Tucson Standard

The University of Arizona Hispanic Alumni Club (UAHA) is set to honor several community members for their contributions to students, the Hispanic community, and education. The awards will be presented at the Portraits of Excellence All-Stars scholarship fundraising event on May 3.

Honorees include Roger Canchola, a philanthropist and McDonald's franchise owner; Marla Franco, vice president for Hispanic-Serving Institution initiatives at UArizona; Oscar Lujan, retired executive director of UA Hispanic Alumni; Sarah Miranda, special events coordinator for the city of Mesa; and Kasey Urquídez, UArizona chief enrollment officer.

"UAHA's goal is to bring the community together so we can support our UAHA scholars with scholarships, mentorship and 'ánimo' – building the leaders of tomorrow and helping them thrive," said Ramon Gutierrez, UAHA board president.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the UAHA Scholarship Endowment Fund. In the 2023-24 academic year alone, UAHA provided nearly $1 million in scholarships to about 200 students. Since its inception in 1986, UAHA has awarded over 3,800 scholarships totaling more than $10.6 million.

Scholarship recipient Abigail Ortiz-Velez highlighted the impact of being a UAHA scholar: "Being a UAHA scholar has exposed me to a variety of stories and perspectives through campus resources... Scholars are connected to UAHA alumni, campus organizations and other scholars."

Ortiz-Velez added that financial support allowed her to live on campus without financial burdens during her first year. She expressed gratitude for the emotional and academic support provided by both the UAHA board and Guerrero Student Center staff.

Czarina Monge, another scholarship recipient, emphasized the cultural significance of this support: "This scholarship has significant cultural value for me... Being a recipient gives me pleasure and a sense of accomplishment."

The event will take place at Casino Del Sol Resort Ballroom. Further details about award recipients can be found on alumni.arizona.edu/uaha_allstars.