Page 21 - spring18

A Life-Changing Opportunity
Arizona Assurance opens doors for students in need

by Jeffrey Javier

ethia Kong ’16 and Morgan Larson ’14
K’15 share similar stories.
Both were high-performing students
in high school who earned a place at the
University of Arizona but were unable to
afford the cost of a college education.
Both saw their lives change after
learning about the Arizona Assurance
Program.
“If not for Arizona Assurance, I
wouldn’t be where I am today,” Larson
says. “I wouldn’t have a degree, and I
would probably be stuck at a job, rather
than pursuing a career.”
Arizona Assurance is a UA initiative
that gives financial assistance to low- Morgan Larson and Kethia Kong / Chris Richards photo
income Arizona students. To be admitted
into the program, students must
demonstrate academic excellence and the ‘If not for Arizona A Valuable Network
ability to succeed at the UA. The program, Larson says Arizona Assurance was the
which also provides student support Assurance, I chance she needed to attend the UA, find
services such as peer mentoring and wouldn’t be where out what she was good at in life, and earn a
partnerships with faculty who help guide degree that opened doors for her career.
students through their transition into I am today.’ She earned her bachelor’s degree in
college and beyond, has supported more 2014 and a master’s degree in accounting
than 5,300 scholars in its nine years. in 2015. When she graduated, a job at
would further burden his family. Kong’s accounting firm Ernst & Young was
A Clear Path sister, who was attending the UA as waiting for her. The firm supports the
Kong was born in Cambodia. He was 8 an Arizona Assurance scholar herself, Eller College of Management’s accounting
years old when he and his family moved connected him with the program. department and offers internships and
to the United States in 2002. His parents Kong was accepted. Not only was he able programs for students.
encouraged him to work hard in school to attend the UA, but he also had access to “Unlike other accounting firms, Ernst
so he could go to college. He graduated a peer network that helped him transition & Young has a huge focus on diversity and
fourth in his class and received his into college. inclusion, which really drew me to them,”
college acceptance letter from the UA. “I had a peer mentor who really walked she says. “It’s a firm that wants to reinvest
But even with the financial aid he me through my first year,” he says. “It was in the community and make a positive
received, he could not pay for all his nice to connect with other people who’ve impact.”
expenses. had the same experiences I have.” Ernst & Young’s culture has attracted
“For a week I was really excited, but Kong became a peer mentor in his not only Larson, but other Arizona
when I received my financial aid package sophomore year and has maintained a Assurance scholars as well. Larson says she
and found out I couldn’t afford it, I was connection with other Arizona Assurance was glad to see UA and Arizona Assurance
confused and upset,” he says. scholars. Today, he is a program coordinator alumni working there.
Kong apologized to his mother for the UA’s Student Affairs and Enrollment “I love that there’s a UA community
because he felt like he had disappointed Office and is working toward earning a at the company, but also a small Arizona
her. He refused to take out a loan that graduate degree. Assurance group,” Larson says.
// GIVE TODAY: uafoundation.org/give/fund/assurance //

SPRING 2018 19