Success Stories

The proximity of PVCC coupled with the opportunity to have familial support and receiving the president’s scholarship proved a perfect recipe for success for Adam Makonnen. 

Among Adam’s most positive memories is the open-mic night that members of the M.E.N program put on in 2014.  This evening of people showcasing their unique talents to the PVCC community was filled with laughter, conversation, and smiles.  He will always remember how everyone came together to enjoy a wonderful evening.

Cranston Forte was one of the very first people Adam met at PVCC and that encounter laid the foundation for a meaningful sequence of opportunities through his involvement in M.E.N., a program dedicated to minorities achieving academic success.  Cranston was committed to Adam’s successful progress and interaction with Cranston was a highlight of Adam’s time on campus.

Adam credits Communication 225 Diversity Inc., taught by Rowdy Duncan, with helping to shape him into the person he is today. Discussing tough issues such as stereotypes, discrimination and police brutality, and how they could, as Diversity Change Agents, do their part to positively change the world was profoundly impactful.  

Adam definitely recommends PVCC to students.  The faculty are helpful and attentive to students’ needs.  PVCC helped instill the discipline he needed to successfully transfer to the University of Arizona, and courses like Diversity Inc. helped shape him into a well-rounded person.  Adam encourages students to get involved on campus and to be eager to learn and try new and different opportunities; this was Adam’s recipe for success.

Upon graduating from Paradise Valley High School, Adam knew he wanted to immediately transition into college. Finances were tight, and PVCC made it easy and very affordable. The financial aid department helped him secure Pell grants, “which made attending PVCC a no brainer since 100% of my tuition was being covered.”

It is easy for Adam to recall the most memorable aspect of his student experience at PVCC. Adam met his wife in class nearly 20 years ago.  They continued to stay in touch after having completed this course.  Several years later they started dating and later married.  In addition to creating a thriving family, they own a business and work together.

Adam describes PVCC as “a great college where students can receive a valuable college education without the hustle and bustle of attending a university. The campus is beautiful and constantly growing. Furthermore, the leadership at PVCC truly cares about their students and faculty, cultivating a positive experience for all.” 

In speaking with someone considering PVCC as their educational provider, Adam says he “would recommend PVCC.” In doing so he would “refer to the success my wife and I have had as a result of attending PVCC. Not to mention, my best friend also attended PVCC and he, too, has a successful career - the proof is in the results.” Additionally, Adam went on to complete his bachelor’s degree from NAU, via classes offered on the PVCC campus. Adam found the transition to the NAU program to be “seamless.”

When asked to tell about his experiences at PVCC and how they have contributed to the person he is today, Adam shared, “Without PVCC, I'm not sure I would have been able to attend college. It's hard to imagine what my life would be like if I never started my college experience. Therefore, PVCC was the catalyst that launched me into furthering my education. I continued on to get my Bachelors in business, then returned years later to receive my MBA. Without PVCC, none of that might have happened. So, I guess I could say I probably wouldn't be where I am today.”

Adam’s commitment to PVCC is evident as he continues to give back to the college as a speaker sharing his insight and experience as an entrepreneur with students via PVCC’s Entrepreneurial Education Center.

What inspired you to attend PVCC? 

To be honest, I never knew PVCC existed until another track runner reached out to me on MySpace. I met Perisha Hinton my freshman year in high school.  She was a sophomore at the time, but we ran the same races in track. On the track, we became each other's biggest competitors, which made the sport fun.  In 2005, my senior year, she reached out to me on MySpace, telling me about PVCC and her coach, Todd Lehman.  I sent her my personal information, and Coach Todd contacted me.  At this time, I was not planning to attend college because my family could not afford it and my high school did not provide me with the steps to do so. When Coach Todd called me, he gave me the foundation of what needed to happen to be offered a scholarship.  I did everything he asked me to do, including my FAFSA, and I was offered a track and field scholarship to PVCC.  After receiving the offer, I had to figure out how I was going to get from El Mirage to PVCC without a car and a bus stop about 3 miles away.  For the first year, I walked to the bus stop and took the 6 a.m. bus to get to PVCC by 8 a.m. My second year, I bought a hooptie and drove it to Arrowhead Mall, then took the bus from there.

What was your major or focus of study at PVCC?

I started off wanting to be in the medical field because I wanted to be a pediatrician, but quickly realized that learning about anatomy was not for me.  I decided to go into Early Childhood Education. 

