Sedona Performing Arts Center will hold event for Sedona Center/Verde Campus degree recipients at 9:00 a.m. and certificate recipients at noon.  Live streaming of the ceremonies will be available at yc.edu.

Yavapai Community College will hold two student recognition ceremonies on May 6, with the degree recipients event scheduled for  9:00 a.m. and certificate recipients event scheduled for  12:00 p.m.

Nearly 100 graduates who either completed their degree or certificate in fall 2022 or who are on track to complete in spring 2023 or summer 2023 are expected to attend.

Overall, 620 YC students are on track to complete 807 degrees and certificates this spring. Additionally, 448 students completed 544 degrees and certificates last fall.

Mr. Ekklesia Breed, R.N., Verde Valley Medical Center ICU, 2022-23 Yavapai College Alumnus of the Year, will address the graduates and guests as the keynote speaker for the 9:00 a.m. ceremony.

Mrs. Amanda Vivanco, B.S.N., Director of Nursing, Haven Health Sedona, 2022-23 Yavapai College Alumna of the Year, will address the graduates and guests as the keynote speaker for the 12:00 p.m. ceremony.

Other speakers include Ms. Tina Luffman, Yavapai College English Professor, and graduating student Ms. Cheyene Gabbard.

Students and parents are encouraged to use the hashtag #YCGradJoy on social media to share their photos and celebrate with the college.

Live streaming of the ceremonies will be available at www.yc.edu.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

9:00 a.m. Ceremony

Mr. Ekklesia Breed, R.N. Ekklesia had a strong aspiration to work in healthcare for many years, and he longed to be an innovator in this field. After exploring various avenues, he discovered his true calling. Yavapai College provided him with the opportunity to pursue his goals and become a leader in healthcare. Thanks to the College’s support, he is now equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to make a meaningful impact in the lives of others. Ekklesia is grateful for the chance to pursue his passion and to lead others in providing high-quality care.

12:00 p.m. Ceremony

Mrs. Amanda Vivanco, B.S.N. Amanda began her journey as an LPN eight years ago and quickly realized that caring for others was her true calling. Becoming a registered nurse was no easy feat. Five years ago, she stumbled upon Yavapai College and decided to uproot her entire life to attend. Looking back, it was one of the best choices she’s made. Yavapai College played a significant role in helping her achieve her goals. Thanks to the College’s support, Amanda now has the opportunity to serve her community and pursue her passion for nursing alongside her husband. They both feel grateful for the chance to work together doing what they love in a place they call home.

FACULTY SPEAKER

Ms. Tina Luffman, English department faculty, first began teaching at Yavapai College in June of 2002. She has also taught Student Success Skills, Reading, and Writing courses; she previously has worked as the Learning Center Coordinator and as a part-time academic advisor and instructor for the Adult Basic Education program. Tina has lived in the Verde Valley area since 1982. She received her bachelor’s degree and her Master’s degree from Northern Arizona University. Her husband Mark has taught CNT and CSA classes at Yavapai College for over 30 years, and all four of her children have taken classes here, worked on campus, or both.

STUDENT SPEAKER

Ms. Cheyene Gabbard is graduating with the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing degree. She is a first-generation college student and a military veteran. Cheyene’s future plans include earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and to become a Nurse Practitioner. Cheyene intends to make a positive impact on the healthcare system.

Source:  Yavapai Community College Press release of May 2, 2023 (Link)

Verde Campus, Room M-137, Tuesday, January 24, from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. | Learn about the scientific process of how grapes are turned into wine, and how the winemaking culture is forming in Arizona

Michael Pierce, director of Viticulture and Enology at the Southwest Wine Center, will discuss “The Fruits of Our Labor” at Yavapai Community College Verde Valley Campus, 601 Black Hills Drive, Room M-137, Tuesday, January 24, from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. The program is free and open to the public.

Learn about the scientific process of how grapes are turned into wine, and how the winemaking culture is forming in Arizona with the help of the Viticulture and Enology program at Yavapai Community College and the Southwest Wine Center. Pierce will cover a brief overview of the science of winemaking with a focus on what makes the Verde Valley special. Attendees will be provided with information on the program and the graduates who are leading the Arizona wine industry.

Is the Verde Valley beginning to look like the NAPA Valley as more and more grape vines and wine tasting rooms are opened throughout the area?

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) is sponsoring the program. OLLI is a program of the Division of Lifelong Learning at Yavapai Community College. For information call 928-649-4275 or email OLLIsv@yc.edu or visit the website at YC.edu/ollisedonaverde.

