Commencement is such a wonderful time to celebrate the achievements of our students with their families and friends, and with our colleagues across the college.
I enjoy telling people in all the communities served by CCC that “the story of our college is the story of our students.” They arrive at CCC and before long, they are graduating with newly discovered passion to continue their education at a four-year university, or with needed skills to enter the workforce, or with a rekindled sense of personal enrichment. This year’s graduates continue to represent the beautiful diversity of Northern Arizona and Coconino County. Here are our commencement speakers this year:
Natalie Rodriguez was born and raised in Los Angeles. She moved to Arizona in search of a great school with amazing professors and found both at CCC. A CCC2NAU student, Rodriguez is a psychology major minoring in anthropology. After she completes her studies at CCC, she plans on pursuing her bachelor’s degree in anthropology at NAU.
Naomi Adisa is originally from Sterling Heights near Detroit. She came out West to study sustainability. Naomi was looking at different programs and was impressed with CCC’s Alternative Energy Technology program. Her next steps are to transition to the University of Arizona to continue studying architectural engineering.
Meghan Belmares graduated from NAU in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and landed a career in Flagstaff in her field of study. In 2020, she returned to CCC to retake a class in American Sign Language that she had withdrawn from previously. The class led to a rekindled interested in ASL and she pursued a certificate in ASL and interpreting studies.
Kenneth James Carr was born in Ventura, California and was raised in Round Hill, Virginia, for most of his childhood. Kenneth graduated from Coconino Community College in fall 2021 with an applied sciences degree in fire science and as a firefighter/EMT at the Grand Canyon Fire Department. He is in the process of promoting from firefighter to engineer and aspires to become a paramedic. He is the proud father of 4-year-old Chase Race Carr.
Commencement is such a wonderful time to celebrate the achievements of our students with their families and friends, and with our colleagues across the college. I know how important it is for our students – you can see it in their eyes as they cross the stage. And that is what makes it important to me. So, it is with a heavy heart that I acknowledge this will be my last community college commencement ceremony before I retire from serving our students. Yet, my heart is full of joy knowing that I get to finish out my career at Coconino Community College – somehow, I must have saved the best for last!
I have enjoyed my tenure as CCC’s president more than you can possibly know, and I will deeply miss serving the communities of Coconino County. However, I know that our District Governing Board will select a new president who is passionate about the community college mission and who will serve our students and communities with dedication and a love of learning in the coming years.
And in the meantime, the work continues. In May, voters will decide whether to reset the primary property tax rate for Coconino Community College. In the coming months, a proposed student/workforce housing project will get underway on CCC property in Page. New academic, workforce and lifelong learning programs will continue to be added to CCC’s affordable quality roster of offerings to help our students achieve their educational and career goals.
I am certain CCC will move confidently into the future with strength, and I will make sure to keep track of the amazing achievements of our students as I step into this new phase of my life with my husband.
Be well, and … Onward! Náás! Adelante! FBN
By Colleen Smith
Colleen Smith is the president of Coconino Community College.