What were one or two of the most memorable aspects of your student experience at PVCC?

In 2005, I experienced a loss that really took a toll on me.  I remember reaching out to GCC because I wanted to be closer to home and wanted to stop running track.  GCC reached out to Todd to inform them that I was planning to quit track and withdraw from PVCC.  He scheduled a meeting with counseling services on campus and told me, "He was not going to allow me to throw everything away that easily."  He made sure I attended grief counseling, even if he had to follow me there.  I wanted to give up on everything I loved because I did not know how to handle grief. 

In 2007, I became a National Champion in the 800 meters in track. 

How would you describe PVCC to others?

I would recommend PVCC because I wouldn’t be where I am without the staff at PVCC.  Not just as an athlete but as a student. Teachers and others care about your wellbeing and your accomplishments. The advice that I would give to others, use on campus resources to help guide you during your time at PVCC. 

Is there anything you would have done differently on your educational journey?

I wish I would have utilized the resources on campus when exploring degrees/majors.  Once I attended a university, I still did not know what I wanted to do, and I was taking classes that involved working with children.  I wasted about a year doing that and had to spend another year trying to get all the credits I needed to graduate.   



Tell us about your journey after leaving PVCC…

July 2007: I moved to Maryland to attend Morgan State University after being offered a full-ride scholarship for track and field.

August 2009: I started my internship with the Baltimore City Department of Social Services Out-of-Home Placement Unit for foster care.

May 2010: I graduated from Morgan State University with a bachelor’s degree in Social Work.

I then accepted a job offer with the Baltimore City Department of Social Services (BCDSS).

January 2016: I was accepted to the University of Baltimore for their graduate program in Public Administration, specializing in Public Policy.

May 2019: I graduated from the University of Baltimore with my MPA.

October 2022: I accepted a job offer to be a Placement Analyst for the Social Services Administration/ Department of Human Services.  I assist 18 local departments in the state of Maryland to locate placement for those hard-to-place youth.

How would you advise students on how to choose their educational or career path?

Salary does not buy happiness; pick a major or career path that you are passionate about. 

In your career journey, what has been one of your greatest successes and one of your greatest challenges?

My greatest successes are helping those families in need and being part of a community that tries to thrive on success.  Also, being able to provide permanence for those youth who are in the foster care system. 

My greatest challenge is having barriers that keep me or workers from achieving a family’s goal.  Barriers could come from the job, community, resources, and funding.  

How did your experiences at PVCC either directly or indirectly impact the work that you do?

The amount of support I received from PVCC, from grief to personal issues, made me want to give back to others.  Besides my family, I never received outside support like I did from PVCC.  PVCC has shown me how it looks for a community of strangers to rally around an individual who is down on their luck. I am grateful for that.

Adrionna Hatfield is among the first graduates of PVCC’s program in Healthcare Technology Systems. She was an honors student, and secured a coveted internship at Phoenix Children's Hospital.

Like many students, Adrionna entered PVCC as an adult student. She was motivated by her desire to create a promising future both for herself and for her children. Adrionna found each and every PVCC professor she encountered supportive and encouraging. In particular, Michelle Carter, Abby Rusu and Gary Smith were her primary cheerleaders and played an integral role in her success at PVCC as well as her continued pursuit of learning.

Adrionna is particularly thankful for the convenience, accessibility, flexibility and economical tuition PVCC offers students. She took advantage of this environment by continuing to give back to her community as a Boy Scout Leader and Venture Scouts Crew Program Advisor. She is also active in the local chapter of Health Care Systems and serves on the local board.

After graduating from PVCC's HTS program, Adrionna continued on to NAU where she earned her Bachelor's degree in Technology Management. During this time, she was selected to serve in a leadership role with the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society. Upon graduation from NAU, Adrionna chose to continue her career at CVS, focusing on her passion for Project Management. She continues to work on her Project Management Institute certification, and remains close to her roots at PVCC. Adrionna volunteers her time as a valued PVCC Business/IT Advisory Committee member, and is a mentor to our incoming HTS students.

Adrionna graduated from Northern Arizona University with a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies in Technology Management in 2018. This degree coupled with her two degrees from PVCC (Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Healthcare Technology Systems and an Associate of Arts (AA)) have provided the foundation for her career. Adrionna’s focus is Pharmacy Benefit Management/Healthcare IT Project Management. In the future, she plans to pursue a Master of Advanced Studies in Health Informatics (MAS) with ASU.Adrionna was recognized as PVCC’s 2019 Puma Choice Outstanding Alum!

