PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE:
DISTRICT GOVERNERNING BOARD 2016 QUOTES:
I’m Colleen Smith, fifth president of Coconino Community College. I would like to invite you to join us as we celebrate our 25th year serving Coconino County. I like to think of it as 25 Years Strong – 25 Years Strong of providing a quality education and helping our students achieve their academic and career goals. We estimate that we have served more than 75,000 students, many of whom live right here in Coconino County. These students are now giving back as citizens of our communities, whether it’s through nursing, firefighting, law enforcement, construction workers, small business owners – many different careers that help build a strong community. The story of our College is really the story of our students, and we’d like to share some of those stories with you here in these pages. Happy Birthday, Coconino Community College! We are looking forward to a bright future, serving Coconino County for the next 25 years.
“In its brief history, Coconino Community College has grown dramatically and has provided quality, affordable, education and job training for more than 75,000 people in our county. Coconino Community College has proven its value to the community, and the investment that our citizens have made has paid dividends.” – Patricia Garcia, Chair
“Over the past 25 years, Coconino Community College has been vested in providing affordable quality education and continued learning experiences for adults across all education levels. I am excited about the 25th anniversary because it provides the opportunity to reflect on past achievements and to visualize new goals for the future.” – Marie Peoples, Ph.D., Member
“I am thoroughly enjoying my service on the CCC District Governing Board. It has been an opportunity to engage in a meaningful way in providing affordable, quality, relevant education throughout Coconino County that prepares our students for university transfer or immediate entry into solid, well-paying jobs. The lives of our students and communities are forever changed and enhanced.” – Lloyd Hammonds, Vice Chair/Secretary
“I have been a supporter of Coconino Community College since its inception. I served on the College Foundation Board from 1995 to 2002. Since that time, I have served as an elected member of the District Governing Board. From the beginning, I have advocated for the College to provide accessible, affordable education to the citizens of Coconino County. The College has performed remarkably well in its role of providing educational opportunities for the county’s residents. I am extremely proud to be affiliated with this gem of an institution and of its positive contribution to our county and will continue to support the mission and goals of Coconino Community College.” – Patrick Hurley, Member
“Even the founders might not have imagined the growth and positive impact on so many people that Coconino Community College has had during its first 25 years!” – Nathaniel “Nat” White, Ph.D., Member
Sincerely,
Colleen A. Smith, Ph.D., President, Coconino Community College
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Coconino Community College would like to thank the tireless service of all our District Governing Board members past and present. It is through their volunteer effort that CCC has maintained a strong and relevant presence in Coconino County these 25 years.
COCONINO COMMUNITY COLLEGE | CELEBRATES 25 YEARS
Firefighter one of CCC’s first graduates Flagstaff, Ariz. -- Flagstaff Fire Station No. 4 rests quiet. The remnant smells of lunch drift through the station. The crew has worked well into the second day of their shift. Capt. Jeff Bierer sits at his desk. No calls come from dispatch. “CCC was indispensable in its value for me,” Bierer says. “Not just in the career field, but with my ability to interact with peers, supervisors and become an educator myself.” Bierer was one of three people in the first graduating class from Coconino County Community College (before it
became CCC) in May 1993. He received his associate’s degree in Fire Science. It’s hard to believe that it was 25 years ago that he first stepped foot onto the Fourth Street campus, just after the College opened its doors. The campus was fledgling and offered the very basics. “There were good people focused on what a community college is supposed to do,” Bierer says. “I think that, ultimately, there really isn’t anything on a local level that can meet the needs of the community like the College can.” Bierer’s journey to be a firefighter ran parallel with a military career. He
began his military career at the age of 19 in Tucson with the U.S. Air Force reserve. He underwent basic training with the Air Force, and along the way, he wanted to join the Air Force firefighting cadre. The Air Force cross-trained him. “And that happened right before I moved to Flagstaff,” Bierer says, adding that he transferred to the U.S. Army National Guard and was stationed at the Navajo Army Depot (now called Camp Navajo). At Camp Navajo, Bierer began his military firefighting career with aspirations of joining the Flagstaff Fire
Department. He joined the FFD reserve program and volunteered thousands of hours while full time at the Navajo Army Depot and serving with the National Guard. After receiving his degree from CCC, he was able to join the ranks of the Flagstaff Fire Department full time in 1995. Bierer simultaneously moved up through the military firefighting ranks at Camp Navajo, and he eventually became the fire chief there from 2002 to his retirement from military service in 2008. Before his retirement from the military, he served a tour of duty in Iraq in 2006 to help in the development of Iraqi special forces. In 2007, he was promoted to the rank of Captain with the Flagstaff Fire Department. He actually interviewed for the promotion while he was overseas. Bierer has consistently served as a part-time faculty member at CCC, and he has been instrumental in helping to create cadres of firefighters who are now running calls all over northern Arizona and beyond. “It’s a great reward,” he says. Of his experience at CCC, Bierer says, “It was the perfect culmination of taking my college-level course work. Everything fell into place perfectly.” From its humble beginnings, CCC has grown over the years. “CCC evolved like much of everything in northern Arizona to become a leader in educating professionals for the community,” Bierer says. “We are lucky that representatives from the fire department are significantly involved not just in providing those classes, but are also fire and (Emergency Medical Service) administrators at CCC.” The Firefighter 1 and 2 classes at CCC are foundational bedrock on which to build a professional career. “CCC is absolutely necessary for a community like this that needs professionals,” Bierer says. “It’s a huge resource.”
