Paradise Valley Community College proudly celebrates Honors students Jeremy Walk and Catherine Nguyen for their outstanding academics and community service, earning them a spot on the 2025 All-Arizona Academic Team and a two-year scholarship to Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University or University of Arizona.
Walk and Nguyen, who were first recognized at the All-Arizona Academic Team Reception Luncheon in Mesa last month, recently received scholarship awards in recognition of their dedication to leadership, scholarship, and community impact; Walk earned Second team honors, receiving a $750.00 scholarship, while Nguyen was named to the Third team, earning $500 in scholarship funds.
Each year, All-Arizona Academic Team applicants must demonstrate academic excellence and detail a service project they have completed that positively impacts PVCC or the greater community. Final selections are made through an adjudication process that may include interviews with a college committee.Walk and Nguyen were among 68 Phi Theta Kappa students from throughout the state with grade point averages (GPA) of 3.50 or higher, in good academic standing working towards an associate degree and involvement in campus or community volunteerism.
Walk, who is an advocate for Social Justice and Housing Solutions, became passionate about social work, having overcome significant challenges himself, including time in the foster care system, to achieve academic and leadership success. The first-generation student maintains a 4.0 GPA while balancing full-time work and family responsibilities, and has demonstrated his commitment to social change through award-winning Honors research on housing insecurity. His work exploring the Housing First model as a solution to homelessness showcases his deep dedication to advocacy and policy change.
Beyond academics, Walk actively serves on college search committees and participates in community initiatives, reinforcing his mission to improve social services. With aspirations to pursue a graduate degree in clinical social work, Walk continues to make a meaningful impact on both campus and the wider community.
Nguyen’s journey to academic excellence began with immigrating to the U.S. from Vietnam and overcoming the challenge of learning English. As an adult student, mother of two young children, Nguyen holds a 4.0 GPA student in business and accounting, and has become a leader in business and community service, as well as leaving a lasting impact at PVCC and beyond.
During the pandemic, Nguyen demonstrated remarkable leadership and innovation by founding the "Help Protecting Arizona from Coronavirus" initiative, which raised $20,000 to produce and distribute 20,000 masks to frontline workers. She also volunteers as a Vietnamese teacher, ensuring younger generations maintain a connection to their heritage. With a goal of becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Nguyen exemplifies perseverance, leadership, and a commitment to serving others.
“Seeing the passion, resilience, and hard work of these students has been truly inspiring," said Brian Goegan, who is in his first year overseeing PVCC’s Honors Program. “I am deeply impressed by the dedication and achievements of the college’s students. Their commitment to excellence and service is a testament to what makes PVCC such a special community."
Are You an All-Arizona Candidate?
Criteria for the All-Arizona scholarship award includes:
- Strong academic background
- How a student uses what they’ve learned to give back to the community
When competing amongst local nominees, students are ranked in teams - first, second, and third. Arizona’s first team winners will go on to compete on the national level, at which additional scholarship monies will be awarded. Students are required to create an endeavor project – a community-based project that has a significant impact on how the competition is scored.
If you think you have what it takes, it’s never too early to begin thinking about your endeavor project and actively participating in your communities to determine what you want to achieve.
Students interested in this opportunity should start working on an endeavor project in their first year at PVCC. For more information, contact PVCC Honors program at 602-787-7888 or honors@paradisevalley.edu.