Conscious Aging
Wednesday, Nov. 6, 13, 20, Dec. 4, 11
1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
We’ll focus on the philosophy, skills, and practice needed to become a wise elder, with lecture, readings, guided meditations, group activities and discussions.
Conscious – Learn more and register!
Cultivating Happiness: Practices for a Positive Mindset
Wednesday, Oct. 2, 9, 23, 30
5:15 to 7:45 p.m.
Explore and expand your authentic path to a richer, happier life. Dive into happiness science and learn practical methods to boost your well-being.
Happiness – Learn more and register!
AI for Everyone: The Basics
Tuesday, Sept. 3, 10, 17, 24, Oct. 1, 8
5:30 to 7 p.m.
Get comfortable using free AI tools to increase your business or personal productivity and creativity.
AI – Learn more and register!
FLAGSTAFF — Coconino Community College’s nursing program recently celebrated the achievements of two of its graduates, Jennifer Swomley and Joseph McIntire. Each brings a unique background and a personal story of dedication to the nursing field, reflecting both the diversity and the challenges of modern healthcare education.
Jennifer Swomley, 27, moved from Colorado to Flagstaff in 2021, drawn not only by personal relationships but also by the strong reputation of Coconino’s nursing program. Initially interested in becoming a firefighter, influenced by her friends in the emergency services, Swomley’s career path took a pivotal turn after her experiences on an ambulance crew. These experiences exposed her to the realities and complexities of medical care, sparking a new passion for nursing. “I was drawn to the depth of patient interaction and the broader scope of care I could provide as a nurse,” Swomley explained.
Intermediate Watercolor
Monday, July 8 and Tuesday, July 9
12:15 – 5:30 p.m.
This class is for intermediate watercolorists. Learn techniques through demonstrations and guidance to help you plan and create successful compositions.
Watercolor – Learn more and register!
Comet Walk – Wildfire Risk Reduction at Home – FREE
Saturday, June 1
9 – 11 a.m.
Learn how to better adapt to living in fire-prone forests with hazardous fuels reductions and home hardening techniques.
Wildfire – Learn more and register!
Conscious Aging
Monday, April 8, 15, 22, 29
1:30 to 3 p.m.
The class will focus on the philosophy and skills needed to become a wise elder through life review and harvesting, finding meaning and purpose, and leaving a legacy.
Aging – Learn more and register!
FLAGSTAFF — Two Coconino Community College students, Grace McCullough and Carly Miller, have been nominated for the All-Arizona Academic Team as part of the All-USA Scholarship competition sponsored by Phi Theta Kappa.
Each year, the Arizona Board of Regents provides tuition scholarships to exceptional Arizona resident community college transfer students, based on outstanding academic performance and community service.
Students are nominated by their community college and submit their applications directly to the Phi Theta Kappa International Honorary organization. Scholarships cover resident tuition at any Arizona state university.
Your Financial Education
Tuesday, March 5, 19, 26, April 2, 9
5:30 to 7 p.m.
This five-week financial workshop will cover income taxes, estate planning, retirement, investing, and insurance.
Finance – Learn more and register!
MORE!!!
FLAGSTAFF — CJ Crowley stands in the CCC Commons posing for his picture – his demeanor is calm, cool and collected. Crowley, a 29-year-old native of Loma Linda, California, is known on CCC’s campus as a man of many lived experiences. In his words, “Everyone has a story maybe mine will resonate with readers. I hope it does. I want others to know that you don’t have to let past mistakes define you.”
Crowley’s journey began with a childhood marked by constant change, as his father, a minister in the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, led the family on a journey to various places. Eventually, CJ found himself in Arkansas, where he attended a Christian boarding school. It was there that he was invited to join the gymnastics team.
