Author Archive for R. Oliphant

COMMUNITY COLLEGE GRADUATES 52 FUTURE RNS, PLUS FIRST GRADUATES WITH BACHELORS DEGREE IN NURSING

Considered a “milestone” in the nursing program

On December 13, Yavapai Community College celebrated the graduation of 52 nursing students at traditional pinning ceremonies held at the Jim and Linda Lee Performing Arts Center on the Prescott Campus. The event also marked a milestone for the college as it recognized its first cohort of students to complete the Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing.

In a press release, Yavapai Community College President Dr. Lisa Rhine described the ceremony as a “rite of passage,” honoring the nursing students for their “intense study, fortitude, diligence, and—as our graduates are well aware—sacrifice.” She also expressed gratitude to family members for “supporting and walking this journey with our students.”

The first recipients of a Yavapai College Bachelor’s degree in nursing are: Sirena Alvarez, Karen Black, Rhyann Davies, Michelle Diaz, Jennifer Doerksen, Amber Ewart, Shailee Hamm, Nicole M. Johnson, Starlett Morales, Aimee Olum, Emma Pundt, Aidan Raute, Gabriel Roybal, Jennifer Santoyo, Julia St. Pierre, Annalicia Stann, Nicole Welker and Clark White.

Following are the 52 student nurses and future RNs (following a national licensing exam) who earned associate of applied science degree in nursing at Yavapai Community College during the  fall semester: Alexandra Alvarado, Katie Anderson, Gianmarco Anzelmo, Emily Armijo, Courtney Bauer, Sheron Brown, Karissa Buchanan, Morgan Castillo, Katelyn Chapman, Clay Crane, Jordyn Cromer, Caitlynn Dickinson, Madison Dowell, Joey Farley, Raechel Ferguson, Jenna Fields, Holly Forsberg, Destiny Gilpin, Sarah Gregory, Alexis Haidet, Sada Hendricks, Cheyenne Hull, Noi Jackson, Adam Johnson, Ronnie Kohlhauer, Kendall Kunick, Jennifer Leibin, Matthew Mabbitt, Nicolette Maestas, Hailey Mayhan, Aiden McCarter, Haydee Mesta, Brad Milan, Justin Miller, Geri Mills, Audrey Norman, Alejandro Ocampo, David Podkowa, Chloe Polacek, AJ Purinton, Kaylee Rhodes, Patricia Robinson, Kyla Rolfes, Eric Ross, Alister Rothrock, Katelyn Schield, Anna Sharp, Christine Teague, Jennifer Thomas, Alyssa Wasil, Christopher Wengerd, James Youngblood.

 

SEDONA RED ROCK NEWS HIGHLIGHTS FREE SPEECH CONCERNS OVER YAVAPAI COLLEGE GOVERNING BOARD POLICY

Front- page story suggests that free speech provisions in the Constitution and state legislation permit elected Board members to discuss community college matters with staff and faculty and openly speak to the community about college issues that concern them because  it is in the public interest to do so

The Sedona Red Rock News published a front-page article on December 11, written by Tim Perry, that examines a controversial policy adopted by the outgoing lame-duck Yavapai Community College Governing Board at its November meeting, the last of the year. The article raises serious questions about whether the policy infringes on the rights of elected Board members to engage with staff,  faculty, and the public on matters of public interest.

The new “code of conduct,” passed by the lame-duck Governing Board 4-1, explicitly restricts individual Board members from communicating with college employees. The policy states: “Under no circumstances should an individual board member direct or contact by any means a staff member concerning a college or community issue. Board members will refer all of their concerns and constituent concerns via email to the president to resolve or answer.”

Additionally, the code stipulates that “Board members do not speak to the press in any way that reflects negatively on their colleagues or the college.”

The Sedona Red Rock News article suggests that such provisions may amount to a “prior restraint” on speech, a concept that is frowned upon under constitutional free speech protections and state legislation. Legal experts argue that in general elected officials have a right—and indeed a duty—to meet with constituents, including staff and faculty, to gather information that is voluntarily offered. Such interactions are widely regarded as being in the public interest, particularly in matters concerning public institutions like Yavapai Community College.

The article’s focus underscores ongoing concerns about transparency and communication between the Yavapai Community College Governing Board, the college community, and the public at large.

