Arizona Western College Brings Enrollment Help Directly to High School Seniors

Arizona Western College sent its admissions, financial aid, and advising teams directly onto high school campuses across Yuma and La Paz Counties this spring, running the 5th Annual AWC Enrollment Tour to help seniors lock in their spot for Fall 2026 before summer melt can set in.

The initiative, announced March 16, moves the enrollment process off campus and into familiar territory for students. AWC teams deliver hands-on support in admissions, orientation, course registration, financial aid, student resources, and support services through a series of customized events at each school site. Activities run between 7:30 a.m. and 2:45 p.m., with times varying by location.

Biridiana Martinez, AWC's Director of Outreach, Recruitment and Early College program, framed the tour's purpose in direct terms. "The Enrollment Tour is about more than enrollment, it's about showing students that college is possible, accessible, and built for their success," she said. "When students see our team on their high school campus, ready to help every step of the way, they begin to envision themselves as Matadors and take confident steps toward their future at Arizona Western College."

AWC describes the tour's method as a "meet students where they are" approach, tailoring each campus visit to the specific culture and needs of that school rather than running a one-size-fits-all event. The program is designed explicitly to reduce "summer melt," the pattern in which students who intend to enroll in college fail to follow through over the summer months, a persistent challenge for community colleges nationwide.

Martinez also pointed to AWC's broader positioning for students thinking beyond their first two years. According to KYMA, she noted that AWC is the only college in Arizona with all three public universities on campus, offering a direct pathway to state university partners for students who want to continue their education either in Yuma or elsewhere.

Now in its fifth year, the Enrollment Tour has become a cornerstone of AWC's recruitment calendar. The college invited media to attend campus events. The full schedule of participating high schools and campus-specific dates was available through AWC's website and press release.

High school seniors seeking more information can contact their school counselor or reach Martinez directly at biridiana.martinez@azwestern.edu. AWC is located at 2020 S Ave 8 E, Yuma, AZ 85365.