Funds for these scholarships were provided by seven community partners who have created a $1.1 million dollar endowment

The Yavapai Community College Foundation has awarded twelve two-year full tuition scholarships to students in the College’s  healthcare program. Ten of the scholarships went to nursing students and two of the scholarships were awarded to radiologic technology students.

 According to the Foundation, this brings the total number of healthcare scholarships awarded over the years to 135. In this program, there is  a student completion rate of 92% and a 100% student pass rate on licensing examinations.

Ninety percent of the students in the healthcare program remain in the immediate area to practice in their chosen health care field.

The endowment for these scholarships, which was established in 2012,  has to date raised $1.1 million in donations from the Community College’s  seven community partners: The Jewish Community Foundation; YRMC; Margaret T. Morris Foundation; the Harold James Family Trust; Prescott Radiology Group; and the Fain Signature Group.

Traditional graduation pinning ceremony December 13 on Prescott Campus at Performing Arts Center

Forty-eight future nurses gathered December 13 for a traditional graduation pinning ceremony at the Yavapai Community College  Performing Arts Center on the Prescott campus. (Blog was informed that at least 13 are from the Verde Valley.) The nursing graduates also celebrated with a lamp lighting and recitation of the Florence Nightingale pledge. In the pledge, the graduates commit to “be loyal to my work and devoted towards the welfare of those committed to my care.”

 President Dr. Lisa Rhine described the graduates as “the cream of the crop” and said, “I hope that one day one of you will be taking care of me.” She  also urged them  to pay attention to their own health and wellbeing. “Caregivers often neglect themselves because of the loving nature of their hearts to help others first. It’s only when you are at your best that you can perform at the highest levels and give your best to others.”

Dr. Barbara Durham, nursing faculty guest speaker for the pinning ceremony, reminded them their education doesn’t end with a degree. Rather, a nurse’s skills are honed with each patient cared for, she said, adding, “The wisdom you will gain from years of clinical practice will be profound.”

The following is a list of the Fall 2019 Yavapai Community College  Nursing Program graduates: Jennie Aldridge, Erin Archer, Yesenia Ayala Flores, Sierrah Baker, Anjerrica Bard, Charmaine Benallie, Tracy Bosick, Samantha Boyd, Tigone Cain, Derek Casper, Justin Durham, Shantel Fawcett, Jessica Fitzgerald, Trina Talolo Fortner, Dean Futrell, Nicole Goldberger, Maria Gonzalez Solorio, Michelle Hernandez, Stacy Hill, Anna Maria Kaufman, Maria Kircher, Ann LeMmon, Flor Long, Katie Marmole- jo, Samanta Miller, Karen Namanny, Ronald Nashert, Mirian M. Nelson, Kirsten Nodzon, Maria Ortiz, Becky Paloutzian, Emma Parsons, Nicole Pleasant, Erin Reed, Courtney Rez- zonico, Tori Rezzonico, Jazmyn Ro- darte, Vanessa Rodriguez, Wendy Simmons, Jessica Skvarek, Lauren Smith, Kelsey Swope, Joanna Timlick, Peter Trevino, Desiree Vivar, Chanell Watt, Ashlee Wilier, Irina Wren.

Source:  Verde Independent, December 22, 2019.