Community gathers to encourage and celebrate students.
Yolanda Yazzie has battled many challenges and hardships, but that did not stop her from reaching for a better life for her own family by making the decision to attend Coconino Community College. Her goal is to graduate from CCC, get a degree from NAU and land a career in the hospitality industry.
And the journey will be possible, in part, with the help of scholarships awarded through the CCC Foundation. Yazzie’s story was among other inspirational stories featured during the Students First Celebration at CCC, Sept. 13 at the Lone Tree Campus in Flagstaff. Also, during the celebration, Page Mayor Bill Diak was honored as a CCC Distinguished Service Award recipient for his tireless support of CCC and its mission.
“So, here I am,” Yazzie said to the audience of about 100 students, donors and supporters during the Students First Celebration. “I’m back in school. I’m a first-generation college student. I’m working full-time at a local public school and juggling my responsibilities of being a mom of two and a wife.”
She added, “But I am determined to earn my degree in Hospitality Management. If my life has taught me anything, it is that we are capable and deserving of anything we set out to achieve. So, again, thank you to all the donors and the Foundation, because these scholarships not only give us a step up financially, but they also give us a sense of accomplishment and reassurance for the perseverance we’ve been through in life.”
For the 2023 academic year, the CCC Foundation awarded $166,000 in scholarships to 126 students, said CCC Foundation Chief Development Officer Dianna Sanchez.
“Thank you to our donors and business partners who generously fund our scholarships, assisting our students in this important capacity,” Sanchez said. “Your support truly helps make our students’ dreams a reality.”
Finding the Courage to Return to Education
CCC student Nelson Allen, 32, shared his story of feeling lost after personal tragedies that occurred in his 20s. At that time, he left college. Returning 10 years later was a challenge, he said. “My first day in class, I was not only scared, but I had this sense of false identify, like I didn’t belong here. After talking with my best friend and my mom, I was given advice: ‘You made it this far, what’s wrong with going a little further?’”
He said his dream is to become a journalist and to work in the media. “My professors inspired me to push myself and to grow. I hope and pray I inspire my classmates to do the same.”
Allen received the Mary Jo West Excellence in Communication Scholarship Award and the Banjo Billy Scholarship for Underserved Native American Students. He thanked his mom, Grace, who attended the ceremony with him, his professors and advisors, his bosses and the scholarship founders.
“It is often said that education is the great equalizer. However, for many students, college isn’t even considered due to the costs involved,” said CCC President Eric Heiser, Ph.D. “Our donors are driven by this realization and have consistently made sure that the cost of an education is never a barrier for a willing student.”
Heiser added that he is grateful for the support of the college’s donors through the CCC Foundation to ensure that all students have access to a high-quality education, regardless of their life circumstances.
“We’re reminded of just how life-changing our scholarships can be each year as we celebrate with our donors and our scholarship recipients,” said Dr. Heiser. “If anyone ever questioned whether their dollars made a difference, attending just one of these events would be absolute confirmation that they did, indeed, change a student’s life for the better.”
Page Mayor Honored for Distinguished Service
During the Students First Celebration, Page Mayor Bill Diak, a CCC graduate himself, was honored for his commitment to the college.
The award, given each year, “recognizes individuals who have affected or substantially contributed to a major accomplishment for the benefit of CCC and to the educational enrichment of the district residents.”
In a letter to Mayor Diak, President Heiser stated, “As a graduate of Coconino Community College, you have been a strong advocate and supporter of CCC and higher education. You have lived the story of a CCC workforce degree, following a successful career path after completion.”
Dr. Heiser listed, among Diak’s efforts on behalf of the college, the ongoing work of a private-public partnership to develop student housing at the CCC Page Center.
“Your continued voice in the planning process has provided great insight, and the project is moving forward through support from the City of Page and the belief that housing will benefit CCC students and the Page community,” Dr. Heiser wrote. “We are proud of the word ‘Community’ in our name, especially because of community partners like you. We are grateful for your service to the college and your willingness to enrich the lives of the students we serve.” FBN
By Larry Hendricks, FBN
For more information about the CCC Foundation, or to donate to scholarships, visit www.coconino.edu/foundation.
Photo Caption: Coconino Community College student Nelson Allen and his mom, Grace, shed tears of joy during an emotional ceremony in which he recounted the struggles he faced to get back to school. Cheering him on were Mary Jo West Excellence in Communication Scholarship founders Bonnie Stevens and Mary Jo West and last year’s recipient Emily McKenzie.
