The Oro Valley Chamber Foundation awarded a record 25 scholarships, each valued at $1,500, during its 2026 Mayor Steve Engle Memorial Scholarship breakfast held June 11 at El Conquistador Tucson, A Hilton Resort.

This year’s recipients are:

Canyon del Oro High School: Angelina Abboud, Keelyn Anderson, Andrew Garza, Madison Griffin, Jolie Lebrun, Yunah Lee, Jess Mohan, Joey Morrill, Melanie Randall, Tori Robertson, and Kyndel Smith.


Mountain View High School: Ameen Barakat Abdul-Jawad, Rocco Martinez.


The University of Arizona: Lauren Anderson, Kaitlynn Poncavage.

Empire High School: Paige Bullis.

Flowing Wells High School: Savannah Diaz, Jose Noriega.


Cienega High School: Ryan Guillot.


Marana High School: Riley Joseph.

Amphitheater High School: David Kanma-Okafor.

Home school: Casey Lamb.


Ironwood Ridge High School: Solana Manning, Dominic Renda.


Catalina Foothills High School: Julia Riddle.

Pusch Ridge Christian Academy: Zachary Smith.

Among the honorees, 17 plan to attend the University of Arizona. Three are bound for Northern Arizona University. Two are going to Grand Canyon University, and two to Arizona State University. One is planning to attend Pima Community College, another Mesa Community College.

“Your generosity is a direct investment in our potential, inspiring me and my fellow scholarship recipients to chase our dreams by giving us the tools to actually reach them,” recipient Kaitlynn Poncavage told the audience of more than 100 students, families, donors, and guests. “As we move forward, let’s continue to work hard in silence and let the success in this room today make all the noise.”

The awards are named for the late Oro Valley Mayor Steve Engle, who provided scholarships from his own pocket during his years in office. The Oro Valley Chamber assumed the giving after Engle passed, and the Chamber Foundation has raised funds for the awards in recent years.

This year’s total award was $37,500.

“We’re so grateful to the individuals and businesses who sponsor scholarships,” said Dave Perry, chair of the Chamber Foundation board. “It’s an honor to help these young people pursue their goals, and to celebrate their achievements with family, friends and benefactors.”

Among those in the audience was Pima County Superintendent of Schools Dustin Williams, Oro Valley Mayor Joe Winfield, Vice Mayor Melanie Barrett and Town Councilmembers Joyce Jones-Ivey, Mary Murphy, Elizabeth Robb and Dr. Harry “Mo” Greene II. Officials from Amphitheater Public Schools and the Pima Community College Foundation were on hand as well.

Michael Pineiro, representing the office of U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani, presented each recipient with a certificate.

To help with future scholarships, contact Foundation executive director Helen Gomez at 520-237-2898, or email helen@ovchamberfoundation.org.