Two TUSD Students Receive Nueva Estrella Scholarship

In March, two Tucson Unified students were surprised as recipients of the Victoria Teresa Arias Memorial Foundation’s Nueva Estrella scholarship. Amy Aldama, a senior at Pueblo High School, and Harry Barsiwal, a senior at Palo Verde High Magnet School, were two of the four recipients chosen from southern Arizona this year.

Amy was joined by her mother and aunt, and Harry was joined by his father, who is a teacher at Palo Verde – and the surprise was kept from everyone.

Both Amy and Harry stood out due to their accomplishments, character, and future potential out of over a hundred applicants.

According to the Foundation, these scholarships will be for $10,000 a year and renewable for four years as long as the student continuously remains enrolled in school and is in good standing. Scholarships can be used towards the cost of tuition, books, academic fees, and student housing as well as any other educational needs that might come up.

As of the surprise announcement, Amy is undecided on where she will continue her education, but has been admitted to a handful of Ivy League institutions and a few other prestigious universities. Harry plans to attend the University of Arizona.