The EmpowerED campaign, initiated by Rio Salado College in collaboration with the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation and all ten Maricopa Community Colleges, aims to remove educational barriers through a $20 million fundraising effort. The campaign focuses on providing scholarships and financial support to students, including Quentin Hawkins, who is pursuing a bachelor's degree at Rio Salado College.
Hawkins' story illustrates the impact of scholarships beyond financial aid. As a school resource officer and father of four, he balances work and family while studying for a Bachelor of Applied Science in Public Safety Administration. Hawkins received the Dr. Larry Celaya Memorial Scholarship from the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation, which he described as both a financial relief and an encouragement.
"I thoroughly enjoy my job because I am able to change the outlook on police officers and be a role model to many children that come through our elementary campus," Hawkins wrote in his scholarship application. He added that the scholarship allows him to focus more on his studies rather than financial concerns.
Hawkins is also active in his community as a US Marine Corps Reserves veteran, youth basketball coach, and church volunteer. "Receiving a scholarship is a life-changing opportunity for me," he noted.
The EmpowerED campaign addresses essential needs such as scholarships, emergency aid, and resources for students like Hawkins. "Scholarships are not just monetary aid; they signify recognition of hard work, dedication, and potential," Hawkins expressed gratitude towards donors whose support helps shape brighter futures.
EmpowerED initiatives include various programs like the Jo C. Bennett Student Assistance Fund for essentials like groceries and childcare, scholarships for bachelor's degrees in high-demand fields such as Public Safety Administration, flexible funding through the Greatest Need Fund for urgent student needs, dual enrollment support for high school students aiming for college degrees, technology funding for incarcerated re-entry programs, open educational resources via RioNXT/OER for digital learning accessibility, and workforce support at RSC Tempe.
Rio Salado College President Kate Smith emphasized the collective impact: "Together we change the world—one life at a time."
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