Six Arizona teens win Girls Change the World scholarships in Tempe

By AI, Created 7:20 PM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – Girls Rule Foundation honored six Arizona teens at its 7th annual Girls Change the World Summit in Tempe on May 20, 2026. The event drew 132 nominations from 52 schools and ended with $1,500 scholarships and mentoring for students recognized for leadership, resilience and community impact.

Why it matters: - The summit spotlights teen girls who are already shaping schools and communities across Arizona. - The scholarships add money and mentoring at a stage when leadership support can influence college, career and long-term opportunity. - The event also connects students with educators, business leaders and community partners in one place.

What happened: - Girls Rule Foundation held its 7th Annual Girls Change the World Summit in Tempe, Arizona, powered by Shine Your Light. - The summit brought together hundreds of teen girls, mentors, educators, business leaders and community supporters. - The event ended with the announcement of the 2026 Girls Change the World Scholarship recipients. - The summit was held in partnership with Girls Rule Foundation, Rio Salado College and the City of Tempe. - Six young women received 2026 scholarship awards. - Each winner received a $1,500 cash scholarship and three months of mentoring from The Girls Rule Foundation.

The details: - Girls Rule Foundation received 132 nominations from 52 schools across Arizona. - Nominees came from communities including Yuma, Prescott, Douglas and Phoenix. - Teachers, coaches, counselors and parents submitted the nominations. - Each nominee received a certificate recognizing her as an emerging leader making a difference at school, at home or in the community. - The summit included leadership workshops, goal-setting sessions, keynote speakers, networking opportunities and mentorship moments. - The scholarship winners were Ana Cristina Del Castillo of Douglas High School, Donya Fournier of Arizona College Prep, Lucy Fisher of Desert Vista High School, Naeva Ortega of Sunnyside High School, Marlee Zee Ugarte of West Point High School and Mikalyn Bailey of Basha High School. - Ana Cristina Del Castillo serves as AASC State President and SkillsUSA Arizona Region 6 Officer. - Donya Fournier is an internationally ranked archer, a published author, a TED-Ed presenter in New York City and speaks four languages. - Lucy Fisher led a 50-mile backpacking trip and serves as golf team captain, Unified Sports leader and NHS vice president. - Naeva Ortega helps plan the Annual Youth & Peace Conference and is enrolled in a multi-year aviation program tied to aerospace engineering. - Marlee Zee Ugarte participates in JAG, flag football, wrestling and tennis. - Mikalyn Bailey won the 2026 Fearless Girl Award. - Bailey is a Flight Commander in JROTC, a Chandler Police Cadet and team director for Basha’s mountain bike team. - Bailey also created a clinic with the Arizona Cycling Association to help young women build confidence and mountain biking skills. - Scholarship sponsors included Dr. Ashu Goyle and Nikki Goyle with Integrated Spine, Pain, and Wellness; Hannah Chapman of X² Wealth Planning and Jack Barker of Juncture Wealth Strategies; David Kearns, vice president of sales at Sparkling Ice; Jill Sheldon & Co. at CMG Home Loans; Eric Fellows, owner of AZ Fellows Real Estate; and The Walker Family.

Between the lines: - The nomination total shows broad reach across Arizona schools and communities. - The mix of academic, athletic, artistic and service-based achievements suggests the program rewards a wide definition of leadership. - The sponsorship list shows local and professional support behind girls leadership programming, not just one-time recognition.

What’s next: - Girls Rule Foundation said the summit continues to grow each year as a leadership experience for teen girls. - The organization says the program will keep helping young women build confidence, leadership skills, financial literacy and community connections. - The three-month mentoring period will follow the scholarship awards.