“I was a ground tumbler, and my favorite move was the full layout,” Crowley recalls, reflecting on his early days in gymnastics. He excelled in the sport, staying active and even playing basketball while gaining skills in gymnastics. His talents on the mat did not go unnoticed, and he was offered a gymnastics scholarship at Southwestern University in Texas. Crowley earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology, but he soon realized that the traditional 9-to-5 employment in his chosen career field was not fulfilling.
With a family background steeped in military service, including his father’s service during the Cold War and his brother’s tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, it was only natural that the military presented itself as a potential path.
Observing the Winter Night Sky
Tuesday, Jan. 16, 23, 30, and Feb. 6
6:30 to 8 p.m.
Locate and identify the sparkling gems of the winter night sky & learn how different telescopes work and how to use them.
Winter Sky – Learn more and register!
Metalsmithing for Jewelry
Saturday, Oct. 14, 21, 28
12 to 2:45 p.m.
Learn how to work with metal including torching, polishing, stamping, and soldering. Only 2 openings left!
Metalsmithing – Learn more and register!
FLAGSTAFF — Coconino Community College has received the largest donation in the college’s history to attract male high school students to higher education.
A private donor has offered the college $1 million per year for four years to achieve the goal.
“This transformational gift will allow us to blaze a new path forward and open the doors of higher education for students who may not have been considering going to college,” said Dr. Eric Heiser, President of CCC. “With the resources that this gift will provide, we will be able to focus specifically on those male students who have not re-engaged with community college since the onset of the pandemic.”
FLAGSTAFF — Yolanda Yazzie, a student at Coconino Community College (CCC), is not just pursuing an education; she’s forging a path from adversity to ambition, driven by a deep sense of purpose and a desire to give back to her community. Yazzie has dealt with abusive parents. With the foster care system. With poverty and hunger. Now, as a parent herself, she is committed to helping others, and she has dedicated herself to improving her life with a career in the Hospitality industry by embarking on a journey of education beginning at Coconino Community College.
Like many young Navajo children, she grew up facing the harsh realities of poverty and the burden of an unstable home environment marred by abusive parents. It was her aunt who stepped in as a guiding light, raising her alongside her own children.
September programs…starting soon!
Comet Talk: Adventures of a 1901 Toledo Steam Car
Monday, Sept. 18
6 to 7 p.m.
Learn More
Reading and Composing Poetry
Tuesday, Sept. 19, 26, Oct. 3, 10
5 to 6:30 p.m.
Learn More
A Jungian Journey to the Creative Self
Wednesday, Sept. 27, Oct. 4, 11, 18, 25
5 to 7:30 p.m.
Learn More
String Art Workshop at CCC’s Page Center
Wednesday, Sept. 27
6 to 8:30 p.m.
FLAGSTAFF — The formal investiture ceremony for Coconino Community College President Eric Heiser, Ph.D., will take place at 2 p.m., Friday Sept. 29.
“I’m excited to serve as the sixth president of Coconino Community College and to be a part of CCC’s newest chapter,” Dr. Heiser said. “As Coconino County’s community college, we know the vital role we play in providing an educated and skilled workforce to our community partners, and we take our role seriously.”
FLAGSTAFF — Coconino Community College received a $750,000 grant from the Lowe’s Foundation to help grow the college’s Construction Technology Management programs.
CCC was one of 10 colleges nationwide chosen as recipients of the Lowe’s Foundation Gable Grants program. The program is a five-year, $50 million commitment by Lowe’s to help prepare 50,000 people for skilled trades careers. This year’s recipients were awarded nearly $8 million in grants to help bolster skilled trades training infrastructure.
“We’re incredibly honored to have been selected as one the first-ever Gable Grants Recipients from the Lowe’s Foundation,” said CCC President Dr. Eric Heiser. “This gift will allow us to build our already growing Construction Management program and allow us to add even more students to the high-demand, high-wage field within Flagstaff and Coconino County.”
FLAGSTAFF — Business, accounting and economics are his passions.
Degree in hand and his future in his sights, Coconino Community College alum, current student, accounting intern, and student affairs representative Cole Catron is set to move forward in his higher education journey.