After his father’s untimely death, Afam’s family emigrated from Nigeria to the US in 1996. His father was an officer in the army, while his mother taught English at the local high school. Making the transition from Lagos, Nigeria where he was raised in the army barracks to life in Phoenix, Arizona provided many opportunities to adapt such as adjusting to the American accent and the absence of school uniforms. Afam attended North Canyon High School. He continued to hone his soccer skills in Tucson as a starting mid-fielder on the University of Arizona’s club soccer team.

Nearing the completion of his Bachelor’s degree at the University of Arizona in Physiology, Afam got “a bit burned out” and took a position as a Data Analyst at CVS Caremark in Phoenix. “One of my co-workers had a stroke and, in observing this colleague undergo physical therapy, I was inspired to pursue a doctorate in Physical Therapy.” Afam took a couple classes at PVCC to finish his undergraduate degree. So, when the time came to complete prerequisites prior to entering PT school he returned to PVCC to enroll in Casey Durandet’s Physics class and there “met a professor who really stood out to me. Casey Durandet is completely different. Despite having many courses and instructors, I found her enthusiasm for life and teaching unmatched and so very inspiring.” Due to the relationship Dr. Durandet establishes with her students, Afam reached out to her for a letter of recommendation as part of his admission application to PT School. Afam attributes this letter to playing a significant role in his admission and the opportunity to pursue his dream.

Afam completed his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from AT Still University of Health Science in 2017. He has over 10 years of experience in the healthcare field as a Certified Nursing Assistant, Pharmacy Tech, Physical Therapy Tech, and is now a Doctor of Physical Therapy. He has been trained in both outpatient and home health physical therapy. Afam loves working with all age groups.

Afam continues to support PVCC by sharing his time and talent. He is quick to take advantage of opportunities to give back to PVCC and support those who follow in his footsteps. In February 2020, Afam participated in the STEM Alumni Panel. He shared his life’s journey with the students and the audience was inspired by his story.

Afam is committed to giving back to the community, including involvement in non-profit organizations such as the Refuge Foundation. Additionally, he and his brother have started their Physical Therapy practice. “At the end of the day, I want to go back to Nigeria and offer my services and inspiration to others.” Presently, Afam continues to work as a Physical Therapist in the Valley, primarily contracted with Home Health companies and a mobile outpatient team.

As a stay-at-home parent, Alan East wanted to expand his skill set in preparation for the time when he would rejoin the workforce. Returning to a college environment can be intimidating as a middle-aged adult but at PVCC, Alan shared that he “found a welcoming environment for older students.”

“For me as a continuing education student, PVCC provided excellent and innovative classes,” Alan said. This aspect of PVCC is still, after all these years, Alan’s most impactful educational experience.

Alan is an avid proponent of PVCC. He said, “The classes provided and the culture of the campus is a jewel for North Phoenix.” The quality of the education received, whether a student is working toward a degree or taking classes for lifelong learning, benefits a person professionally and personally.

Upon reflection, Alan shares that faculty member Jon Storslee stands out among the instructors he had at PVCC. Alan found the computer classes he took from Professor Storslee to be “well-organized and relevant to the computer/programming industry of the time.”

Alan was a co-founding member of the Desperado LGBTQ Film Festival. For Alan, working with faculty member Dale Heuser was “one of the most profound experiences, not only of my time at PVCC, but also of my life. Paradise Valley Community College was incredibly supportive in getting our event off the ground, and I believe the film festival’s impact on the greater LGBTQ Phoenix community has been significant.” Desperado’s mission is to showcase quality films that are related to the experiences of the LGBTQ community. Since its inception, the goal was to create an event that is educational, enlightening, entertaining, and enjoyable.

Alan attributes his involvement in organizing an on-campus annual event with the opportunity to “tremendously strengthen” his leadership, speaking and organizational skills. Alan shared, “In fact, my time being involved at PVCC led me to look for a job in education.” After 15 years as a stay-at-home parent, Alan now works for a school district in California and is engaged in curriculum planning, instructor management, and course schedule development. Meanwhile. Alan continues to engage and support PVCC as he remains intricately involved in supporting PVCC’s Desperado LGBTQ Film Festival.

