Third graders surprised with free college tuition at Phoenix elementary school

Third graders at a Phoenix elementary school were surprised on Tuesday night with the news that they would receive full-ride scholarships to college.

The promise of scholarships for Madrid Neighborhood School's 89 third graders came from the Rosztoczy Foundation, an Avondale-based family foundation.

For students who graduate from the Alhambra Elementary School District and the Phoenix Union High School District and are accepted into college, the foundation will fund tuition and room and board for a four-year school or tuition and books at a community college.

Students who opt to attend private universities or public universities outside Arizona will receive the equivalent of in-state tuition at a public Arizona university toward their tuition costs, according to Tom Rosztoczy, who founded the scholarship program with his wife.

The foundation was started by Tom's father, a Hungarian refugee, to fund scholarships for Hungarian students to study or conduct research in the U.S. Its College Promise program began in 2012 when it offered full-ride college scholarships to third graders at Michael Anderson School in Avondale.

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Of the approximately 87 students who were part of the inaugural program, roughly 67 graduated high school. The foundation has supported around 37 who are attending or have attended some college, according to Rosztoczy.

Last year, the foundation offered the opportunity to a new batch of students in the Avondale Elementary School District and third graders at Bernard Black Elementary School in Phoenix's Roosevelt School District.

Following Tuesday's announcement at Madrid Neighborhood School, parents said they were excited, grateful and proud of their children.

"It's a big help as parents, as we strive daily for our family's wellbeing and our children's education," said Alexis Rivera in Spanish. "Education is most important ... and the opportunity that my daughter has is a very great one now."

Rivera's 8-year-old daughter, Julia, said she is excited because she knows this can help her become a veterinarian.

“A weight has been lifted off my shoulders for them,” said Michelle Chavez, who has two children in third grade. Her children, both 9, said they want to attend Grand Canyon University: Dominic to become a chef and artist and Liana to become a mathematician and scientist.

"I was wondering why my mom was crying," Dominic said. "I was like, 'Oh my God, maybe it must be very important.' So I was very inspired."

Luisa Ornelas said she had recently considered starting to save for her daughter’s college tuition.

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“I didn’t expect this,” she said. "It's very, very exciting that they're giving the kids this opportunity to further their education and get a degree."

Ornelas' daughter, Miracle Vidales, 8, said she wants to grow up to be a scientist, specifically a scientist who can “find out the species of animals.”

The foundation focuses on third graders because they are at the "magic age" when they are old enough to understand what a scholarship means and young enough to change their trajectory to work toward college, Rosztoczy said.

The foundation wanted to give the opportunity of higher education to students at a school with a high percentage of low-income families, he said.

More than 90% of the students at Madrid Neighborhood School qualify for free and reduced lunch, according to the district.

Now, educators will work to keep the third-graders thinking about the potential of college, said Cecilia Maes, the district’s superintendent.

Madrid Neighborhood School tries to keep college top of mind for its students, according to principal Stacy O'Rourke. Homerooms are themed with different universities, and each week the school highlights a university and shares information about its academics and extracurriculars, as well as fun facts, with students, she said.

O-Rourke said giving students the vision to attend college young allows them to work toward it.

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Madeleine Parrish covers K-12 education. Do you have news to share about your school or school district? Reach her at mparrish@arizonarepublic.com and follow her on Twitter at @maddieparrish61.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix third graders surprised with free college tuition