Students who represent a variety of disciplines and five different campuses and centers awarded the prestigious All-Arizona Academic Team scholarship for 2021 | Two from the Verde Valley
Yavapai Community College announced in a January 14 press release that seven students representing a variety of disciplines and five different campuses and centers earned the prestigious All-Arizona Academic Team scholarship for 2021.
The transfer scholarship allows a Yavapai Community College student to transfer to an Arizona university of the student’s choice. The award is made to students who are academically successful and excel outside the classroom by leading or participating in community service activities.
The following are the students awarded the honor, according to the press release.
Gabrielle Baker
“Brie” is a Prescott Campus performing arts student who plans to transfer to an Arizona university in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in fine arts, with a concentration in performing arts. Her career goal is two-fold, both professional performance and art education. Brie was named YC’s Outstanding Student in the Performing Arts last year, is an Honors student and member of PTK. Her extra-curricular activities include serving as a living history interpreter at Sharlot Hall Museum, serving as president of YC’s performing arts club and acting in Shakespeare plays with Laark Productions.
Jennifer Bergstad
Jennifer graduated from YC’s nursing program in fall 2021. She studied nursing at YC’s Verde Valley Campus, where she served as the president of the Student Nurses Association. She plans to continue her nursing education at Arizona State University and ultimately become a psychiatric nurse practitioner in the Verde Valley. Jennifer was a member of the YC Students of Leadership 2021 cohort, was a member of PTK and was awarded the Jewish Community Foundation’s Pathways to Careers scholarship.
Anna Componovo
Anna is an animal science student at YC’s Chino Valley Agribusiness and Technology Center. She plans to transfer to the University of Arizona to pursue an agriculture degree with an equine emphasis. Her career goal is to be an equine nutritionist. Anna is a member of PTK and is a volunteer with Stepping Stones Agencies and Spring Ridge Academy. She is the recipient of the Deb McCasland Endowed Scholarship.
Justin Hysom-Call
A U.S. Navy veteran and Honors student, Justin is studying science at the YC Prescott Campus where he serves as a tutor in the Learning Center, is president of the Juggling Club, is a member of the PTK leadership team and PTK Honors in Action. He plans to continue his science studies at the University of Arizona Honors College. His career goal is to direct an independent research laboratory tackling marine rehabilitation and sustainability.
Erin Markham
Erin is a YC Verde Valley Campus Nursing student who is concurrently enrolled at Northern Arizona University and expects to earn her bachelor’s degree in nursing this fall. She aspires to a career in geriatric care. Erin is the founder and president of the Yavapai College Love for Our Elders chapter. She is a member of PTK and serves on the chapter’s Fun Run marketing team. She volunteers with Student Nurses Association blood drives and was named to the YC President’s List.
Justin Ritzenthaler
Justin is a pre-engineering student at YC’s Career and Technical Education Center and a member of the College Honors Program. He plans to study aerospace engineering at ASU’s Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering. His career goal is to work for NASA or SpaceX. Among other activities, Justin is a member of PTK, lifeguards at the YC Pool and is an organizer of the college’s Fun Run scholarship fundraiser.
Paul Schachtner
A U.S. Coast Guard veteran, Paul studies unmanned aircraft systems at YC’s Career and Technical Education Center. He plans to transfer to ASU and study conservation science enroute to a career tackling drinking water sustainability. Paul teaches algebra at AAEC High School, coaches the school’s mountain bike team and is a Prescott Valley performing arts construction volunteer. He was named CTEC’s Most Outstanding Aviation student in 2021 and is a member of PTK.
The Arizona Attorney General’s office announced January 20, 2022 that thousands of Arizona student borrowers are expected to receive over $54 million in debt relief because of the settlement of an eight-year-old lawsuit with Navient. Navient, once called Sallie Mae, was alleged to have used unfair, predatory, and deceptive student loan servicing practices. Navient has denied the allegations.
Yavapai Community College will reopen on Tuesday with in-person classes without any mitigation mandates. It does offer a series of recommendations that it encourages students and staff to follow. (See below)
As COVID-19 continues to surge throughout the state of Arizona, 
The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center reported on Thursday, January 13 that overall undergraduate enrollment in the United States in fall 2021 dropped 3.1 percent, or by 465,300 students, compared with a year earlier. The drop is similar to the decline in fall 2020. There has been a 6.6 percent decline in overall undergraduate enrollment since 2019.
On Wednesday, January 5 Yavapai Community College President Lisa Rhine announced the Covid-19 mitigation strategy for the spring semester. There are no mandates for masks or vaccinations for staff, faculty, and students — only recommendations. In her announcement Dr. Rhine stated that “The major change in the new CDC guidance is the reduction of quarantine and isolation times from 10 days to five days. This change is now reflected in the College’s COVID-19 operating manual and safety protocols.”
Yavapai Community College is urging Yavapai County residents to take the Campus Master Plan Survey that is posted on the Community College website. The survey will be used, it is thought, in preparing a capital development plan for the next ten years.
