05/13/2026
“Being raised in a family where attending college was uncommon has motivated me to break generational barriers. Continuing my education is not only a personal goal but also a way to set an example for my siblings and represent my community in the healthcare field. The scholarship I previously received encouraged me to stay focused on my academic goals and to push myself further in my studies, which had such a significant impact on me. Knowing that others believed in my potential strengthened my confidence and my commitment to school.
- Mia Romo, Server, La Joya neighborhood
Today, we delve into the history of one of our crucial employee benefit programs, the La Posada Scholarship Program.
The journey began in 2000, when Wendell Bowers, a visionary La Posada resident, approached La Posada management with a groundbreaking idea: offering scholarships to our employees.
This pioneering concept in the retirement community landscape aimed to enhance our staff's education, benefiting not only La Posada but also the broader Southern Arizona community.
Now, the La Posada Scholarship Program offers a variety of scholarships, including general or donor scholarships, endowment scholarships, and high school student scholarships, helping our staff members pursue higher education or acquire new skills.
In 2026, a new scholarship category was added to this program, the Excellence Scholarship Program, recognizing employees who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, leadership, and commitment to their future goals.
The La Posada Scholarship program is fully supported by our residents, with the La Posada Foundation handling the logistics of this great benefit to La Posada employees. Since its inception, La Posada team members have received over $1.9 million in scholarship funding.
Enclosed with this post is the first photograph of the scholarship recipients from 2001, featuring Wendell Bowers, the founder of this transformative program, awarding high school scholarships to three dining services team members. Also, the photos of endowment scholarship donors just begins to scratch the surface of the endowment scholarships available to our staff members.
We sincerely thank Wendell Bowers, past and current residents, and their families for their unwavering support, which has helped La Posada employees advance their educational pursuits. Your dedication to sustaining this incredible scholarship program is genuinely appreciated.
La Posada at Green Valley is a nonprofit, life plan community.
If you are a past or present recipient of the La Posada Scholarship Fund, please share with us how our scholarship has benefited your career by dropping an answer in the comments below.
