Scholarship a tribute to the late Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe President

The Late Mr. Ernie Jones

On April 5, the family of the late Mr. Ernie Jones, Sr., along with board members from the Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe, joined more than 200 donors and scholarship recipients at the Yavapai College Foundation’s 9th Annual Scholarship Reception. Together, they honored Mr. Jones’ lifelong commitment to education.

To honor his legacy, the Yavapai College Foundation Board of Directors contributed $25,000 to establish the Ernie Jones, Sr. Endowed Memorial Scholarship at Yavapai College.

“Too often, the biggest obstacle between a student and collegiate success is a financial one,” said Paul Kirchgraber, executive director of the Community College Foundation. “This endowed scholarship is available to students in Yavapai County who demonstrate financial need, and it will create a lasting legacy in Ernie’s name by benefiting future generations of YC students.”

Scholarships named for two fallen Granite Mountain Hotshots:  Clayton Whitted Memorial Scholarship and Travis Turbyfill Memorial Scholarship

Yavapai Community College received two scholarships totaling $5,000 from the Prescott based Captain Crossfit owners, Michelle Blevins and Dave Franz, to honor two fallen Granite Mountain Hotshots: Clayton Whitted and Travis Turbyfill. “The funds will be used to  directly support firefighter education,” said Prescott Chief of Police, Debora Black. Chief Black initially approached the Community College about the scholarships. “Everyone agreed that the Yavapai College [scholarship] program was the best way to support students in our local community,” she said. The scholarships came from the money raised through the Captain CrossFit Granite Mountain Hotshot annual fundraisers.

“Fully-funded scholarships are incredible for students, especially those potential or current students that may not have been able to pursue a career in firefighting because of financial restraints,” said Yavapai College Fire Science Program Director, Ken Krebbs.

The Yavapai College Foundation  Fund Development Officer worked with Chief Black, Kristi Barton (widow of Clayton Whitted), and Stephanie Turbyfill (widow of Travis Turbyfill) to develop the two expendable scholarships.

Source: Prescott|eNews, Reporter Tim Diesch. Click here to read Mr. Diesch’s full account of the scholarship award.

College joins more than 200 other community colleges nation-wide in offering tuition free promise program to County residents

Yavapai Community College announced that it has initiated a tuition free scholarship program beginning in the fall 2019. In theory, every high school graduate seeking a two-year degree in Yavapai County could attend the Community College tuition free. The College goals driving the promise scholarship program are twofold: First, The College wants to increase its market for college bound students. Second, it wants to encourage students to complete and obtain a degree in a two-year period.

The new scholarship promise program has a specific  list of requirements. They include the following:

1. Students who graduate from a Yavapai County high school (nowhere else), regardless of their grade point average, are eligible for the program. Persons completing a GED are also eligible.
2. Students must complete their degree in two years, or the promise program will not apply to them. This means, according to the College, that they have the summer following graduation and the two years after that to take 60 credits and obtain their degree.
3. Students must be “Pell eligible.” This means they must maintain a certain grade point average and take a minimum of six course credits per semester.
4. The College noted that student tuition will in a large number of cases most likely be paid via a Pell grant. However, in those instances where the grant or scholarship fails to pay all of a student’s tuition, upon graduation the student will be reimbursed the out-of-pocket difference that was paid to the College. However, prior to graduation, the student must make up the difference. Graduation is a prerequisite.
5. The program will only pay for 60 credits.
6. The aviation program is excluded.
7. Nursing students, many of whom are considered tier 3 students, will have to pay the college for the additional tuition between tier 2 and tier 3. That money is not reimbursable by the College.
8. Students obtaining two-year certificates are not eligible for the program. This includes students in the career and technical education training program.

The 11 minute video clip produced by the Blog, which follows below, provides a detailed description of this program as it was outlined to the Community College Governing Board at its February meeting. The Community College is expected to provide greater details about the program before fall.

Inappropriate use of taxpayer money as East County residents benefit little and taxpayers fund the scholarships; Sigafoos rules issue raised during scholarship discussion last Tuesday can only be decided when budget is discussed

East County Yavapai Community College Governing Board members Deb McCasland and Paul Chevalier questioned at the February meeting the use of almost $600,000 in merit scholarships going to the College athletic team members.  Chevalier pointed out that 90% of more of the athletes are not from Yavapai County.  (The College argued only 80% were from outside Yavapai County.) 

Chevalier argued he was not against scholarships but was against using County taxpayer funds to support significant scholarships for outside Yavapai  County athletes. He said that in fact he was for more scholarships for all students. 

Chair Ray Sigafoos ruled that the question of the awarding of scholarship funds to out-county athletes could be raised at a future budget meeting; it could not be raised as a part of the discussion of scholarships on the February agenda.

Below is a short video clip containing the arguments made by Deb McCasland and Paul Chevalier.

25% Discount for seniors, 20% discount for full-time students taking 15 credits; those County grads going full-time and completing promise program may have entire tuition returned

The Yavapai Community College District Governing Board unanimously approved three scholarship proposals at its Tuesday, February 12 meeting.  The new scholarships will become available for the fall 2019 semester.

The new scholarships, according to the College, include:

• A 25% discount for senior citizens who are taking credit classes
• A 20% discount for any full-time student taking 15 credits per term. The courses must be completed on time. Currently, only 9% of the student body takes 15 credits or more.
• The launch of the Community College Promise Program that would allow for current high school and GED graduates from Yavapai County to have their tuition reimbursed upon completion of their desired degree. Among the requirements, students in this program must complete their degree in seven consecutive semesters with maximum reimbursement of 60 credits.

The scholarships are not available to part-time students (except for seniors) taking credit courses. According to the College data, part-time students made up 77% of the student body in 2018-19. The scholarships are also only available to County residents.

