Alumni Profiles

What made SCC the right fit for you?

SCC was the right fit for me because I knew the reputation of the culinary program, and that I would receive a quality culinary education at a much lower cost than going through a traditional culinary program. Additionally, I could see that I would be qualified to start working as soon as I graduated and have the basic skills employers were looking for because of the comprehensive training received at SCC. Lastly, being an accredited program, I was able to gain my professional certification through the American Culinary Federation. This was an important step for me.

Tell us about your time at SCC.

Being a non-traditional student, it had been many years since I’d been in an educational environment. I was a little worried that I might struggle with going back to a math class, for instance, or that I wouldn’t fit in with the younger students. But I was pleasantly surprised to find that many people in my demographic were returning to school, either for re-careering like myself, or just to finish a degree that might have been started some years ago. All of my professors were incredibly willing to meet with me or otherwise engage in discussion to help me through difficult spots in my coursework, and the online systems were fairly easy to navigate and I was able to submit assignments without any issues. I enjoyed my time on campus.

How has SCC helped influence your success?

I’m proud to have graduated from SCC’s Culinary program. It has a great reputation and every time I’ve mentioned where I attended, it is met with nods of recognition and approval. I’m certain that my success in the program at SCC has enabled me to get my foot in the door at more than one employer.

Tell us about your favorite memory of SCC.

My favorite memory of SCC is the day we finished the culinary program. We all received our “tall hats” and proudly posed for pictures in our chef’s coats. I still remain in contact with several of the students and we share in each other’s successes.

Have you visited SCC since you graduated?

Because of the pandemic, I haven’t been able to return to campus. But I have been in contact with my program director and several others with whom I worked in the program. Even now they are supportive of my endeavors and I feel a part of that community.

What would you say to convince someone to come to SCC?

Especially for the Culinary Arts program, there is no better value in the state than to attend SCC. I’ve worked with several people who attended “big” culinary programs - and paid big dollars to go with it - and I can truly say that my education equaled theirs. The quality of the instructors and the support received, including job fairs and contacts, were invaluable to me. The support staff, especially in Advising, also worked hard to ensure that I was on track and had the credits and classes I needed to graduate on time, and because I was an older student that was especially important to me.

What value has SCC brought to your personal life and or career?

I think first and foremost there are friends & mentors I made at SCC that I am still connected with to this day. It obviously had a personal impact but was also great professionally, from bouncing off ideas of job opportunities, career challenges, and feedback on my work over the course of the years. It's also been amazing to see where people have gone with their careers over the last 10-15 even just through LinkedIn and knowing I can always connect with them if I am ever in need.

What made SCC the right fit for you?

I'd heard it was the best design program in the state, even over ASU.

How has SCC helped influence your success?

Being a part of the fairly early days of the program at SCC and then seeing where the industry went, it became a passion of mine to help students from a mentoring program as well as showing design as a career and its potential impact. While I was in Kansas City, I guest taught high school and college classes, participated in mentorship programs, mentored portfolio reviews, judged portfolios, and founded a non-profit geared towards inspiring, connecting, and educating design professionals with a tangential focus on students.

What are you doing now and for whom?

I'm currently Head of Design at a startup in Sydney, Australia. While my career is predominantly focused on digital products, I also work with our marketing team for design needs which taps back into all the education and knowledge I got at SCC from Peggy Deal's classes. To this day, I still have to remember about bleed, leading, kerning, orphans, etc. There are so many fundamentals I learned from design principles around white space, balance, hierarchy, etc. that are absolutely pertinent to today's design work that I do.

Have you visited SCC since you graduated?

No, I moved from AZ in 2011 and currently live in Sydney, Australia.

What would you say to convince someone to come to SCC?

Particularly for the design program - it's by far one of the best programs you can be a part of over any uni or online school. Whatever you're interested in, it will give you the foundation you need for any design direction you want to go.

What made SCC the right fit for you?

Born and raised in Scottsdale, SCC was in my backyard, so to speak. When I finished high school a semester early, my mother gave me two choices: 1) start college early or 2) get a job. I selected the first option and in the second semester of my high school senior year I dipped my toe into college and took an English class. This helped prepare me for the transition to college. Upon graduation from high school, I became a full-time SCC student.