“I always wanted to do something with my life,” Cole said. “And I want to make significant contributions to society. Opportunity has always been my biggest motivator for wanting to pursue college.”
Awakening Your Creative Spirit
Wednesday, July 12, 19, 26
3:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
Learn to jumpstart your creative process, whether you are just starting out with artistic expression, experiencing art block, or want to rejuvenate your journey of self-development.
Awakening Your Creative Spirit – Learn more and register!
FLAGSTAFF — The scenario is all too common: Some students struggling to make ends meet and who qualify for federal financial aid still don’t quite have the funds to completely cover the cost of their tuition. To those students, such a barrier is hard, if not impossible, to overcome.
Coconino Community College makes those students a promise: The college will cover the difference.
The Comet Promise program helps eligible students pay for their education by covering the cost of tuition when federal grants fall short. The program aims at helping remove economic barriers to offer a pathway for CCC students to complete their certificate or degree.
Digital Photography Basics
Tuesday, July 11, 18, 25, and Aug. 1
4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Learn foundational skills and find the joy in photography! This course will be an introduction to digital photography. Participants need to bring their own DSLR camera.
Photography – Learn more and register!
Promises made, promises kept by your community college.
One year after the passage of a primary property tax reset for Coconino Community College, CCC has made significant progress in following through on commitments made to the voters of Coconino County. Of the several programs and initiatives promised by the increase in the primary property tax rate to Coconino Community College, many of them have already been implemented or are in process.
“To date, we’ve fulfilled nearly 75 percent of the items we noted on the ballot initiative,” said CCC President Eric Heiser, Ph.D. “And guess what? We’re not done yet. We have many new and exciting career and technical education programs and courses in the pipelines.”
FLAGSTAFF — The CCC Commons stands empty. The echoes of cheering and clapping fill the once lively room. It was Friday, May 12, 2023, when CCC graduates walked across the stage, decorated in their finest graduation regalia, proud of their accomplishments and ready to take on the future ahead.
One of the students who graduated this spring is Shelly Foster. After an educational journey spanning about 10 years, she is finally ready to make her next big leap into university territory. However, getting there was not straight or without its challenges. Life has a way of throwing up obstacles, and being a young mom, she was no stranger to having to work hard and make sacrifices to provide for her family.
Coconino Community College student Horizon Gillson is working his way toward a degree in astrophysics.
So, he jumped at the chance to attend the Arizona Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges conference in Flagstaff on April 7 because the featured speaker was Dr. Gerard van Belle, an astronomer at Lowell Observatory.
“I went to get a grasp on the vast opportunities in astronomy and astrophysics,” Gillson said. “I’m trying to burrow down deeper into what I want to do. That’s why I’m here. It’s a reminder of what’s to come, what’s expected and what I can do. It’s been eye-opening.”
Gillson, currently in a Calculus I class, was notified by his professor of the conference, and he joined dozens of math instructors from community colleges across the state to listen to Dr. van Belle and attend breakout sessions throughout the day.
DIY – Mountain Bike Repair
Friday, June 2 and
Saturday, June 3
2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Learn essential mountain bike repair skills and what tools you should carry for trail-side repairs.
Mountain Bike – Learn more and register!
Tami-Shae Brooks is a student at Coconino Community College who moved from Jamaica to the United States as a teenager. She faces challenges such as immigration issues, financial difficulties, and demanding courses, but she also finds support and community at her school. She works hard to balance her academic and personal life, and enjoys hobbies such as mindfulness exercises, yoga, and hiking. She hopes to achieve her career goal of becoming a software engineer.
Tami-Shae Brooks was born in Montego Bay, Jamaica, a place that has and will always be a home to her. But when she turned 15, her family made the difficult decision to move to the United States. It was a big change for her, and she felt culture shock in her new life in California.
“The transition was very exciting because many people outside of America think of it as the land of opportunity” she said, “however, it was still stressful to adjust.”