You may read the entire article by clicking here:  https://www.redrocknews.com/2024/12/11/ycc-president-attempts-to-seize-control-from-board/

TEN STUDENTS CELEBRATE COMPLETION OF RIGOROUS PARAMEDIC TRAINING PROGRAM

They  now return to serving their local communities as certified paramedics

In a news release dated December 16, 2024, Yavapai Community College (YCC) announced that ten paramedics have successfully completed the College’s rigorous training program and are now certified to serve their local communities. Many of the graduates are already affiliated with first-responder agencies such as the Prescott Fire Department, the Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority, the Copper Canyon Fire District, and the Groom Creek and Cottonwood Fire Departments.

Dr. Chris Lampe, an emergency room physician and Yavapai Community College’s EMS Medical Program Director, praised the graduates for their dedication and perseverance. “You completed a very difficult course while balancing full-time jobs and family responsibilities—that’s truly commendable,” said Dr. Lampe.

The graduates are part of Yavapai Community College’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) training program. EMS is a coordinated system that provides skilled pre-hospital care to individuals in emergency situations. While EMS is often recognized for its vehicles, helicopters, and frontline workforce, it represents far more than transportation to the hospital. It is an integrated system of emergency medical response that involves numerous highly trained professionals and agencies, prepared to handle any type of emergency, whether or not hospital transport is required.

Yavapai Community College offers four distinct pathways for students seeking to join the EMS field:

  • Associate of Applied Science in Paramedicine
  • Paramedicine Certificate
  • Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Certificate
  • Community Health/Critical Care Paramedic Certificate

YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE GOVERNING BOARD WELCOMES PATRICK KUYKENDALL TO REPRESENT DISTRICT 4

Deep roots in the community and decades of leadership and service experience

Patrick Kukendall

The Yavapai County Superintendent of Schools Tim Carter announced in a press release December 18  the appointment of Mr. Patrick Kuykendall to the Yavapai Community College District Governing Board. He will  represent District 4, which includes: North Prescott, Williamson Valley, Chino Valley, Paulden, Ash Fork, and Seligman.

Mr. Kuykendall is a lifelong resident of Prescott. He attended the Prescott Unified School District and graduated from Prescott High School. His father, a dedicated public servant, served multiple terms on the Prescott City Council and as Mayor from 2009 to 2016.

Mr. Kuykendall began his service to the nation by entering active duty with the U.S. Army in 1983, serving a four-year term. He later dedicated an additional 18 years to the Arizona Army National Guard, including a combat deployment in support of the Gulf War/Desert Storm. He retired from the military in 2005 with the rank of E-8, First Sergeant.

Following his military career, Mr. Kuykendall served as Executive Director of the California Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve under the United States Department of Defense. In 2016, he transitioned to working with the State of Arizona’s Department of Labor Jobs for Veterans State Grant program. His career continued with roles as the State Veterans Manager for Arizona and later as the Arizona Business Services Representative for Yavapai County. According to the press release, Mr. Kuykendall currently collaborates closely with the Yavapai Community College Regional Economic Development Center.

Mr. Kuykendall’s appointment follows the resignation of current District 4 Board Member Chris Kuknyo, effective December 31, 2024. Mr. Kuknyo will assume his new role as an elected member of the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors on January 1, 2025.

To fill the vacancy, County Education Superintendent Carter publicly posted the position and received applications from three qualified candidates prior to the deadline. Superintendent Carter relied on the support of a Candidate Review Committee composed of District 4 community members, including:

  • Craig Brown – County Supervisor and elected official for the area
  • Dan Burns – Taxpayer representative
  • Nicole Clower – Student representative
  • Megan Hanna – Faculty representative
  • Tyran Payne – Representative of economic development and first response entities

The committee reviewed candidate materials, prepared interview questions, and conducted evaluations, providing Superintendent Carter with its recommendations. Three finalists were interviewed on Monday, December 13, in Prescott, though one candidate later withdrew due to time commitment concerns.

Superintendent Carter further engaged the community by offering face-to-face meetings on March 16 in Prescott, as well as opportunities to communicate via phone or email. He consulted directly with current Yavapai Community College Governing Board members, college administration, and residents before finalizing the appointment. In his press release, Superintendent Carter expressed appreciation for the community’s participation and thoughtful feedback.

Mr. Kuykendall was officially sworn in at the Yavapai County Education Service Agency  on Tuesday, December 17, 2024. His term will conclude on December 31, 2026. Mr. Kuykendall has also indicated his intent to run for a full six-year term in the 2026 election cycle, which would commence in January 2027.

With his deep roots in the community and decades of leadership and service experience, Mr. Kuykendall appears well-positioned to contribute meaningfully to the Yavapai Community College Governing Board and District 4 residents.

