Engle scholarships are a fundamental piece of the Foundation’s portfolio
Steve Engle was an Oro Valley founding father, and one of the town’s first mayors. While he served, Steve would provide scholarships to local students from his own pocket.
Following Mayor Engle’s passing, the Northern Pima County Chamber of Commerce took up the cause of scholarship fund-raising and awarding. The Oro Valley Chamber, successor to the NPCCC, continued that mission before the Chamber Foundation was formed.
Recipients come from schools across the region
Recent recipients of Mayor Steve Engle Memorial Scholarships came from Canyon Del Oro, Cienega, Amphitheater, Ironwood Ridge, Flowing Wells, Marana High School, Mountain View and San Miguel high schools.
Scholarship applications are evaluated and ranked by a team of volunteers.
The awards, $1,500 each, are named for the late Oro Valley Mayor Steve Engle, who served as mayor from 1978 through 1990. From his own pocket, Engle gave college scholarships to Canyon del Oro High School graduates. The Oro Valley Chamber took on the giving after Engle passed away.
A committee of Chamber Foundation volunteers chooses recipients. Applicants are evaluated on the basis of academic performance, community involvement and demonstrated need.
Nichole Murphy, who works in the office of U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani, gave each student a certificate of recognition from the congressman in 2025.
Foundation celebrates 25 scholarship achievers for 2026
Photo by Chris Grey of Christopher Grey Fine Art.
More than 100 guests celebrated the achievements and dreams of students Thursday, when your Chamber Foundation hosted the 2026 Mayor Steve Engle Memorial Scholarship breakfast at Chamber Platinum member El Conquistador Tucson, A Hilton Resort.
This year, the Oro Valley Chamber Foundation awarded a record 25 scholarships, each valued at $1,500, to deserving students across the region.
“Your generosity is a direct investment in our potential, inspiring me and my fellow scholarship recipients to chase our dreams by giving us the tools to actually reach them,” recipient Kaitlynn Poncavage told the audience.
“As we move forward, let’s continue to work hard in silence and let the success in this room today make all the noise,” she said.
Among those in the audience was Pima County Superintendent of Schools Dustin Williams, Oro Valley Mayor Joe Winfield, Vice Mayor Melanie Barrett, and town council members Joyce Jones-Ivey, Mary Murphy, Elizabeth Robb and Dr. Harry “Mo” Greene II.
Officials from Amphitheater Public Schools and the Pima Community College Foundation were on hand as well.
Michael Pineiro, representing the office of U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani, presented each recipient with a certificate
Donors Mary Schulz of Schulz Financial Group, Cody Barnhart of Oro Valley Hospital, Monica Smith of Visiting Angels and Nancy Boyle of Splendido at Rancho Vistoso shared their stories and words of encouragement.
The Foundation is greatly appreciative of its donors, among them Joe Bourne, Alan and Helen Dankwerth, Andrew Dankwerth and Alisa Busch, Suzie Eldridge, Cody and Deborah Engle, Kay Williams, Roche Tissue Diagnostics, Oro Valley Hospital, El Conquistador Tucson, Splendido at Rancho Vistoso, Visiting Angels, Wendy Wise State Farm, Desert Hospitality Management, Schulz Financial Group, Desert Diamond Casinos, Willman Law Firm, La Posada Pusch Ridge, the Eitzen Private Client Group of Oppenheimer and Co., Suzi Nomiyama, Karen and Sunir Kochhar, Dave Perry and Michael Burns.
Special thanks as well to the selection committee, to include Foundation board members Kay Williams, Fred Roof, Alan Dankwerth, Brett Willman and Kristen Sharp, along with Foundation executive director Helen Gomez.
You can help the Foundation provide much-needed money for future scholars.
Nine recipients of 2025 Mayor Steve Engle Memorial Scholarships posed with certificates of recognition after the June 12 breakfast presented by the Oro Valley Chamber Foundation. From left are Emma Connell, Leesah Payne, Grace Ponzo, Damien Coyne, Ilisa Cohen, Jayden Rios, Bryan Rodriguez, Alyssa Lopez, and Samantha Rosales.The Chamber Foundation distributed 20 total scholarships, each with a value of $1,500. (Submitted photo / Chris Grey / Christopher Grey Fine Art).