ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS CONTINUE T0 RISE; ALMOST $200,000 MORE SPENT IN 2017 THAN IN 2010

WILLS ENAMORED WITH CHAMPIONSHIPS; COLLEGE SPENDS ALMOST $600,000 ANNUALLY TO RECRUIT OUTSIDE-COUNTY STUDENT ATHLETES

There is little doubt that President Penelope Wills is enamored with having championship softball, baseball, soccer and volleyball teams. In fact, in data obtained by the Blog via a public records request, the Community College reports that it spent $598,052 in scholarships for athletes it recruited in 2017.  This compares with a total award to athletes of $405,170 back in 2010 ($192,882 more in 2017).

Based on a roster analysis, the almost $600,000 went to students 95% of whom were residents of communities outside Yavapai County, outside Arizona and occasionally outside the United States.  Moreover, these scholarships appear to be taking up around 75% of the available institutional scholarships (those financed by taxpayers) given out by the College.  Somehow, that seems unfair to County taxpayers and County high school graduates who find it difficult, if not almost impossible, to land a slot on any one of the four teams.

Data such as that obtained by the Blog can only be obtained by a Public Records request.  The annual published budget, which once listed scholarships (until 2012) and other athletic department expenses, no longer contains that detailed information.