Seven outstanding students from the Verde Valley and Northern Arizona share in over $10,000 in scholarships

The University Women of Sedona awarded over $10,000 in scholarships to seven outstanding women of Verde Valley and Northern Arizona. They are: Cynthia Rivera of Cottonwood, who is pursuing a career in Nutrition; Hayli Sizelove of Sedona, who is pursuing a career in Criminal Justice; Bertha Butler of Tuba City, who is pursuing a career in Nursing; Tiffany Burkhart of Flagstaff, who is pursuing a career Nursing; Emily Jane Aitken of Sedona, who is pursuing a career in Special Education; Colleen Lanssens of Flagstaff, who is pursuing a career in Hospice Nursing and Angela Saxton of Camp Verde, who is pursuing a career in Nursing.

The University Women of Sedona is a 43 year old Sedona organization, whose mission is to develop a fund to provide financial scholarships and support to women in furthering their educational opportunities to an accredited local college or university. All women holding an associate’s degree, RN, bachelor’s or higher degree from an accredited institution of higher education are invited to join University Women of Sedona. They meet the first Monday of every month at Christ Lutheran Church from October to June.
For more information about the University Women of Sedona, or to apply for a scholarship, go to: www.uwsedona.weebly.com or emailuniversitywmnsedona@gmail.com.

Creates a scholarship in his name

The Yavapai Community College Foundation honored former Prescott Valley Mayor Harvey Skoog at its 48^th annual meeting in May. It bestowed on him the Foundation’s “Community Service” award.  It also established a scholarship in his name.

The Harvey Skoog Business Scholarship will be awarded annually to a Yavapai County high school graduate enrolled in the associate of business degree program at Yavapai Community College. Individuals wishing to learn more about the Harvey Skoog Business Scholarship may call the Yavapai Community College Foundation at (928) 717-7619.

Scholarship a tribute to the late Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe President

The Late Mr. Ernie Jones

On April 5, the family of the late Mr. Ernie Jones, Sr., along with board members from the Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe, joined more than 200 donors and scholarship recipients at the Yavapai College Foundation’s 9th Annual Scholarship Reception. Together, they honored Mr. Jones’ lifelong commitment to education.

To honor his legacy, the Yavapai College Foundation Board of Directors contributed $25,000 to establish the Ernie Jones, Sr. Endowed Memorial Scholarship at Yavapai College.

“Too often, the biggest obstacle between a student and collegiate success is a financial one,” said Paul Kirchgraber, executive director of the Community College Foundation. “This endowed scholarship is available to students in Yavapai County who demonstrate financial need, and it will create a lasting legacy in Ernie’s name by benefiting future generations of YC students.”

Scholarships named for two fallen Granite Mountain Hotshots:  Clayton Whitted Memorial Scholarship and Travis Turbyfill Memorial Scholarship

Yavapai Community College received two scholarships totaling $5,000 from the Prescott based Captain Crossfit owners, Michelle Blevins and Dave Franz, to honor two fallen Granite Mountain Hotshots: Clayton Whitted and Travis Turbyfill. “The funds will be used to  directly support firefighter education,” said Prescott Chief of Police, Debora Black. Chief Black initially approached the Community College about the scholarships. “Everyone agreed that the Yavapai College [scholarship] program was the best way to support students in our local community,” she said. The scholarships came from the money raised through the Captain CrossFit Granite Mountain Hotshot annual fundraisers.

“Fully-funded scholarships are incredible for students, especially those potential or current students that may not have been able to pursue a career in firefighting because of financial restraints,” said Yavapai College Fire Science Program Director, Ken Krebbs.

The Yavapai College Foundation  Fund Development Officer worked with Chief Black, Kristi Barton (widow of Clayton Whitted), and Stephanie Turbyfill (widow of Travis Turbyfill) to develop the two expendable scholarships.

Source: Prescott|eNews, Reporter Tim Diesch. Click here to read Mr. Diesch’s full account of the scholarship award.

College joins more than 200 other community colleges nation-wide in offering tuition free promise program to County residents

Yavapai Community College announced that it has initiated a tuition free scholarship program beginning in the fall 2019. In theory, every high school graduate seeking a two-year degree in Yavapai County could attend the Community College tuition free. The College goals driving the promise scholarship program are twofold: First, The College wants to increase its market for college bound students. Second, it wants to encourage students to complete and obtain a degree in a two-year period.

The new scholarship promise program has a specific  list of requirements. They include the following:

1. Students who graduate from a Yavapai County high school (nowhere else), regardless of their grade point average, are eligible for the program. Persons completing a GED are also eligible.
2. Students must complete their degree in two years, or the promise program will not apply to them. This means, according to the College, that they have the summer following graduation and the two years after that to take 60 credits and obtain their degree.
3. Students must be “Pell eligible.” This means they must maintain a certain grade point average and take a minimum of six course credits per semester.
4. The College noted that student tuition will in a large number of cases most likely be paid via a Pell grant. However, in those instances where the grant or scholarship fails to pay all of a student’s tuition, upon graduation the student will be reimbursed the out-of-pocket difference that was paid to the College. However, prior to graduation, the student must make up the difference. Graduation is a prerequisite.
5. The program will only pay for 60 credits.
6. The aviation program is excluded.
7. Nursing students, many of whom are considered tier 3 students, will have to pay the college for the additional tuition between tier 2 and tier 3. That money is not reimbursable by the College.
8. Students obtaining two-year certificates are not eligible for the program. This includes students in the career and technical education training program.

