Maricopa Nina Scholars Program

Did you know?
There are 4 Nina Scholars programs in the US! They are at Maricopa Community Colleges, ASU, Indiana University-Indianapolis and Ivy Tech Community College! Program coordinators from all locations met this week with the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust to share insights about their programs and future planning! Despite the program variations, the priority is the same— to support our scholars in their journeys of earning their college degrees and reshaping their family trajectories for generations!

Thank you to the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust for their unwavering support of our Maricopa scholars!

When it’s near 80 degrees in December in Phoenix, you improvise a Winter Wonderland!
☃️❄️🎓❄️☃️

We held our 3rd Annual Nina Scholars Holiday Reception at the Phoenix Zoo (ZooLights) for all of our scholars and their families. Dr. Kimberly Britt, Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost from Maricopa Community Colleges, welcomed those in attendance and celebrated the scholars’ successes this semester.

The program supports adult students with dependents, those with physical disabilities and former foster youth/ independent youth who otherwise would not have the opportunity to pursue higher education.

Thank you to the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust for their continuous support of our scholars, their families and our program!

And, yes, Santa confirmed that everyone is on the “Nice List” once again this year! 👍🥰🫶

Chandler-Gilbert Community College
Estrella Mountain Community College
GateWay Community College
Glendale Community College
Mesa Community College
Paradise Valley Community College
Phoenix College
Rio Salado College
Scottsdale Community College
South Mountain Community College

Not so long ago, these scholars finished their Maricopa chapter and began their next chapter of their academic journeys at Arizona State University. Today we honored Brianna and Katie for earning their bachelor’s degrees.

It’s so awesome to see where they have been, where they are now and where the next chapter of their lives will take them.

Brianna began her educational journey at Mesa Community College. She earned her degree in political science. She is looking forward to continuing her journey onto law school in the coming years. Katie started at Chandler-Gilbert Community College. She earned her degree in engineering and will continue at ASU for her master’s degree starting in January.

Over the years, we have gotten to know them and their families very well. Despite having a full plate of being amazing parents, spouses/partners, employees, daughters and students, they were also amazing Nina Scholars!

They never gave up in the face of adversity and gave your all!Congratulations, Brianna and Katie! You dreamt it, you worked hard, and you achieved it! We are so proud of you!

Thank you to the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust for supporting our scholars who start their journeys at Maricopa Community Colleges and continue on to earn their bachelor’s degrees at ASU!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! It’s the time when students throughout all of the Maricopa Community Colleges have the opportunity to apply for the chance to become a Nina Scholar!
We will be accepting applications until Sunday, March 1, 2026.

The benefits
🎓Full tuition, fees, and reimbursement for book costs for up to six years.
🎓$3,500 towards annual living expenses.
🎓Access to an assigned academic mentor.
🎓Access to student success workshops.
🎓The opportunity to continue in the Maricopa Nina Scholars Program for your bachelor’s degree studies at Maricopa Community Colleges or transfer to ASU’s Nina Scholars Program.

Who qualifies?
✅You must be a current Maricopa Community Colleges student AND meet at least one of the following criteria, such as having:
🌟One or more dependents in your household.
🌟A physical disability.
🌟Experienced foster care and are now responsible for your own financial support.
🌟Disconnected from your parents or primary caregiver and are now responsible for your own financial support.
Plus
✅Have completed less than 25 credits.
✅Be earning your first degree.
✅Be a U.S. citizen and Arizona resident.
✅Be able to demonstrate financial need.
Want to learn more? Attend an information session over Zoom and hear from the program manager and current scholars. RSVP link is in the comments to Claim Your Spot:
👉Tuesday, January 13, 2026 at noon
👉Thursday, January 15, 2026 at noon
👉Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at 10 a.m.
👉Tuesday, February 3, 2026 at 6 p.m.

