Last Updated on March 5, 2026 by Daily News Staff

Arizona Scholarships 2026: $1,500 Awards + Free ACF Virtual Workshops

Scholarship season moves fast, and for a lot of Arizona families, the hardest part isn’t writing the essay or gathering transcripts—it’s simply finding the right opportunities in time.

The Archer Ragsdale Arizona Chapter (ARAC), Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. is encouraging students and the community to take advantage of scholarship resources through the Arizona Community Foundation (ACF), including an easy online application that can match applicants with 160+ scholarships—plus virtual workshops where students can get help directly from ACF’s scholarship team.

Whether you’re a high school senior, a current college student, or an adult re-entry student, ACF’s scholarship portal is designed to meet people where they are.

The Big Picture: One Application, 160+ Scholarships

According to the flyer, ACF awarded $6.3 million in scholarships last year, with over 160 scholarships available through a single, easy application.

• Application opens: January 1
• Most deadlines: March and April
• Where to start: https://azfoundation.org/scholarships
• ACF scholarship email: scholarship@azfoundation.org

What to watch for: Even if a student is only targeting one scholarship, completing the ACF application can surface additional matches they didn’t know existed.

ARAC Tuskegee Airmen Scholarship: Ashby-Herring Scholarships ($1,500) — Deadline April 6, 2026

ARAC (Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.) awards two or more scholarships to deserving Arizona students who are college-bound. The flyer highlights the Ashby-Herring scholarships, named in honor of late founding ARAC members who were original Tuskegee Airmen.

Award: Two Ashby-Herring scholarships (each $1,500)
Deadline:April 6, 2026
Apply here:https://www.azfoundation.org/archer-ragsdale

Eligibility:

• Graduating high school senior from Arizona
• Attending a 2-year or 4-year college/university
• African-American
• 3.0 GPA or higher
• Demonstrated financial need

Free Virtual Workshops (Zoom): Get Help With Your Application

If you’ve ever watched a student stall out halfway through an application, these workshops are a smart fix: they’re designed so applicants can work on their scholarship application with support from ACF’s scholarship team.

Workshop dates (Zoom):

• February 12, 2026 — 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.
• March 5, 2026 — 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.
• March 26 — 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. (date listed on flyer; confirm year when registering)

Register here:https://acf.cventevents.com/acfscholarships2026

View the flyer here: https://stmdailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Deadline-updated-12.29.2025-Archer-Ragsdale-Flyer-FINAL.pdf

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Download Flyer (PDF)

What to watch for: Register for the dates you can attend and come prepared with what you already have (basic info, activities list, questions). One hour of guided progress can save days of procrastination.

Why This Matters (and Why Sharing Helps)

The Tuskegee Airmen legacy is rooted in excellence, discipline, and breaking barriers—and scholarships tied to that legacy are meant to elevate futures for the next generation.

If you’re a parent, teacher, coach, mentor, or neighbor, consider this your nudge: forward the link, post it in a group chat, or share it with a student who might qualify. Deadlines hit quickly, and the easiest scholarship to win is often the one you actually apply for.

View the press release: https://stmdailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/FOR-IMMEDIATE-RELEASE.pdf

Related Links:

• https://azfoundation.org/scholarships
• https://acf.cventevents.com/acfscholarships2026
• https://www.azfoundation.org/archer-ragsdale

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College isn’t just classes and credits — it’s learning how to manage your time, money, health, and relationships while you build a future that actually fits. In our College Life coverage, STM Daily News shares practical, real-world guides for students and families: campus living tips, study and productivity habits, career prep, budgeting basics, mental wellness check-ins, and smart ways to make the most of college in Arizona and beyond.

Expect quick reads, useful takeaways, and “what to do next” advice — whether you’re a first-year student, a transfer, or heading back to school.

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Hard Rock International is teaming up with long-time partner Coca-Cola to spotlight women shaping the music business with a new content initiative and a month-long slate of events.

