“We are a community college,” Verde Valley Campus Dean Dr. Irina Del Genio said. “It is important that we remain connected to our community.”
Dean Del Genio
Yavapai Community College’s Verde Valley Campus announced in a press release on September 12, 2024, that it is already preparing for its second annual Wine and Wags event as part of its open house program. The inaugural event, held Thursday, August 8, successfully combined the Campus Open House with the Wine & Wags celebration.
For a $25 admission fee, attendees could access the College pavilion, where they enjoyed live music, a glass of wine, and a charcuterie boat. Alternatively, guests could choose to relax outside near the pavilion and listen to the live music.
The event featured programs on dog grooming and pet photography plus an opportunity to adopt an animal from the Verde Valley Humane Society. In addition there were efforts to inform residents and potential students of the academic opportunities and scholarships offered at the Campus.
The event also raised $2,000 for the Verde Valley Humane Society, according to Dean Irina Del Genio. In the press release, she emphasized the college’s commitment to community, stating, “We are a community college, and it is important that we remain connected to our community.”
The Yavapai Community College District Governing Board will hold its first public meeting since May 2024 at the Rock House on the Prescott Campus on Tuesday, September 24. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. and will run an estimated three hours. It will be live-streamed on YouTube.
In a press release, Pima Community College announced that its enrollment had increased for the seventh consecutive semester, making it the first Arizona community college to release data on fall 2024 enrollment. As of now, Yavapai Community College has not issued a report on its fall enrollment figures.
It is noteworthy that the 2024 men’s soccer team roster has not yet been posted on the Community College’s athletics website (
Yavapai Community College alumnus Stefan R. Sanford’s “endangered species” exhibit will be shown at the Community College’s Prescott Campus gallery September 18-23. According to a Community College press release written by Michael Grady, the series of “digital paintings of endangered animals with information about each one – sprang out of Sanford’s MFA Thesis presentation. `Many animals are leaving our earth and will soon be gone if we do not get poaching and illegal hunting under control.’ As part of his thesis project, Sanford wrote and illustrated two children’s books designed to introduce kids to conservation. `B. A. C. K. is my motto for these books – Be A Conservation Kid!’ Sanford’s thesis has been downloaded for research throughout the world and published by Liberty’s Scholars Crossing this summer. The books will be part of an upcoming series, with the first two – on the African Elephant and the African Rhinoceros – due out soon.”
The University of Arizona announced in a news release that its statewide enrollment has increased, highlighting a 19% growth from Coconino County and a 3% increase from both Maricopa and Pima counties since 2023. Additionally, the University reported a 75% rise in Yavapai County enrollment but did not provide any explanation for this significant jump.
The decision to close down the Student Café on the Verde Valley Campus was made by Yavapai Community College’s Prescott based Executive Leadership Team (ELT). The Yavapai Community College Sedona/Verde Valley Campus Dean is not formally included among this group of decision makers. 
The Yavapai Community College Foundation reported that it had raised a total of $50,000 because of District Governing Board member Ray Sigafoos’ $25,000 30-day matching grant donation challenge. The funds will go to help with scholarships and operations of the Del E. Webb Family Enrichment Center (FEC), which is located on the Prescott Campus.