“I didn’t see anyone doing it, so I felt like it needed to happen,” said Colin Denny, who provided a sign language performance at this year’s Superbowl. “We need someone to take the reins to make changes in a positive way and give back to the community.”
Denny is referring to the preservation of North American Indian Sign Language, which was the topic of a presentation at Coconino Community College in Flagstaff on March 24. More than 40 people attended the presentation.
David Cassidy, a student at Coconino Community College, is one of 20 college students named to the prestigious All-USA Academic Team and will receive a $5,000 scholarship. More than 2,400 students were nominated nationwide for the award.
“It is an honor, a profound honor, and it was very unexpected,” said Cassidy, who also is one of CCC’s two All-Arizona Academic Team scholarship awardees who were honored during a ceremony in Phoenix last month. “It means that I have the opportunity to receive an education and to pursue a career that will enable me to contribute as meaningfully as possible.”
All-USA Academic Team members were selected for their outstanding intellectual achievement, leadership, community and campus engagement, according to information from the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, which recognizes the academic achievement of students at two-year colleges like CCC.
FLAGSTAFF — The pandemic dashed her family’s plans for a post-graduation trip to Europe, but she remains undeterred in her desire to travel the world.
Now CCC study abroad trip will give Kat Williams the chance. The trip, organized by faculty member Katie Schwartz, will focus on culture, meaning no language prerequisite is required. Students will have the chance to visit several iconic destinations, including the capital of Mexico, La Ciudad de Mexico or Mexico City, the Teotihuacan Pyramids, the capital of the Aztec Empire Xochimilco, and the Frida Kahlo Museum.
Williams said, “I heard about the study abroad trip to Mexico from my Spanish teacher, Katie Schwartz, and others in the class seemed eager too.”
Mom, mental-health advocate, and self-described vintage curator, Callee Torrey is no stranger to the art of juggling. This mama can now add marathon runner to her title. Even more impressive, running the 26.2 miles for the first time all the while having to balance breastfeeding her baby. She literally stopped at mile 13.1 to breastfeed her baby and still managed a respectable time of (6:02) hours. She is unstoppable. This month’s HERstory is a celebration of motherhood and a testament to the strength and resilience of women.
Stress Management
Monday, April 3 and 17
4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Join a discussion about the neuroscience of trauma- and stressor- related disorders, and adaptive interventions. Zoom option available.
Stress Management – Learn more and register!
Two Coconino Community College students – Maize Pratt and David Cassidy – have been recognized for the prestigious 2023 Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) All-Arizona Academic Team Scholarship.
The scholarship provides free tuition for 60 credit hours at the recipient’s choice of one of the three state universities: Arizona State University, University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University.
A transplant from the west coast, Pratt came to Sedona, Arizona for a mindfulness-based program.
“Having gone to four previous community colleges, I was looking at CCC to save some money before going to NAU,” Pratt said.
Pratt said he plans to use his new scholarship money toward a Business Management degree from NAU and is currently exploring different career paths through internships.
She may be half a world away from her home in Argentina, but Pamela Espíndola is at Coconino Community College doing what she loves:
She’s teaching students Spanish.
“My job here is to work as a cultural ambassador and to help with the courses to have students learn a foreign language,” she said.
Espíndola is a Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant for Spanish courses taught at CCC, and she is the fourth one that the college has been graced to receive said Katie Schwartz, Spanish faculty at the college who supervises the FLTAs.
“This is a big deal for CCC because we can’t pay to help with living expenses,” Schwartz said, adding that the organization, International Institute of Education, helped create a grant with the U.S. Department of Education to make a Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant for CCC a reality. In fact, the first FLTA at CCC shared having such a positive experience at the college that all the subsequent FLTAs have been possible. CCC’s FLTAs have come from Argentina, Columbia and Mexico so far.
Due to considerable snowfall amounts in the Flagstaff region, the Meet and Greet event for Coconino Community College President Dr. Eric Heiser originally scheduled for tonight, Thursday, March 2, will be rescheduled for a later date in April.
