Seven local students' trip to a recent D-backs game became the surprise of a lifetime when they were presented unsuspectingly with a four-year college scholarship through the D-backs Avnet STEM Scholars program and St. Vincent de Paul’s One at a Time Scholars program. Surrounded by family and friends, the second graduation class received their scholarships along with a custom D-backs jersey, laptop, backpack, headphones and a $500 gift card for school supplies during an emotional ceremony hosted by Avnet CEO Phil Gallagher and Diamondbacks President, CEO & General Partner Derrick Hall.

“By investing in education, we pave the way for brighter tomorrows,” Hall said. “That is why the Arizona Diamondbacks and Avnet are proud to join forces with Avnet and St. Vincent de Paul to illuminate the path ahead.”

The STEM Scholars program has dedicated more than $1 million to provide opportunities for low-income and/or first-generation Arizona students to pursue a college degree in STEM-related fields. The scholars are selected through St. Vincent de Paul’s One at a Time Scholars program, which has been driving systemic change through comprehensive support for college students for more than 20 years.

The second class of D-backs Avnet STEM Scholars includes:

• Danna Rodriguez Madero, Nursing at Gateway Community College/Arizona State University
• Fatima Alaaraji, Mechanical engineering at Arizona State University
• Noemi Soto Lopez, Civil engineering at Arizona State University
• Raquel Garcia, Nursing at Arizona State University
• Samantha Escareno Collazo, Biomedical science at Arizona State University
• Sophia Cerna, Biological sciences and data science at Arizona State University
• Victor Gomez, Accounting at Paradise Valley Community College