AVONDALE, Ariz. - Brenda Dever and Cynthia Rodriguez will represent Estrella Mountain on the All-Arizona Academic Team (Third 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.
Brenda Dever began her full-time studies at EMCC in 2001, looking for a personal, yet challenging academic experience. She is currently pursuing an associate's degree in General Studies/ Communication Studies and plans to graduate in May. Brenda participates in the Student Public Policy Forum, which affords her the opportunity to bring forth student issues to law and policy makers during national forums in Washington D.C. In addition, she is a member of Phi Theta Kappa (Beta Alpha Xi chapter), serves on the Advisory Committee for the Honor's Program, actively volunteers in the community and works fulltime to assist her family and lessen education expenses. Brenda's ultimate goal is to earn a doctorate's degree and one day become an attorney and business owner.
Cynthia Rodriguez is an ambitious student who is the Vice President of Leadership of Phi Theta Kappa (Beta Alpha Xi) and member of the Honors Program. The full-time student graduates this May with associate of applied science degrees in Microsoft Networking Technology, Cisco and Linux Administration. She plans to transfer to Arizona State University West to pursue degrees in Business Administration and Education. Cynthia is the first in her family to attend and complete college.
In addition to coursework obligations, Cynthia works part-time in the CIS and Cisco labs and volunteers her time by helping with the campus's United Way campaign and by using her bilingual skills to help people within her culture communicate with others. Although she experienced special health-related circumstances that at times took her away from her education, her resilience allowed her to overcome her adversities to earn three degrees. Cynthia's ultimate goal is to become a network administrator and educator so that she can encourage and mentor youth that face the same kinds of challenges she did as teenager.
As All-Arizona Academic team scholars, the two receive a four-semester tuition waiver and a $500 cash award. They will be honored, along with other Academic Team members from around the state, at a luncheon held at Mesa Community College on Feb. 12. In total, 61 students from 19 Arizona community colleges were selected for representation on the All-Arizona Academic Team.