Luis Sr. and Isela Mejia started with a shared dream—to own a restaurant. From serving fresh Mexican food out of a single taco truck, their hard work led to the opening of El Sur Restaurant in 2002.

Over the years, their children—Luis Jr., Leonardo, and Ramona—joined the family business, helping it grow. In 2025, the Mejias expanded El Sur by transforming a neighboring building into a bar, creating more space for guests.

Together, they also launched Chela’s Latin Cuisine in downtown Tucson—a lively restaurant that turns into a vibrant nightclub on weekends, celebrating Latin flavors, music, and community.

At its heart, the Mejia family’s story has always been about family, perseverance, and sharing the flavors of Sonora with Tucson.

Continuing that spirit, The Mejia Scholars Foundation was created to give back to the community that helped them grow, supporting students pursuing higher education in the culinary arts. The family deeply admires the work Pima has done to help students from all walks of life achieve their culinary dreams.

Scholarship eligibility:
This award is intended to support students that are close to complete their culinary degree or certification.
– Students pursuing a degree should have completed at least 36 credits
– Students pursuing a certificate should have completed at least 18 credits
– Must be enrolled in at least six (6) credits
– Have a minimum GPA of 3.0 or better
– Be an Arizona resident
– Have no prior bachelor’s degree
– This award will not be given in combination with another PCC tuition award, such as Merit, Excellence, or Chancellor’s, during the same term.
– This is a one-time $2,000 award, per student. Past recipients are not eligible to reapply.

If you are a student wishing to make application to this Scholarship, please visit pima.scholarshipuniverse.com in your MyPima Portal.

Donations to Pima Foundation may be tax-deductible. Please consult your tax advisor for more details. If you would like information about making a planned gift or bequest, please contact us at 520.206.4646.

If you prefer to make your contribution via personal check, please make check(s) payable to Pima Foundation and add the fund’s name in the memo line. The mailing address for Pima Foundation is: 4905C E. Broadway Blvd, Suite 246, Tucson, AZ  85709.