All events to be held on the Prescott Campus

Yavapai Community College will celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month with a special celebration on Saturday, September 24.  The event will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is on the Prescott Campus, 1100 E. Sheldon Street, Prescott, Arizona.

There will be authentic Mexican food, music, dancers, a short film, and more.  All are invited.

The community is invited to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the International Day of Peace with three special events intended by the College “to remind us of the enduring pursuit to quash armed conflict.”

Yavapai Community College is inviting the community to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the International Day of Peace September 21. It has scheduled three special events on the Prescott Campus with the goal of reminding “us of the enduring pursuit to quash armed conflict.”

The Visual Art Department, Justice Institute and the Respect Campaign will all take part in the celebration.  Varsha N., a peace lecturer, training consultant, wellness coach and attorney will discuss “how to create a harmonious life and community.” Varsha N is a guest of the College Respect Campaign and Justice Institute.  He will speak at 1 p.m. Wednesday, September 21, in Room 147 in the Library Building (B-19) on the Prescott Campus.

At 5 p.m., students, faculty and others will gather outside the Prescott Campus Library for the unveiling by the College Visual Arts Department peace pole sculpture. The sculpture will be displayed permanently outside the library.  It was designed by Community College Art student and metal sculptor Ron Miller. It was fabricated by Miller and fellow student John Barton. The sculpture is the result of a peace pole art competition sponsored by Rotary International. Miller’s peace pole design was the winner of a competition the art department organized last spring on behalf of the Prescott Frontier Rotary Club.

Also, in celebration of International Day of Peace, Patricia Berlowe of the Community College’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute is facilitating small-group conversations around the subject of peace. The discussions are taking place at 10 a.m. and again at noon on Friday, September 23, in Room 105, Building 3 on the Prescott Campus.

Everyone is  invited to take part in any and all of the International Day of Peace activities on Sept. 21 and Sept. 23. RSVPs are required for the small-group conversations. To reserve a spot, call 928-717-7634 or email prescottolli@yc.edu.

For more information about these events, please visit the College’s press release, which can be found at https://www.yc.edu/v6/news/2022/09/peace-day.html.

Several athletic events, evening show and golf tournament scheduled for Prescott;  Verde Valley Campus will hold a single  event on September 23 at 4:30, which is called a “Happy Hour/Mixer”

Yavapai Community College has scheduled an Alumni Reunion Weekend from September 23 to September 25.  One event has been scheduled for the Verde Valley Campus, which will be held September 23.  That event is scheduled for 4:30 and is called a “Happy House/Mixer.”

This is the premier event for the clubs in Prescott and Prescott Valley

The Yavapai Community College Performing Arts Center has partnered with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Arizona for their premier fundraiser September 9 and 10.  The events will be held at the Performing Arts Center on the Prescott Campus.

All proceeds from the events will go to support the Boys and Girls Clubs in Prescott and Prescott Valley. 

There is a $50 admission to enjoy the “Opening Night” September 9 show where the audience may  vote for its favorite dancer.  There is also a formal VIP Show with Red Carpet Reception and “After Party” that will be held as the “Main Event”  Saturday, September 10.  Admission is $250 for the Saturday program.

Open House hours are from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Experts on hand to answer questions about free tuition, registration, and other requirements

According to a College news release, Yavapai Community College’s Verde Campus located in Clarkdale and adjacent to Cottonwood, Arizona will hold an open house on Saturday, August 6, 2022.  The event will allow residents to tour the campus and learn more about the programs it is offering in the fall 2022.

There will be experts available to assist prospective students with answers to their registration questions along with assistance in completing an application to attend the College.  There will also be experts available to answer questions about scholarships, financial aid, and the cost of obtaining various certificates and degrees being offered by the College.

Many who attend the open house will no doubt be interested in learning how a student may obtain a certificate or degree tuition free.  Experts will also be present and will explain in detail how the new  innovative tuition-free program works.

The College is preparing to offer four-year degrees in a limited number of areas and experts can answer questions about this exciting new adventure for the institution.  

In its news release, the College says that the Verde Campus will offer “more than a dozen degree programs some 20 certificate programs and a selection of courses ranging from accounting to viticulture.”  The release described the campus as featuring “well-equipped classrooms, computer labs, a modern library, a new student union, an art gallery and arts center, learning center, fitness center, veterans’ program, the iconic Mabery Pavilion, and other community gathering places, up-to-date education technology, a robust data center, and state-of-the-art labs.”

The news release also says that “the campus features well-equipped classrooms, computer labs, a modern library, a new student union, an art gallery and arts center, learning center, fitness center, veterans’ program, the iconic Mabery Pavilion, and other community gathering places, up-to-date education technology, a robust data center, and state-of-the-art labs.”