The 11 minute video clip produced by the Blog, which follows below, provides a detailed description of this program as it was outlined to the Community College Governing Board at its February meeting. The Community College is expected to provide greater details about the program before fall.

Inappropriate use of taxpayer money as East County residents benefit little and taxpayers fund the scholarships; Sigafoos rules issue raised during scholarship discussion last Tuesday can only be decided when budget is discussed

East County Yavapai Community College Governing Board members Deb McCasland and Paul Chevalier questioned at the February meeting the use of almost $600,000 in merit scholarships going to the College athletic team members.  Chevalier pointed out that 90% of more of the athletes are not from Yavapai County.  (The College argued only 80% were from outside Yavapai County.) 

Chevalier argued he was not against scholarships but was against using County taxpayer funds to support significant scholarships for outside Yavapai  County athletes. He said that in fact he was for more scholarships for all students. 

Chair Ray Sigafoos ruled that the question of the awarding of scholarship funds to out-county athletes could be raised at a future budget meeting; it could not be raised as a part of the discussion of scholarships on the February agenda.

Below is a short video clip containing the arguments made by Deb McCasland and Paul Chevalier.

25% Discount for seniors, 20% discount for full-time students taking 15 credits; those County grads going full-time and completing promise program may have entire tuition returned

The Yavapai Community College District Governing Board unanimously approved three scholarship proposals at its Tuesday, February 12 meeting.  The new scholarships will become available for the fall 2019 semester.

The new scholarships, according to the College, include:

• A 25% discount for senior citizens who are taking credit classes
• A 20% discount for any full-time student taking 15 credits per term. The courses must be completed on time. Currently, only 9% of the student body takes 15 credits or more.
• The launch of the Community College Promise Program that would allow for current high school and GED graduates from Yavapai County to have their tuition reimbursed upon completion of their desired degree. Among the requirements, students in this program must complete their degree in seven consecutive semesters with maximum reimbursement of 60 credits.

The scholarships are not available to part-time students (except for seniors) taking credit courses. According to the College data, part-time students made up 77% of the student body in 2018-19. The scholarships are also only available to County residents.

Dr. Lisa Rhine, when reflecting on the scholarships, said that “With the rising cost of postsecondary education across the country, it has become tougher for people to be able to attend college and receive the education that they deserve.  These new scholarships will bring higher education within the reach of many more Yavapai County Residents while incentivizing timely degree completion.”

Dr. Clint Ewell, Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services, commented that “the Senior Citizen discounts are a great way for us to say thank you for supporting the College.”

Two students from Verde Valley; two students from West side of Mingus receive scholarships

Four Yavapai Community College students have earned prestigious 2018-2019 All-Arizona Academic Team scholarships.  The scholarships enable them to continue pursuing their academic and career dreams tuition-free at any Arizona university. The four honorees are:

Shanandoah Sterling of Sedona; Amanda McCloud of Cornville, Ashlynn Bice of Prescott Valley, and Kiva Keith of Prescott.

The scholarships were awarded by the Arizona Board of Regents from nominations submitted by a local committee that reviewed applications based on three things: academic achievement, leadership, and community service. The All-Arizona Academic Team winners will be recognized at a statewide celebration in late February 2019.

Denise Woolsey, director of the Community College Honors Program and advisor to Phi Theta Kappa honor society, said each of the All-Arizona Academic Team honorees represent a cross section of the student population.  “Shanandoah is a returning student, Amanda is a working mom pursuing a degree as an example to her children.  Ashlynn and Kiva chose college over other opportunities. They are all very motivated and all four give back to the community above and beyond their school work and work obligations,” she said.

Yavapai Community College students pursuing academics or career training perform well every year in the All-Arizona Academic Team scholarship competition, Woolsey said. “Having recipients each year shows a commitment to quality education and the support we give to our students to thrive in an academic setting.”

Information about the winners (as provided by the Community College):

Ashlynn Bice. Ms. Bice is an aspiring pediatric trauma physician. She plans to transfer to the University of Arizona and major in biology en route to a medical degree.  She works as an emergency medical technician for Lifeline Ambulance and as a yoga instructor. She is  also a volunteer for Teen Maze and is a peer mentor. She is a member of both CHP and PTK and was named to the President’s List.

Kiva Keith. Ms. Keith plans to transfer to the University of Arizona College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture, ultimately earning a graduate degree in sustainable design. She looks forward to a career in architecture or city planning. Kiva organized the college “Warm for winter” charity drive and is a volunteer with the YC emergency food pantry. She is also a member of both CHP and PTK and a recipient of an academic honors award.

Amanda (Mandie) McCloud. Ms. McCloud plans to pursue degrees in history and linguistics from the University of Arizona College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. She aspires to one day teach history at the high school or college level. She serves as a writing and history tutor at the YC Verde Valley campus Learning Center and is a member of Phi Theta Kappa. She was also named Outstanding Student in History and Humanities at the Verde Valley campus.

Shanandoah Sterling. Ms. Sterling plans to transfer to Northern Arizona University and eventually pursue a master’s degree in English and a certification to teach English as a Second Language. She aims to one day teach English to children and adults internationally. Currently she is a volunteer ESL teacher at the Sedona Public library. She is also vice president of Phi Theta Kappa and the English Club at the Verde Valley campus and served on the Community College presidential search committee.