Dr. Eric Heiser has scheduled Meet and Greet events throughout Coconino County in communities that CCC serves in order to listen to what matters most to the residents of those communities when it comes to what they need from their community college.
Future events scheduled for March 8 in Flagstaff, April 4 in Williams and April 13 in Page.
FLAGSTAFF — Ana Roman met and became best friends with Montserrat “Montse” Rodriguez when they worked together at a Flagstaff restaurant. Rodriguez needed help studying for her United States citizenship exam that she was preparing for, and Roman was happy to help.
After Rodriguez passed her citizenship test with flying colors, the two young women continued taking English Language Acquisition for Adults courses in the Adult Education program at Coconino Community College. Successful in their studies, they were awarded a grant that allowed them to take a course at the college free of charge.
They chose ENG 101A, and they both passed their first official college course, and now the two are considering continuing down the college path.
“I was so scared,” Rodriguez said. “We were with students so young, so bright, who spoke English their whole lives. This class has taken me out of my comfort zone. This is a first step.”
Coconino Community College student Charmayne Yazzie still remembers walking into the Page Center to take her first class in more than a decade after high school.
“At first, I was a little embarrassed,” Yazzie said. “I was worried I wouldn’t do well.”
From Leupp on the Navajo Nation, Yazzie worked two jobs to help support her partner and their three children. She needed for something to change.
So, she enrolled in CCC’s Summer Bridge courses, which were created with the help of a $2.5 million Native American Serving Non-Tribal Institution grant from the U.S. Department of Education. As part of the Strengthening Indigenous Student Success program at CCC, funded by the grant, Native American students are eased into the college experience by taking a foundational English 101A course along with a College Success course.
Small in stature, but big in strength, grit, determination and resilience, Lena Cody stands tall and proud in her graduation cap and gown.
Motivated by the prospect of a pay increase at her job as a case manager for a social service agency at the age of 51, Lena enrolled as a part time student at Coconino Community College in the fall of 2017. At the same time, she gained guardianship of her 3-year-old grandson, Princeton. Lena said she knew she had a lot on her plate – going to school, working full-time and raising a young child as a single woman – but she was determined to make it work.
In her 2018 essay for her English 101 class, “You Can Smile in the End,” she wrote about growing up poor in an overcrowded mobile home, enduring domestic violence, rape, and raising three boys on her own as a single parent. Hardened by life, she learned to not depend on anyone.
“I felt like I was thrown to the wolves, and I needed to survive the hardships,” she said.
Observing the Winter Sky
Tuesdays: 1/17, 1/24, 1/31, 2/7
6:45 – 8:15 pm
Locate and identify the sparkling gems of the winter night sky!
Winter Night Sky – Learn more and register!
A home away from home.”
That was the phrase mentioned by multiple students when asked about what the Native American Success Center (NASC) means to them. With the smell of good food in the air, the sound of laughter, and being surrounded by friends and family, it was hard not to feel at home.
On the evening of Nov. 15, 2022, Coconino Community College hosted the Grand Opening of the Native American Student Success Center at the Lone Tree Campus. The event was attended by over 100 people including; students and their families, tribal leadership and education representatives, and College faculty, staff, and leadership. The NASC serves as an academic and cultural resources center for Native American and Alaskan Native students attending Coconino Community College. The NASC is a part of the Strengthening Indigenous Student Success Program (SISS), a new program at CCC that enhances the services and opportunities provided to Native American students.
The blue and white building stood tall and impressive. The signature emblem “H” hung over the glass doors. The front entrance was lined with new Honda models; shiny and ready to hit the road. General Manager Jacob Lundie and his newest hire Daniel Rojas a towering young man with the biggest smile stand in the grand foyer of the auto dealership on Flagstaff’s east side.
