PebbleCreek scholarships help Millennium grads start college

With all the negativity you hear about the next generation, these people give you a lot of hope.”

Ric Sarro | PebbleCreek Irish American Club

When Victor Muro learned he received a $2,000 scholarship from the PebbleCreek Irish American Club, the very first thing he did was call his mother.

"She was all happy for me and started crying," Muro said. "And to say that I earned it myself, that's what I like the most."

Muro, the first in his family to attend college, is attending Arizona State University. The award helped him buy a laptop and cover other school expenses. He plans to become a licensed civil engineer, building on the experience he gained through his father's construction company.

Muro was one of nine Millennium High School graduates selected from 17 applicants this year. Each received $2,000. The club also allocated $8,000 for scholarships to West-MEC students pursuing trade and technical careers.

Ric Sarro, the club's vice president, cultural director and scholarship committee chair, said 12 committee members worked in four teams to review applicants. They considered academics, community involvement and leadership, financial need and personal drive. Applicants also had to research college costs in order to determine the gap they needed to fill.

"We're really looking to help fill a need," Sarro said. "It was just that bridge that really helped them. Maybe it's just getting a computer."

Two other recipients, Jahmaria Flowers and Danielle Grumbling, are now freshmen at the University of Arizona.

Flowers is studying biology and plans to become an OB-GYN serving women who have been underserved by the health care system, particularly women of color. She said she has wanted to become a doctor since the fifth grade.

"I really want to deliver babies and help women as much as I can," Flowers said. "And so that kind of keeps me going."

Her mother did not attend college but helped her with the application process. When Flowers received the award letter, she called her mother, who was so excited she shared the news with their family before Flowers even got home.

Grumbling enters U of A as a business student and plans to study finance or marketing. At Millennium, she served in club leadership roles and lead the school to win a Vitalant blood drive competition for collecting the highest number of donations.

Grumbling learned about the scholarship through her mother and her older sister Michaela, who received the scholarship in 2025. 

"Receiving it made a huge difference," Grumbling said, encouraging current high school students to apply. "You won't know what's out there until you try yourself."

Founded in April 2007 by John Cronin, who emigrated from Ireland with his wife Peggy, the PebbleCreek Irish American Club now has 243 members. It organizes its mission around the three leaves of a shamrock clover: culture, education and charity.

Sarro said the club connects its mission to the international aid Ireland received during the Great Famine.

The club has donated $207,000, including $108,000 for scholarships and grants at Millennium and West-MEC and $99,000 to nonprofits. Its fundraising includes a St. Patrick's Day golf tournament, casino night and other Irish-themed events.

The club plans to add another Goodyear high school to the scholarship program next year.

"With all the negativity you hear about the next generation, these people give you a lot of hope," Sarro said. "They're pretty amazing."

PebbleCreek is part of the Robson Resort Communities.

Noah Flug
Reporter | Litchfield Park and Goodyear

nflug@iniusa.org

Community: Litchfield Park and Goodyear

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication with a minor in Digital Audiences from Arizona State University

Random Fact: I only have one biological cousin.

Hobbies: Watching movies and TV, spending time with my friends, aspiring stoic.