SE Valley Times

Rio Salado College, in collaboration with Maricopa Community Colleges and the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation, has launched a new initiative called EmpowerED for Student Success. The fundraising campaign aims to collect $20 million by 2026 to help students overcome obstacles in their educational pursuits and bolster the state's workforce.

The launch event was held on December 4 at Rio Salado's Tempe headquarters. During the event, President Kate Smith emphasized the importance of making education accessible to all. "This is going to propel us with another giant step forward in our quest to make education accessible for all," she stated.

Smith highlighted how EmpowerED focuses on eliminating barriers that hinder both new and returning students from continuing their education. She said, "When we all come together—with your help, with all of our community partners, our donors—we can provide emergency funds for groceries, diapers, bus fare, and other necessities for students."

Rio Salado student leader Shaniqua Hopkins shared her personal experience as a single mother of seven children. She stressed the significance of financial support in pursuing education without constant worry about tuition or other expenses. "These scholarships have alleviated the financial burden that so often stands in the way of pursuing an education," Hopkins remarked.

Dr. Todd Aakhus, who oversees Development, Scholarships, and Alumni Relations at Rio Salado, outlined several priorities for the campaign's fundraising efforts. These include scholarships for bachelor's degrees in Public Safety Administration and Elementary and Special Education, emergency assistance funds for students facing immediate financial needs, dual enrollment scholarships for underserved populations, technology funding for incarcerated re-entry programs, and resources to enhance digital learning environments.

The college encourages individuals interested in supporting these initiatives to visit their online portal to learn more about how they can contribute.