Best friends Xavier Verdugo and Miguel Morales graduated from the University of Arizona on Saturday, finishing a plan 13 years in the making.
The two were among 101 third-graders at C.E. Rose Elementary School who entered into a deal with six local Rotary clubs in 1998.
It worked like this: The Rotarians pledged to mentor and guide the students. The UA promised tuition waivers. And the kids agreed to earn good grades and stay out of trouble.
At the time, only 3 percent of kids from their south-side neighborhood went on to college.
"Without this program a lot of us wouldn't have had the ability to do this or the motivation to do this," Verdugo said.
He and Morales are the first to graduate, and more will follow. Each young man defined the other as determined and ambitious. Each said he is grateful for the opportunity to succeed.
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Their tuition waivers turned out to be worth more than $25,000 over four years at the UA. Both also worked while taking classes.
Meet the grads
Miguel Morales, 22 (left)
Anthropology, double minor in criminal justice and Spanish
In third grade ... I was into soccer. Education was always a priority with my parents, so I was a little bit of a nerd.
My favorite college class was ... Biological anthropology. We had to do a lot of skeletal work, and we got to know the evolution of humans.
In my free time ... I was hanging out with friends and participating in Rotaract.
Cheering for me at graduation ... My mom and dad, sisters, grandmother, good friends, and my girlfriend.
My next challenge ... Travel, then get back into the education game for my master's degree. You can never get too much education. Then I want a fieldwork job with the FBI or another department.
Xavier Verdugo, 21
Sociology, double minor in criminal justice and Spanish
In third grade ... We were going to the UA for this big deal. I don't think we really grasped the value of what was being offered to us. We were just so excited it was happening to us.
My favorite college class was ... Gender studies. The gender problems and inequalities that society faces are interesting to me.
In my free time ... I participated in Rotaract (a Rotary youth group). For me, service and giving back to the community is important.
Cheering for me at graduation ... All of my family, and my close mentors Michael Duran and Gina Murphy-Darling.
My next challenge ... I'm interested in law-related fields, perhaps being a detective. I'd also like to travel and experience other cultures.
Contact reporter Becky Pallack at bpallack@azstarnet.com or 807-8012.