While in high school, Aleksandra Tesanovic’s advisor recommended the Early College (EC) program. She says her decision to enroll, “was one of the best decisions” because “not only did I get to prepare for university, and make friends and connections, but it also allowed me to graduate high school early and already have some college credits in my pocket.”

Aleksandra shared her experience as a member of the EC program. “It was designed in a way that slowly transitioned high school students in with the college students.” She remembers how “all of us were so giddy and excited when the time came for us to join the rest of the students, the slow immersion made me feel comfortable and once we got the hang of the campus, the curriculum, and expectations we were allowed to morph into adult butterflies.”

Aleksandra shares words of advice to those who follow in her footsteps. “My best piece of advice would be to first, find a teacher you like during your first or second year; take all of their classes and get coffee with them. It’s amazingly rewarding, and when the time comes you won’t have to scramble to find teachers to write recommendation letters. Second, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Third, spend as much time outside as possible. Fourth, make good friends that you can lean on, and be a friend that they can rely on in return, but also get comfortable with hanging out by yourself. Fifth, teach yourself to get up early, and become a morning person, it gives you some extra time to focus on yourself. Treat school like it’s a job and try to build a solid work ethic. Explore every inch of your campus.”

Reflecting on this time in her life, Aleksandra “remembers and feels all the beautiful moments. As a high school student, I couldn’t wait for 12 pm to come so I could hop on the school bus with my friends and go to PVCC. I think I enjoyed it so much because it was a way for me to step into the adult world and I loved the freedom and support that I was getting along the way.” In her mind, she sees “a time-lapse of many beautiful moments. Moments such as going to the cafeteria to see what was on the menu and ordering fries with a large iced tea, studying with my friends in our secret nook, learning how to properly draft an email, the many random but wonderful conversations with strangers in the computer lab, and at the end of the journey the overwhelming feeling of accomplishment and self confidence that I gained as a young woman is one of the most profound moments and realizations.”

Aleksandra’s experience enabled her to experiment, find classes that she enjoyed in order to figure out her career path, and to acquire the basic skills necessary to progress forward. She shared, “the education and experience I received at PVCC was fundamental for my professional and personal growth.”

Aleksandra has been with PHX Architecture since 2017 when she was interning with PHX while earning her Master’s in Architecture at Arizona State University. Now a full-time Architectural Associate, she works on both the residential and commercial sides of the firm.

Marisa was the first of this dynamic duo to attend PVCC.  Her motivating force was that she was "pretty terrified of going to the university." And since she did not have a clear direction regarding her educational path, she selected PVCC because of the broad range of courses available.

Alex "knew a ton of people who had attended PVCC and heard good things about their experience." The close proximity to her home was a bonus. Both Alex and Marisa shared that the most memorable aspects of their student experience is the "lifelong friendships" they established while students at PVCC.  

Alex warmly recalls the unique and fun classes she took such as the Cinema class where she learned about different types of filmmaking. Her "History of Jazz" and “History of Rock and Roll" classes expanded her exposure to these music genres. To this day, Alex remembers going to listen to live Jazz music, something she probably would not have done if it weren't for this class assignment. She fondly recalls, "I listened to the musician for hours!" 

Alex and Marisa echoed, "I would say PVCC is a really welcoming community college and very easy to maneuver. Being on campus and attending classes was not a terrifying experience."  They both shared that the ease and availability of parking was ideal and Alex really liked having so many different course options.”

Alex shared, "PVCC taught me responsibility.  I had to go to class because I was paying for it. In order to go farther in your life you need to figure out your priorities and use them to chart your path." For Marisa, "Going to PVCC taught me that consistency is key." As she looks at her overall life plan - she continues to apply this principle to "keep moving forward."

Both Marisa and Alex worked full-time while attending PVCC. This employment was the beginning of their journey into entrepreneurship! For Alex, “The business class I took at PVCC really helped as I entered this new realm of entrepreneurship.” This terrific twosome turned their love of dogs into their business!  One year ago, they opened "One Love Pet Parlor."  Both of them independently began at big box stores where they initially applied for a cashier position. Soon they were asked to begin grooming dogs.  They both love dogs! 

