Congratulations to our Five Scholarship Recipients!

Spherion Staffing congratulates Aaron Hudson, Estrella Ruiz-Sotelo, Lucas Cianflone, Amanda Han, and Jessica Pardo-Montoya for standing out from a field of hundreds of applicants across the country. Their stories of giving back to their communities, combined with their record of academic excellence, earned them each a $5,000 scholarship to their preferred educational instution. Our community could not be more proud of these students. We look forward to watching them make a difference in the world!

In its sixth year, the Sandy Mazur Excellence in Leadership Scholarship was created in honor of former Spherion President Sandy Mazur to recognize outstanding students who embody the qualities of excellence, leadership, and passion that Mazur exhibited daily throughout her distinguished 18-year career at Spherion. Awarding a total of $25,000, this year marks the company’s largest class of recipients.

Read what each recipient plans to study and why by clicking on the cards below.

  • A group of people celebrating a scholarship check
    Read More

    Aaron Hudson

    "My big dream is to become an actuary with a degree in mathematics. I plan to give up my career as a truck driver to have the opportunity to make changes in the systems that have been holding our community back."
  • A group of people celebrating a scholarship check
    Read More

    Lucas Cianflone

    "I can pay it forward to the community by developing beneficial technologies that people will use in their everyday lives."
  • A woman in a cap and gown
    Read More

    Amanda Han

    "Paying it forward means using what you've learned, received, or overcome to make someone else's path a little easier."
  • Two people celebrating a scholarship check
    Read More

    Jessica Pardo Montoya

    "This program taught me what it takes to become a leader and team player."
  • Two women celebrating the awarding of a scholarship check
    Read More

    Estrella Ruiz-Sotelo

    "Being a first-generation student, I am committed to using my education to empower the next generation of Hispanic leaders. My goal is to establish a business that provides job opportunities, mentorship, and financial support for underserved communities."

Application Requirements

Learn what is needed to apply for Spherion's Sandy Mazur Excellence in Leadership Scholarship

The 2025 Sandy Mazur Scholarship is closed, but check out the typical requirements to apply for this annual scholarship.

These are our current scholarship application requirements to qualify for our 2025-26 academic year scholarship:

  • Applicants must plan to pursue a degree or certificate at a career technical, 2-year or 4-year institution.
  • Applicants must hold a 2.5 GPA or above.
  • Applicants must attach the current year's Student Aid Report (SAR) generated by FAFSA to their application.
  • Applicants must share examples of their dedication to community service and how they plan to "pay it forward" in their future endeavors.
  • Scholarship is merit-based although financial need will be considered.

The Sandy Mazur Scholarship is administered through the Richland County Foundation, an Ohio-based nonprofit. All scholarship decisions are made without regard to the applicant's age, race, location, gender, or field of study. 

Apply Today!

Past Scholarship Winners

2020

Ellie Furnish

Jaden Johnson

2021

Lovenya Perry

Caleb Qiu

2022

Jacob Reeder

Emma Schultz

Elizabeth Wunderlich

2023

Amari Johnson

Ella Riddle

Jocelyn Stopka

2024

Hannah DeGraaff

Kimarra Turner

2025

Aaron Hudson

Estrella Ruiz-Sotelo

Lucas Cianflone

Amanda Han

Jessica Pardo-Montoya