2026 DEF Scholarship Applications Now Available

The Dysart Education Foundation (DEF) is pleased to announce that college scholarship applications are now being accepted through March 15, 2026. Graduating seniors from Dysart, Shadow Ridge, Valley Vista, Willow Canyon High Schools, including Sundown Alternative High School are invited to apply. DEF supports learning beyond a student’s K-12 experience. Each 2026 graduating senior may submit one application to be eligible for multiple scholarships from DEF. The FAFSA nor high school counselor sign-off is required.  

DEF offers one- and two-year scholarships. Students attending a trade school, community college, or university may apply to receive any one of the DEF scholarships. To apply visit: www.dysarteducationfoundation.org/scholarships and click on the direct link to apply. The recipients will be notified via email by April 3, 2026. The student recipients and their parents/guardians will be invited to attend the Eighth Annual Dysart Education Foundation Awards Dinner on Thursday, April 23, 2026 to accept their scholarships. 

Student scholarship recipients are responsible for keeping DEF informed of all current information concerning home address, emails, class schedules, GPA, and transcripts. A separate link will be provided via email from DEF to students in December 2026, May 2027, and December 2027 to update the organization and its scholarship donors each semester. Failure to provide required documents may result in the loss of the scholarship. 

2026 Sponsors Include: 

•  DEF Scholarship Award 
•  Subaru Share the Love Scholarship of Surprise 
•  SFE-Southwest Foodservice Excellence 
•  The Randy Sterna Grand Opportunity 
•  El Mirage Firefighter Charities Public Safety (El Mirage residents) 
•  Tyrus Timbrooks Memorial Scholarship (Dysart High School Students Only) 
•  Barnett Medical Related Occupations Scholarship 

The Dysart Education Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 1985 committed to raising funds for supporting students and teachers in the classrooms in the Dysart Unified School District. They are composed of parents, educators, business owners, and city official volunteers who are passionate about supporting education in our community. For more information, please visit: www.dysarteducationfoundation.org or email scholarships@dysarteducationfoundation.org