Glendale Community College has named the city of Peoria as its Hero of Education for 2023.

The award is in recognition of Peoria’s longtime educational partnership with GCC and their commitment to support education by establishing the PeoriaAZ Promise program, according to a press release.

The celebration event, sponsored by the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation, took place at the Phoenix Art Museum.

In 2022 Peoria created the PeoriaAZ Promise program, which provides qualifying students with scholarships and stipends to cover expenses related to attending Glendale Community College to pursue degrees and certificates in first responder, IT and other municipal related fields of study.

“The PeoriaAZ Promise program, managed by our Neighborhood and Human Services division, is a wonderful example of how we are investing in the next generation of first responders here in the West Valley,” Peoria Mayor Jason Beck stated.

The PeoriaAZ Promise program is intended to supplement federal financial aid by bridging the financial gap for Peoria families who are paying for college.

Peoria has committed to funding the program with $200,000, which is a portion of the American Rescue Plan Act/COVID stimulus grant money that the city received during the pandemic.

84 students have received PeoriaAZ scholarship money to attend Glendale Community College, since the program launched in spring 2022.

To qualify for PeoriaAZ, students need to meet the income eligibility for Free Application for Financial Student Aid, be residents of Peoria, and maintain at least a 2.0 grade point average. Student applications are vetted through the Maricopa Community College Foundation.