Tell us about your time at SCC.

Since my brother was a member of the SCC baseball team, I was already attending the games so it was a “natural fit” to take on the role as statistician for the baseball team. This gave me a connection to the college outside of my classes. My first degree was Elementary and Special Education. While in the process of completing my coursework, I learned I had an interest in history. My history instructor, Marshall Trimble, had a knack for storytelling and his ability to captivate a classroom instilled in me a genuine interest in history.

What value has SCC brought to your personal life and/or career?

As for my personal life, I met my husband of 30 years. We started dating while both students at SCC and have two children. SCC is where the “magic happened.” I learned that I find history interesting and that education is a career that I would enjoy for many years.

How has SCC helped influence your success?

I was not always the best student in high school. My educational and extracurricular experience at SCC enabled me to see that I could be a successful college student and that I could do it on my own. I learned that I was tenacious and that I embodied the persistent determination to complete a college degree and become a successful educator. Just being willing to take that first step and enroll at SCC started my journey toward a 24 year teaching career in both Special Education and Government and Economics.

What words of encouragement do you have for those who follow in your footsteps?

It can be frightening to start college, yet you will find “the community” in a community college. Give college a try and do it at your own pace. High School is so scripted; at college you get to be in charge. SCC is very accessible, the cost is affordable, the class size is comfortable and the setting is convenient. Just be willing to take that first step.

Tell us about your time at SCC.

I took classes there before returning to ASU to complete the final year of my bachelors degree and have taken several standalone classes over the years. STEP was the first complete program I took at SCC. I found the instructors available when needed, staff always friendly and helpful, and the campus easy to get around.

What made SCC the right fit for you?

It is the neighborhood community college with a neighborhood feel.

What value has SCC brought to your personal life and or career?

I teach College and Career readiness at the middle school down the street, so it has helped me in numerous ways. Knowing there is such a great educational option so close is wonderful.

How has SCC helped influence your success?

SCC classes gave me the education and tools to make my 2nd career move.

Tell us about your favorite memory of SCC.

Creating tight bonds and lasting relationships through the rigorous year+ in the STEP program.

Have you visited SCC since you graduated?

Yes. I have taken my 7th and 8th graders to SCC for scheduled campus tours.

What would you say to convince someone to come to SCC?

It's convenient, easy, friendly, and affordable.

What are you doing now and for whom?

I am a College and Career Enhancement teacher at Mohave Middle School in Scottsdale. This is my 5th year teaching 6th, 7th, and 8th grades in Mohave’s Habits of Study class. I was fortunate enough to help define the curriculum for this a few years ago and enjoy teaching the students how to be successful today, tomorrow, and in the future. The STEP program allowed me the opportunity to learn the teaching practices necessary for a successful classroom. That learning along with my years of life experience in several areas, has allowed me to find a place where I can enjoy the privilege of connecting with pre-teens as they strive to fine-tune the habits that will help them continue to successfully reach their goals.

What made SCC the right fit for you?

A friend suggested that I look at SCC. I had gotten admitted to school in New York but it was financially out of reach. I knew I wanted to focus on theatre, but even the state universities were out of my price range. While in high school, my teacher was unsupportive of my theatre ambitions, given my status as a person with a light-sensitive seizure disorder. I wanted to prove her wrong and follow what I was passionate about, so I started researching and asking my friends in college questions about their experiences. I entered SCC with a plan. I was going to find an effective way to communicate with the theatre faculty, and my future co-workers, and actively discover solutions to the challenges my disability presented in my chosen field. I could do this successfully because of the care and dedication of the theatre faculty. They advocated for me when I didn’t know how, and taught me that my voice was powerful and worth listening to. I was worth working with, even if I had roadblocks.

At SCC, I learned to advocate for myself and I learned the value of self-care and time management. As they say in theatre, “the show must go on”, therefore it is essential to focus on caring for my ensemble and myself.

Tell us about your favorite memory of SCC.

