Nine high school students received Character Awards this month from the Tucson Kino Rotary Club.
The club organized the honor in 2011 to honor high school students who serve as role models in their schools and society through service to community.
Recipients of Fall 2023’s awards are: Adriana Najar (Alta Vista High School), Alma Johnson Juan (Baboquivari High School), Faye Stiner (Cholla High School), Farah Abdulkader Alghaithi (Desert View High School), Ann Marie Sida (PPEP TEC High School), Maria Campos Tapia (Pueblo Magnet High School), Taylor Crouch (Star Academic High School), Mia Gonzales (Sunnyside High School) and Yatsel Lopez (Toltecalli High School).
Students are nominated by school administrators, counselors, teachers or other students.
The students were recognized Nov. 17 at a breakfast. Each honoree received a Certificate of Recognition, a Rotary coin, small gifts and a $50 gift card. Tucson Kino Rotary will also donate $50 to a charity of each student’s choice.
Mariachi Aztlán invited to Disney
Mariachi Aztlan de Pueblo High School has received an invitation to Disney World to perform, along with participating in workshops with a world-renowned mariachi band.
Mariachi Aztlán, originating from Tucson Unified School District’s Pueblo High Magnet School, has been offered one-on-one workshops with Mariachi Cobre, a professional performing mariachi based in Orlando. The workshops will help prepare Mariachi Aztlan’s 27-person ensemble for a Disney World performance.
Mariachi Aztlán de Pueblo High School, with Giselle-Paris Aubrey singing, performed at the 2022 Tucson International Mariachi Conference.
The band is fundraising for the June 2024 trip and exclusive mentorship program. It has established a GoFundMe page and will have local benefit events.
Find out more about Mariachi Aztlan de Pueblo High School at mariachiaztlandepueblohs.com.
Wishes for Teachers winners
Fiesta Bowl Charities has granted 500 teachers $2,500 each during the Palo Verde Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers Draft Day presented by SRP, for a total of $1.25 million.
More than 100 teachers from Pima County received awards.
This season’s 500 granted wishes will fulfill requests from teachers in the areas of agricultural studies, arts, math, physical education and wellness, science and special needs. The grants will provide resources such as new reading materials, classroom makeovers, educational events and programs and more, the sponsors say.
In its eighth year, the program increased its giving by 25% to Arizona K-12 public and charter school teachers. The funding will affect more than 220,000 students across 73 cities and towns statewide, with 368 schools receiving grant awards, according to the sponsors.
Over the eight years, the program has awarded approximately $7 million to more than 2,100 educators.
Mariachi Aztlan rehearses at Pueblo High School, January 12, 2023, Tucson, Ariz. The band is getting ready to participate in the upcoming National Independence Day Parade in Washington, D.C. Video Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