THREE CANDIDATES COMPETE FOR YAVAPAI COLLEGE DISTRICT 4 GOVERNING BOARD SEAT

Citizens in District 4 may express their views to County Superintendent Tim Carter, who will make the appointment, by email at Tim.carter@yavapaiaz.gov, or meet personally for a 10-minute meeting between 9 am to 4 pm on Monday, December 16

There are three candidates vying to fill the remainder of outgoing District 4 Yavapai District Governing Board member Chris Kuknyo’s term, which expires December 31,2026. Their names were announced earlier this week.

Residents of District 4 can share their views with County Superintendent Tim Carter, who is responsible for making the appointment. They may email him at Tim.carter@yavapaiaz.gov or schedule a 10-minute in-person meeting on Monday, December 16, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the Yavapai County Education Service Agency, located at 2970 Centerpointe East, Prescott, AZ 86301. Meetings will be conducted on a first-come, first-served basis.

The three candidates, in alphabetical order are:

Mr. Alex Daniels of Chino Valley. Daniels is a 2017 graduate of Chino Valley High School. He holds an Associate of Arts degree in Cyber Security and Networking from Yavapai College. He completed his Bachelor of Applied Science degree at Northern Arizona University. He is an IT professional (Systems Engineer) for Yavapai County Government.

Mr. Henry Ebarb of Prescott. Henry is a 2005 graduate of Prescott High School. He also holds an Associate of Arts degree, in Business Administration and Management from Yavapai College and two Bachelor of Science degrees from Northern Arizona University, one in Music Theory and the other in Political Science. His Masters Degree is from the Thunderbird School of Global Management in Digital Marketing and Finance. He owns and operates several local businesses.

Mr. Patrick Kuykendall of Prescott. Kuykendall  is a 1983 graduate of Prescott High School. He entered the United States Army where he served four years and then another 18 years with the Arizona Army National Guard where he served a combat deployment in support of the Gulf War/Desert Storm. He retired in 2005 at the rank of E-8, First Sergeant. He has been serving veterans ever since, in several leadership roles.

Carter is expected to announce his decision on Wednesday, December 18.

COLUMNIST WARNS YAVAPAI COLLEGE’S NEW GOVERNING BOARD POLICY STIFLES MEMBERS’ FREE SPEECH

In Sedona Red Rock News Christopher Fox Graham calls the restrictions on Board members’ communication with faculty and staff unconstitutional, arguing they violate fundamental free speech rights

Christopher Fox Graham

In a November 29, 2024 opinion column, Sedona Red Rocks newspaper managing editor Christopher Fox Graham expressed alarm over a policy adopted by the lame-duck Yavapai Community College Governing Board. The policy restricts communication between elected District Governing Board members and any member of the Community College staff. Should such communication occur, the staff member may face disciplinary action, even if the interaction involves an innocent question related to the College’s operations.

In his column, Mr. Graham alleged that the College “doesn’t have a grasp of basic constitutional law, or it would not attempt to strangle free speech in the throats of faculty members who want to discuss legitimate issues with their duly-elected board members for the benefit of the taxpayers who elected them.”

He warned, “Hopefully the incoming board . . . will have the wisdom to shut down this policy before litigation by an offending faculty member leads to a costly lawsuit the college will certainly lose, costing taxpayers tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of dollars in legal fees that could be better spent on programs, facilities and student services.”

You may read his column found in the Sedona Red Rock News about  this issue by clicking here

FORMER GOVERNING BOARD MEMBER PAUL CHEVALIER SPEAKS OUT OVER EFFORTS TO SILENCE THE YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT GOVERNING BOARD

Says that since he left as the Third District representative to the Board (Sedona, most of Verde Valley) that the Community College leadership with west side majority support has sought to erode its  power. Will new Board in January alter  these policies?

Paul Chevalier

Opinion:  When I was on the Yavapai College Board for four years the subject of the college silencing the Board was brought up at least three times at meetings I was at by the administration but never as a Board action. Each time it came up I stated it was unconstitutional under both the state and federal Constitutions. The college then said it had instructed its management not to answer Board members questions and that was the end of the discussion.

Since I left, the college administration has eroded Board power continuously, all with the consent of the four Board members who live on the west side of our county. Only the east side member who replaced me opposed it.  Four members of the five member Board, with two of them being lame duck west side members in their final Board meeting, have now agreed (by resolution) for the Board to be almost powerless under the control of the President and her senior management, That is the opposite of Arizona legislative intent. The Board by law is supposed to govern the college administration not vice versa.

