News
Luis Barajas and Richard H. Schuman inducted to AWC Hall of Fame
August 18, 2026Inductees to be recognized during AWC Foundation Schoolhouse Soirée on October 2
Yuma, Ariz. (August 18, 2026) – Luis Barajas and Richard H. Schuman have been selected as the 2026 Arizona Western College Hall of Fame inductees.
Established in 2011, the AWC Hall of Fame honors alumni, faculty, and community leaders from Yuma and La Paz counties who have made a significant contribution to the mission and goals of the college or distinguished themselves in service to the community and beyond.
As the AWC Director of Financial Aid, Luis Barajas dedicated over 40 years to expanding educational access at the college, securing more than $120 million in aid, scholarships, loans and work-study opportunities. Affectionately known as “Mr. B,” his leadership and advocacy helped thousands of students achieve their educational goals and shaped AWC’s commitment to student success.
Richard H. Schuman (1926-1993) was a visionary civic leader who championed the creation of AWC. As a member of the Arizona State Junior College Board, Schuman helped secure voter approval for the district and established a legacy that continues to benefit generations of students and the community.
"Both of this year's Hall of Fame honorees – Richard and Luis – each helped spark the transformation for our communities when AWC was just a great idea, or an early effort,” said Lorainne Stofft, Vice President for Advancement and Executive Director of the AWC Foundation. “Each of them in their own way paved the way for hundreds of thousands of learners over a 63 year history. It's a great honor to induct them into the college Hall of Fame."
The AWC Foundation will recognize the inductees during the annual Schoolhouse Soirée on Friday, October 2.
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About the Arizona Western College Foundation:
The Arizona Western College Foundation seeks to make education universally accessible by removing economic barriers for students and building capacity for scholarships, programs, and creating the college of tomorrow. Since its establishment in 1963 as a supporting non-profit organization to Arizona Western College, the Foundation has set the pace for scholarship development and distribution in Yuma and La Paz counties. The team currently manages over 250 scholarship and programmatic funds and distributed over $800,000 in 2023 to provide over 190 students with scholarships, to help countless students from across the entire college district with program support, and to provide matching funds to the AWC Library renovation project.
Contact:
Gladys Anaya
Development Manager
Arizona Western College Foundation
Gladys.Anaya@azwestern.edu
(928) 317-7620