Success Stories

What inspired you to attend PVCC?

There are a few key factors that specifically inspired me to attend PVCC. The first major contributor was my mother; who attended PVCC while raising me as a single mom and working multiple freelance jobs to support us. After graduating in 2012 with her AA in mixed media, and obtaining both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from NAU, she spoke quite fondly of her time at PVCC and had a very positive experience. She also provided me with tons of helpful tips and recommendations based on her experience to make my transition to college as smooth as possible. So naturally, I was eager to follow in my mother’s footsteps. As a senior at Thunderbird High School, I became aware of the President’s Honors Scholarship after having a conversation with my guidance counselor where I was informed about my eligibility. Upon graduation, I became a member of the Honors Program during my first semester at PVCC. However, due to working a grueling retail job with an inflexible schedule, I had trouble keeping up with my classes and was unable to fully utilize the on-campus resources and opportunities that were available to me. As a result, I was placed on academic probation and considered dropping out. However, after doing some soul-searching, it was important to me to finish what I started by giving PVCC another chance. It was the best decision I could have ever made for myself.

What was your major or focus of study at PVCC? And what year did you graduate?

Initially, I was undecided about what I wanted to major in. Throughout my entire time at PVCC, I changed my major multiple times as my interests were constantly changing. I ended up graduating from PVCC with my AA in journalism in the Fall of 2020.

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

There are so many amazing memories I could share from my experience at PVCC that it’s hard to narrow it down to just one or two! For starters, it was amazing to be featured on the President’s Honor List multiple times and to be recognized for my hard work. However, the most memorable aspect of my PVCC experience was serving as a Student Ambassador for a semester post-graduation. This experience not only allowed me to utilize my social media presence for a good cause, but it opened many doors to connect with other students, faculty, and staff and participate in more on-campus events. Most notably in March 2022, I was chosen by Versha Anderson to be one out of 3 students to host the MCCCD’s diversity awards ceremony and was introduced by President Dr. Dale; which was a huge honor.

How would you describe PVCC to others? Would you recommend PVCC and why? 

To me, PVCC is an uplifting, safe, welcoming, and supportive environment filled with ambitious students all striving for self-improvement. Besides the beautiful campus and amazing resources they offer, I highly recommend PVCC to everyone because the class sizes are small, they have a huge variety of learning options to fit your schedule, and the faculty are highly dedicated and invested in ensuring the success of their students. It is the best place to save money on tuition compared to what you might pay at a university, and the skills I learned here prepared me greatly for transferring to the university level. Last but not least, PVCC gave me the opportunity to thrive as a student.

What piece of advice would you give to PVCC students?

Some pieces of advice I have for PVCC students include not being afraid to ask for help - whether it’s from your professors, advisors, or even tutors. Also, don’t hesitate to get involved in any clubs or organizations that speak to you and your interests! If you’re shy and have trouble making new friends, just be yourself and put yourself out there! Everyone will accept you for who you are.

Tell us about your journey after leaving PVCC…

Since graduating from PVCC, I have worked diligently to complete my elective credits at PVCC spanning three semesters in preparation for beginning the 90/30 transfer program through Northern Arizona University. I recently began my undergraduate journey through NAU online and am currently working towards earning my Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies majoring in Applied Human Behavior. I am expected to graduate in Spring 2024. Upon graduation, I am determined to pursue internship opportunities in the psychology field. My long-term goal is to work towards becoming an LCSW or LPC while running my own counseling practice.

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

My personal suggestion for choosing your ideal educational/career path would be to take the Career Exploration course. It provided me with a lot of clarity and direction through the assigned interpersonal reflections. I would also suggest taking as many classes as you can on subjects that interest you to see if they will be the right fit for you!

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

So far, one of my greatest successes has been learning how to effectively work collaboratively with a team, navigate conflict resolution, and strengthen my social and interpersonal skills. However, one of my greatest challenges has been learning how to balance my creativity and professional skills to find the career path I am most passionate about.

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

My experiences at PVCC directly impacted my work because they were a big contributor to strengthening my work ethic and critical thinking skills.

After high school, following a delay Hannah described as due to a lack of confidence, she decided to “just dive in head-first,” and determined that she would not let anything stop her from achieving a degree. How did she do it? Hannah replied: "Part dedication to education and part the extreme privilege to be able to dedicate an unusual amount of time towards work and education."