Lundie and Rojas met on September 7, 2022, at the Coconino Community College Student’s First Celebration. The event, put on by the CCC Foundation, serves as an opportunity for scholarship donors to meet and celebrate scholarship recipients. Rojas, a student speaker at the event, accepted the Distinguished Service Scholarship, given each year in honor of the Distinguished Service Award recipient, which was awarded to Robby Findlay of the Findlay Automotive Group.
Lundie said, “Daniel gave his speech and I just remember thinking how great it was to see him get out of his comfort zone and deliver a speech to all of his peers and faculty at his new school.” Lundie was so impressed he offered Rojas a job with Findlay.
Coconino Community College has joined the ranks of becoming an affiliate of the Bee Campus USA program. The program helps gather the strengths of educational campuses like CCC for the benefit of pollinators, and the college joins other cities and campuses across the country to improve their landscapes for pollinators.
“CCC’s students, faculty and staff are champions for sustainable environmental practices,” said Dr. Christal Albrecht, Interim President. “Becoming a Bee Campus USA affiliate is a natural fit for our college located in beautiful northern Arizona.”
After a short delay, the Coconino Community College Automotive Technology program is back and ready for students beginning Monday, Oct. 24.
“CCC’s Automotive Technology has grown in the year since it started,” said Provost Dr. Nate Southerland. “When our instructor backed out right before the start of the semester and we had to suspend the program, we were heartbroken. We are thrilled to be able to get back up to speed and look forward to serving the students whose plans were disrupted at the beginning of the semester.”
The cost of living in Flagstaff made the process of hiring a full-time faculty member for the program a challenge, and the program was forced into a holding pattern until a full-time faculty member could be found.
Lucas Giannetti wanted to continue to learn and to grow in the construction trades. He also wanted to land an internship with a local contractor. He also wanted to start his own business doing finishing work on homes.
He found all three at Coconino Community College.
Giannetti learned many construction skills from his father.
“Throughout my childhood, we worked together on home improvement projects on our home,” Giannetti said, adding that although he had basic skills, he didn’t see construction as a viable option due to pressures from school counselors and his parents to pursue a four-year degree. He found a program in Environmental Science in North Carolina – primarily because he loves the outdoors – but while in the program and looking at jobs in the field, Giannetti realized he wouldn’t be able to afford to pay back the debt of a four-year degree.
So, he left university and began traveling the country and getting jobs in the trades.
“I felt like my learning was slowing down,” Giannetti said. “I wanted to expand my opportunities for learning.”
Learn How to Get Involved and Become an Engaged Citizen. By Avery Xola, Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission — Tuesday, October 11, 6:00-7:00 pm
Hayley Burns, runner for the Coconino Community College Cross Country Comets, nabbed first place during the Women 5K Run at the Mesa College XC Jamboree on Saturday, Oct. 1.
Respectable showings among the women’s and men’s teams positioned CCC with a third-place berth for the women’s team and a fifth-place finish for the men’s team, who bested Phoenix College, ranked 20th in the nation. Currently, CCC’s women’s team is ranked seventh in the nation among community colleges.
“The men’s and women’s teams have shown great growth over the season, and we plan on continuing that trend heading into the championship portion of our season,” said CCC Comets Head Coach Craig Hunt. “We have had some tremendous performances already this season, but I believe our best is still ahead of us.”
You just graduated from high school in Coconino County, and you’ve been thinking about college or career training. You know you like working with computers, but you’re unsure of the next move.
CCC’s participation in a new career-orienting service, called Pipeline AZ, can help.
Juanita Tarango, Director of Student Success at CCC, said Pipeline AZ is a statewide effort to help students figure out their professional futures.
“If a student doesn’t know where to start, Pipeline AZ will provide that assistance and give them ideas on what fields they may want to go into,” Tarango said. “It’s truly a pipeline to getting the job they want. It’s a virtual one-stop shop for students.”
They will undergo drills and inspections. They will take classes and be put under extreme stress.
