Estrella Mountain Community College (EMCC), A Maricopa Community College, will celebrate the academic accomplishments of Estrella Mountain's Class of 2008 at its twelfth annual commencement ceremony to be held May 9, 2008, at 7:00 p.m. in the Image Zone (Southeast Lawn). Estrella Mountain Community College is located at 3000 North Dysart Road, in Avondale. The ceremony, themed, "A Legacy of Greatness is our Standard," recognizes the students receiving 397 degrees and 263 certificates in a variety of disciplines. This year's program will include a commencement address by the college's President, Dr. Ernest Lara. This will be Dr. Lara's first commencement ceremony as college president. Rey Rivera, mathematics faculty at the college; and Joshua Phillips, a graduating Estrella Mountain student, will also speak at the ceremony.
Students graduating from Estrella Mountain, and other Maricopa Community Colleges, leave campus with the experience and education needed to transfer to a four-year university or begin their careers with skills obtained through occupational-specific programs. The twelfth annual commencement ceremony at Estrella Mountain Community College represents a college-wide commitment to helping West Valley students achieve their academic goals and improve their lives while receiving a quality education.For media: Included below are selected stories of students' successes at Estrella Mountain Community College during the 2007-2008 school year.
For more information or to set up interviews, please contact Carissa Pool, coordinator of media relations and promotion at 623-935-8054.
Joshua Phillips, Graduating Student and Commencement Speaker
For Joshua Phillips, signing up for a one-credit golf class at his local community college led to much more than an improved swing-it led to an improved life, and a chance to be on the green when it came to his dreams. A recent transplant to the West Valley from New Jersey and Pennsylvania, Phillips had taken some time off from completing his degree after high school, when an Estrella Mountain Community College class schedule arrived in the mail and prompted him to sign up for a golf course…which quickly became much more. The golf class turned into philosophy, storytelling, until he found himself enrolled in an education course, which was much more aligned with his longtime dream of becoming a teacher and having a direct impact on the lives of young people. "I kept coming back and exploring different avenues for my future," Phillips said, "and then four semesters ago, I took Intro to Education with Dr. Pete Turner, and I was hooked." Dr. Turner's welcoming attitude and dedication to Phillips' own success inspired him to begin his path toward an Associate of Arts in Elementary Education, which included an internship at Quentin Elementary School, not far from his home in Avondale. In addition to observing his mentor teacher, Philips even got the chance to teach a lesson himself, a science lesson that discussed tectonic plates, how continents shift, and how the earth is made. He fondly recalls passing out candy to his students on Halloween when they came through his neighborhood, and being recognized as "Mr. Phillips." In addition to this internship, Phillips has had the privilege of mentoring a young student in math, bringing him up to his current grade level in math in one year's time. Phillips, who began his coursework at Estrella Mountain in 2005, will now complete the next phase of his education at Arizona State University West where he will pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Special Education. Phillips has also been selected as the college's student commencement speaker.
AnaEliza Gamez Alvarez, Graduating Student
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then the career goals of AnaEliza Gamez Alvarez, Estrella Mountain graduate, is a direct compliment of the assistance, guidance and inspiration she has received from the faculty during her 3 years as a student at Estrella Mountain Community College. Alvarez will be awarded an Associate of Arts in Art Education and Art History on May 9, 2008, and will continue her studies at College of Notre Dame in Maryland this fall. Her transfer will be the next step in her pathway to becoming a professor of art history and teaching in a community college herself. But, the inspiration doesn't only flow in one direction. Dr. Olga Tsoudis, sociology faculty at the college, was impressed by Alvarez's academic and social drive. "AnaEliza is a role model to us all," she said. "She is enthusiastic, motivated and a social activist. She truly cares about what is happening to people in all parts of the world and takes initiative to participate in campus events." That participation and passion for involvement affected Alvarez in a way she hadn't expected. "Estrella Mountain has completely changed my path in life. This valuable education was not limited to textbooks, but includes everything I learned from my amazing instructors. It was their example and their love for teaching that has greatly influenced my choice to one day teach in a community college," she said. This dream wasn't going to be an easy one to achieve. Like many students, Alvarez struggled with financing her education. But, this year, she was awarded a $2,500 Maricopa Foundation Scholarship. Only the second in her family to attend college, the scholarship played a key part in allowing her to continue her education. "The scholarship gave me a sense of comfort, knowing that I have complete access to an education. It helped me get much closer to fulfilling my dreams."
Kelvin Williams, Graduating Student
When you think of an athlete, you think of the great strength and courage it takes to play a game for your team, for your family and for your fans; but do you think of the "brain" behind the game? Where did that athlete come from and where will that athlete go in his/her future? These are the questions that Kelvin Williams asks himself as he searches inner city neighborhoods for kids who love to play the game, but might not have the courage to train for their future. Williams, a returning adult student and an athlete himself, has a passion seen rarely in this day in age. His desire to take kids off the streets and out of the path of self destruction and gang involvement led him to create a concept that any parent would love. The occupational business management major and member of Phi Theta Kappa, plans to start an organization called "Go for Two Sports" that would teach kids the fundamentals of football, but only after tutoring and hours pouring over books rather than the green. "I want to train athletes that are also good students," he said. He has already started a team comprised of inner city kids who needed some motivation to get their grades up.