Through her work, Hannah went on to become a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, a 2019 Coca-Cola Academic Team Scholar, while also serving as the Club Z President. Participating in the MCCCD Student Public Policy Forum “where I collaborated with other civically-engaged students” and got to “network with our country’s leaders in Washington D.C.” has been a highlight of her time at PVCC. Additionally, Hannah served her community while being a catalyst for positive social change as a Campus Voter Registration Advocate.  She initiated the successful “Use Your Voice, Use Your Vote” get-out-the-vote campaign on the PVCC campus. Hannah stated: “I am proud of each student I helped register to vote and the candidate forum I hosted in which PVCC students got to showcase their civically-engaged mindsets.”

Hannah credited this impressive list of accomplishments as coming from a “willingness to learn from mistakes — and amazing mentors…I am leaving PVCC a better person than who I was when I started, and for that, I will be eternally grateful.”

Hannah graduated from ASU with a degree in Philosophy (Morality, Politics and Law) and a concurrent degree in Political Science. Hannah shared “I had the life changing opportunity to be chosen for the Arizona Legislative Internship” in the Arizona State Senate with the Democratic Policy staff. During this internship, Hannah realized that the job she wanted didn't require a law degree, so she “jumped right in after graduation in 2021.”

Since the internship, Hannah has worked a few different jobs in the Legislature, from a member's assistant to research staffer. Hannah is currently back in the Democratic policy office, in the House of Representatives. “I look back at my dreams of going to law school and working for the UN with much fondness, and maybe those things are still in my future, but for now I'm honored to be in a career where I serve the constituents of Arizona as a public servant and I love what I do. I wouldn't be where I am today without my education and my mentors from PVCC.”

Hannah takes to heart this line from Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical Hamilton:

“I am not throwing away my shot!"

Heather’s commitment to lifelong learning and strong leadership qualities provided the driving force behind her aspiration to be the first in her family to graduate from college. PVCC was her college of choice due to the comfortable campus environment, convenient location and the great atmosphere the college offered for learning. 

Heather’s family were hard workers who inspired her to go after anything she desired. Knowing that she was interested in being a leader within business and her community, pursuing higher education was, in her mind, important in achieving that.  While working full time and taking full time classes, Heather was able to explore different areas of study and ended up shifting her focus of study a couple of times to find what perfectly suited her. Heather shared, “The financial benefit of doing this through the community college versus the university is significant.”

Heather entered PVCC “striving for something more and appreciated the learning environment was conducive to laying the foundation for me to continue to learn and grow.” Heather shared, “This mindset and ‘can do spirit’ is supported and nurtured at PVCC.”

Heather remarked, “The instructors shared relevant information. Their educational background coupled with their real life professional experience was particularly helpful. It wasn’t just book work they were teaching, the faculty really seemed to model what they taught and their expertise was valuable.”

In characterizing PVCC to others, Heather stated, “I would tell them that I think PVCC is a great place to start; a place to gather relevant information to move your life forward.  You will find quality instruction and a supportive environment.”

“The positive experience I had at PVCC helped me to gain important knowledge and skills and that experience encouraged me to continue on in my college career. Juggling work and school was not always easy however it was incredibly worth it.” Heather moved on to complete her Bachelor’s degree in Business Management at Ottawa University.

She recommends PVCC as it is an opportunity to invest in yourself. Heather says, “investing in yourself and going after your dreams will always yield great results when you are committed to persevering, no matter what, AND are willing to put in the work.” This mindset guided Heather during her time at PVCC and still guides her as she has become a respected leader and connector of business and community.                             

Ten years ago, Heather started her company Foxfire Events after owning several businesses and having worked in the corporate world for many years. As a family member, Heather has been known as the glue that bonds her family together.  Now, she is the glue that connects the community she serves.

As a full-time working mother and wife, campus location was a major factor in Helanda Crespin’s decision to return to school. As a first-generation college and university graduate coming from a long line of hard-working domestic laborers, Helanda was a trail blazer. She enrolled as a part-time student to acclimate into the academic structure. Though education had always been a dream, her first priority was to her young children.

Two individuals helped Helanda acculturate into the college environment. Dr. David Rubi’s enthusiastic personality and thorough knowledge of Mexican culture encouraged her interests. One thing that she appreciated about Dr. Rubi is that he understood the unspoken plight of racism and colorism. “This acknowledgment did not soften his teaching; it strengthened student dedication and propelled us toward success,” Helanda said “Dr. Rubi taught me and others how to overcome the fear of learning a new language.”

Helanda’s extracurricular activities were influenced by PVCC security guard Leroy Hunter. He wanted to institute a Black Student Union governing group—she wasn’t interested. Rather than student government, Helanda was focused on studies only, as her time was extremely limited. However, it is because of Mr. Hunter’s persistent requests that Helanda became PVCC’S first substantiated Black Student Union President. He was also the reason she became involved in campus student government.

Involvement in the Black Student Union was an unexpected highlight of her time at PVCC. Helanda’s ideas about culture, race relations and human connection were expanded and propelled her to study Race Relations, Sociology and Women’s Studies at the university level. Helanda advises current and future students to choose courses that increase critical thinking skills. Also, “ask for help. No one is solely successful; this idea is a myth.” Her definition of intelligence is “For every piece of knowledge gained, hard work and help is the equivalent.”

One, among many positive experiences and interactions, Helanda had at PVCC is faculty and staff commitment to all students. “I did not at any time feel overlooked or discouraged about completing my education.” Helanda shared, “My most memorable experience was being told by Dr. Rubi and the Mr. Hunter that I mattered; it was okay to be me. I was told to believe that I could continue beyond an Associate’s degree.”

Paradise Valley Community College was a gateway of continuing education for Helanda. “As a small child, I envisioned going to college after high school,” Helanda said. “But life has its way of beating a straight life plan with a crooked stick. In other words, there were detours that I overcame that have indeed helped me become the person I am today.”

Helanda speaks highly of the commitment to inclusion and open dialogue at PVCC. “Regardless of socio economics, culture, race, and orientation, my experience was that each student mattered,” she said. “Compassion, thoughtfulness and effective student interaction was the striving focus.”

Despite envisioning a different path for himself, a scholarship award ultimately led Jacob Przybylski to enroll at PVCC. Attending and graduating from PVCC prepared Jacob to “excel in all things that I do. It helped develop my study skills as well as my leadership skills which transferred over into my aviation field of study. In aviation, as pilots we have to be leaders and decision makers.” Jacob attributes the group projects he participated in and led at PVCC in helping him excel in these areas. Jacob said that a benefit of PVCC’s small size is the multitude of opportunities to take charge and lead. “All that experience transferred directly to flight school for me. Once I achieved seniority and flight certifications, I found myself teaching flight ground school classes and aiding newer flight students in whatever they were struggling with. My flight school success began with PVCC giving me the real world skills that I needed in order to become a successful pilot.”

Jacob’s most influential instructor was Dr. Casey Durandet. “She made every day in her class fun and exciting. There really was never a dull moment and she encouraged me to continue pursuing my aviation career goals, and upon graduation that's exactly what I did.”

Physics class had a huge impact on Jacob as he got to “experience how amazing science can be. That class opened opportunities for me such as helping Dr. Durandet with the middle school science days. Those science days showed me how much I love to instruct people.” This volunteer opportunity is Jacob’s most memorable PVCC experience. He enjoys helping Dr. Durandet with the middle school physics class. “It's something I've helped with numerous times and I enjoy being able to teach, encourage, and get middle schoolers interested in a STEM field as well as maybe getting them interested in aviation. A lot of people feel becoming a pilot is an unattainable goal and I enjoy showing them that it is attainable and something worthwhile to pursue.”

Jacob endorses PVCC as “the best place to start when seeking a higher education. The classes are small and the staff is always attentive to the needs of all students. For someone seeking a college education I would 100% recommend the community level, and I would 110% recommend PVCC. It's a great environment of staff and students and there are plenty of classes to help get your foot into higher education.”

“I received the feeder high school scholarship due to being the only student that filled out the form and it changed my entire life. Had I not filled out the scholarship application, I would've been in the military and probably never discovered my love of flying.”

Jacob continues to give back to PVCC as a panelist for the STEM Field of Interest (FOI) PVCC Alumni Career Panels. He is committed to supporting the students who follow in his footsteps as he encourages others to pursue careers in STEM.

Uncertain as to what field within the physical sciences he was most interested in, coupled with his desire to avoid taking out loans to attend college, Jake McElearney decided to pursue the PVCC Presidential Scholarship before transferring to a four-year university.

Jake’s experience at PVCC afforded him the opportunity to work with four professors that have influenced his life. The combination of BIO 181 and Internship for BIO 181 with Dr. Lynda Santiago had the most profound impact on Jake’s experience. The course challenged him to “build the foundations that would benefit me throughout my entire college experience.” The internship pushed Jake beyond his comfort zone necessitating that he master the course content so he could help the students in the lab. “Dr. Santiago was an influential mentor throughout my college experience; she recommended classes that challenged me, taught me ways to study and improve my comprehension skills, recommended internship experiences that would benefit me in my career, and was a friend I could go to with questions and provided constructive criticism along the way that helped me grow into who I am today.” Jake hopes to be able to “offer the same advice and support to others in the future!”

Dr. James Doyle’s love and passion for Biology made every class fun and memorable. During lab, Dr. Doyle would engage students by inquiring what they were doing/seeing. Jake shared, “these questions directly helped with test prep and the connection between visualizing and responding to questions helped me solidify and remember them even better.”

The Honors Directors, Dr. Doug Berry and Dr. John Douglass, were helpful in navigating the Honors Program and provided courses that challenged students to think critically, which has proven to be a very helpful skill after college. Dr. Berry’s honors PSY 101 class, as well as an extracurricular Psychology of Team Building which offered students the opportunity to work as a team and trust each other on the high ropes course at NAU, left a lasting impression. Jake fondly recalls the water conservation final project he did in Dr. Douglass’s Honors Geology course where he was tasked with arguing for the preservation of water use on golf courses. “The dynamic of these professors working together to provide a fun learning environment for students was one of the things that made PVCC’s Honors program so great for students,” Jake said.

Jake describes PVCC as “a great community built to help students grow and succeed in their educational experience. There are many extracurricular opportunities offered at PVCC and students can join clubs that will connect them with other students and provide opportunities to build friendships.”

Jake completed a B.S. in Biochemistry at ASU and is currently involved in Biomedical Engineering at West Pharmaceuticals. “What I learned at PVCC became the foundation of my education which I have built upon to get where I am today. I still reference old notebooks from various science classes I took at PVCC when doing research for projects in my current role.”

The supportive community for the arts offered at PVCC was very attractive to independent artist JAM. Music has always been a part of his life and finding an educational environment that was conducive to pursuing this lifelong aspiration was very important.

Upon entering the classroom on his first day, the vision of professor Jacob Adler plucking a Tanpura, a stringed instrument used mainly in Hindustani music and Indian classical music, confirmed for JAM that he had arrived at his college! Each subsequent music class proved to be beneficial with his guitar class being especially relevant to JAM in his current profession. Chris Scinto has been a fantastic, supportive mentor. Additionally, Music Theory professor Jacob Adler has been a tremendous inspiration to JAM. He credits the outstanding faculty at PVCC with his commitment to this college.

JAM is a singer songwriter that can be classified in a genre of folk, roots and rock. JAM's songs are focused on Universal experiences that audiences can empathize with and be inspired by. JAM plays acoustic guitar while singing his own compositions. JAM enjoys being independent, and plans to continue to be a positive influence in music, and wants to bring others together in self-expression. He thinks it is important to help his own generation find an optimistic outlook in life.

JAM loves performing on campus and is giving back to PVCC in a number of ways. JAM energized the graduates at the 27th Annual PVCC Commencement in May 2017 with “Believe It’s Possible.” He performed classic rock songs for PVCC’s annual Fine and Performing Arts Scholarship fund-raiser. Additionally, JAM has been very involved with Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Center and can be found there teaching classes and mentoring youth, when he is not touring. JAM has a new album being released in 2024.

“Okay, Mom! Now it is your turn!” This is the message Janice Snow received when her third child graduated from college. As Janice reflects upon her time spent at PVCC with an eye towards her fast-approaching graduation from ASU (Spring of 2020), she realizes that PVCC gave her a great foundation on which to pursue a degree in Healthy Lifestyle Coaching.

