City Academic Scholarship Program Awards
July 20, 2026
SCHEDULED ITEM
D-2
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
VIA: SERGIO GONZALEZ, CITY MANAGER
FROM: TALEEN NAZARIAN, MANAGEMENT ANALYST
DATE: JULY 20, 2026
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF 2026 CITY OF AZUSA ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIP
PROGRAM FUNDING ALLOCATION AND AWARDS
BACKGROUND:
The City of Azusa Academic Scholarship Program was established to provide financial assistance to qualified residents who intend to pursue post-secondary education and, in turn, develop into outstanding residents and leaders who will benefit their community. Last year, a series of updates were made to modernize the program and incentivize participation.
The Academic Scholarship Program awards a total of up to four scholarships annually – two to high school seniors and two to adult learners. First-place recipients in each category receive $2,000, while second-place recipients are awarded $1,000, for a total of up to $6,000 annually. An Academic Scholarship Ad-Hoc Committee of the City Council, comprised of Mayor Pro-Tem Jesse Avila, Jr. and Councilmember Andrew Mendez, was established to evaluate qualified scholarship applications and make a final recommendation for award to the City Council.
The 2026 Academic Scholarship Program application cycle received 28 total applications, a 40% increase from the 2025 application cycle. The City Council’s Academic Scholarship Ad-Hoc Committee convened to review all submissions and finalize this year’s recipients. In the High School Category, the Committee’s selections are Sophia Flores for 1 st Place, and Christofer
Vieyra-Enriquez for 2
nd Place. In the Adult Learner Category, the Committee’s selections are Justin Buan for 1
st place, and Victoria Cardenas for 2nd place.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Staff recommends that the City Council take the following actions:
1) Approve the allocation of $6,000 from Trust Account 50-08-000-146-2719 to fund the scholarship awards; and
City Academic Scholarship Program Awards
July 20, 2026
2) Approve the Azusa City Council Academic Scholarship Ad-Hoc Committee’s selection of the 2026 Academic Scholarship award recipients.
ANALYSIS:
Funded as part of the development agreement with Vulcan Materials Company, the mission of the Academic Scholarship Program is to support qualified, aspiring high school graduates and adult learners in their pursuit of higher education at accredited educational or trade institutions by providing financial assistance.
Up to four scholarships can be awarded per year, with a 1st place prize of $2,000 and a 2nd place prize of $1,000 in both the High School Senior and Adult Advancement, totaling $6,000 annually.
Scholarship funds may only be used for tuition, student fees, room and board, and books.
Applicants were required to meet several qualifications, including residency in Azusa, minimum
2.75 GPA, demonstration of leadership or community involvement. In addition, applicants had to show proof of financial need and acceptance into an accredited college, university, or trade school.
The application process was designed to be thorough, requiring a recommendation letter, copy of transcript, an essay response to the given prompts, and financial information.
From January through March 2026, the City Manager’s Office led a promotional campaign to raise awareness of the City’s community benefit programs. This included updates to the City website, creation of digital content, and collaboration with community partners including Azusa Pacific University, Citrus College, and Azusa Unified School District.
The application cycle opened in March 2026 and closed in April 2026. A total of 28 applications were received: 13 in the High School Senior category and 15 in the Adult Learner category.
Following the application review process, the City Council’s Scholarship Ad-Hoc Committee met to review submissions and select final recipients. In the High School Category, the Committee’s selections are Sophia Flores for 1st Place, and Christofer Vieyra-Enriquez for 2nd Place. In the Adult Learner Category, the Committee’s selections are Justin Buan for 1st place, and Victoria Cardenas for 2nd place.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Trust account 50-08-000-146-2719 was set up to track funds for this scholarship program. As of July 20, 2026, the available balance on the account is $60,800. With City Council’s approval, a total of $6,000 will be allocated from Trust Account 50-08-000-146-2719 to fund the scholarship awards, with no impact on other City budgets. Scholarship funds will be directed to the recipient’s educational institution and deposited into the student’s designated academic account.
Prepared by: Reviewed and Approved:
Taleen Nazarian Sergio Gonzalez
Management Analyst City Manager