During a recent tour, Coconino Community College students Nick Bartek and Erika Acuna showed employees of Desert Financial Credit Union and Foundation Board Members around the Fourth Street Campus. This location is where most of the college’s Career and Technical Education courses are taught, which gives students the skills needed to garner well-paying jobs quickly.
Bartek plans to continue his education at Arizona State University to study sustainable building practices. Acuna is working on her requirements to become a registered nurse.
“I learned so much here,” Bartek told the group. “I got the hands-on experience I needed, and I can’t thank CCC enough.”
“I’m the first generation in my family to go to college,” Acuna said, adding that she chose CCC because it was smaller, affordable, and offered her the space to excel in her studies.
It is students like Bartek and Acuna that a new scholarship fund established by Desert Financial Foundation will assist.
“We know from experience that citizens with a quality education build strong communities,” said Carlissa Wright, Executive Director, Desert Financial Foundation. “That’s why we’re dedicated to helping students who want to pursue opportunities in higher education. The degree programs and certificates that CCC offers are providing the critically needed skills in the Flagstaff labor market.”
Fifteen students will each receive $1,000 scholarships for the 2023-24 school year at CCC. Qualifying students must have a minimum 2.5 grade point average, demonstrate financial need, and be a degree or certificate-seeking student in a Career and Technical Education discipline. CTE disciplines include Construction Technology, Nursing, Certified Nursing Assistant, Emergency Medical Service, Fire Science and more.
Dianna Sanchez, Chief Development Officer for the CCC Foundation, said, “The CCC Foundation is honored to receive support for our CTE programs. The commitment to education and to our students is inspirational, and we are incredibly grateful for the impact these scholarships will make.”
Original source can be found here.
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