Link to apply:
mcccdf.org/Nina

Estrella Mountain Community College
Chandler-Gilbert Community College
Glendale Community College
South Mountain Community College
Phoenix College
GateWay Community College
Rio Salado College
Mesa Community College
Scottsdale Community College
Paradise Valley Community College
Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust

We are happy to share that our Chancellor Steven Gonzales has started a new podcast for Maricopa Community Colleges! His first episode highlights our partnership with the Save the Family organization and their new Phoenix Scholar House community. Several of our scholars have applied to be a part of the new residential community of adult students with families.

Please like, save, and share! Be on the lookout for future episodes!

Episode 1: How Arizona's Housing Crisis Impacts Student Success This episode explores the critical role that housing plays in student success. As the cost of living continues to skyrocket across the Valley, a lack of affo...

Our scholars are always amazing us! No matter the struggles they have faced in their lives, they use that to launch positivity in their communities! We are so proud of Nina Scholar Shaniqua for the work and passion she has poured into her non-profit helping support foster youth experiencing pregnancy. Congratulations on earning this honor, Shaniqua! So well-deserved!

Thank you to the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust for your continued support of our scholars!
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Our Nina Scholars at Maricopa Community Colleges are already on the path to earning their degrees without the burden of carrying student loan debt. Did you know that many graduate debt-free because of the support that they receive through the Nina Scholars Program?

Students who start their degrees at the community college also save money because the cost per credit is considerably less than at a university. Additionally, did you know that students can now earn their bachelor's degrees right here at Maricopa Community Colleges? We now offer 11 bachelor's degree programs.

Thank you to the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust for your continued support of our scholars--from Day 1 and even through earning their bachelor's degrees!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1ARjvCpUgJ/

Paying for College: Students and experts share realistic strategies to afford higher education With the cost of colleges and universities increasing over the past several decades, financial experts and students share practical strategies to make the expense more manageable.

Did you happen to see Arizona Family 3TV’s news shows today?

Our recent Nina Scholar Alum Kristin (2025, GCC) was featured for the work that she does with her non-profit Convicted COMEBACK.

We are so proud of Kristin and the work that she does to help better the lives of women who are currently incarcerated.

No worries if you missed it! Check out the link here to see the segment!

Glendale Community College
Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust
Maricopa Community Colleges

https://www.azfamily.com/2025/08/23/how-fitness-program-is-helping-women-an-arizona-prison/?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwMWKoxleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHlmLXt3LNzD4GIma73sHdJAnGl6alBS4eGh135IWgzvplWLe-UF1JyyJ6FGR_aem_JqLKeWe_OGEXa71GK0Md1A

How fitness program is helping women at an Arizona prison Women at the Perryville Prison in Goodyear are finding redemption through fitness.

Did you know that most of our Nina Scholars graduate from a Maricopa Community College with no student loan debt? We work with scholars to budget, learn how to leverage community resources, and plan for the future!
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93% of Students at Maricopa Community Colleges Graduate Debt-Free | Maricopa Community Colleges With the new academic year quickly approaching, Maricopa Community Colleges is proud to announce that the vast majority of its students—93%—graduate without student loan debt, making it one of the most successful and affordable higher education options in Arizona. According to the Integrated Pos...

Today, we officially welcomed 11 new scholars into our 25th cohort of Nina Scholars at Maricopa Community Colleges. It didn’t take long for them to quickly realize that being a Nina is way more than just receiving a scholarship…it is transformational. It was a day of sharing stories of their life journeys and looking ahead to amazing opportunities that await!

The work we do to Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trustossible without the help of the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.

We also welcomed back 5 scholars for our 3rd cohort of bachelor’s degree-seeking scholars who will continue at a Maricopa Community College for their bachelor’s degrees.

Photographed are 10 of the 11 associate degree scholars, along with 4 of the 5 bachelor’s degree scholars. Also pictured are Dr. Lisa Rae Armour, MCCCD Provost; Dr. Ray Ostos, District Director of Student Affairs at MCCCD, Leona Morales, Program Manager Sr. for the Nina Scholars program at MCCCD; and Maureen Salloom, Senior Program Officer with NMPCT.