financial since its founding 85 years ago.”

This year, 30 high school seniors were awarded a total of $96,000 in Community Service Scholarships. More than 80 students, who completed a minimum of 50 hours of community service last year, applied for the scholarships.

Resident Elizabeth Porten, who recently graduated from Casteel High School in Queen Creek, received a $3,000 Community Service Scholarship. She plans to study art at Grand Canyon University.

Porten wants to be a medical illustrator and plans to major in art and minor in biology. She volunteered 55 hours of her time in 2023.
 
"At a young age I was introduced to community service and immediately found a love for it. Not only did serving others impact their lives, it brought me great joy and accomplishment that I could help through a simple, intentional act. Throughout high school I was given the opportunity to volunteer at a multitude of organizations, earning over 100 hours of community service," said Porten.
 
Resident Kaeden Christenson, who graduated from San Tan Valley's Poston Butte High School in May. also received a $3,000 Community Service Scholarship.
 
Christenson wants to be a medical examiner and will be studying biomedical sciences at Northern Arizona University in the fall. He volunteered 88 hours of his time during 2023.
 
"The best part of doing community service, and the part that inspires me to do it, is knowing that I'm making a difference. These experiences have given me organizational and leadership skills, as well as improving my public speaking and teaching abilities," said Christenson.

Combined, the Community Service Scholarship recipients provided more than 4,100 hours of community service in 2023.

In addition to completing the minimum 50 hours of community service, students were required to maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA, enroll in an Arizona college or university for the fall 2024 semester, demonstrate financial need and be, or be related to, a Desert Financial member to be eligible for the scholarships.

Of the nearly 160 applicants who applied for the Adult Learners Scholarship, 27 were selected to receive $3,000 scholarships. Three additional scholarship recipients were randomly selected for $5,000 awards. A total of $96,000 was given to the 30 recipients.

Andrew Cochran of San Tan Valley is one of the adult learners randomly selected to receive a $5,000 scholarship.

Queen Creek resident Nancy Chase received a $3,000 Adult Learners Scholarship. She is working toward her master’s degree in piano pedagogy and performance at Arizona State University.  

Chase has been a stay-at-home mom for 20 years, while operating a small boutique music studio. She dreams of using her degree to open an institute of learning for musicians.
 
"My goal has always been to further my education and grow my talent in music so that I could more effectively teach my students how to play the piano and to appreciate the perfect balance of harmony and musical calculation. One day my goal is to open an institute of learning for musicians and to employ other like minded musicians to share and teach this wonderful art to others," said Chase. "I believe that by teaching people how to play an instrument or to sing that their minds can be opened immensely, allowing them to excel in their learning for their entire life."

To qualify for the Adult Learners Scholarship, applicants must be 25 years or older; currently enrolled in or intending to enroll in an accredited Arizona college, university or certification program; and be a current member of Desert Financial Credit Union.

In addition to the scholarships, each recipient received a bag of gifts from the credit union, including an iPad, iPad case, Apple Pencil, snacks and other school supplies, to prepare them for their higher education experience. The recipients recently celebrated their awards during the 2024 Desert Financial Foundation Scholarship Ceremony.

Desert Financial Foundation has awarded more than $1 million in scholarships since it first launched in 2015, with the goal of supporting students seeking to better their lives and financial situations through education.

To learn more about Desert Financial Foundation scholarship programs, visit DesertFinancial.com/Scholarships.