Cochise Newsroom

Cochise College Foundation launches $250,000 matching gift campaign to expand scholarships. 
 
Humberto Lopez never forgot the help that changed the course of his life. 
 
The Cochise College graduate, business leader and philanthropist still remembers the financial help that made it possible for him to attend college after the passing of his father. 
 
Now, Lopez hopes to provide that same opportunity for the next generation of students. 
 
The Cochise College Foundation has launched the LIFT Matching Gift Campaign, short for Local Investment For Transformation, a six-month campaign designed to raise $250,000 for student scholarships. Every dollar donated will help match Lopez’s personal pledge of $250,000, bringing the total potential impact to half a million dollars in scholarship support for Cochise College students. 
 
The campaign follows Lopez’s induction into the Cochise College Hall of Fame in 2026, where he announced the challenge gift during his acceptance remarks. 
 
“I was fortunate to receive support when I attended Cochise College, and that support helped shape my future,” Lopez said. “Today, I’m honored to give back by creating this challenge gift. I invite others to join me in matching this investment so together we can help students overcome financial barriers, earn an education and unlock opportunities that can change their lives.” 
 
For many students at Cochise College, the barriers to higher education are not academic ability, but financial hardship. Many are the first in their families to attend college. Others balance coursework with jobs, parenting responsibilities or caregiving duties. Some delay graduation simply because they cannot afford tuition, books or transportation costs. 
 
Denise Hoyos, Executive Director for the Cochise College Foundation, says the LIFT Matching Campaign is about more than raising money. It is about student success, removing obstacles and creating pathways to economic mobility across Cochise County. 
 
“Humberto Lopez understands firsthand how education can transform a life,” Hoyos said. “This campaign invites the community to invest directly in students who are working hard to create a better future for themselves and their families.” 
 
Lopez’s own story reflects that transformation. 
 
After graduating from Nogales High School, Lopez enrolled at Cochise College while working to help support his mother and five siblings following the untimely passing of his father. He graduated from Cochise College in 1967 before transferring to the University of Arizona. 
 
He began his career as a certified public accountant specializing in real estate before founding HSL Properties, now one of the largest hotel and apartment ownership companies in the Tucson area with diversified assets valued at approximately $2 billion. Beyond business, Lopez has become widely known for his philanthropy and commitment to community service. 
 
Now, Lopez hopes others will join him in investing in Cochise College students through the college Foundation's LIFT Matching Campaign. 
 
Donors can contribute directly at cochise.edu/give. Community members interested in establishing a scholarship fund may contact the Cochise College Foundation at foundation@cochise.edu or call (520) 417-4148.