Dr. Lisa Rhine, when reflecting on the scholarships, said that “With the rising cost of postsecondary education across the country, it has become tougher for people to be able to attend college and receive the education that they deserve.  These new scholarships will bring higher education within the reach of many more Yavapai County Residents while incentivizing timely degree completion.”

Dr. Clint Ewell, Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services, commented that “the Senior Citizen discounts are a great way for us to say thank you for supporting the College.”

Two students from Verde Valley; two students from West side of Mingus receive scholarships

Four Yavapai Community College students have earned prestigious 2018-2019 All-Arizona Academic Team scholarships.  The scholarships enable them to continue pursuing their academic and career dreams tuition-free at any Arizona university. The four honorees are:

Shanandoah Sterling of Sedona; Amanda McCloud of Cornville, Ashlynn Bice of Prescott Valley, and Kiva Keith of Prescott.

The scholarships were awarded by the Arizona Board of Regents from nominations submitted by a local committee that reviewed applications based on three things: academic achievement, leadership, and community service. The All-Arizona Academic Team winners will be recognized at a statewide celebration in late February 2019.

Denise Woolsey, director of the Community College Honors Program and advisor to Phi Theta Kappa honor society, said each of the All-Arizona Academic Team honorees represent a cross section of the student population.  “Shanandoah is a returning student, Amanda is a working mom pursuing a degree as an example to her children.  Ashlynn and Kiva chose college over other opportunities. They are all very motivated and all four give back to the community above and beyond their school work and work obligations,” she said.

Yavapai Community College students pursuing academics or career training perform well every year in the All-Arizona Academic Team scholarship competition, Woolsey said. “Having recipients each year shows a commitment to quality education and the support we give to our students to thrive in an academic setting.”

Information about the winners (as provided by the Community College):

Ashlynn Bice. Ms. Bice is an aspiring pediatric trauma physician. She plans to transfer to the University of Arizona and major in biology en route to a medical degree.  She works as an emergency medical technician for Lifeline Ambulance and as a yoga instructor. She is  also a volunteer for Teen Maze and is a peer mentor. She is a member of both CHP and PTK and was named to the President’s List.

Kiva Keith. Ms. Keith plans to transfer to the University of Arizona College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture, ultimately earning a graduate degree in sustainable design. She looks forward to a career in architecture or city planning. Kiva organized the college “Warm for winter” charity drive and is a volunteer with the YC emergency food pantry. She is also a member of both CHP and PTK and a recipient of an academic honors award.

Amanda (Mandie) McCloud. Ms. McCloud plans to pursue degrees in history and linguistics from the University of Arizona College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. She aspires to one day teach history at the high school or college level. She serves as a writing and history tutor at the YC Verde Valley campus Learning Center and is a member of Phi Theta Kappa. She was also named Outstanding Student in History and Humanities at the Verde Valley campus.

Shanandoah Sterling. Ms. Sterling plans to transfer to Northern Arizona University and eventually pursue a master’s degree in English and a certification to teach English as a Second Language. She aims to one day teach English to children and adults internationally. Currently she is a volunteer ESL teacher at the Sedona Public library. She is also vice president of Phi Theta Kappa and the English Club at the Verde Valley campus and served on the Community College presidential search committee.

Endowed scholarship to assist underemployed, non-traditional students  

Yavapai Community College announced it has established a “Yes You Can” scholarship fund in honor of Dr. Penelope Wills, outgoing president.  By mid-December, contributions to the endowed scholarship had exceeded $50,000.

According to the College, the scholarship will support underemployed, non-traditional students “in need of learning or upgrading their job skills in order to move into a well-paying, family-sustaining career.”  Contributions to the scholarship fund are welcomed and can be made online at the following web site: www.yc.edu/onlinegiving.

Continues six-year tradition of creating scholarships for Yavapai County nurses and radiologists; Valley residents Jordan Lewis and Roberta McLain among recipients

Over the past six years, 100 students accepted into the Yavapai College nursing and radiology programs have received financial assistance from the Community Healthcare Scholarship started by the Jewish Community Foundation. The goal of the scholarship is to create a local pool of qualified professionals in the healthcare industry.

The scholarship program is supported by donations from The Yavapai College Foundation, the Jewish Community Foundation, the Margaret T. Morris Foundation, Yavapai Regional Medical Center, the Harold James Family Trust and Prescott Radiology Group.

In an interview with reporter Torrence Dunham of  SignalsAz.com of September 5, 2018, Jordan Lewis, a recipient of a fall 2018 scholarship who lives in the Verde Valley, said he is pursuing a nursing degree and applied for the scholarship opportunity. According to the interview, he answered four questions asked in essay format discussing his future plans and involvement in the community.

“As soon as I read that, I was full of energy,” Lewis said, adding he texted his friends who also got the scholarship as well. “It’s a huge blessing in my life and it’s a good experience to know that the other three . . . are also getting the same chance to have their nursing school paid for.”

Once Lewis completes the program, the goal is to help the Verde Valley where he has lived for 15 years. “It will be good to stay in the Verde Valley and take care of the people I know because I know a lot of people through being there for that amount of time,” Lewis said.

Another recipient, Roberta McLain, lives in Cottonwood, and told reporter Dunham that “it’s incredible what the donors have done for us, it’s very humbling.” “It just really engrains in me how special our community is.”

Nursing scholarship recipients: Alejandra Betancourt, Ryder Collins, Hannah Haywood, Jordan Lewis, Joel Marsh,  Madison Martell, Angela Mazon, Roberta McLain, Tayler Rezzonico, Melanie Tortorello.

Radiology Technology recipients: Jovan Alaniz, Elizabeth Blake.

You may read Mr. Dunham’s article in full by clicking here.