Construction. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning. Electrical. Plumbing. Flagstaff and Coconino County are struggling with the same issues facing the country: Not enough skilled workers are replacing the current workforce retiring out of their professions, not to mention the growth of the area, increasing the overall demand for skilled workers in the trades. Thanks to a $750,000 grant from the Lowe’s Foundation, CCC is aiming to help address that shortage by muscling up its skilled training … [Read more...] about Lowe’s Foundation Grant to Help CCC Students Develop Skills in Trades
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Scholarships Changing Lives at CCC
She’s dealt with poverty and hunger, abusive parents and the foster care system. 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. … [Read more...] about Scholarships Changing Lives at CCC
Welcoming CCC Comets to Fall Semester
As we embark on the fall 2023 semester, I am filled with a profound sense of gratitude and excitement. The energy on campus is palpable, and it’s not just the crisp autumn air. Our enrollment numbers are up, and it’s heartening to see so many new and returning faces eager to embark on their academic journeys at Coconino Community College. First and foremost, I want to extend a warm welcome to each and every one of you. Whether you’re a first-time student, returning after a hiatus, or … [Read more...] about Welcoming CCC Comets to Fall Semester
Honoring our Past by Focusing on our Future
My family and I have been so warmly welcomed to our new home in Coconino County, and I have been busy in my new role as the sixth president of Coconino Community College. My priority upon assuming the post was to embark on a wide-ranging tour of the communities served by CCC to get a better sense of what is expected of your community college. In essence, I came prepared to learn. That meant listening to students, faculty, staff, community members and leaders, alums, partners, champions and even … [Read more...] about Honoring our Past by Focusing on our Future
Community College: A Vital Link for Accessing Higher Education
At Coconino Community College, our dedicated faculty and staff realize that the journey of a thousand leagues begins with the first step, but for too many people, being able to embark on a journey in higher education is a daunting challenge. That’s why we say, “Start small. Go big.” Last month was Community College Month across the nation, and this month, hundreds of CCC’s students will receive degrees or certifications. Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone … [Read more...] about Community College: A Vital Link for Accessing Higher Education
Assessing Coconino County’s Education Needs
Five feet of snowfall aside, my first few weeks as president of Coconino Community College have been marked by the gratitude that I feel at the welcome I received from faculty, staff and the community. My family and I feel right at home. My focus these first couple of months is to meet with as many of CCC’s internal and external stakeholders as possible and to take a lot of notes to get a sense of the educational needs of our students and the communities we serve. I will then compile a report … [Read more...] about Assessing Coconino County’s Education Needs
New Year, New Horizons with CCC
The first snowfall of the season has donned winter’s white cap on the Peaks, and soon, students will be studying for finals before thoughts turn to home and the holidays. And then will begin a new year filled with possibilities. For Coconino Community College, that means I will step down as interim president and Dr. Eric Heiser will embark upon his path as the college’s sixth president. For the faculty and staff, that means a sea of fresh new faces to help navigate through educational … [Read more...] about New Year, New Horizons with CCC
Touching the Future through Scholarships
Emily McKenzie has been giving a voice to matters important to her community since she was in elementary school. As a fifth grader, she collected signatures from her classmates and petitioned the school board to put a salad bar in her school’s cafeteria. The board agreed with her case. From then on, lunchtime became a bounty of fresh lettuce, tomatoes, carrots and cucumbers. As a teen, McKenzie studied Human Rights Watch, a powerful non-government organization that seeks to investigate … [Read more...] about Touching the Future through Scholarships
Policing, Affordable Housing, Community College Collaboration: CCC Helping with Community Needs
Fall has arrived. The air is crisp. The leaves are changing to yellows, reds and browns, and students at Coconino Community College are deep into their studies for the semester. As interim president for the college these few months, I am quite amazed to see the passion of the faculty and staff in their dedication to help meet community needs and students’ dreams for their futures. To that end, partnerships, as I have learned, have been a cornerstone of CCC’s efforts, and I would like to spend … [Read more...] about Policing, Affordable Housing, Community College Collaboration: CCC Helping with Community Needs
Sowing Seeds
In the tranquility of a late spring Flagstaff morning, Dr. Ralph Oliver Raymond would walk the land and and toss out dandelion seeds. “He wanted to make sure there were plenty of dandelions so that those who didn’t have a lot of money could pick them and receive nutrients from the tea they could make from the stems,” said long-time Flagstaff resident Billy Cordasco. Dr. Raymond, by all accounts, was a quiet, deeply caring family doctor who raised sheep, had a great love for the land and … [Read more...] about Sowing Seeds