Announced Feb. 26, 2026, the collaboration introduces “Women Empower,” a micro-documentary series rolling out throughout March as part of Hard Rock’s annual International Women’s Month celebrations. Alongside the video series, Hard Rock says it’s aiming to host 1,000 live music and special events globally across its Cafes, Hotels, Casinos and Live venues.

A micro-documentary series focused on women across the industry

Rather than focusing only on performers, “Women Empower” highlights women working in a range of roles across music and media. Hard Rock notes that less than 5% of music and media creators are women, and the series is designed to put more faces—and job titles—into the public conversation.

The six featured women include:

• Janelle Abraham — Director/Film Producer
  
• Kat Luna — Singer/Songwriter
  
• Minami Minami — Composer/Dancer/Singer
  
• Claire Murphy — Guitar Tech
  
• Mayna Nevarez — CEO & Founder, Nevarez Communications
  
• Wendy Ong — Co-President/CMO, TaP Music

Elena Alvarez, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Brand Partnerships at Seminole Gaming and Hard Rock International, said the brand is using International Women’s Month to “lift the curtain” on the series while tying the celebration back to Hard Rock’s music-first identity and philanthropic work.

$100,000 donation to Women in Music

Hard Rock Heals Foundation®, Hard Rock’s charitable arm, is donating $100,000 to Women in Music, supporting the nonprofit’s education and empowerment efforts.

Nicole Barsalona, President of Women in Music, said the campaign highlights diversity on stage and “the wide range of roles across the music business—and the women behind the scenes whose work drives our industry forward.”

Limited-time Coca-Cola menu items at participating Hard Rock Cafes

Throughout March, participating Hard Rock Cafes will offer a limited-time Coca-Cola-inspired menu tied to the regions represented in the series.

Specialty drinks include:

• Passionfruit Splash — passionfruit beverage with Minute Maid Lemonade, Sprite and cranberry juice
• Mango Guava Chiller — mango and guava-flavored drink with Sprite, pineapple and lime juice
• Spiced Yuzu Soda — spiced brown sugar, yuzu and Coca-Cola blend

Food items include:

• Fattoush Chicken Caesar Salad — romaine with grilled chicken, mint, vegetables, fried naan and red wine Caesar dressing
• Mahi Sandwich — mahi filet with remoulade, lettuce, tomato and shoestring onions, served with seasoned fries
• Dulce de Leche Brownie — brownie with chocolate sauce, vanilla ice cream, dulce de leche and whipped cream

Hard Rock Hotels: curated listening experiences honoring female artists

Hard Rock Hotels will also highlight women in music through live performances, curated playlists and themed listening experiences using the brand’s Sound of Your Stay® program. Hard Rock says guests can expect music-themed amenities such as limited-edition vinyl, memorabilia highlights and playlists centered on female artists—both iconic names and emerging talent.

Events worldwide + Rock Shop merch

Hard Rock says it will host women-led performances, networking events, brunches and other community-driven experiences across its global footprint throughout March.

Hard Rock’s official International Women’s Month T-shirts are available at Rock Shop® retail locations and online.

For the full list of International Women’s Month activations, visit https://www.hardrock.com/women.

The Bridge is a section of the STM Daily News Blog meant for diversity, offering real news stories about bona fide community efforts to perpetuate a greater good. The purpose of The Bridge is to connect the divides that separate us, fostering understanding and empathy among different groups. By highlighting positive initiatives and inspirational actions, The Bridge aims to create a sense of unity and shared purpose. This section brings to light stories of individuals and organizations working tirelessly to promote inclusivity, equality, and mutual respect. Through these narratives, readers are encouraged to appreciate the richness of diverse perspectives and to participate actively in building stronger, more cohesive communities.

https://stmdailynews.com/the-bridge

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Last Updated on February 26, 2026 by Daily News Staff

Chick-fil-A, Inc. is awarding $6 million in grants to 56 nonprofit organizations as part of its 2026 True Inspiration Awards® program, spotlighting groups the company says are making measurable, community-level impact.

