CCC student Pearl Moore is studying accounting in order to move up in the medical-billing world. Courtesy photo.
FLAGSTAFF — When she introduces herself, she does so in the Navajo way. She is of the Red Running into the Water Clan, born for Bitter Water Clan, and her maternal grandfather is of the Yucca Fruit Clan, and her paternal grandfather is of the Manygoats Clan.
Pearl Moore is the first generation of her family to go to college, and she’s finishing her sophomore year at Coconino Community College. She wants to become an accountant. Originally from Black Mesa on the Navajo Nation, she now lives in Flagstaff.
“I decided to go back to college because the workforce pushed me to continue my education more,” she said, adding that scholarship help made the return to school possible.
She worked in a small clinic in Page doing medical billing, and she was at the top of where she could go – unless she had a degree. Moore moved to Flagstaff for more opportunity, and she hit the same ceiling. She needed a degree to continue moving up.
When her children became school aged, she had an opening to return to school. She had originally started going to CCC in Page, one class at a time. In Flagstaff, she decided to go full time to get it done.
At CCC, she’s working toward an associate degree in Accounting. Her future goal is to work for Indian Health Care for medical billing. If that doesn’t work, there’s plenty of need for accountants, she said and smiled.
Moore received a Raymond Educational Foundation scholarship, and the funds have helped her to focus on her studies full time, instead of taking one class at a time while she works a full-time job.
“The scholarship stepped in and paid for my classes, so it made it easy for me to go back to school and to continue with school,” she said.
The funds help with books, food and gas for her vehicle, too.
In her scholarship application essay, Moore stated, “As I continue to add more classes to my schedule, I am faced with a lot of challenges for a single parent at home, while my spouse has to work away from home because there are no closer jobs in his line of work.”
She added that she struggles daily to manage the schedules of her and her children.
“For me to go to school and struggle through hardship, it gives my children a chance to see what I am fighting for,” Moore stated. “I am always fighting for a better life, and to me, that is through my tradition and education.”
When her friends ask her if college might be a good choice for them, Moore said she prints out the scholarship list and sends it to them.
“I always tell them, ‘You won’t know until you try,’” she said.
Raymond Educational Foundation: Dr. R.O. Raymond founded the Flagstaff Education Foundation in 1952. A long-time supporter of residents in Coconino County, Dr. Raymond was known for generously helping with educational costs, providing free medical care and promoting health in the community. This two-year scholarship offers students $1,650 per year, totaling $3,300.
After Dr. Raymond’s death, the Flagstaff Education Foundation became the Raymond Educational Foundation in his honor. Since 1963, the Raymond Education Foundation has given more than $5 million to organizations such as Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff Unified School District, Flagstaff Family Food Center, National Hospice, and Coconino Community College.