 Unless three members of the next or some future five member Board decide to end this unconstitutional resolution the Yavapai College Board will remain what it has become, which is a meaningless entity. I expect Board members will follow the resolution even though, I believe, it has no legal standing. We, on the east side, can expect practically no educational classroom courses for our residents from this administration which has broken promises it has made to improve it. The college administration will do whatever it feels like doing and it doesn’t feel like doing much in the way of classroom education for the east side residents. Moreover it is continually raising taxes for all county residents through the roof for land purchases that make no logical sense.

Paul Chevalier

Elected Yavapai College Board member representing the east side 2018 to 2022

MARICOPA COLLEGES ADDS THREE NEW BACHELOR’S DEGREES; WITH HLC APPROVAL MARICOPA NOW OFFERS A TOTAL OF 11 BACHELOR’S DEGREES

Maricopa has become one of Arizona’s first community colleges to offer a bachelor’s degree in Al and the third community college in the nation to do so

The Maricopa County Community College District has announced a new bachelor’s degree in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning after receiving approval from the Higher Learning Commission. This marks the latest expansion of artificial intelligence education in Arizona.

The three newly approved Baccalaureate Degree Programs are:

  1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (BS) at Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC),

  2. Business Administration – Accounting (BBA) at Paradise Valley Community College (PVCC), and

  3. Business Administration – Management (BBA) at Scottsdale Community College (SCC).

Chandler-Gilbert Community College is also home to an AI Incubator Lab, developed in partnership with Dell, Intel, and the State of Arizona.

The AI degree is a significant milestone, as it is the first of its kind offered by a community college in Arizona and only the third such program nationwide. With these additions, Maricopa County Community Colleges now offer a total of eleven bachelor’s degree programs.

COMMUNITY COLLEGE BEGINS ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN TO SELL HOUSING SPACE FOR HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS ON PRESCOTT CAMPUS AND PRESCOTT PINES AT YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE; OFFERS HOUSING FOR TEN STUDENTS AND/OR EMPLOYEES AT VERDE VALLEY CAMPUS

Housing and Residence Life team and Property Management team believe some student/employee housing will be available for Spring semester

Yavapai Community College has launched a new advertising campaign to promote student and employee housing options on its Prescott and Verde Valley campuses.

The Prescott campus offers both on- and off-campus housing, accommodating several hundred students and employees. According to the campaign, on-campus residence hall spots are expected to be available for the upcoming spring semester, probably limited to students. Additionally, the College highlights in its advertising the limited non-traditional housing availability at its newly acquired Prescott Pines property, purchased for $11 million, which can accommodate students and employees.

Meanwhile, the Verde Valley campus offers housing in a modest 10-space trailer park that is currently occupied by students and employees. When The Blog checked the trailer park’s availability in July 2024, the spaces were already at full capacity for the fall semester. At that time, the College reported that a waitlist is forming for January 2025. It appears that the trailer park could accommodate at least ten students if no employees took the opportunity to rent a space.

The College’s latest advertisement regarding housing is included below.

OUTGOING GOVERNING BOARD MEMBER KUKNYO CLAIMS 25% OF ATHLETES ARE LOCAL, BUT DATA SUGGEST OTHERWISE

Volleyball roster lists only one local player out of 17, with others hailing from Serbia, Brazil, and beyond. Men’s soccer and baseball teams also appear to fall short of the minimum local recruitment goals

During his resignation speech at the November meeting of the Yavapai Community College District Governing Board, outgoing Board member Chris Kuknyo made the following statement:

“When our sports teams had next to no local athletes, we said at minimum 25% had to be local, and now that’s so.”

A quick review of a handful of current athletic rosters suggests this claim is inaccurate.

For example, the Yavapai College volleyball team lists 17 players, but only one is from Yavapai County (6%). To meet the 25% target, at least five players would need to hail from the county. Instead, the team includes five international players, hailing from Serbia, Brazil, Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Poland.

Similarly, the 2024 baseball roster comprises 38 players, with only four (10%) from Yavapai County—far short of the 25% benchmark.

The 2024 men’s soccer team includes 26 players, of whom only three (11%) are from Yavapai County. To meet the stated goal, the team would need at least seven local players. Like the volleyball team, the soccer roster features a strong international presence, with players from Colombia, Australia, Canada, Spain, the Cayman Islands, and Mexico.

These figures indicate that Yavapai Community College athletics has not yet achieved the 25% local athlete goal cited by Kuknyo in his remarks.

You may hear Mr. Kuknyo’s statement taken from his remarks at the Board meeting  below: