Paradise Valley Community College (PVCC) is proud to announce the creation of its new Community Impact Award, with Beth Koehnemann as its inaugural recipient. This award, which will be named in her honor, celebrates individuals who have made a lasting, transformative impact on the Greater Paradise Valley area. Each year, PVCC will recognize a new recipient, carrying forward Koehnemann’s legacy of service and dedication to the community.
“Beth Koehnemann’s unwavering commitment to the Paradise Valley community is an inspiring example of what true leadership looks like,” said Dr. Jana Schwartz, PVCC President. “She has dedicated her life to making our community a better place, and her legacy will continue to live on through this award. We are honored to recognize her, and we look forward to celebrating future leaders who follow in her footsteps.”
Beth Koehnemann’s journey as a community leader began in the early 1980s when she spearheaded efforts to address critical needs in the Paradise Valley area. At the time, the area was largely overlooked by city leaders, and residents faced a lack of essential services, including a fire station, library, and well-maintained roads, as well as overcrowded schools. To tackle these challenges, Koehnemann joined forces with other local citizens to form a Community Council, with representatives from every voting district working to advocate for these much-needed amenities.
Koehnemann, who currently sits on PVCC’s President's Community Advisory Council, was asked to chair the community college task force, where she collaborated with educators and leaders from various service organizations. In 1982, this task force presented its findings to the Maricopa Community Colleges Governing Board, which agreed to open a Rio Salado Center in the area. This marked the beginning of a larger effort to establish a permanent community college, with support from state and county representatives, local school superintendents, high school senior class presidents, and other community leaders.
Reflecting on the process, Koehnemann remarked, “With much assistance from our local, state, and national elected officials, citizens, and students in the area, plus many MCCCD employees—look what we have today! This magnificent, vibrant facility with the community still being involved. It is, I feel, a perfect example of what working together can accomplish.”
Despite her pivotal role in shaping the future of education in the area, Koehnemann remains humble about her achievements. “I didn’t do it alone. Anything I accomplished was accidental,” she said. “I just wanted to be a part of making our lives better, and it morphed into being good for a lot of people.”
The Beth Koehnemann Community Impact Award will continue to inspire the PVCC community, recognizing individuals who, like Koehnemann, exemplify the power of collaboration and community-driven change. PVCC looks forward to honoring future recipients who demonstrate the same passion for improving the lives of others.