CELEBRATES 25 YEARS | COCONINO COMMUNITY COLLEGE
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CCC Nursing graduate finds calling in critical care Flagstaff, Ariz. -- Chelsea Brumbaugh’s idea to become a nurse took form at 13 years old. Chelsea’s mother went into a diabetic coma, and she studied how the nurses cared for her mother, and comforted Chelsea and her sister Ciara. “After that, I knew I wanted to be a nurse,” Chelsea said. Her dream came true in 2013, after she graduated from Coconino Community College with an associate’s degree in nursing. She passed her state certification exams and was accepted to work for Northern Arizona Healthcare at Flagstaff Medical Center. She then went through the NAH Critical Care Training Program. “I’m doing open hearts right now,” Chelsea said, adding that she works in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit, or CVICU for short. “It’s cool how we actually know what the heart’s going to do after open-heart surgery.”
said, adding that she was able to get a variety of clinical experiences in the community while at CCC. “It was there I knew I wanted to do ICU of some sort,” Chelsea said. “It was a great experience.” Her goal was to become a nurse with a two-year degree and work while she went back to school to get a bachelor’s of science in Nursing – a process she recommends to others for the cost savings and because it allowed her to get to work a lot earlier than students working on four-year degrees. She received her bachelor’s degree in 2016 while being a nurse at FMC the past three years.
PATH BEGINS By the time Chelsea was in high school, she had begun working toward her goal. She enrolled as a student in Coconino Association for Vocations, Industry and Technology and began taking college courses at CCC to receive a certificate as a Certified Nursing Assistant, which she did before she even graduated from high school. She immediately went to work in a doctor’s office in Flagstaff for practical experience, and began attending CCC for her associate’s degree in nursing. At CCC, Chelsea received several scholarships to aid her in her studies. Among the scholarships she received were the Raymond Educational Foundation Scholarship, the Hartzell High School Scholarship and the Jason Kurtz Nursing Scholarship. “I got a lot of my prerequisites done before nursing school even started,” Chelsea
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COCONINO COMMUNITY COLLEGE | CELEBRATES 25 YEARS
ALL IN A DAY Chelsea said that she works 12-hour shifts, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., or 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. The first couple of hours for an openheart patient after the surgeon closes up the chest and the patient is brought to the CVICU are the most critical. “A lot can go wrong,” Chelsea said. “There are just so many things going on. You’re watching a whole bunch of stuff at once.” CVICU nurses, who work on a onenurse-to-one-patient ratio, watch patient IV “drips,” keep a close eye on blood-pressure and heart-rate monitors and make sure that vital signs stay in a certain range. The nurses are constantly checking on patients for signs of difficulty or distress. The process is intimidating at first, and some patients thrive after surgery while others require deeper care.
“It’s very stressful, but I enjoy it,” Chelsea said. “It’s so much fun seeing these patients walking the halls the next day, thanking you.” Chelsea’s mother, who made it through the diabetic coma episode, works at Flagstaff Medical Center as well. Chelsea added that her sister, Ciara, also works at FMC as a nurse, and she is currently still in the training program. Ciara graduated from CCC three years after her sister. While at CCC, Ciara also received scholarships to help her reach her goal. Among the scholarships Ciara received were the Raymond Educational Foundation Scholarship and the Blue Cross, Blue Shield Scholarship. Chelsea said she and her sister have worked together before. “We were waitresses before this,” she said and smiled.
