Graduates to be celebrated during La Cosecha virtual event
May 6, 2021Yuma, AZ (May 6, 2021) – Arizona Western College students transferring to a university after graduation will be honored as part of an upcoming La Cosecha event. This year’s virtual celebration will begin at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 12, via Zoom.
In addition to pursuing a transfer degree, students must have also met at least one of the following criteria to apply for the recognition:
- First Generation (neither parent has a bachelor’s degree from the U.S.)
- Relied/depended on financial aid to complete a degree
- Students with a disability
- Experienced unusual/extenuating circumstances during degree completion (i.e. illness, loss of income, death in the family)
The event recognizes the success stories of AWC graduates transferring to a four-year university in the presence of their family, college officials, staff, and community guests. It also serves as an encouragement for students as they continue their education, in hopes they will return to work as professionals in the community.
All honored graduates will receive a certificate of recognition and a commemorative sash to signify persistence in the attainment of their educational goals.
Scholarships will also be awarded during the celebration. Donors for the awards include AWC staff, faculty, and graduates as well as community members. One such AWC graduate and donor is Yuma attorney Candy Camarena, who started and has paid for the banquet portion of the event for over 20 years with the intent of providing graduates with an experience they will encounter in their professional lives. This year Camarena will be donating two $2,500 scholarships. Fifteen additional scholarships will be awarded to students for $1,000 each.
This year’s keynote speaker will be David Estrada, Community Relations Manager and High-Performance Coach/Scout for the Somos Unidos Foundation. The foundation is dedicated to creating positive outcomes for New Mexicans through art, sport, community, and unity. Estrada joined the organization after an 11-year career as a soccer player and having been named Humanitarian of the Year four times. He supports the foundation’s efforts in increasing access to soccer, providing high-level training to youth at no cost to them through their program, as well as building positive outcomes in communities across the state. While Estrada is from Salinas, Calif., his father worked in the Yuma agricultural community for a number of years.
Featured student speakers will be Nelly Rosiles and Gerardo Reyes Haro. Rosiles will be graduating with an Associate in Arts degree in Administration of Justice Studies and Haro will be receiving his Associate in Arts degree in Social Work with a U.S.-Mexico Border Emphasis.
Visit www.azwestern.edu/student-support/transfer-services/la-cosecha to learn more about the event. For additional information, contact KEYS Program Manager Eva Aviles at Eva.Aviles@azwestern.edu or (928) 344-7764, or Transfer Specialist Daniel Fitts at Daniel.Fitts@azwestern.edu or (928) 317-7684.
Contact:
Eva Aviles
KEYS Program Manager
Arizona Western College
Eva.Aviles@azwestern.edu
(928) 344-7764