AVONDALE, Ariz. - Kelley Bradbury and Daniel Ramos, will represent Estrella Mountain on the All-Arizona Academic Team, a state competition that recognizes the best and brightest community college students in the state. The All-Arizona Academic Team recognizes scholarly achievements of students from junior, technical and community colleges. Student selection is based on academic achievement, activities and leadership, service to the community and work experience. Students were nominated in December by faculty members and chosen through an application process that included submitting a 500-word essay about an educational experience that transformed their lives.
Kelley Bradbury won placement on the second team. The 38-year-old political science/communication major and Peoria resident has aspirations of becoming an attorney. Kelley plans to transfer to ASU West to pursue a dual major in Political Science and Communications with a minor in Pre-Law. She recently returned from Washington D.C., where she was one of four students selected to represent Estrella Mountain in the Student Public Policy Forum. Her forum focused on National Prison Reform.
The full-time Estrella Mountain student, who is also the mother of three, started an online company to promote rehabilitation within the prison system. Freedom Art offers original works of art, created by inmates, for sale. Proceeds go toward inmate financial obligations such as child support, victim restitution and living expenses. It is her hope to pass on the gifts of self-esteem and self-reliance to incarcerated persons; gifts that she has fought hard to attain herself. As an All-Arizona Academic Team scholar, Bradbury receives a four-semester tuition waiver and a $750 cash award.
Daniel Ramos, third team, is an ambitious 22-year-old student who has earned four degrees within four years. Because of financial hardship, Daniel turned down a partial scholarship to attend a university. Still determined to go to college, he chose the community college to begin his educational path and become the first in his family to graduate from college. He is currently pursuing a degree in Mathematics at ASU with a goal of becoming a Math Instructor. The Avondale resident has earned a bachelor's degree in electronics engineering technology from ITT Technical Institute and three associate's degrees -- in Art, General Studies and Science Special Requirements. Daniel remains active in campus organizations and, in addition, is employed as a math tutor and science lab technical assistant at Estrella Mountain. He receives a four-semester tuition waiver and a $500 cash award.
The two students were honored, along with 59 others at a luncheon held at Mesa Community College on Feb. 15. In total, 61 students from 19 Arizona community colleges were selected for representation on the All-Arizona Academic Team.