New life path leads to career as paramedic Flagstaff, Ariz. -- Coconino Community College graduate Danielle Pastor ate, slept and dreamed soccer. But a career-ending injury in the spring of 2008 took her in a new direction. Pastor is now a paramedic with Guardian Medical Transport in Flagstaff. She was born and raised in Flagstaff, which is why the community holds a special place in her heart. Her journey to her new career began when she took an EMT course, co-taught by paramedics with the Flagstaff Fire Department, at Coconino Community College in the fall of 2008. Pastor, an accomplished soccer athlete at Flagstaff High School, had started college in California because she had received a scholarship to play soccer. After her career-ending injury, she came home for
rehabilitation and transferred to NAU. There, she received a bachelor’s degree in biology in 2009. After that, she moved to Portland, Ore., for a time to be a soccer coach, and she also served as an EMT for Metro West Ambulance. She returned to Flagstaff in 2012, and she reverse-transferred her university credits to CCC to get her start as a paramedic. She started with Guardian in 2013 as an EMT, and she went into the paramedic transition program. She received her associate’s degree from CCC in 2014. “I enjoyed the EMT class,” she said. “The instructors I had at CCC told me I’d be a great paramedic.” They were right. “They knew what I was meant for before I knew,” Pastor added. “That’s the cool part of CCC. They get to know you really well as a person.”
The paramedic program is run through Northern Arizona Healthcare, with whom CCC partners, but the associate’s degree is conferred by CCC and is an accredited program. Pastor said she would register at CCC and took classes at the NAH facilities. The program lasted 18 months, with 587 hours of classroom instruction and 500 hours of clinical and field time. She was named valedictorian of the class and was the CCC Emergency Medical Service student of the year in 2014. “It’s a very community-based program,” Pastor said. The paramedic course gave Pastor immediate insight into the real world of the job. “So you get a best-of-both-worlds idea of what the fire department and Guardian do,” Pastor said, adding that she received hands-on experience that proved valuable.
Of the work that defines being a paramedic, Pastor said, “I really enjoy the sense of family.” She and her colleagues with Guardian and the Flagstaff Fire Department work together in 24-hour shifts, and they get to know each other like family. They grow to trust one another and bond because of the nature of the work. The work itself is rewarding, especially when she gets to follow up on a person she helped. Being a paramedic in Flagstaff is a busy job with a large spectrum of types of calls. Paramedics respond to traumas, cardiac arrests, pediatric emergencies, rescues, difficulty breathing and much more. “There’s not much we don’t get,” Pastor said. A typical day starts with shift change at 8 a.m. The paramedics and EMTs do their check lists and equipment checks. Pastor’s stationed in District 51, which runs from Mormon Lake to Kelly Canyon and Bellemont, down the Milton Corridor to Southside along Butler Avenue to Fourth Street. They cover NAU, the freeway and all of the west side of Flagstaff. Two trucks in the station rotate calls. She’s on Truck 54. They are available all day for any call and offer mutual aid to a variety of emergency service departments in the area as needed. Truck 54 responds to an average of eight to 10 calls a day. They pick up, transport and restock the truck before they answer another call. “Some days, it’s an easy thing to do,” Pastor said. “Some days, it’s not.” Paramedics often see things that are tough for humans to see. She added, “It’s takes a special person to do it. But if you’re the right person for it, it’s a very satisfying job because you get to wake up in the morning and help save lives.” Pastor said she has plans for the future. She wants to be a nurse anesthetist to further her medical career. Being a flight medic for sister company Guardian Air would also be something she’s interested in. Soccer was, and still is, her passion. She still coaches, too. “This was never really in the plans, but sometimes life gives you options,” Pastor said of her new career path, smiling.