The message she wishes to share with others about PVCC is the instructors’ compassion toward their students and their passion for their subject matter. Janice encourages students to get involved in extracurricular activities. Janice loved all of her nutrition classes. Her Community Nutrition Class with Margie Tate truly changed her life and gave direction to her career path. Janice admires Trisha Montgomery’s passion for the subject matter and her willingness to help students. At PVCC, everyone was very willing to help and they were committed to Janice’s success.

Janice offers a ringing endorsement, “I would totally recommend PVCC and the Nutrition program as it offers so much clinical outreach experience and so many resources are available to students." Janice bounced back and forth between ASU and PVCC. PVCC gave her a different perspective and opened up her eyes to the breadth of healthcare. Her internships and preceptors were wonderful. They gave her such great educational opportunities in healthcare and nutrition, more specifically.

Janice shares, “There is a wealth of resources on campus. You have to be the one who seeks out these resources and the support and opportunities provided.” As a non-traditional student, Janice found learning the class content plus utilizing the technology necessitates taking advantage of the help available to be successful.

While a student at PVCC, Janice took advantage of opportunities to do projects with Kitchen on the Street. This commitment and networking experiences resulted in Janice being recently named to the Board of Kitchen on the Street. Janice has embraced her “turn” to go to college. She is inspired by the passion and commitment of the PVCC Nutrition and Dietetics faculty and plans to pay it forward.

Jasmine chose Paradise Valley due to the location and affordability of classes. “As a physics major and someone that works full time, the school provided a way for me to not only get experience as a student but still maintain my job.”

The most influential instructor Jasmine encountered is Casey Durandet. Jasmine shared, “She is an extremely supportive professor and pushes me to do my best and beyond. She was the first person (outside of my father) that encouraged me to keep going. I appreciate her time, her patience and overall kindness as I navigate my journey in a new field.”

The calmness of the library is among Jasmine’s most positive memories. “The set-up is spacious and allows plenty of students to go in and study, without feeling over-crowded. I love the access to the myriad of white boards and study rooms. The library staff is also extremely friendly. I love studying there.”

Jasmine readily identified her Physics 121 class as having a profound impact on her experience at PVCC. While completing her business degree, Jasmine found working in groups intimidating and avoided the experience.  Physics did not allow students to "avoid" working together. Jasmine went on to share, “We had to work in groups, and to be honest, I'm glad we did. Working with people on solving problems teaches you much more than working on your own.”

Jasmine describes PVCC as a “place where you can get down to business. It's a place where you can go and be comfortable, where there are plenty of resources available to help you in your studies, and plenty of places to go and do the studying. Our professors are more available than larger schools. It's a special place.”

Jasmine encourages those that follow in her footsteps to “take advantage of the smaller class sizes. The older I get, the more I realize the value of it. Ask the questions! The answer is always "no" if you don't. It has made a huge difference for me to start asking questions whenever I don't fully understand a question or an assignment. It does have a positive impact.”

In closing, Jasmine shared, “The experience I've had here has made me more confident in the decision to change careers and follow my passion. I am learning to utilize the resources we have on campus more and look forward to seeing what else I can do at PVCC to further my education in Physics and Education.”

Jasmine is currently employed at a financial firm as an Insurance Services Associate and has returned to PVCC to further her education to become a university professor and assist in research in geophysics and materials science. “PVCC is helping me get there!”

One of Jay Sloan’s most memorable experiences as a PVCC student was being a part of the Club Ed Leadership Board that helped plan and organize the 19th Annual Future Educators Conference hosting students and faculty from throughout the Maricopa Community College District. One of his roles was to facilitate and moderate a panel discussion. With over 200 people in the audience, he admits it was nerve-racking, but now looks upon the accomplishment as empowering and inspiring.

Jay’s college experience began as a participant in the Hoop of Learning Early College program while in high school. He credits CPD150 College Success course for giving him a taste of college life. He stated it was inspiring to be with others who were passionate about continuing their education and he appreciated the sense of community. Jay excelled and completed his Elementary Education Associate of Arts degree in just a year and a half.