It’s hard to pick one because I have many unforgettable memories here. Everyone on campus is friendly! I have felt that kindness even more since I began working here. My current favorite memory of working here has to be the day I helped out with the Dance program by running the box office for their high school matinee. One of the teachers invited was an SCC alumna, and she excitedly started showing her class some of the pictures hanging on the wall in the lobby and pointed out “I took those pictures!”

The students were in awe of the pictures and looked starry-eyed at their teacher. Angie, the head of the dance department, also watched this exchange and decided to surprise this alumna and her students by including a piece directed and videographed by this same teacher. When the video of the dance played, the kiddos went wild and cheered for their teacher and the dancers in the filmed piece. It was so exciting to watch the kids get so excited, and it was heart-warming to see that even after graduating, the faculty here at SCC care so much about all of their students, past, current, and future.

What would you say to convince someone to come to SCC?

Why wouldn’t you come to SCC? There are many opportunities here, not just in the Performing Arts fields. There are so many fun and engaging on-campus events. Our classes are cheaper than university classes, but the quality of education is the same and in some cases, even better than what the universities offer. It’s a great place to learn something new every day. Everyone is so supportive and interested in your success.

What value has SCC brought to your personal life and career?

SCC has helped me foster confidence in myself. When I first got to SCC, I believed my high school theatre teacher was right; that I had no place in the performing arts with my disability, that I was taking up space that could have gone to someone else more able-bodied. But Don, Mandy, Maren (former faculty), Bill, and Glen have all shown me ways to communicate effectively with others about my disability, and have given me a space to try things and fail and get back up and try again. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am. I would have never written a play or opened up our theatre company, Devil’s Dice Productions. But they were there, they stepped up for their students every single day, and I can only hope that one day I help someone out the way they all helped me.

Tell us about your journey after graduating from SCC. Where did you start and where are you now?

When I started SCC, I was a frightened little kid. Today, I work in the department that raised me. I am the acting Performing Arts Coordinator for the Scottsdale School of Film + Theatre. On top of my day-to-day duties, my mentor, Don K Williams, has given me opportunities to assist him in co-teaching workshops and enrollment events to help encourage high school students to join our department after graduation. Some of my favorite experiences with our future students include these workshops and speaking with them at other enrollment events like College Fairs and Table Talks. I love the enthusiasm and excitement of these future students, and it is easy to convince them to consider us a viable option for higher education because we offer so many opportunities here at SCC.

My most exciting endeavor beyond my job at SCC is a play/project that I started as a student in Don K Williams’ Acting 2 course, The Death of the Swan, and our theatre company, Devil’s Dice Productions. I am a devised artist. Devised theatre is the practice of collective collaboration, wherein a group of like-minded artists work together to tell a story. They write or improvise the script, find compelling metaphors to interweave into design elements and workshop the play until it’s a finalized piece. I came to Don because I wanted to work on those artistic muscles, and he suggested that I take his Acting 2 course due to the final project, the solo show.

The assignment was to pick a famous or infamous person from history who has passed on and tell a wider story about the world using their life or influence as a starting point. He also suggested we look at the special skills section on our resumes and pick someone with the talents we shared. At first, I thought of using Carrie Fisher, but I needed help finding a simple and effective way of telling the story. Don told me to return to the drawing board and suggested I consider the other option I brought to class, the famed Russian ballerina, Anna Pavlova.

Most people these days probably don’t recognize her name, but I grew up attending Nina Marlow’s Russian ballet school. Nina’s great-great-grandfather, Mikhail Fokine, was a constant collaborator of Anna Pavlova. Her family owned these large, elaborate pictures of this beautiful ballerina in a bright, feathery white costume. I knew her name but didn't know her story until I started researching her for my assignment. Once I did, I discovered that her artistic ideology matched well with my and my SCC mentors' teaching. I found similarities in our chosen story-telling styles and inspiration in her famous solo piece, La Morte de la Cygne (or, The Death of the Swan), which documented the final moments of a swan right before its demise. I started playing with the idea of what if instead of the Swan fighting off the cold grip of Death, it was Anna.