CELEBRATES 25 YEARS | COCONINO COMMUNITY COLLEGE
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Business is ‘Apple’ of CCC grad’s eye Flagstaff, Ariz. -- Cracked screens, blinking lights and iPhones fill the room as you enter a door labeled “Apple Certified Technicians Only.” In that room you will find Coconino Community College graduate Drake Louks fixing technology that has transformed as much as CCC since the College opened its doors nearly 25 years ago. Louks’ relationship with CCC began as a high school student going through the CAVIAT program at CCC from 20092010, which left a boundless impact on him as he entered the workforce. “The CAVIAT program is an immense benefit because it allows high school students to begin the education for their professional careers even before graduating,” Louks said. Although Louks graduated from CCC with an Associate’s Degree in Administration of Justice in 2011, it was the advancement of technology and its transformation that ignited a creative spark in him. In November 2014, Louks started his own technological repair company, Arizona Tech Advisors, in Phoenix. It began as a side-job while he worked another full-time job; however, the business transformed as swiftly as the technology he repaired. In February 2015, Louks moved his business to Flagstaff, making his shop the only Apple Certified Service Company in the community. When asked how he became interested in technology repair, he said, “I was not always interested in Information Technology Systems as a whole, but CCC sparked an interest in what was once a side-job into a full-time profession.” Louks said he credits CCC for much of his interest in technology due to the
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college’s dynamic use of technology in the education of its students. “It was the dual-boot computer lab that CCC has that made me even more interested in technology,” Louks said. “The fact that they ran both Windows and Apple caused me to like Apple Software more as well.” Not only was his interest in technology bolstered at CCC, but he also developed a timeless bond with the community and staff. Louks said he
COCONINO COMMUNITY COLLEGE | CELEBRATES 25 YEARS
recalls several instructors who helped him become the businessman he is today and navigate his way to become CEO of his own company. When asked about the impact instructors had on him, Louks said, “Public Safety Instructor David Ramos always told me to stick with what I want and what I like best.” Louks said he considers those words from Ramos as a driving force in following his passion for technology.
Louks even found guidance in business law from former instructor and former City of Flagstaff Mayor Sara Presler when he brought his business to the community. “I would recommend anyone who is interested in furthering their education to attend CCC,” Louks said. “From the small classes and their partnership with NAU through the CCC2NAU program, they truly help students ease into college life.”
www.coconino.edu
Register Today! Schedule of Spring Classes Available Online in Early October Affordable Tuition | Small Class Sizes | University Transfer Financial Aid, Scholarships and Veterans Assistance Available
For more information, visit: www.coconino.edu or call 1.800.350.7122 CELEBRATES 25 YEARS | COCONINO COMMUNITY COLLEGE
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New book documents CCC’s 25-year history
1990
Voters of Coconino County authorize the formation of the Coconino County Community College District.
1991
Voters authorize the levy of a property tax to raise $2.2 million to fund and to operate a community college within Coconino County. Dr. John Glenn becomes the first CCCC president and opens the doors on a rented campus on Fourth Street.
1995
The State Board of Directors for Community Colleges of Arizona approves proposed satellite campus and partnership with the City of Page. College drops the fourth “C” from its name to become Coconino Community College.
The process begins to seek accreditation with North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
1997
2000
Voters approve a $25 million bond for the construction of the Flagstaff Lone Tree Campus. First website makes debut.
Groundbreaking ceremonies held for Flagstaff Lone Tree Campus, and for Williams Instructional Site.
1998
2001
The first ITV class is broadcast to CCC campuses and satellite sites. Dr. David A. Williams is appointed Interim President of CCC.
1993
First commencement held, three students graduate! CCCC Foundation is established.
1999
1994
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Future,” and it has been documented in a brief history book. The book is by no means complete. It is meant to serve as a living document that will continue to grow in detail and scope as the years come and go. It is with hope that this small book receives help with that growth from the employees, students and alumni of CCC as well as residents of Coconino County. Residents who may have photos or other documents of CCC’s history may send them to the Office of the President – 2800 S. Lone Tree Road, Flagstaff, AZ 86005 or president@ coconino.edu. The book is not for sale but is available with a donation of $100 or more to the Coconino Community College Foundation. Residents interested in receiving a book may call the Foundation office at (928) 226-4348.
1996
1992
North Central Association candidacy status granted. Dr. V. Phillip Tullar becomes the second president. U.S. Department of Education approves dispersal of financial aid to students.
