Estrella Mountain Community College (EMCC), a Maricopa Community College, will celebrate the academic accomplishments of Estrella Mountain’s Class of 2012 at its sixteenth annual commencement ceremony to be held Friday, May 11, 2012, at 6:30 p.m. at the Goodyear Ballpark, 1933 South Ballpark Way, Goodyear, Arizona.
The ceremony will recognize the students who completed their studies in fall 2011, plus the students who are expected to successfully complete their spring 2012 semester, for a combined total of 1,250 degrees and certificates, representing the accomplishment of nearly 600 students.
Most all college students have amazing stories of how they overcame obstacles and challenges, yet persevered with a proud outcome of achievement. Here are a few of those stories.
Three EMCC siblings graduate together
When Preston Hintz, the eldest of the Hintz family, chose to come to EMCC, his younger brother, Aaron, decided to accelerate his high school studies to attend EMCC with Preston. But it didn’t stop there. Their younger sister, Andrea, at age 13, also wanted to join her brothers in college. Now, all three are graduating from EMCC and participating in the commencement ceremony on May 11.
Preston graduated a semester early from Agua Fria High School and started at EMCC in spring 2010. Aaron also graduated from Agua Fria, but through a dual enrollment program, completed high school and began EMCC full-time in spring 2010. Andrea, who was homeschooled, tested into college-level courses and took online classes from other MCCCD colleges to advance her quickly so she could catch-up with her brothers and start in fall 2010. Currently ages 20, 18 and 15, this student-family trinity is on the fast-track of life, and loving it.
Born and raised in the Southwest Valley, EMCC was like family to the Hintz siblings. Even though Preston had graduated in the top five percent of class, was a member of the National Honor Society and student government, and could have easily attended a top university with scholarships, he chose to come to EMCC. “I had heard about the excellent education and teachers at Estrella, plus it was close to home,” said Preston. “We’ve driven past the campus all of our lives, and seen it grow, so it was exciting to finally be a student here.”
Each of the learning trio is amazingly bright, but more than that, they are committed to family and the gift of learning, beyond the scope of any barriers that others may think impossible. They are devoted Christians and were raised with the principals of God, family, learning and hard work, and according to them, is what drives their ambition. “Our parents never put pressure on us to be overachievers,” says eldest Preston. “They have always been loving and supportive, and instilled us with the confidence and inspiration to be the best we can be.” All three siblings still make the time to have some fun through their music and participating in church activities.
Their mother worked at IBM for many years in a very successful position, then transitioned into becoming a Kindergarten teacher. And the patriarch, a hard-working, self-made entrepreneur with a successful trucking company based in Litchfield Park, always made it a priority to be home every night with his family. “Our parents have been our inspiration for our passion for life and learning,” said Aaron. “We honor and value our family.”
Preston and Aaron continue their love and excitement of learning, as both concurrently taking classes at both EMCC and ASU, to continue their advanced degree coursework. They both will be receiving A.A. degrees in Business from EMCC, and both are on track to graduate from ASU’s W. P. Carey School of Business in with their B.S. in Business Management, but Preston will be completing in Spring 2013, followed by Aaron in Fall 2013.
Andrea, will be graduating with her A.A.S. in Organizational Management from EMCC with plans to transfer to NAU in their 90/30 program which will accelerate her through her bachelor’s program. Her sights are set on getting her master’s and Ph.D. in business, and most likely, blazing a path to a successful career at a very young age. “It’s been an amazing blessing to take classes with my brothers,” said Andrea. “Since I was homeschooled, we were never able to be at the same school at the same time. But at EMCC, we’ve been able to study together and encourage each other, every day!
EMCC veteran learns how to trigger success.
After Shaun Ford returned from a 15-month tour of duty in Iraq in 2008, and completed three years of service in the army, he was ready to get his civilian life back on track. Ford had been physically injured by an IED (improvised explosive devise), but his mind was sharp and focused on going to college to begin his career path. As a graduate of Westview High School in Avondale, EMCC was a logical choice. He was very familiar with the campus, it was close to home and had friends that were already attending.
One thing Ford didn’t expect was dealing with was Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a common outcome of returning, active-duty military. He was a fairly good student and was excited to learn and attend classes, but his PTSD kicked-in when it came time to taking tests. “I had so much anxiety, that I couldn’t focus. The stress triggered my PTSD and it was something I couldn’t control, which was really frustrating,” said Ford. “Plus, there were times when I just couldn’t make it to class, so my absences started to be a concern for some of my teachers.”
Ford hit his breaking point in spring 2010 and realized he needed to ask for help. Even though he had utilized the Office of Veterans Services at EMCC for financial and enrollment assistance, he never took advantage of the learning and personal services they provided. That’s what finally triggered his confidence and turned his life around. “My counselors and advisors not only worked with me personally, they contacted my professors and helped work out a learning and testing plan,” said Ford admiringly. “They have been amazing! If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be where I am today!”
Now, Ford is graduating from EMCC with his Associate of Arts degree. He has also been taking a few courses at Arizona State University West campus simultaneously this semester to get a jump-start on his university requirements – an amazing leap for someone who at one point needed to slowly take one step at time. Ford’s educational plan is to obtain his bachelor’s and master’s in Psychology with a career goal of working to help returning veterans.
AAEC student graduates from EMCC before high school.
On her first day of her junior year at Millennium High School, Donna Dao, realized she needed a change. “It wasn’t that Millennium was a bad school; it just wasn’t for me. I didn’t feel like I belonged there,” explains Dao. She had heard about AAEC, a charter, “early college” high school in Avondale, that offered a more challenging and rigorous curriculum. Shortly thereafter, she changed schools and begin a new educational journey.
Now, at age 17, Dao will be graduating with her Associate of Arts degree from EMCC a week before she receives her high school diploma from AAEC. She will be the first graduate of the AAEC/EMCC early college program, and is excited to have achieved that distinction.
As a college preparatory high school, AAEC offers a concurrent enrollment program with neighboring Estrella Mountain Community College (EMCC), where Dao could accelerate her education by completing her high school requirements while taking college-level courses at EMCC leading to a college degree. “As soon as I got to EMCC, I felt like this was home,” said Dao. “I also felt more mature. And even though I was younger than most other college students, it didn’t really matter to my classmates or professors. In fact, nobody really knew,” she said with a smile.
Dao has selected to attend Grand Canyon University and pursue her bachelor’s degree in psychology, and eventually a master’s degree. “I want to become a high school or college counselor to help students find their way,” said Dao. “Education is so important and I understand how tough it can be at those levels, but it so worth the journey.”
Founded in 1997, Arizona Agribusiness and Equine Center (AAEC) is a five-campus independent public high school district specializing in a college preparatory program with sites connected to Estrella Mountain Community College, Mesa Community College, Paradise Valley Community College, South Mountain Community College, and Yavapai Community College.