Avondale, Ariz. - On May 16 at 6:30 p.m. Estrella Mountain Community College will celebrate the hard work and success of its students at its Seventh Annual Commencement Exercises. The ceremony will take place in the campus's Ceremonial Plaza and recognizes the conferring of 214 associate's degrees and 110 certificates of completion. This year's theme, "Desire, Determination and Success" was selected by the graduating class in honor of the college's 10-year anniversary.
U.S. Representative Raul M. Grijalva will deliver the commencement address to an expected crowd of over 500. Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November of 2002, Grijalva resides on the Education and Workforce and Resources committees and is a former assistant dean at the University of Arizona.
He also served as a member of the Pima County Board of Supervisors for 13 years and the Tucson Unified School District Governing Board for 12 years, prior to being elected. Grijalva is the recent recipient of the 2003 El Puente Award, recognizing a lifetime of work to achieve fairness, equal treatment and opportunity for all members of society.
Estrella Mountain opened the doors of its Avondale campus in the fall of 1992, and quickly became recognized as an asset to the residents of western metropolitan Phoenix. With the college's second building phase complete and annual enrollment at more than 10,000 students, the college is ready to pursue its next phase of growth and looks forward to many more years of student success.
Outstanding Examples of Student Success
The following are a few stories to highlight the achievements of graduating EMCC students. To arrange an interview and/or obtain a photo, please call Estrella Mountain Marketing and Public Relations office at 623.935.8054.
Mary Haas - Candidate for Associate of Arts-Elementary Education
At 59 years of age, Mary Haas is proof that you are never too old to pursue your dreams. The full-time student, who is employed part-time and volunteers much of her time, also raises her two granddaughters (ages 12 and 13) and is the primary caretaker of her eighty-four year old mother. Born the daughter of Mexican migrant workers, Mary began working in the fields from a very young age and became accustomed to the lifestyle. It wasn't until she became an elementary school teacher's aide, that her true passion surfaced. As a bilingual aide, Mary not only taught young students, she instilled in them cultural pride. After 20+ years in the role, and after much encouragement from co-workers, Mary finally decided to pursue her goal of becoming a teacher and began classes at Estrella Mountain in the fall of 2000.
Randy P. Matthews II - Candidate for Associate of Applied Science - Microsoft Networking Technology, Cisco Networking Technology; Certificate of Completion - Microsoft Product Specialist, Cisco Networking Technology
Randy P. Matthews II is a young African-American student (age 23) who had his eyes on his future, since high school. The Phoenix native attended Trevor Browne High School and Metro Tech Vocational School (now Metro Tech High School). It was at Metro Tech that Randy began his path to a career in technology. There, he studied CAD (Computer Aided Drafting) and began working part-time during his senior year at National Exposition Services designing custom floor plans for exhibitor booths. Realizing the constant growth of the technology industry, he decided it was time to go to college to hone his skills. He began college in 1999 and also landed a new job the same year. Randy managed to attend school and work full-time as a Programmer/Analyst at U-Haul Corporation. He hopes to begin his own systems consulting business in the near future. The mature young man, who is a product of the hip-hop generation, also enjoys writing poetry and uses hip-hop as a channel to address social issues.
Kelly Bradbury - Candidate for Associate of Arts -General Studies
A survivor of childhood sexual abuse, Kelly grew up lacking self-esteem and kept her feelings and emotions bottled inside. She enrolled in college as a way to build her self-esteem. She never thought she would do well, but soon found she was more than capable after completing her first semester at EMCC with a 4.0 grade average. The 39-year-old mother of three and full-time student, was named to the 2003 All-Arizona Academic Team Three, which awards a two-year tuition waiver to any Arizona university. With the prestigious honor came 32 different academic offers, including full-scholarships from Harvard and Cornell universities. Kelley, although undecided about which offer she will accept, knows that she wants to one day become a lawyer.
Marcella Elliott - Candidate for Associate of Arts - General Studies
Marcella Elliott is a 41-year-old Hispanic woman who has struggled with learning disabilities, such as dyslexia and financial difficulties, as well. She experienced a great tragedy at an early age with the suicide of her mentally-ill husband. The experience left her and her two children in a financial hardship. Eventually, she moved to Arizona and enrolled in college as a way to provide a better future for her family. Scholarships have allowed her to continue her education. Her career goal is to become a registered nurse, and with her life finally moving in an upward direction, she can achieve her goal.