Paradise Valley Community College (PVCC) has named Cynthia Rojas Rangel, Daniel Avila, and Steven Slugocki as its 2026 Outstanding Alumni Award recipients, recognizing their professional achievement, commitment to service, lifelong learning and continued engagement with the PVCC community.
“We are so proud to honor this year’s Outstanding Alumni for their many educational and professional accomplishments. They embody the PVCC spirit and are exceptional role models for our students following in their footsteps,” said Becky Barndt, alumni program coordinator. This year’s recipients represent three distinct journeys shaped by resilience, leadership and a shared commitment to giving back to future students.
From PVCC to the Air Force Academy and Harvard
For Daniel Avila, the recognition represents both gratitude and a full-circle moment. More than six years ago, Avila was a full-time PVCC student balancing coursework, a second job, and recovery from an athletic injury. At one point, he nearly dropped out.
“PVCC was the seed, and the rest is what grew from it,” Avila said.
Encouraged by Honors Program Director Dr. John Douglass to stay enrolled and continue pursuing his education, Avila graduated from PVCC in 2020 before earning an appointment to attend the United States Air Force Academy. He later graduated as a top member of the Class of 2024 and will complete a Master in Public Policy degree this year from the Harvard Kennedy School.
Avila credits PVCC with preparing him academically and personally for the rigorous environments he would later encounter. “At both the Air Force Academy and Harvard Kennedy School, the standards for academic preparedness are incredibly high,” he said. “PVCC taught me what great community looks like while also preparing me to exceed expectations academically.”
Today, Avila remains closely connected to the college through classroom visits, speaking engagements and mentorship opportunities with current students.
Creating a Village of Support for Students
For Cynthia Rojas Rangel, supporting students is deeply personal. A first-generation college student, Rojas Rangel understands firsthand the uncertainty many students experience while navigating higher education. She said those experiences inspired her passion for helping students feel supported, seen and connected throughout their college journey.
“It takes a village to raise a child, but it takes a community college to raise a graduate,” Rojas Rangel said, reflecting on the many mentors who shaped her experience at PVCC.
Rojas Rangel graduated from PVCC in 2021 with her associates in art, then from Northern Arizona University in 2024 with a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies in Applied Human Behavior. She recently completed the Linda B. Rosenthal Mentor Program, continuing her growth as a mentor, leader and advocate for students. Rojas Rangel credits PVCC mentors including Ana Chandler-Magana, Ivette Quintero, Dynorah Harries, Mike Ho and Sheena Mata with helping guide her educational and professional path.
“My message to students is to seek out their village,” she said. “There is a community of amazing people who want to see them succeed.”
A Lifelong Puma Advocate
Nearly 20 years after attending PVCC, Steven Slugocki still proudly calls himself a Puma.
Slugocki earned associate degrees in arts and general studies at PVCC before continuing his education at Arizona State University, where he studied political science. Today, he works in banking while also serving as a senior advisor on Secretary of State Adrian Fontes’ ongoing reelection campaign.
“I have such immense pride in being a Puma,” Slugocki said. “PVCC was not just a small stepping stone, it had a major impact on me both personally and professionally.”
Slugocki said PVCC helped him develop responsibility, independence and confidence during a critical transition period after high school. He also remains a strong advocate for community colleges and the access they provide to students who may not otherwise see higher education as possible.
“Everyone deserves a chance to succeed in life,” he said. “Community college makes higher education available to everyone.”
Over the years, Slugocki has remained engaged with PVCC by regularly participating in business and career panels, sharing professional insight and mentorship with current students following similar career paths.