EDEF Beacon for Education

Eloisa Diaz Education Foundation (EDEF) and two supporting Foundations, Maricopa Community Colleges District Foundation (MCCCDF) and Arizona Community Foundation (ACF)

MCCCDF and ACF are two supporting foundations that manage applications for our scholarships. Both ACF and MCCCDF provide an online scholarship application on their websites for our awards. Members of the EDEF board and Tolleson Union High School counselors then review and select the top applications that satisfy the EDEF criteria. Once scholarship recipients have been selected, funds are transferred by MCCCDF or ACF directly to the community college or the Arizona university which the student has chosen to attend.

Scholarship Criteria Considered

  • A demonstration of student leadership including active participation in school clubs
  • Regular participation in community outreach activities
  • Mentoring others including fellow students and elementary school students
  • A minimum of a 2.5 grade point average
  • School attendance that equals or exceeds expectations based on school attendance policy

Nurturing Hope

A Tolleson scholarship committee assists the Foundation in evaluating scholarship applications each spring. It is composed of Foundation officers and counselors from the Tolleson Union High School. The counselors work with students to help them see their potential and their opportunities as well as mentoring them in the completion of their applications. The Foundation has nurtured the blossoming of student hope in this community. The interest in the scholarships has grown over recent years as students see siblings and friends pursue higher education and realize that they themselves have the same potential and the same opportunities.

Need More Information?

If you need additional assistance or have questions about the application process please contact your high school counselor, your community college counseling department or the scholarship administrator at either the Maricopa Community Colleges District Foundation or Arizona Community Foundation depending on where you intend to send your application.

The fund scholarship administrator for the Maricopa Community Colleges District Foundation is:
Karley Mellberg
Scholarship & Donor Relations Manager
karley.mellberg@domail.maricopa.edu
(480) 731-8406

The fund scholarship administrator for the Arizona Community Foundation is:
Lorenzo Chavez
Executive Director, Education & Scholarships
lchavez@azfoundation.org
602-682-2040

Ready to apply for your scholarship?

Maricopa Community Colleges District Foundation (MCCCDF)

The EDEF application for the 2025-2026 academic year is accessible HERE.  Submissions accepted March 1, 2025 through March 31st, 2025.

Arizona Community Foundation (ACF)

The EDEF application for the 2025-2026 academic year is available HERE.  Submissions accepted January 1, 2025 through March 31st, 2025.