Trade School Scholarships

Trade School Scholarship Applications

Tempe Diablos Charities, Inc., is pleased to to support the trades with Trade School Scholarship for the 2025-2026 academic year. The Tempe Diablos are involved in promoting excellence among Tempe’s top high school students and helping young adults in taking steps to improve their opportunities and the communities in which they live.

Scholarship Award Amount: $2,000 one-time scholarship to be used for class and equipment fees

This information and application are for use by applicants who are applying to an accredited trade school in Arizona *See www.accsc.org/directory/ OR www.careerschoolnow.org/colleges/cities/phoenix-az for a list of accredited trade schools.

To be eligible for the scholarship, an applicant must:

• Be a graduating senior from any high school within the Tempe Union High School District OR Be a graduating senior who lives in Tempe, Arizona and attends a publicly funded accredited Arizona high school
• Must be classified as an Arizona resident for tuition purposes
• Meet the following:
  • Have a minimum 2.5 grade point average
• Application Filing deadline – January 11, 2026. Interviews to be held Saturday, February 21, 2026

Members of the Tempe Diablos, their spouses, children, grandchildren and/or dependents are not eligible to apply.

Trade Scholarship Procedure

1. Diablo children and grandchildren are not eligible for Diablo Scholarships.
   1. The maximum individual scholarship amount shall be $2,000 per year. Recipients can reapply if a need exists.
   2. Candidates may be enrolled in high school or adults looking to learn a trade. No prior grade minimum or transcripts required.
   3. The current High School scholarship chairman is responsible for trade scholarship requests, approvals, payments to schools and updating the scholarship tracking sheet.
   4. Funds shall be utilized based on the current year’s fiscal budget approved at the annual retreat for trade scholarships.
   5. The scholarship for individuals is a maximum of $2,000 per year and $8,000 maximum per person over 4 years.
   6. All trade scholarship awards are a one-time award, and applicants must re-apply each semester or school year.
   7. Trade schools shall be accredited
      1. The Department of Education (ED) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation formally recognize accrediting agencies that set and enforce high accreditation standards. Schools accredited by an ED-approved agency get access to federal financial aid, among other benefits.
      2. The U.S. Department of Education (ED): In order to qualify for federal financial aid, post-secondary students must be enrolled in schools or programs that are accredited by ED-recognized agencies. ED-recognized agencies
      3. The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA): This private organization recognizes certain accrediting bodies for the purpose of improving academic quality in post-secondary education. CHEA-recognized accreditors are seen as being academically legitimate. CHEA-recognized accreditors
   8. Trade Scholarships funds may be distributed to:
      1. Any individual through the normal scholarship application process.
         1. The Trade Scholarship application will be open year-round. As applications are received, the current High School Scholarship committee will review, interview if needed and prepare a recommendation for the board at the monthly board meeting.
   9. A non-profit group providing scholarship funds to a Tempe resident enrolled in an accredited trade school.
      1. This fund may be requested at any time of the year. As applications are received, the current High School Scholarship committee will review, interview if needed and prepare a recommendation for the board at the monthly board meeting.
   10. EVIT: The EVIT Foundation will make a request each August/September for their Tempe residents or Tempe Union HS students with specific financial needs.
       1. Names shall not be released to the Diablos but will provide an itemize list for each student by number, high school, trade, financial need with a summary and total request.
       2. The EVIT foundation only deals with high school youths with financial need. Since tuition is state paid, the financial cost shall be used for required tools and books. Funds would go directly to the Foundation, which then works directly with the registrar to get the funds into each student’s account.
       3. As applications are received, the current High School Scholarship committee will review, interview if needed and prepare a recommendation for the board at the monthly board meeting.
   11. Funds shall be distributed in 3 ways:
       1. Traditional individual student award. The Scholarship committee would process check and deliver to trade school.
       2. EVIT Lump sum request, traditionally in August/September.
       3. Request by other non-profit for Tempe resident trade school tuition or materials.