The vision of a small group and the tireless work of legions of people helped make the idea of a community college in Coconino County a reality. County residents voted to form a community college district in November of 1990, and in May of 1991, voters approved setting aside some of their property taxes to fund the brand new college. The first students began taking classes in August of 1991. Now, 25 years later, Coconino Community College continues to provide workforce and university-track education to residents of the 18,600-square-mile, rural county we call home. The job hasn’t been easy, but optimism, hard work and the ability to overcome the odds has given this community college its story. It is the story of “Your College, Your
The Arizona Board of Regents approves plan for Northern Arizona University to provide land for a new Flagstaff campus for CCC. Ground is broken for a Page campus. The CCC Foundation purchases the Fourth Street Campus. The College receives initial accreditation.
COCONINO COMMUNITY COLLEGE | CELEBRATES 25 YEARS
Dr. Thomas Jordan becomes the third president. A federal Title III grant is awarded to help launch online learning opportunities for students throughout Coconino County. CCC Celebrates 10 years! CCC faculty and staff move into the Lone Tree Campus. The Williams site is completed.
Coconino Community College’s presidents
John Glenn, Ph.D. (1991-1994)
V. Philip Tullar, Ph.D. (1994-1999)
2002
The Lone Tree Campus opens to students. HLC accreditation is granted for 10 years.
Thomas S. Jordan, Ph.D. (1999-2007)
2007
The first Palette to Palate event to support the Fine Arts Department is held.
Graduating class of 189 is so large, commencement is held at Pine Mountain Amphitheater at Fort Tuthill County Park. Dr. Leah Bornstein becomes the fourth president of CCC.
2004
2008
2003
CCC2NAU partnership begins with 30 students enrolled. Corporate Learning Center
Leah L. Bernstein, Ph.D. (2007-2015)
ventures with NAU take place. TRiO Student Support Services receives a five-year, $1.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education.
2011
College celebrates 20 years educating students, and graduates 300. U.S. Department of Agriculture awards $300,000 Distance Learning grant.
Colleen A. Smith, Ph.D. (2016- present)
property tax override to create a sustainable budget to offset state tax cuts.
2014
Most military veterans in College history graduate. First student to earn a college degree while still in high school through dual enrollment classes. District Governing Board approves austerity plan.
2015
2012
Trio Grant successfully renewed for another 5 years.
2016
Colleen A. Smith becomes CCC’s fith president. CCC celebrates 25 years of Student Success.
First class of 21 associate degree RN students admitted.
established to serve county with the help of the Small Business Development Center.
2005
2009
CCC becomes the county provider for Adult Education.
2006
CCC celebrates 15 years. CCC attempts first override to accommodate explosive growth.
U.S. Naval Observatory telescope donated to CCC. Fundraising efforts begin to build an Observatory for Telescope.
CCC2NAU program has 1,000 students enrolled. CCC awarded $2.5 million Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College Career Training grant from the U.S. Department of Labor.
2010
2013
CCC/NAU library merger, and other joint
Veterans Services Center opens at the CCC Lone Tree Campus. CCC attempts second
CELEBRATES 25 YEARS | COCONINO COMMUNITY COLLEGE
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CCC alum concocts recipe for success in city she loves Flagstaff, Ariz. -- Kerry Kurtz moved to Flagstaff in the 1980s to attend Northern Arizona University. She received a degree in music education. She fell in love with Flagstaff, but not the career. “I wasn’t cut out for it,” Kurtz said, adding that during the summer break after student teaching, she drove a school bus. Not long after that, she took a job with a building contractor. “It turned out I was really good at it,” Kurtz said. “I had no experience at any of it.”
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So, she bega n worki ng for a genera l contractor. By 1996, she ended up at the doorstep of Cocon i no Com mu n ity Col lege because her boss wa nted her to do plu mbi ng work a prospect she d readed. She took electricia n classes at CCC i nstead a nd retu rned to her boss when she was done. “I sa id to h i m, ‘I wa nt to be you r electricia n,’ a nd he sa id, ‘Fa i r enough,’” Ku rtz sa id, sm i l i ng. T hus bega n a completely d i fferent ca reer for Ku rtz. “I feel very strongly about the
COCONINO COMMUNITY COLLEGE | CELEBRATES 25 YEARS
Col lege,” Ku rtz sa id. “I was able to stay a nd ma ke a l iv i ng i n a place I love.” Fi fteen yea rs later, she got la id off from her job du ri ng the recession. She sa id she remembered getti ng her CCC cou rse cata log i n the ma i l a nd saw busi ness cou rses ava i lable a nd a va riety of other serv ices ava i lable th rough the Sma l l Busi ness Development Center attached to the Col lege at the ti me. “I lost my job, had a truck fu l l of tools a nd had no busi ness ski l ls,” she sa id.