Opening the shop seemed very natural.  Alex and Marisa had the vision and they had been working together for other people for many years and in doing so had gathered ideas and a vision of what they wanted to offer when they set up shop.  Alex shared, "Opening the shop seemed very natural. We had the vision. We wanted a place where people could bring their pets and it felt like family.” This dynamic duo has designed their business around their love of dogs in the PVCC neighborhood! 

Following in her mother’s footsteps, Alexis became a PVCC Puma.  During her senior year of high school, she became aware of the President’s Honors Scholarship. Alexis shared, “The scholarship covered my first two years attending PVCC, which was critical for my success in college. As a President’s Scholarship student, I was required to take one honors class a semester. I ended up getting very involved within the Honors program and that led to building great relationships with the staff and professors within it.”  

“PVCC is a place to discover who you are. I was newly 18 when I started college and I had no idea how much I would learn about myself during my time at PVCC; not only as a person, but as a student, and as a community member. If you’re wanting to explore different career paths and choices of study, a community college is a great way to achieve that.”

As a “highly involved” PVCC student, Alexis shared, “During my first year, I explored the different clubs and extracurricular activities available on campus. My sophomore year, I was able to secure student leadership positions, which included serving as a Student Honors Advisory Council (SHAC) leader, the President of Phi Theta Kappa, and writing and producing video content for the ‘Puma Press’ as the multimedia reporter (I even helped plan our fun events here too!).”

When asked to share one of her most memorable aspects of the student experience at PVCC, Alexis responded, “Ahh, just one? There are so many amazing memories I could share…from hiking the Grand Canyon for an honors credit to introducing President Dr. Dale at a regional Phi Theta Kappa Conference. I think my most memorable moment was being awarded the Golden Puma Award. It acknowledged all the hard work I had accomplished and how active I was on campus, something I highly recommend for all college students.”

“If I hadn’t become so involved at PVCC, I may not have learned about the other scholarships available to me. I can’t express enough how avoiding ‘car to class syndrome’ can be for your college experience. Get involved, meet new friends, and build up your resume!”

“My involvement in student clubs also helped shape me as a leader and communicator. There are skills I picked up in these programs that I use on a daily basis for work.”

“I wouldn’t be the person I am today without attending community college. My time at PVCC and experience as a transfer student to Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications led me to pursue a career within higher education, which I can happily say I’ve achieved. I create video and other multimedia content for the College of Public Health and Human Sciences at Oregon State University.”

Alexis Peterson was undecided on what major to choose when graduating from Shadow Mountain High School, but after taking her placement tests, she found a welcoming environment in PVCC’s Honors program. Throughout her years at PVCC, the Honors Program allowed her to connect with faculty whose mentorship has helped her greatly. Mike Ho, director of Student Life and Leadership was a great mentor who taught her to “be her own champion.”

Alexis is now the Senior Executive Assistant & Strategic Project Manager at the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC). She works to execute key priorities established by the CEO, enhance board engagement, and lead efforts to improve organizational culture. This includes providing tactical support to the President & CEO, managing the Board of Directors, and overseeing cross-team project management. Her commitment to problem-solving and mentorship, which she developed during her years at Paradise Valley Community College (PVCC), helps her create meaningful, positive change in Greater Phoenix.

A lifelong Phoenician, Alexis first discovered her passion for leadership at PVCC, where she was a Golden Puma Award recipient and a co-founder of Women Rising, a group empowering female students. She later served as the Honors Program Coordinator at PVCC, overseeing strategic planning and leadership training for over 400 students. This included teaching Honors Forum (HON190) and Honors Leadership (HON201). She attributes much of her success to the mentorship and community at PVCC, which she still considers a second home.

Alexis holds a Bachelor’s in Management from Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business and a Master’s in Leadership from Grand Canyon University’s Colangelo College of Business.

When Alondra Angelica Alvarez Ortiz was seven years old, her family moved from Mexico to the U.S. She spent every night thereafter crying herself to sleep—she missed her little hometown of Gomez Palacio, visiting her tia’s snack cart after school and dressing up in a long traditional skirt and bright red lipstick to celebrate Mexico’s Independence Day. She didn’t understand America, with lines down the middle of the roads and lack of people in the back of pickups. She also didn’t understand the “better life” her mother insisted she would have here, for which she sacrificed so much. How could a society so fixated on working and money be better than her simple and carefree Gomez?

In Elk City, Oklahoma, Alondra enrolled in second grade without knowing a word of English. Luckily, her teacher was bilingual and helped make the transition a little easier.

