03/20/2026
March 18 2026 - The Surprise Sundancer's Board of Directors announced today that they have awarded $ 193,500 in scholarships to 50 college students from the Surprise area. The students are being notified of their awards by the Arizona Community Foundation and were introduced on the field to Surprise Stadium fans prior to a Spring Training game on March 18, 2026.
This year, there were 39 first-time scholarships awarded, with four top-rated students receiving the prestigious Mark Coronado Scholarships valued at $10,000 each for their first year of college. These $10,000 one-time scholarships were highest amount awarded through the Mark Coronado scholarships since this top-tier scholarship was endowed in 2018. In 2019, the Surprise Sundancer’s Board of Directors voted to continue offering the Mark Coronado Scholarship designation for future top-tier, first-year scholarship recipients. Mark Coronado (1958-2017) served as Director of Community & Recreation Services Department along with other responsibilities for the City of Surprise and was known as an ambitious, gifted leader who tirelessly worked to improve the quality of life for all families in the West Valley.
A total of 16 recipients were awarded the Tier 1 Scholarships with a value of $5,000 each, and 19 were awarded the Tier 2 Scholarships with a value of $3,000 each. In addition, 11 returning recipients received an additional one-year scholarship valued at $1,500 each.