The purpose: To achieve a level of professionalism in policing that meets the needs of the communities of northern Arizona. Beginning Oct. 3, 13 recruits will undergo 21 weeks of training at the newly established High Country Training Academy at Coconino Community College.
“CCC’s goal is to partner with the local community to train people who live in Coconino County for jobs in Coconino County,” said Dr. Nate Southerland, Provost for CCC. “We are so grateful to our local law enforcement agencies for being the driving force behind this new program and providing the personnel needed to make it successful.”
Southerland also said that with CCC and local agencies working together, they can generate new interest in law enforcement careers and keep the community’s talent in the community.
The Coconino Community College District Governing Board is pleased to announce that they have selected three finalists for the presidency of the College. Public forums with each of the finalists are scheduled for the week of Oct., 3, 2022.
“We would like to thank all of the communities served by the College for your continued interest and support in the process to identify our next President,” said Dr. Nathaniel White, Board Chair. “I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all members of the Board Presidential Search Committee for their exceptional work and effort.”
People of all ages, adorned in cowboy boots, belt buckles and jeans filled the high-commotion area of the barns at this year’s Coconino County fair. The sounds of hair buzzers and vacuums fill the hot, dusty summer air as young people parade their animals in a counter clockwise direction at the best in show event.
Coconino Community College student Andrea Yazzie is at the county fair in hopes of selling Jeff, her prized sheep. Jeff is well proportioned, buzzed down to the skin with the exception of natural wool leg warmers, which were extra fluffed and ready for show.
“Over the summer, I sold two steers and one goat to help pay for my tuition,” Andrea said, adding that she hoped Jeff could sell for about $10 a pound at the fair auction which would go towards additional living expenses while she attends classes at CCC at the Page Center.
Ana Roman met and became best friends with Montserrat “Montse” Rodriguez when they worked together at a Flagstaff restaurant. Rodriguez needed help studying for her United States citizenship exam that she was preparing for, and Roman was happy to help.
After Rodriguez passed her citizenship test with flying colors, the two young women continued taking English Language Acquisition for Adults courses in the Adult Education program at Coconino Community College. Successful in their studies, they were awarded a grant that allowed them to take a course at the college free of charge.
They chose ENG 101A, and they both passed their first official college course, and now the two are considering continuing down the college path.
“I was so scared,” Rodriguez said. “We were with students so young, so bright, who spoke English their whole lives. This class has taken me out of my comfort zone. This is a first step.”
Roman said, “I pushed myself to that goal. I never thought I’d be able to get to this point.”
Flagstaff’s City Hall offices at 211 W. Aspen Ave. will be closed Sept. 5, 2022 in observance of Labor Day. City Hall offices will reopen Sept. 6, 2022.
City of Flagstaff facilities that are also closed on Labor Day include:
East Flagstaff Community Library (3000 N. Fourth St.)
Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library (300 W. Aspen Ave.)
Hal Jensen Recreation Center (2403 N. Izabel St.)
Joe C. Montoya Community and Senior Center (245 N. Thorpe Rd.)
The Coconino Community College District Governing Board approved agreements to begin a police academy and to start working on a partnership among community colleges in northern Arizona to share resources in order to better serve students.
During the Aug. 17 meeting, CCC Provost Dr. Nate Southerland presented an Oct. 3, 2022, start date for the first police academy at the college after possible program approval by the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board. The police academy will start off as non-credit, but after curriculum approval, the program will give recruits credits to apply toward associate and higher degrees.
Southerland then shared information with the board on an agreement in the works with Northland Pioneer College, Mohave Community College and Yavapai College to share resources to better serve students in northern Arizona. Among the items discussed would be the sharing of courses and other services to extend a more robust level of service to students in the region. Talks are ongoing and intergovernmental agreements are planned for the near future.
The curriculum is set. The syllabi are prepared. Classroom space is ready, thanks to the generosity of a local auto dealership.