“Mrs. Shackle was more than a teacher that graded papers; she built meaningful relationships with her students,” Alondra said. “She helped me learn English and dedicated so much of her time to making sure I did. I remember looking around her room one day, and suddenly I said, ‘I want to be a teacher when I grow up!’”

While most children spend their free time playing house, Alvarez played “school.” She would line up all her stuffed animal students and practice her classroom lectures using a toy chalkboard.

Throughout the years, her passion for being an educator only grew. After graduating from high school, she moved to Arizona to pursue her bachelor’s degree. To save money, Alondra enrolled in Paradise Valley Community College with plans of transferring to Northern Arizona University. She liked the flexibility and pace of NAU’s teaching program and the idea of earning her degree for free through the Arizona Teachers Academy.

“Receiving an education creates doors of opportunity to chase your dreams and do what one was born to do,” said Alondra, who is studying Elementary and Special Education. “I come from past generations of family members that have worked harsh labor jobs their whole lives. I watched my mother arrive home, dragging her feet, exhausted after cleaning rich guys’ mansions so that I could have a roof over my head. I also watched my father work long night shifts driving a semi-truck to put food on our plates. When parents say they want better for you, it’s not just a saying. Every assignment, project and test I completed, I did so with my parents in mind. They gave up everything to give me everything.”

In addition to Mrs. Shackle, Alondra’s professors also had a big impact on her life. Meaningful relationships with them taught her how to not only be an efficient educator, but also a professional in the education field. But, without a doubt, she owes her success to her No. 1 supporter—her mother.

“I look back on all of the years growing up, and if not for the challenges we overcame, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. I am proud of where I come from. Mexico will hold a special place in my heart forever; the culture and traditions will continue to live on in my life now and in the future. And though leaving Mexico was difficult for me; I now can understand and appreciate my mother’s significant sacrifice for us. Being grateful to be here in the U.S. with the opportunity to pursue my dreams of teaching does not begin to describe the sentiment. My mother’s courage, faith and unconditional love prospered into this reality. For this, I am forever grateful.”

Alondra hopes to get a general education teaching job and is keeping her fingers crossed she can find an opening for a second-grade classroom—the grade that forever changed her life.

Story written by Carly Banks, NAU Communications Manager

Street art by Amanda Adkins graces several buildings in downtown Phoenix. Her work has the traditional aspects of oil painting mixed with spray paint that gives it a pop art, street feel. This PVCC Alumna has been painting murals since 2010. Amanda Adkins incorporates her observations of the nature of relationships and Mother Nature into her artwork.

Amanda credits her appreciation for drawing to her PVCC Instructor Joan Ritsch. Amanda exhibited her artistic skills from an early age; however, it was through her coursework at PVCC that she received her first formal training. Professor Ritsch trained her to look at things differently. An assignment that involved inverting an image and drawing it from this “upside-down” perspective refined her appreciation for drawing. This appreciation and understanding has been invaluable in her role as both an artist and an art teacher. Additionally, Amanda credits her PVCC public speaking course for providing her with the ability to feel comfortable doing visiting artist speaking engagements, teaching a Community Mural Making course at ASU and sharing her story through the Arizona Storyteller project.

PVCC prepared Amanda well: academically and organizationally. Her art classes at PVCC influenced the direction of her current work. In her paintings, Amanda uses a wide array of subjects, such as personal symbolisms that represent life’s struggles and triumphs.Her paintings come to her from her dreams, inspiration from nature, and her love of spray paint and graffiti. Her artwork is primarily about the inner connectivity that we have to all. Amanda’s work has been included in group and solo exhibitions and she has painted murals in several locations around Phoenix. 