“Meggin Kirk, Education Program Director, helped me fully realize my passion for Education,” said Jay. “She realized my own personal potential and helped me grow academically and personally.” Another instructor that had a profound impact on Jay’s PVCC experience was Dr. Keith Kelly. “Survey of American Music was my first Honors course. I was nervous going into it, but it opened my eyes that there is always room for improvement, spiritually, mentally and academically.” Jay applied his passion for Education in this class and presented his Honor’s Showcase project titled The Phonograph and Early 20th Century Music Education. The writing and research skills Jay learned applied to his upper level writing courses at NAU. 

Jay, a first-generation college student, expressed his gratitude for the scholarships he received while at PVCC. He received the President’s Honors Scholarship, numerous Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation scholarships, like a $250 bookstore scholarship. These scholarships enabled him to purchase a used car for transportation, textbooks and a laptop.  And now, through the Arizona Teachers’ Academy, his tuition at NAU is fully covered.

PVCC’s partnership with NAU allowed him to work towards his bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Special Education without having to leave PVCC. Jay holds himself to very high expectations, which meant maintaining his 4.0 GPA. In addition to school, Jay was also the PVCC Teacher Development Center Coordinator. He facilitated Club Ed meetings and organized events, such as the first virtual Education Program new student orientation. He enthusiastically shared his PVCC experience with new students and helped them to prepare for what to expect at the university level.

When asked what he likes most about teaching, Jay says building relationships. He believes relationships are the key to helping students succeed. After graduating from NAU in May 2022, Jay completed his first year teaching at an elementary school in the Peoria Unified School District, where he taught 6th grade science and social studies for one quarter, then taught 4th grade until the end of the school year, due to teacher retention difficulties. Currently, Jay teaches 7th grade social studies at the Arizona School for the Arts.

Once he is an experienced and seasoned teacher, Jay plans to earn a Master's degree, so he can teach post-secondary education and share his passion for education with future educators. 

Jazzmyn’s enrollment at PVCC was her second attempt at pursuing her dream of higher education.  At 19 years of age, she attended a private college, however, that proved to not be a good fit.  Several years later she thought, “What if I went back to college?”  She started out with the foundational math and English classes at PVCC and was determined to learn a computer language.  This idea of learning a new language was both “exciting and energizing” and served to inspire her as she moved forward.

Thanks to the wonderful support and encouragement she received from faculty member Abby Rusu, Jazzmyn successfully persisted in two of Professor Rusu’s classes.  She also took a “very tough” Economics course with Bahman Maneshni.  He, too, has been an advocate for Jazzmyn’s success.  She appreciates the perspective she gained via the two classes in Foreign Films that she took with Gary Zaro.  A highlight of Jazzmyn’s extracurricular engagement was the Foreign Film Movie Nights offered on campus.  Jazzmyn was also a member of Phi Theta Kappa.

PVCC was a welcoming environment and Jazzmyn felt very comfortable in classes due to the fairly small size and the fact that the faculty are both personable and approachable.   When she started at PVCC in 2013, she was struggling with managing her disabilities.  “Life was chaotic and disorderly.  PVCC gave me purpose and the opportunity to work on my mental illnesses and overcome them. PVCC has played a huge role in my life.”  Jazzmyn proves to be an inspiration to others and that inspiration begins at home with two of her five children following in her footsteps and pursuing their educations at PVCC.

Upon completing her degree, Jazzmyn interned at the PVCC Health Science Center working on developing a database management system.  This opportunity piqued her interest in pursuing a Masters in Data Base Management.

Jazzmyn currently is a full-time student at NAU and works full-time as a Member Concierge with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona plus manages a household of five children.  “It is a lot of work, but very rewarding!” Her current employment will give her an insider’s perspective as she strives to move into the area of Database Management.

Educators from college-level to preschool had to quickly pivot their learning modes when the virus escalated in March 2020, and PVCC Education alumna, Jenna Dawson, was ready for the challenge. As an Assistant Teacher for a preschool in Scottsdale, she found ways to engage three-year olds over the computer. She created activities such as finding something of a certain color or sharing a favorite stuffed animal. Jenna even delivered materials to students’ homes and said hello to the kids from a distance. As both a full-time student and preschool teacher, Jenna completed her studies at NAU for a bachelor’s degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education. Jenna acknowledges the unique perspective she had on education during that unprecedented time. As a student, she thought about her new learning environments and what she may have been missing.  As a teacher, she was committed to identifying and addressing what may be missing in the virtual classroom.