She enrolled at CCC again and began with business classes and seminars and took full advantage of coaching help provided through the SBDC. She started her own business Affordable Home Repairs, which is now in its fifth year. “They helped me out right on the job,” Kurtz said of the SBDC staff. “CCC saved my bacon because I knew nothing about running a business. I knew a skill but not how to run a business. They taught me how.” Affordable Home Repairs deals mainly with home improvement and remodeling. Among her clients is a Home Owners Association in Continental she began with many years before, but instead of working for a boss who held the contract, she holds the contract to provide the service. She added that she goes back to CCC periodically to take classes that help her as a small-business owner. Most recently, she took a writing class in order to write better business proposals. “I’m doing better in this town than a lot of my friends with degrees because I got the practical skills that I needed,” Kurtz said. In addition to her home-repair business, she also has started another business that focuses on a passion she has. It’s called Zippity Doo Dog Agility, and the business helps dogs and their humans get better at the canine sport of agility, where dogs run through a variety of obstacles on a course with the help of a handler. Kurtz has been teaching dog agility for the last nine years, and she said she hopes to open an indoor facility in Flagstaff as she ages out of the other trade she acquired with the help of CCC. “I owe everything to CCC for giving me the opportunity,” Kurtz said. “I was able to reinvent myself as an adult and not be ridiculed for doing that.”
Father-son team networked for success Flagstaff, Ariz. -- It was the time of Bill Gates and Steve Jobs hitting it big when Scott Tabako graduated from high school in Minnesota. “I’ve always been interested in computers,” Scott said. But at the time, the market was flooded with computer people, so Scott did the sensible thing. He went into the automotive-repair field after high school. He moved to Flagstaff in 1997 with his family and continued to work in the automotive industry. “I would look at some of my coworkers, getting older, getting ready to retire,” Scott said. “I didn’t want to be that guy 20 years from now.”
So he started doing computer repair work on the side while taking classes at Coconino Community College. Eventually, in 2008, when his computerrepair work continued to grow, he opened his own business, Flagstaff Computer Guys LLC. His son, Stephen, who is planning on continuing computer and networking classes at CCC, came on board in 2011 after the sale of the hotel where he worked. “It’s paying the bills,” Scott said, smiling. The business started in Scott’s Flagstaff home, but it has since grown to occupy space in a shopping center off King Street. The focus of the business
has changed over the years. At first, Scott focused on “retail” work, or fixing computers, laptops and tablets. Since then, the focus has changed to a more business-to-business effort with networking devices and maintaining and troubleshooting business networks on monthly contracts. Stephen enjoys the work, and said, “It’s nice to be inside.” He added that he also enjoys the fact that there is no routine, that every day is different. How is working with his father? “It’s better than working with a boss you don’t really know,” Stephen said, and his father smiled.
As to the kind of impact the coursework at CCC had on him to start his own computer business, Scott said, “I would say it was pivotal.” “Networking was always a mystery,” Scott added. “The training I received at CCC helped me figure out how it worked and took away the mystery.” Scott took Cisco networking and Windows Server Administration coursework between 2005 and 2008. Stephen has finished one semester of CISCO networking coursework. Scott specifically credited CCC’s CIS Instructor Bill Branch for making the coursework relevant. “It was refreshing to sit down in Bill’s class,” Scott said. “He knows his stuff and could present it in an understandable way and was confident about it. If he didn’t know the answer, he would get it for you.” Branch would talk about real-life, hands-on experiences and was thorough. The evening class times were also convenient to work around Scott’s day job. Particularly important, though, Scott said, was that the coursework, unlike university tracks, was “targeted” for specifically what Scott and Stephen required. As for the future, Scott said, “I think we’re going to keep doing what we’re doing.” He added that he and his son like the small-town atmosphere and the personal attention they can give to their clients. Network security is top of mind nowadays, and Tabako said he will be returning to CCC. “All this stuff gets outdated,” Scott said. “It’s all changed. I need to go back and do it again.” When his CCC catalogue comes in the mail, he will be checking out the current computer information system listings to keep up to date in the marketplace. He added that he considers CCC to be a valuable resource to the county. “It’s nice to have this,” Scott said.
