Northern Arizona University Foundation, in partnership with Univision Arizona, announces that first-generation student Itzel Perez Lillos, ’30, from Mesa, Arizona’s Dobson High School, is the second recipient of the “Tu Futuro” (“Your Future”) scholarship program. Launched in 2024, the “Tu Futuro” scholarship program is part of Univision Arizona’s Contigo community empowerment initiative, covering the total cost of tuition and lodging for an undergraduate student at NAU for four years.
During a reception at Univision Arizona studios on May 11, 2026, Perez Lillos was announced as the scholarship awardee after being selected as a finalist based on an interview and a 250-word essay describing the impact a college degree would have on her future and local community. Nearly 500 students applied for the “Tu Futuro” scholarship—an increase of 100 applicants from 2025—and 23 were selected as finalists from a review committee.
Perez Lillos’ essay stood out from fellow applicants because of her passion for breaking barriers for her family and giving a voice to those often left unheard. She shared that she has had to translate for her parents, and that experience has shaped her into someone who is resilient, independent and ready to advocate for others.
Enrolled in NAU’s College of Health and Human Services, she plans to study dental hygiene and has already completed over 100 internship hours in dental offices in Phoenix. It was during her time in the dental assistant program that she became passionate about healthcare and eager to pursue it as a career…