Jenna began her experience at PVCC as a Business major, but when she realized that was not where her heart was, she decided to take Meggin Kirk’s Introduction to Education class.  “The class had a big impact on me,” Jenna said. “Meggin is super inspiring and showed me that I could make a difference on a bigger level.”

Jenna took Meggin’s advice and got involved in Club Ed, which led her to join the Club Ed Leadership Board for two semesters.  Her involvement included planning for and hosting a booth at PVCC’s signature family event, Festival of Tales, which she describes as an “awesome experience.”

“My experience at PVCC gave me a voice to advocate for students,” Jenna said. “It gave me confidence in myself to express my opinions.” She took part in the Red for Ed rallies in front of her school and in downtown Phoenix in April 2018.  She also spoke out to parents about the critical issues.

Jenna believes she received a “top-notch” education at PVCC. She created long lasting relationships that she believes may not have happened had she gone directly to a university.  Her goal is to become a lead preschool teacher. “My favorite part of teaching young children is watching and helping them discover the world around them.,” Jenna said. “They are so curious and when they make connections it is magical to watch.”

Jenna is currently teaching 1st grade and starting her second full year as a teacher. She is actively involved with her current school district’s Teacher Union. Jenna has participated in multiple trainings and conferences including the National Education Association's Representative Assembly, discussing issues facing public education. Our children are so fortunate to have young educators like Jenna joining the profession! We wish you every success Jenna.

Jennifer Hicks' association with PVCC has come full circle: student to faculty member! Jennifer was asked to go back to school as a condition of her continued employment at the Child Development Center where she was employed. As she looked into what was required to satisfy the renewal of her credentials, the Early Childhood Education (ECE) team at PVCC showed Jennifer a path to completing a degree rather than recertifying every two years.

Christie Colunga and Ana Stigsson were two of the most influential instructors Jennifer encountered at PVCC. Jennifer shared, “Christie and Ana model what lifelong learning looks like in action. Christie is a connector, a doer and a challenger. Ana is very encouraging and is great at connecting students with resources to support them. They genuinely care about the individual and their success.” Jennifer also cherishes the relationships she has established with many others she has worked with over the years.

Being invited to share with other students the stories of the preschool children Jennifer works with was impactful. This exemplified the program’s commitment to hearing from someone currently in the classroom rather than engage in a hypothetical discussion. “Christie and Ana are committed to connecting the content of the course with what is happening in the classroom.” Students currently working in the field are invited to share their stories so others may be exposed to real life situations. Jennifer found this approach “very empowering.”

Jennifer finds the professional development that happens through the college very advantageous. Faculty member, Christie Colunga has written professional development into the courses and this provides the opportunity to “build community across the classes and offer professional development opportunities to the students. Additionally this provides networking opportunities for students to connect with presenters as well as each other. As a matter of fact, Jennifer found her current employer through a connection she made through engaging with these professional development opportunities. Jennifer said, “my educational journey and my professional journey have been interwoven.”

Both Jennifer’s educational journey and her professional journey “have really worked off each other” with each fueling her to go forward. Without this supportive environment she is not sure she would have gone on for her Bachelor’s degree via the NAU online program. Jennifer recently completed her Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education with a Social and Emotional Learning focus at the Erikson Institute in Chicago, Illinois.

She recommends PVCC to others and shares “the ECE program feels very connected. The faculty reaches out to meet students where they are at and they strive to make the courses meaningful and accessible. The program focuses on what will help move their practice forward.”

Jennifer works with preschool children full-time and co-teaches at PVCC in the Early Childhood Education Program. In addition to being adjunct faculty at PVCC Jennifer shares her expertise and insights through the grant funded work she does. She enjoys seeing how “her professional work with children fuels how to teach adults. It is a cool dynamic!”

Despite starting college in pursuit of a degree in the health sciences, Jeremy’s passion for music prevailed. Singing and performing in bands and choirs had been a constant in his life.

At PVCC, Jeremy soon learned he was interested in more opportunities in music than performing, he could also make a career behind the audio board and he has done just that. Jeremy has returned to PVCC, this time as an adjunct professor, teaching Live Sound 1 and working part-time as a Technical Assistant in the CPA. In addition to working in the CPA, Jeremy runs sound for the Fine Arts Department and other events on campus, including the upcoming Rock Show in October. He continues free-lancing for Crew West and most recently, working as an A2 on the set of ESPN's UFC 190 fight coverage.

