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Rio Salado Associate Vice President Maria Bellino was awarded the 2025 Pete C. Garcia Victoria Foundation’s Arizona Higher Education Dr. Alfredo G. de los Santos, Jr. Community College Award during a ceremony held in September.
The foundation’s annual education awards recognize Arizona scholars and leaders in higher education who champion the recruitment and degree completion of Latino students.
At Rio Salado, Bellino, the college’s associate vice president of Administrative Services, leads initiatives that emphasize inclusion in the employee hiring and onboarding process, ensuring the workforce reflects the diversity of the student population.
Bellino also advances collegewide engagement through her work with the Trust and Value Committee and Employee Engagement Services. She spearheaded Rio Salado’s participation in the Great Colleges to Work For® survey, resulting in valuable information for the college, as well as recognition at the national level several time.
“Maria Bellino is a creative, dedicated, and thoughtful leader who is sensitive to the diverse and unique needs of students and employees,” said Rio Salado College President Kate Smith.
The Victoria Foundation was founded in 2008 to improve conditions in impoverished communities throughout Arizona. Renamed in Pete C. Garcia’s memory in 2017, the Foundation has awarded nearly $1.9 million in college scholarships to high school seniors since 2010.