The Feb. 10 announcement also marks a global milestone for the brand: Chick-fil-A is expanding the program’s footprint to include its first-ever Singapore-based grant recipient.

The big picture: a decade of community grants

Chick-fil-A launched the True Inspiration Awards in 2015 to honor the legacy of its founder, S. Truett Cathy. Since then, the company says it has awarded more than 400 grants totaling nearly $40 million to nonprofits across the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, the U.K. and now Singapore.

“Serving is at the heart of what we do, and the True Inspiration Awards reflect our belief that strong communities are built through consistent, caring action,” said Andrew T. Cathy, CEO of Chick-fil-A, Inc., in the release.

Faith Kitchen named 2026 S. Truett Cathy Honoree

This year’s S. Truett Cathy Honoree — the program’s top recognition and largest grant — went to Faith Kitchen, a San Antonio-based nonprofit focused on serving people experiencing homelessness.

Faith Kitchen received a $350,000 grant, which Chick-fil-A says will help:

• Support continued meal service
• Expand job training programs
• Increase operational capacity as demand rises

According to the release, Faith Kitchen serves more than 5,000 individuals each year and has operated with a mission of feeding those experiencing homelessness for 45 years, providing hot, nutritious meals three times per day.

Shared Table partnership: surplus food turned into meals

Chick-fil-A also highlighted its ongoing relationship with Faith Kitchen through the Chick-fil-A Shared Table®program, which donates surplus food from restaurants.

Since 2017, Chick-fil-A restaurants in San Antonio have partnered with Faith Kitchen to help create more than 200,000 meals, according to the company. The release also notes restaurants donate 500 boxed meals monthly to support Faith Kitchen clients.

Local Owner-Operator Greg Patterson said he nominated Faith Kitchen for the grant, citing the organization’s focus on dignity and dependable support.

Global expansion: first Singapore recipient

A notable headline for 2026 is the program’s first Singapore recipient: Fei Yue Community Services, which received $170,000 SGD.

Chick-fil-A says the organization supports socially withdrawn youth by connecting them with mental health resources and supportive relationships.

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More nonprofits recognized across the U.S.

While Chick-fil-A’s full list of 2026 recipients is available through the company’s program page, the release highlights several additional grant recipients, including:

• Living and Learning Enrichment Center (Detroit, Michigan): $125,000 to support teens and young adults with disabilities transitioning to adulthood
• For Oak Cliff (North Texas): $200,000 to strengthen culturally responsive programs and expand access to education, workforce development, and community resources
• San Diego Rescue Mission (San Diego, California): $125,000 to provide trauma-informed support for individuals and families facing homelessness
• Capital City Youth Services (Tallahassee, Florida): selected to help expand emergency shelter and mental health support for at-risk youth

Chick-fil-A One members helped vote — nearly 700,000 ballots

Chick-fil-A says Chick-fil-A One® Members voted for Operator-nominated nonprofits in the Chick-fil-A App, and that voting plays a role in the final scoring. This year, the company reported a record nearly 700,000 votes cast.

2027 application window is open

Nonprofits interested in the next cycle can take note: Chick-fil-A says the 2027 True Inspiration Awards application period opens today and closes May 1.

For more information and the interactive release, visit: https://www.multivu.com/chick-fil-a/9376351-en-chick-fil-a-true-inspiration-awards-grants

Our Lifestyle section on STM Daily News is a hub of inspiration and practical information, offering a range of articles that touch on various aspects of daily life. From tips on family finances to guides for maintaining health and wellness, we strive to empower our readers with knowledge and resources to enhance their lifestyles. Whether you’re seeking outdoor activity ideas, fashion trends, or travel recommendations, our lifestyle section has got you covered. Visit us today at https://stmdailynews.com/category/lifestyle/ and embark on a journey of discovery and self-improvement.