Opportunity Directory for Arizona High School Students + Parents
Scholarships, internships, and summer camps
Every year, the Greater Phoenix Urban League Young Professionals hosts a Youth Leadership Summit at Microsoft Corporation in Tempe, Arizona. The Summit provides a full day of career exploration, college preparation, and team building for youth.
Founded in 2005, the Greater Phoenix Urban League Young Professionals (GPHXULYP) provides opportunities for professional development, civic engagement, and community empowerment among professionals ages 21 to 40.
In support of this event, we compiled an opportunity directory to aid Arizona students and parents in identifying local opportunities for scholarships, internships, and summer camps.
Many of the opportunities listed below can provide direction (and a resume or college application enhancer) for students of color as they begin to architect education and/or career paths. Getting from point A to point B is a lot easier with a map, and we need to prop our youth up with opportunities for growth and higher earning potential.
This document is intended to be a living document. Please email me at harrislange@uwalumni.com or comment to request edits, inclusions, or application assistance.
Scholarships
Arizona Community Foundation Scholarship Portal (more than 100 scholarships in one place)
Better Business Bureau Student Scholarships: Encouraging Ethics in Youth
Flinn Scholars Program (merit-based; application opens in August)
Maricopa Community Colleges Scholarships
National Forum for Black Public Administrators Central Arizona Chapter:
- The Jacques Avent Scholarship Fund will award two $2,500 scholarships to future Black public administrators in honor of Jacques Avent. (Application due in May)
- The Mr. Calvin C. and Georgie M. Goode “ACT GOODE” Scholarship will provide two graduating seniors currently enrolled at a Phoenix-area high school (public or charter) with a scholarship in the amount of $1,000 each. (Application due May 15th)
Tempe Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority ($1,500–3,000 scholarships for Arizona African-American high school seniors and current undergraduate students; open Jan 1 — Feb 28th)
Phoenix Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority (Arizona African-American high school seniors and current undergraduate students; open Jan 1 — Feb 28th)
- Delta Research & Educational Foundation (Delta Sigma Theta national scholarship opportunities; deadline March 21)
*More to come
Summer Internships and Camps
Opportunities for all high school years
Summer Institute on Medical Ignorance at University of Arizona: 7 week, paid research apprenticeship ($1,600 stipend) (Application due January)
ASU Media Innovation Camp (deadline April 6): open to aspiring journalists, game developers and other creative high school students, the free, two-week camp (June 17–29) allows students to learn about and try out new technologies. Apply here
The Tuskegee Airmen ACF Academy (deadline May 11): the objectives of the Aviation Career Education Academy are to inspire youth to pursue aviation-related and/or aerospace careers, excellence of character, and to recognize the importance of academic achievement (2018 academy dates: June 4–8). Contact info: Larry Jackson, Youth Director, Archer Ragsdale Arizona Chapter, Tuskegee Airmen Inc., jet1jac@aol.com or 602–321–4174
Arizona Cyber Warfare Range GenCyber Camp (application opens in May): free weeklong camp where students will learn cybersecurity topics; Contact info: David Hernandez at dhernandez@azcwr.org
Barrett Summer Scholars at Arizona State University
Governor’s Youth Commission (deadline end of July, 2019): Established in 1989, GYC is a diverse body of Arizona’s high school students composed of members from all across the state. Formed to engage youth through innovative programs, events and campaigns that effectively serve their communities in areas that are most meaningful to them.
Co+Hoots Foundation (content focused on entrepreneurship & innovation)
- Summer internships (May — August)
- Summer of Innovation programming
- Youth Startup Weekend (application opens in January)
Opportunities for Sophomores & Juniors
The Joaquin Bustoz Math-Science Honors Program at Arizona State University (application opens in January)
Arizona Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (application opens in September)
Phoenix Sister Cities Youth Ambassador six week international exchange program (must be Phoenix resident; deadline Jan 2019)
- *note: other cities in Greater Phoenix have similar exchange programs (Tempe Sister Cities, Gilbert Sister Cities, etc.)
USDA AgDiscovery (summer exploratory program for middle and high school students that may be considering a career in agriculture; offered at University of Arizona)
Opportunities for Juniors & Seniors
Jerome E. Miller Summer Leadership Academy (deadline July 16): week long summer academy for incoming high school Juniors and Seniors with an interest in a career in public service
UChicago Summer Scholars (deadline March 29): Black/African-American students are invited to apply for an opportunity to participate in a select Summer Session course (topic: U.S. literature/minority poetry) free of charge. There is no application fee to apply.
Google: Computer Science Summer Institute: Dive into Computer Science with CSSI at Google, CSSI-HBCU, and CSSI-Extension (Deadline Feb 28th)
Grand Canyon University: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) no-cost mini-camp (applications open early Spring):
- STEM Explorations (focused on health science, bioscience, or forensic science)
- The Cipher Avenger STEM Summer Camp (focused on computer science & cybersecurity)
Undergraduate & Graduate Fellowships
ProFellow: A searchable database for fellowships and summer programs
OneUSDA Internship Program (summer)
Job Platforms & Career Advice Built by People of Color
Jopwell: The leading career advancement platform for Black, Latinx, and Native American students and professionals
Katelyn Harris Lange is a current workforce development practitioner supporting cross-sector synergy and innovation in the Greater Phoenix Area. She is a philanthropist involved in the African-American Women’s Giving and Empowerment Circle, Phoenix Sister Cities Board Member, and the current Diversity and Inclusion Director with Net Impact Phoenix Professionals.
