AVONDALE, Arizona – Estrella Mountain Community College (EMCC), one of the ten Maricopa Community Colleges, will celebrate their largest-ever number of graduates at their nineteenth annual commencement ceremony on Friday, May 15, 2015.
This year’s more than 480 graduates and candidates will be represented by students from the fall 2014 through summer 2015 semesters. There is approximately 100 more students choosing to participate in this commencement compared to last year's ceremony.
EMCC has been focused on developing new initiatives over the past couple of years, such as the Student Success Fair, based on the theme of “I will graduate” to inspire students to personalize and “own” their individual academic and career goals.
The college’s motto of “Your success is our success” is more than words; it has been the driving force of the EMCC student experience. Students, faculty and staff have worked together to create a culture of success and caring, now and for the future.
The 2015 graduation theme, Teaching for Today. Learning for Tomorrow. Caring for a Lifetime., was selected in honor of the late Dr. Bryan K. Tippett, EMCC Vice President of Academic Affairs, who believed higher education should be more than just about teaching.
The EMCC Commencement Ceremony will be held on May 15, at 6:00 p.m., at the Renaissance Glendale Hotel, located at 9495 W. Coyotes Blvd., next to the Westgate Entertainment District in Glendale, AZ.
EMCC Commencement Keynote Speaker
The keynote commencement speaker is Harold Branch, an internationally recognized poet who performs spoken word around the world, as well as an entrepreneur and business trainer who has worked in the Phoenix community for more than 20 years.
Branch overcame the social and personal hardships of growing up in a disadvantaged Chicago neighborhood after losing both his parents as a young child. Concerned with issues affecting the global community, Branch works to foster a world in which all children can achieve success through access to learning, a safe environment and opportunity to reach their dreams.
As an artist, Branch has been featured on television and performed at global events including: the MTV documentary “Taking a Stand Against Violence: Warning Signs”; Woodstock ‘99; the Winter Olympics; touring with the Goo Goo Dolls and Sugar Ray; performing with Gladys Knight, Mos Def, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and many more; as well as numerous seminars and performances at schools, churches and conferences across the U.S. and Canada. Branch recently released his first book of poetry, “Finding My Way,” published by his own company, Alchemy Publishing.
In addition to his work as an activist and artist, Branch serves as regional vice president for Arizona for LegalShield. He is a graduate of Arizona State University and an alumnus of Estrella Mountain Community College, who has also received the Arizona Northwest Black History Committee Martin Luther King, Jr. Living the Dream Award. He is the proud father of two children, Harold IV and Ella.
EMCC Commencement Faculty Speaker
Luvia Rivera serves as Faculty Senate president and mathematics faculty at EMCC. With more than 13 years of teaching experience, she strives to improve learning for students in developmental education classes who are not adequately prepared for college-level coursework.
As a student herself, Rivera struggled with English and math. She empathizes with her students’ difficulty with math and works to make the subject accessible and relevant so that all learners can achieve success.
At the age of 7, Rivera emigrated to the U.S. from Mexico not knowing how to speak English. She overcame the obstacles of a second-language learner to become an advocate for learning for all. Rivera earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the University of Texas at Austin in Texas, and a Master of Mathematics Education from Purdue University in Indiana.
Rivera has dedicated herself to improving the Estrella Mountain and Maricopa communities through leadership and service including: EMCC re-accreditation team co-chair; faculty staffing chair; student mentor and peer mentor faculty; MCCCD Developmental Education Committee member; National Science Foundation grant co-chair; and Maricopa Association of Chicanos in Higher scholarship coordinator. She received the NISOD Award in 2009.
EMCC Commencement Student Speaker
Rafael Arriaga was selected as the 2014 Commencement speaker, representing the sentiments his fellow EMCC graduates.
Rafael Arriaga, a graduate of Sierra Linda High School, enrolled at Estrella Mountain in the fall of 2013. Like many new students, he had no idea what was about to happen in his life.
According to Arriaga, he was the complete opposite of what a “good” student should be during high school. Fortunately, with the support and encouragement of his family and friends, he finally realized that he needed to make a change and take life seriously.
When he started attending EMCC, he was uncertain about what he wanted to do, or even how to achieve in school.
“At first, I was really lost,” said Arriaga. “Every semester I had a different major, until I took a class from Stacy Moreno, and that changed everything.”
Moreno, a social work adjunct faculty member at EMCC, encouraged Arriaga to get involved in college leadership. That was just the beginning of his positive opportunities at EMCC. With all of the networks and friendships he developed as a student ambassador and active participant in campus life and clubs, he soon became a familiar face around the college.
Arriaga plans to transfer to the downtown campus of Arizona State University and begin his bachelor’s degree in the Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation, a part of the School of Community Resources and Development. His goal is to develop healthcare programs for low-income populations in urban and rural areas.
All-USA Scholars graduate with big honors and dreams
Two EMCC students, Monica LeMoine and Riana Jacquez, were selected for the prestigious 2015 All-Arizona Academic Team, which recognizes the top community college students in the state. LeMoine was further selected as a National Gold Scholar on the Coca-Cola 2015 Community College Academic Team. Both LeMoine and Jacquez received a full, two-year scholarship and tuition waiver to the choice of Arizona's three state universities. The Gold Scholar is the top honor and comes with a $1,500 scholarship and national recognition.
Jacquez will be graduating with her Associate of Arts degree in Elementary Education, and plans to attend ASU for her bachelor’s degree in Education, and ultimately receive a master’s degree. Her passion is to teach third-grade with a focus in Science and she will seek a job in an underprivileged school where she can help kids enjoy education and see their potential. She also wants to share her passion for helping others in need by incorporating service learning projects in her curriculum.
“I want to be a strong influence,” said Jacquez. “I want to help bring struggling schools up to exceed expectations, because better schools make better neighborhoods, better cities, and a better world.”
LeMoine was a stay-at-home mom for fifteen years, but after getting divorced she decided to redefine herself and return to college. Now, she will be graduating with her Associate of Arts degree and plans to continue her Registered Nurse (RN) career pathway and achieve a bachelor’s degree in Nursing. With her interests in fitness, global community service and critical care, LeMoine has aspirations of becoming a traveling or surgical nurse.
“As a single parent, I was scared of returning to college, but I found my motivation in my children, my volunteer work, and had big hopes for my dreams,” said LeMoine. “EMCC gave me the courage to accomplish great things and experience the freedom of my new world.”
More EMCC Grads share their student experience
“As a student with a cognitive disability, EMCC has provided the most amazing support to make sure I was successful. The Disability Resource Center and my instructors ensured that I had the best and proper accommodations. It was a challenge, but they turned what appeared to be a no-win scenario into a winnable one.” – William Marshall
"My mentors gave me aspirations to grow as an individual, they 'lead by example' and taught me to do the same. Recognizing the importance of mentorship has been the most important part of my success as a student and as a person. My mentors helped me to recognize my talents and potential, and to define my goals. A mentor's impact lasts a lifetime."– Lucia Sandoval Canela