Amber came to PVCC with a desire to pursue her second career. She was inspired by the nursing care her Mother received while battling cancer. Amber was working at John C. Lincoln at the time and they had a partnership with PVCC. She was fortunate to be selected for this opportunity. She attended classes both on the PVCC campus as well as at John C. Lincoln. Nursing school was very challenging and Amber appreciated instructors Jean Dorsett and Cheryl Cipriano. They both were invested in the success of their students and often lent an ear to students and were committed to provide support and guidance. Amber enjoyed the ease with which she was able to maneuver about the campus, easy to locate classrooms and the free, readily accessible parking. Amber often recommends PVCC to others due to its great location, nice and safe campus and the instructors’ expertise and support of their students. Amber’s path since graduating from PVCC has been varied with ten years working in the neo-natal unit of a hospital to a stint as a nurse traveler. Then she decided to return to school to obtain her second Bachelor’s degree. She left bedside care for an opportunity to diversify her experience. Amber now works from home in what is considered “home health care” in the specialty of neuromodulation providing care to people with “intrathecal pumps.” Her passion around mental health and death and dying led her back to school to work toward a Master’s degree in Integrative Care, Mental Health and Wellness with an emphasis on Grief and Bereavement. Amber strives to be an advocate for her patients as she believes, "Even if they have a disease process, they can still live their life to the fullest." Clearly, Amber is a lifelong learner committed to advancing her knowledge and understanding while giving back to others.

Choosing to attend PVCC was easy for Amber Montanez. She lived in the neighborhood and wasn’t sure what she wanted to do plus attending PVCC meant she could still work and go to school.

She developed meaningful connections with several faculty and staff during her tenure at PVCC. Through Amber’s engagement in the Emerging Leaders (EL) program, she acknowledges several influencers: John Douglass, Meggin Kirk, Mike Ho, and Chris Hunt. Her EL experience afforded her the opportunity to develop several enduring friendships as well. Participating in EL led Amber into her current profession of Social Work.

One of her most memorable experiences of her time at PVCC is her participation in the EMT/Fire Science program. She was always interested in medicine and really enjoyed her time as an EMT.

She definitely recommends PVCC to others. Amber shares, “stepping out of the high school experience and into college offers a lot more freedom.” She found this environment “great to get the hang of it before transitioning to a large university.” Amber was able to build connections so much faster at PVCC than at her 4-year institution. Classes at PVCC opened her eyes to new concerns such as Social Work. Even in her prerequisite classes, she was nudged toward meaningful opportunities. Coming to PVCC gave her the opportunity to explore her passions. She took a guitar class which was outside of her wheelhouse, yet very impactful.

Amber completed an internship with the Phoenix Fire Department thanks to a connection through her PVCC EMT experience. She then went on to a position as a Behavioral Technician doing psychiatry case management for children. After working in the psychiatric ward at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, her professional journey led to work with adults at ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) providing support for patients, families, caregivers and community members. As a Social Worker for the ALS Association, Amber works closely with neurologists in the valley, thus continuing her lifelong interest in medicine.

As a first-generation college student, Laura needed to learn how to navigate the educational system on her own as her parents “did not have a clue.” She was the first person in her entire family and her small community to finish an Associate’s degree in the United States.

Laura shares, “Just having the opportunity to have access to higher education was one of the best experiences when I was at PVCC.” Laura’s father was only able to finish 6th grade and her mother was not permitted to attend school due to the fact that she was a woman. In her community, females were not meant to get an education but to stay home and learn how to clean, cook, and be a good wife. “Being able to just attend PVCC was already the best experience,” Laura said. “It was an opportunity to break cultural norms. I was able to start dreaming and trying to shape my future educational goals.”

Professor Rubi’s class on Mexican culture and history in the southwest had a significant impact on Laura’s life. This class helped her learn about her heritage, its positive impact on the economy and the wellbeing of this country. Laura felt connected with his story as she learned that his wife and her mom are from the same town and they both spoke the native language of the area. This connection was a catalyst for Laura. She said, “It helped me start my journey of finding myself and being proud of my culture and heritage.”

“The education I got at PVCC allowed me to be more open minded,” Laura said. “Having a higher education most of the time allows people to be more accepting of differences and diversity.”

Upon completing her Associate’s degree at PVCC in 2007, Laura could not attend ASU due to Proposition 300 and the cost of out of state tuition. She was devastated and experienced a time of depression. In 2012, thanks to DACA (Deferred Access to Childhood Arrivals), Laura was able to work and “start dreaming again.” She got involved in the Dreamer movement. “This is where my PVCC AA degree came in handy and opened up higher wage job opportunities,” said Laura.

In 2017, Laura decided to complete her educational dreams and enrolled at ASU Teachers College. In 2019, Laura graduated ASU with her BA degree in Secondary Education with a concentration in Spanish. “It felt good to know that after so many years, I finally was able to finish my educational goal and that I was the first generation with a higher education. My kids will now have someone nearby to look up to.”