Scholarship Program

Friends of Madera Canyon is pleased to offer a Bud and Mary Gode Scholarship each year to a high school senior who plans to pursue a career related to the history, science or preservation of our natural environment. Application for the $5,000 award is open to students graduating from public high schools along the I-19 corridor south of Tucson. The Scholarship Committee works with counselors at the high schools to make the information and application materials widely available to students.  While the selection of each year’s recipient is often a difficult one for the Committee, the list of past recipients is an impressive one and Friends is happy to be able to help these students with the cost to pursue post-secondary education.

Contributions to the Scholarship Endowment Fund are welcome!

Please make your check to:

Friends of Madera Canyon, and write “Scholarship Fund” on the memo line.

Send your check to:

Friends of Madera Canyon, P.O. Box 1203, Green Valley, AZ  85622-1203.

Your contribution is a recognized tax deduction under AZ 501(c)(3).

For more information on the Scholarship Program, see the PDF.

The applicant must be a graduating Senior in good academic standing planning to attend an institution of higher learning to pursue a degree in Environmental Sciences, Nature Studies, or related field. Graduating seniors from the following Southern Arizona High Schools are eligible to apply: Sahuarita, Walden Grove, Academic Pathways/Sahuarita, Rio Rico, Nogales, Patagonia Union, Tohono O’odom and Baboquivari.

1. The completed application and other required documents must be received by April 3, 2026  to the address shown . The application packet must be postmarked by April 2, 2026

2. Include one or more letters of reference from your high school advisor and/or teachers describing your academic qualifications, educational experiences, interest in the natural sciences and personal qualities. If you have a mentor in or out of school with whom you have discussed career plans, ask him/her to write an additional letter on your behalf.

3. Submit a transcript of your high school academic record.

4. Compose an essay, not to exceed 1000 words, describing your interest in an area of the natural sciences and your planned field of study in college or university. Indicate how you envision using your planned college studies in the pursuit of a career related to nature and the environment. Tell about past experiences that have influenced your interest in the natural world. Specific career selection is not necessary, but we want to hear how you would adapt your education in the sciences to make a possible career choice. If you refer to literature or texts in your essay, please cite the source.

The Friends of Madera Canyon Scholarship Committee is pleased to announce the award of the $5,000 Bud and Mary Gode Scholarship to Isabella Canedo of Rio Rico High School. Isabella is an exceptionally qualified recipient whose academic achievements have enabled her to complete her high school education one year ahead of schedule. She will be attending the University of Arizona with a major in Biological Sciences. She is considering medicine.

She received her scholarship on May 6 at the Rio Rico awards banquet. The presenters were David Linn and Barbara Fleshman of the Friends of Madera Canyon Scholarship Committee.

We offer our congratulations and best wishes to Isabella!