In this heartfelt episode of the Somos Sunnyside podcast, we are honored to have Mike and Lorena Arias, founders of the Victoria Teresa Arias Memorial Foundation, share their daughter Victoria’s beautiful legacy. Victoria was born on December 1, 1998, in Tucson, AZ, to Michael and Lorena Arias and has one older sister, Desiree. She went to be with the Heavenly Father on July 12, 2017, at just 18 years old.

Victoria was a compassionate, loving, and hardworking young woman who earned a full-ride scholarship to Saint Mary’s University in Winona, Minnesota, with dreams of becoming a trauma surgeon. Her love for education began at Elvira Elementary, where she also discovered her passion for sports. Victoria had a deep faith, becoming an altar server at St. Monica Parish at a young age, a role she cherished.

Throughout her life, she was dedicated to learning and service. She attended Challenger Middle School, where her love for volleyball ignited. In high school, she had the honor of traveling to Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, to see the Pope with the El Otro Lado group, a memory that stood out as one of her greatest honors. Victoria graduated from San Miguel High School with honors in 2017 and was involved in various activities such as volleyball, theater, yearbook, National Honor Society, and mariachi.

To honor her legacy, the Victoria Teresa Arias Memorial Foundation has helped 24 "Tori Scholars" pursue their dreams with scholarships. This year, the foundation is offering four $40,000 scholarships, including one guaranteed for a Sunnyside District student. The Victoria Teresa Arias Memorial Foundation's mission is to empower youth to excel academically, grow personally, and give back to their communities. Scholars selected for the Victoria Teresa Arias Memorial Foundation Scholarship will be encouraged to continue Victoria’s legacy by volunteering to inspire future Tori Scholars.

Important Dates:
📅 Application Deadline: March 2, 2025
📅 Notification Date: March 24, 2025

APPLY HERE: https://shorturl.at/PeruC

Apply today and be part of something special, carrying Victoria's light forward.