PVCC played a significant role in obtaining his goals. In his final year at PVCC, he completed an internship running audio for the Musical Instrument Museum. That internship enabled him to establish name and talent recognition and soon he was hired by Unity of Phoenix Spiritual Center to overhaul their AV Department and become their full-time AV Coordinator. In addition to offering Jeremy a top-notch education with extensive hands-on training, PVCC provided him many opportunities to secure jobs, including gigs here at the college.

Jeremy’s most rewarding experience at PVCC was creating a full production song from scratch for his final project. He and his fellow students took the role of engineers combined with Dr. Scinto playing keyboards, Dr. Reed playing drums and a friend playing guitar. With this musical and technical support, Jeremy was able to recreate a favorite song with himself doing vocals. Utilizing all of what he learned in the previous two years, Jeremy felt prepared to step into the role of an audio engineer and his final project showcased all of the skills he had developed while a student at PVCC.

PVCC was an easy choice due to its convenient location. Additionally, Jeremy soon learned that the professors in the music department were some of the best musical minds and musicians in the valley.

Jeremy states, “If you want to receive instruction from some of the best professors in the valley and in my opinion, the best music department, then PVCC should be your first choice. Our professors are very active in the community and are some of the most polished musicians in Phoenix. I’ve compared my education against those who have gone to the conservatory, and I learned much more than they did at much less the cost. I’m a big proponent of community college for many things, even if you plan on graduating from a 4-year college.

Attending the Anasazi Training Camp in Flagstaff was the catalyst for Jeremy Sudbury’s connection to PVCC. After high school graduation, Jeremy became a camp counselor at this camp led by David Barney, PVCC Track and Field/Cross-Country Coach. He chose to run for PVCC because Coach Barney offered a no nonsense, blue-collar coaching style similar to what Jeremy was acquainted with while in high school.

Coach Barney was a role model and mentor. “Being a student athlete means making sacrifices to be successful.” Without a residential life scene at PVCC, Jeremy quickly learned how to live on his own. Moving from Las Vegas to Arizona, Jeremy learned to adapt to Phoenix weather, balance school and training, and hone his time management skills. He “learned so much in a short amount of time” and appreciated “a unique community at PVCC and felt welcomed and comfortable.” Through this experience he learned how to connect with athletes; a skill that would later come in handy as he became a coach.

Jeremy felt the “melting pot” nature of Phoenix provided the ideal opportunity to learn to interact with people from diverse cultures and learn about, appreciate and respect their customs. He joined the Native American Club initiated by two of his teammates, Chad Baker and Monroe Tahmahkera, representing the Hopi and Pima tribes, respectively. Jeremy shared, “I learned a lot about their community, culture, and food.”

Jeremy was the first person in his family to get a degree and while at PVCC he garnered NJCAA All-America honors five times and helped guide the Pumas to the 2008 NJCAA national title. Jeremy went on to run for the University Oklahoma (UO) Sooners where he competed as a student-athlete from 2009 to 2012. He graduated as UO's school record holder in the 10,000-meter run and is a two-time All-Big 12 performer on the track. On the cross country course, Jeremy was a key contributor, leading Oklahoma to sixth (2011) and 12th (2009) place finishes at the NCAA Championships.

Rewarding his success both on the track and in the classroom, Jeremy was named the Big 12 Track and Field Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2010. During his time in Norman, Oklahoma, Jeremy served initially as a volunteer assistant before being named the assistant coach of the men’s distance program. He also oversaw recruiting operations for the Sooners.

Jeremy spent eight years as an assistant coach working for the Iowa State track and field and cross- country programs, where he led a decorated group of student athletes to historic accomplishments and record-breaking performances. In June 2021, Jeremy was promoted to Director of Track and Field/Cross Country at Iowa State.

A strength of Jeremy’s is his ability to coach student-athletes from a variety of backgrounds. Early on in Jeremy’s educational journey he embraced the value of each individual. “Everyone has a story and the opportunity PVCC provided to learn and interact with students who were from other cultures, commuting and working full-time, changing careers and mature students” all helped contribute to the person he is today.