CELEBRATES 25 YEARS | COCONINO COMMUNITY COLLEGE
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Unlocking the future with the key to success Flagstaff, Ariz. -- He went from family man to businessman, and Coconino Community College unlocked and opened a new door for him to prosper. Victor Varela is a CCC graduate with a success story that embodies the College’s mission to enrich the lives of others by transforming their future through a quality education. Varela’s story began as a trailing spouse trying to find his path to success. His new journey began once he and his wife traded places staying at home with their four children. Knowing he was not ready for a large university, Varela started schooling
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at the Fourth Street Campus in 1994. “I was lost and really didn’t know where I should start,” Varela said. In 1996, he graduated with an Associate’s Degree in General Studies. He was the first president of the local chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society and the commencement speaker for his graduation. Varela made a promise after he graduated from CCC that he would give back to the community. In 1998, Varela started Flagstaff Lock and Security and sold it after 12 years.
COCONINO COMMUNITY COLLEGE | CELEBRATES 25 YEARS
When asked how his success was possible, he stated, “CCC gave me the courage to start my own business.” The institution was instrumental in giving him a path to find a profession he enjoyed. While at CCC, Varela realized the special bond between CCC and the community. The availability of the instructors and the way in which they provide for the students creates an everlasting relationship with all of who attend, he said. “CCC taught me that no matter what level you start at, you can succeed,” Varela said.
During his time at the institution, he was encouraged by several of his teachers who made an everlasting impact on his life. In January 2016, Varela started another local locksmith business named Victor and Sons’ Locksmith. His sons Joseph and Gabriel work beside him to carry out the promise to give back to his community that he once made years ago. His years at CCC gave him the confidence that uplifted him to reach success as an employer that he did not think was possible. “CCC opened up a whole new world for me,” he stated. “It gave me a vision that I may have never known.”
CCC gives helping hand to veterans Flagstaff, Ariz. - CCC Veteran Services has been an immense help in U.S. Marine Corps veteran Tom Stinde’s return to school. “CCC’s Veteran Services not only helped me realize the benefits I can receive for serving my country, but they have also helped guide me and keep me on track in my schooling after 25 years,” Stinde said. The CCC Veterans Center helps more than 200 students like Stinde each year for the Fall, Spring and Summer sessions. Among these students are active and retired members of all military branches and the reserves. The services also tend to family members of those killed in the line of duty. Veteran Services works closely with the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) to make sure that all of the veterans are accessing the help that they are allowed and to ensure that the veterans certify the classes they enroll in with the VA. CCC Financial Aid and Veteran Advisor Charlie Hausam stated that the Veterans Center strives to help guide and monitor the veterans’ progress as they go through courses here at CCC. “All of the veterans come from different backgrounds and have unique stories,” Hausam stated. Like other students, the veterans have various ways in which they learn and sometimes endure struggle as they enter back into life as every-day citizens. Being the wife of a veteran, Hausam wants to make every veteran’s transition back into college as easy as possible. “I leave my door open in order for the veterans to come in and talk about
whatever they’d like, whether it be about their class schedule or even a problem that is causing a rift in their transition through college,” Hausam said. “Our goal is to make sure that our veterans have support they need in their education and training as they get back into the workforce.” The CCC Veterans Center also hires student veterans to help run Veteran Services and give back to the veteran community on a personal level. Stinde, who currently works as a student veteran advisor, said,
“It’s great that I get to give back to the veteran community and get a connection with those from similar back stories as you.” In May 2016, 12 veterans became college graduates along with eight more the year before. Stinde is expected to graduate in the fall and wants to continue on to NAU and start his schooling for nursing. Being a veteran who suffers from PTSD, he hopes to one-day work at a VA as a mental health nurse to continue to give back to the veteran community.
Like Stinde, several veterans have gone on to NAU to take classes in their chosen fields. CCC2NAU has become a popular program with veterans and has acted as another guide to keep their schooling on track as they continue their journeys back into the workforce. “It makes me proud watching them graduate,” Hausam said with a smile on her face. “Just to see the veterans’ smiles and how proud their families are is the reason why I love doing this job.” CCC leadership hopes to expand the educational opportunities and the resources offered in order to help guide veterans like Stinde back into the workforce for years to come.
