CCC — A quick word from the President

Even during this challenging period in our lives, Coconino Community College is making amazing things happen in Coconino County.

The semester is off to a great start, and even though enrollment may not be quite where it was before, faculty and staff across the entire district are working hard to help the semester be a great experience for our students.

I have discovered that our success lies in the teamwork taking place across the college through a virtual format, along with a new problem-solving perspective brought about by this pandemic. We cannot do things the way we have always done them, because so many things in our world are different and changing daily.

The District Governing Board members (elected officials from across the county who volunteer their time) have laid out some inspiring goals for the future of our college. These goals and college priorities can be found in the college’s new Strategic Plan that was approved by the District Governing Board. More than 80 participants from across the college and communities throughout the county helped craft the exciting and innovative priorities for the college that include, among others: student success, progressive business processes, being flexible and responsive to the communities we serve, strategic partnerships, and sustainability through responsible stewardship of economic, public and environmental resources.

Finally, the CCC Foundation, which is led by a very active board of directors, has developed ambitious initiatives in the areas of fundraising, alumni relations and community engagement.

All I can say is – What an exciting time to be at CCC with the District Governing Board setting the stage for a bright future.

Colleen Smith

The experience was really like trying to grab a small sip from a firehose at full blast.

When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down business across the state, organizations like the Coconino Small Business Development Center at Coconino Community College stepped into the breach to lend a needed hand.

“When the COVID-19 disaster started, it was just me and Amanda part time,” said Gina Couillard, Director of the Coconino SBDC, adding that Amanda Hyde moved to a full-time business analyst and operations specialist in short order to assist with the demand from local businesses.

Now, with the help of a $108,000 CARES Act grant, the Coconino SBDC will be growing the staff to include another full-time business analyst to help businesses weather the pandemic.

Lakeesha Todacheene received a Raymond Educational Foundation scholarship and a CCC Foundation scholarship to attend school.

She wants to become a Nurse. Her first two semesters, she paid out of pocket.

“It was a struggle,” she said, adding that the scholarships will help with tuition and basic needs.

“I want to thank them for helping me in a way that nobody else would,” Todacheene said.

This year, the CCC Foundation’s Students First Celebration will be held virtually on Friday, Oct. 23, beginning at 9 a.m. The fundraising event is meant to help support scholarships for students like Todacheene.

Each year, the event brings in residents from all over the county. Steve Peru, Executive Director of the CCC Foundation, said that although the pandemic has affected in-person attendance, he’s looking forward to a morning of wonderful “virtual” support for students who need scholarships to attend CCC.

Tickets are currently available. For more information, visit us here.

Coconino Community College student Andrea Clayton loves building things with her hands.

“I always think about building stuff,” she said during a recent Building Methods II laboratory session at the Fourth Street campus. “I didn’t want to be stuck behind a desk all day, so this is what I landed on.

Her youngest daughter recently graduated high school.

“I found myself with a little less responsibility and a lot more time on my hands,” Clayton said. “So, I decided it was a good time to go back to school.”

Her current plan is to finish her studies at CCC and then work on a bachelor’s degree in Construction Management from Northern Arizona University. After that, she plans to put in a couple of years at a local construction company, and, with any luck, strike out with her own little construction business.

She appreciates being in the lab.

“It doesn’t sink in the way it does when you do it with your own hands,” she said.