Each year Rio Salado College selects two students to join the All-Arizona Academic Team. Not only is being chosen for this prestigious team an honor, it comes with a scholarship ($500, $750, or $1,000), plus a two-year full-time (or four-year part-time) tuition waiver scholarship to one of Arizona’s three state universities (Northern Arizona University, Arizona State University, or the University of Arizona). In addition to those substantial awards, members of the All-Arizona Team are also eligible to apply for more scholarships, including the All-USA Academic Team scholarship, which can award up to $5,000.
Applications for this scholarship are now open until Monday, Nov. 13, 2023 at 8 a.m. Arizona time. The All-Arizona Academic Team award is a merit award based on your accomplishments while pursuing your college studies. Criteria for judging eligible applicants include academic excellence, leadership, community service, intellectual rigor, and a demonstrated ability to extend your education beyond the classroom to benefit society.
Eligibility
The All-AZ scholarship review committee is seeking current Rio Salado College students (Fall 2023) who are enrolled in a minimum of six college-level credits and will be at Rio Salado through December 2023 or longer. You must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher for all college-level courses completed during the last five years. Eligible students must be on track to earn an associate or bachelor’s degree, and you need to complete or be on the path to completing a minimum of 25 college-level credit hours by Dec. 31, 2023, and 48 semester college-level credit hours by Aug. 31, 2023.
For any courses completed at schools outside of the Maricopa Community Colleges, applicants need to submit transcripts by the due date of the application. An academic record as a whole will be taken into consideration, but applicants will be given space to explain any extenuating circumstances that may have caused a drop in grades or from classes.
Students must also present applications that exhibit some or all of the following characters:
- Participation in honors programs or honor society activities
- Awards, honors, and recognition for academic achievement and/or leadership
- Involvement with, or service to, the college and/or community
As part of the process, applicants will submit a 4-part essay that describes the most significant endeavor they’ve undertaken since attending college. This endeavor must be something in which knowledge and/or skills learned during college were applied to benefit the school, local community, or society at large. This endeavor can be based in research, community service, journalism, public affairs, or the arts. These endeavors don’t necessarily have to be completed yet but must be far enough long that applicants can discuss the specifics of the work. For more information on what a significant endeavor can be, click here
A letter of recommendation is also required, so it’s best to get that rolling as soon as possible.
Applicants must also have a college record free of suspension, probation, or other serious disciplinary action, meet the criteria of lawful presence, and hold permanent or temporary residency in the U.S. or possess a visa considered appropriate by Rio Salado College.
Ready To Apply?
Complete and submit this application via email to StudentLife@riosalado.edu by 8 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 13, 2023. Please contact StudentLife@Riosalado.edu or 480-517-8050 with any questions regarding this application.
Download and Complete Application
Meet The Teams
For more information on what it’s like to apply for and win this prestigious scholarship, check out the stories on our past winners:
Article by Austin Brietta