CELEBRATES 25 YEARS | COCONINO COMMUNITY COLLEGE
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BETTER OPPORTUNITIES. BRIGHTER FUTURE.
CCC Foundation offers scholarships for veterans The Coconino Community College Foundation offers two scholarships for veterans to help support their goals of attaining an education. • The United States Marine League Scholarship was established in 2011 by the Marine League Charities of Flagstaff, Arizona. The scholarship is awarded to qualifying Marines in the amount of $500 per semester. • The Veterans Scholarship was established in 2013 by a donor who wishes to remain anonymous and was made possible with the generous donations of faculty and staff at CCC. The scholarship is awarded to qualifying veterans in the amount of $500 per semester. For more about scholarships available for veterans and the criteria to qualify and for general scholarship information, visit the CCC Foundation website at www.coconinofoundation.org.
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COCONINO COMMUNITY COLLEGE | CELEBRATES 25 YEARS
Forging a promising future for today’s students takes commitment to making a difference. We congratulate Coconino Community College for 25 years of developing tomorrow’s leaders and creating a stronger Arizona.
CCC student taught to ‘Never give up’ Flagstaff, Ariz. -- The word “education” comes up often in Ciara Scott’s family. Her grandmothers, mother and aunts were all teachers. When she graduated from Tuba City High School in 2014, Scott set her sights on college, and with the help of the Raymond Educational Foundation, she will be able to do so without having to worry about finances. Scott was a recipient of one of the Raymond Educational Foundation scholarships to attend Coconino Community College. She made a presentation filled with “thank you’s” on June 6 at the Elks
Lodge during the Raymond Educational Foundation’s annual meeting. “I am feeling super grateful that I was one of the students awarded among many because I know how competitive scholarships can be and also how the costs of attending college are always on the rise,” Scott said, adding that she plans to use the funds to pay for tuition, fees and books at CCC. CCC President Colleen Smith told the crowd of about 50 people that what the Raymond Educational Foundation does is far-reaching. CCC’s students have stories that are varied. Some are young, some older, some
come straight out of high school and some are returning to school. “What you do reaches much farther than you could possibly know,” Dr. Smith told the crowd. “Thank you for what you do for our students.” In her letter of interest when applying for scholarships, Scott stated, “I didn’t think it was possible for me to ever become successful. All my life I was always told what to do and to stay in school, I knew that a college education would be important, but over and over, I was indecisive about what I wanted to study.” Scott enrolled at CCC with the help of
her older sister Loreal, who graduated from Northern Arizona University with a master’s degree in School Counseling. Scott’s initial interest was in Early Childhood Education, but that interest evolved into health-related topics, which are topics of concern in the Tuba City community from where she hails. Because she earned several college credits while still in high school, Scott is slated to graduate from CCC with an associate’s degree in General Studies in December 2016 and head to university after the holiday break. “I would have to say that CCC was a major support to me through everything,” Scott said, adding that she was offered a federal work-study position that helped with her transition to Flagstaff and the highereducation setting. She’s also completed internships and volunteer positions in the health care field. “I liked how inclusive CCC was,” Scott said. “Everyone’s just always willing to help each other out.” Scott’s plans are to study Health Sciences with an emphasis on public health in order to go into a health-related career. She is a CCC2NAU student and will be attending NAU in the spring to study Public Health. “The idea to go back home and help my native people with the degree I pursue is a goal of mine,” Scott said. She added, “I hope my legacy will inspire others to never give up.” Dr. R.O. Raymond founded the Flagstaff Education Foundation in 1952. A long-time supporter of residents in Coconino County, Dr. Raymond was known for generously helping with educational costs, providing free medical care and promoting health in the community. This two-year scholarship offers students $1,650 per year, totaling $3,300. After Dr. Raymond’s death, the Flagstaff Education Foundation became the Raymond Educational Foundation in his honor. Since 1963, the Raymond Education Foundation has given more than $4 million to organizations such as Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff Unified School District, Flagstaff Family Food Center, National Hospice, and Coconino Community College.
CELEBRATES 25 YEARS | COCONINO COMMUNITY COLLEGE
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