Unfortunately, the cost of living in Flagstaff has made the process of hiring a full-time faculty member for the Coconino Community College Automotive Technology program a challenge. As a result, CCC’s Automotive Technology program is being forced into a holding pattern until a full-time faculty member can be found.
“We know this program is critical to supplying the trained automotive technicians our community needs, and there has been strong interest from students, employers and community members,” said Dr. Nate Southerland, CCC Provost. “CCC remains committed to the success of our Automotive Technology program and is grateful for those who have made their facilities available to the College to help us deliver the program.”
During a recent tour, Coconino Community College students Nick Bartek and Erika Acuna showed employees of Desert Financial Credit Union and Foundation Board Members around the Fourth Street Campus. This location is where most of the college’s Career and Technical Education courses are taught, which gives students the skills needed to garner well-paying jobs quickly.
Bartek plans to continue his education at Arizona State University to study sustainable building practices. Acuna is working on her requirements to become a registered nurse.
“I learned so much here,” Bartek told the group. “I got the hands-on experience I needed, and I can’t thank CCC enough.”
“I’m the first generation in my family to go to college,” Acuna said, adding that she chose CCC because it was smaller, affordable, and offered her the space to excel in her studies.
Nevaeh Talkalai, gaze strong, spoke to her peers so that they might get to know her and she them.
“I’m urban Native,” she said. “I took pride in being Navajo after a racism event and created an anti-racism coalition. I was born in Fort Defiance and lived mostly in Window Rock growing up.”
She recently graduated from Northland Preparatory Academy in Flagstaff and plans on attending university in Michigan. Her goal: To be an advocate and a counselor for Native Americans.
Talkalai was among more than 40 students participating Coconino Community College’s inaugural Summer Bridge program, created as part a larger program devoted to “Strengthening Indigenous Student Success.” The purpose of the SISS program is to improve the success of Native American students attending CCC.
If it hadn’t been for the caring of a gifted teacher, Dr. Nat White might not have gone to graduate school and ended up an astronomer at Lowell Observatory.
He hadn’t been known for good grades during his educational journey, but his astronomy teacher, after watching White fix a telescope and love doing it, got him to be considered for a graduate program, and if he did all right in his coursework, the graduate program would consider him.
“His stepping out of the box to get this waif pointed in a direction that was useful made a difference in my life,” Dr. White said, and the rest has been his history.
The District Governing Board for Coconino Community College has selected Dr. Christal M. Albrecht to serve as Interim President while the search for a permanent president is underway.
Dr. Albrecht and her husband are in the process of establishing a temporary residence in Flagstaff and will be on campus in the next two weeks. Dr. Albrecht is recently retired after serving seven years as the president of Alvin Community College in Alvin, Texas.
“The Board found her experience, educational philosophy and enthusiasm met our exceptionally high expectations set by the legacy of Dr. Colleen Smith,” said Board Chair Dr. Nat White, adding that the selection was made after the Board reviewed the qualifications of four highly experienced candidates suggested by the Association of Community College Trustees, the college’s search consultant.
“I am honored to be selected as the interim president at Coconino Community College,” Dr. Albrecht said. “I can’t wait to get started. Although I will be with the college only a few months, my goals are to exceed the Board’s expectations and to ensure a smooth transition for the next president. Go Comets!”
Summer Art Series: Intro to Jewelry & Metalsmithing
July 11- 14, 2:30 – 5:00pm M – Th
Introduction to the basics of jewelry and metalsmithing with local Flagstaff artist, learning smithing techniques and embellishments for precious metals and stones for your own creative jewelry journey. Enroll today!
Learn more and register here
Located at CCC Lone Tree Campus in Flagstaff
Open Water Swimming with Mitch Driebe
TODAY, Thursday, June 16, 2022, at 4:00pm
This lecture is now online only via Zoom webinar
Imagine swimming from Alcatraz to the shores of San Francisco. Think you can do it? If you do… well, maybe you should tune into this lecture first. Learn about the elements of open water swimming and hear stories from Mitch’s experience.
Learn more and register here
