DEF 2026 Scholarship Applications

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Students graduating from Dysart HS, Shadow Ridge HS, Valley Vista HS, and Willow Canyon HS  in the Dysart Unified School District including Sundown Alternative High School in May 2026 are encouraged to apply. Donor award's favor the two-year community colleges or universities.

The DEF application and requirements will capture:

- Attending one, two or four years community college, technical school, trade school, or a university 

- Maintain full time status (12 credit hours) per semester 

- Cumulative GPA 2.5 (or 3.0 per required) or better 

- Volunteer/Community service

- Extra curricular activities 

- Employment

- School participation in clubs, sports, the arts, etc  

- Interest in Public Service (Emergency Response, Fire Fighting, Law Enforcement or Public Safety and Management)

- Interest in medical related occupations

ONLY ONE APPLICATION PER STUDENT IS REQUIRED TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR ANY DEF SCHOLARSHIPS.

Remember, read everything carefully, take your time filling out the application and talk to your counselor if you need assistance!  

Note:  No FAFSA or High School Counselor sign-off is needed for this scholarship.

Apply between January 1st through March 15 using the link below:

https://forms.gle/nZKSnM8XtcpsSaFR8

Scholarship winners will be notified via email by Friday, 3 April 2026 and invited to attend along with their parents/guardians to the Eighth Annual DEF Scholarship Awards Dinner on Thursday, 23 April 2026.

DEF Scholarship Award:

A minimum of one student per high school will receive

$6,000 (2-year scholarships at $6,000 each)

Subaru Share the Love Scholarship of Surprise: 

$18,000 (Three 2-year scholarships at $6,000 each)

SFE-Southwest Foodservice Excellence Scholarship: 

$10,000 (Two 2-year scholarships at $5,000 each)

The Randy Sterna Grand Opportunity Scholarship: 

$6,000 for female students attending community college achieving an Associate's Degree

(One 2-year scholarship at $6,000)

El Mirage Firefighter Charities Public Safety $6,000 Scholarship

$3,000 for two Dysart High School students seeking further education towards public safety (Firefighting/EMS/Law Enforcement/Public Safety)

(Two 1-year scholarship at $3,000 each)

Tyrus Timbrooks Memorial Scholarship, Established 2020 for DHS students:

 $2,500 (1-year scholarships at $2,500 each)

 Barnett Medical Related Occupations Scholarship: 

$2,500 for any student attending an Arizona community college or Arizona university in the medical field

(One 1-year scholarship at $2,500)

Student scholarship recipients are responsible for keeping DEF informed of all current information concerning home address, emails, class schedules, GPA, leave of absence/requesting deferment and transcripts. 

A separate link will be provided via email from DEF's Scholarship Chair to students each December and June to update the DEF organization and its scholarship donors each semester. 

Failure to provide required documents may result in the loss of your scholarship.

The Dysart Education Foundation accepts donations towards student scholarships all year. In addition, individuals or organizations may donate towards a dedicated scholarship administered by DEF. 

Interested in establishing a scholarship? See the requirements and form by clicking on the link below:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ByozdUrJRuhQxaSOtO0F1JbvAz0F_-rpx6E4CXwBKpQ/edit?usp=sharing

Email the completed form to: scholarships@dysarteducationfoundation.org