I found my subject, and the next part of the project was figuring out how to tell the story compellingly. We weren’t allowed to write our own words for the story. The expectation was to find direct sources and either quotes from them, from famous roles they played, or songs they sang. I was worried that writing a compelling script with such a strict limitation was impossible, but as Mandy Embry always says, “Limitation breeds creativity!”

My first stop was the SCC Library, and I was lucky enough to find quite a comprehensive autobiography on Pavlova, titled Pavlova: A Portrait of A Dancer. This overview of her life introduced me to a second text by Pavlova’s husband, Victor Deandre. Both sources of text and a collection of poems written in honor of Anna Pavlova created my script today. I then had to figure out where Death’s lines would come from, and here’s where the devised collaboration came into play. I asked my loved ones to give me a list of references of their favorite versions of personified Death, and I began to pick and choose some of my favorite iterations and character traits from them. After a long process of writing, editing, and designing a soundscape for the very first time, I finally finished the first draft of The Death of the Swan. This first round was 15 minutes by myself on stage. I played both Anna and Death, but luckily Death was a recording of my voice layered over itself to sound spooky and ethereal, so I didn’t have to memorize their lines. After this initial round, Don approached me and told me to keep going. He told me I should expand it, so I did, this time as a 30-minute version by myself onstage. After showing that round to the summer conservatory students, Don approached me again and said, okay, once more! Expand it just a little more. This time, I was determined to bring in another actor to play Death, which then turned into two actors playing Death. After months of practicing and refining, we were fortunate enough to be selected to attend the Tucson Fringe Fest, and we got to perform the piece for a larger audience. We received amazing feedback from the festival attendees and even won the Best Show With Dance (Physical Movement) award.

The next stage of the journey is the most exciting part; in June our small crew will be attending the Hollywood Fringe Festival for 6 performances of the piece. We performed The Death of the Swan for the community on the SCC as a benefit concert to raise funds for our trip to Hollywood. For more information about the performance, please visit The Death of the Swan or email me at madison.natoli@scottsdalecc.edu.

What made SCC the right fit for you?

Over the years, I have attended a couple different colleges, and the Equine Science Program at SCC was by far the best fit for me! The professors made my experience what it was. At SCC, professors care so much about each individual’s success, learning, and well-being. I loved the small class sizes and the passion each professor shared through their teaching.

Tell us about your favorite memory of SCC.

My favorite memory while in the program at SCC is becoming a teaching assistant for the Equine Program. While taking classes and working on my degree I was given the opportunity to work as a teaching assistant alongside Jay Clements. I was so excited and honored to be a part of the program in that way.

What value has SCC brought to your personal life and or career?

The Equine Program at SCC has brought value to both my personal life as well as my career. Attending SCC, working as a teaching assistant, and completing my degree has added value to my personal life by boosting my confidence and self worth. Now having the opportunity to stay connected and make a difference by teaching in the Equine Program at SCC makes me feel humble and proud. I love to teach and my time at SCC highlighted that passion. I have also met many friends, mentors, and acquired connections within Scottsdale Community College that I am thankful for. The Equine Science Program at SCC looks out for one another, we are not just classmates or students. Adding to the value of my personal life is the knowledge I obtained while completing my degree. Through taking the various classes of the program and connecting with the teachers, I have been able to take better care of the horses that I own. Knowledge is power, and this degree and my time at SCC has given me the opportunity to use my knowledge for good and be a better horse person. My career in the equine industry has just begun. By obtaining my degree I am able to build on my knowledge and rise up through the equine industry. The Equine Science Program has given me a great knowledge base to build on as my career progresses. I can see that the opportunities of my career have been expanded exponentially by attending SCC and getting my degree.

What would you say to convince someone to come to SCC?

Come to SCC! No matter who you are, SCC will help you be successful with your education. The teachers are wonderful, the students are friendly, and the classes are so much fun. I always felt welcome and comfortable in classes and on campus.

What are you doing now and for whom?

My career in the equine industry has just begun. By obtaining my degree, I am able to build on my knowledge and rise up through the equine industry. The Equine Science Program has given me a great knowledge base to build on as my career progresses. I can see that the opportunities of my career have been expanded exponentially by attending SCC and getting my degree.

Tell us about your journey after graduating from SCC. Where did you start and where are you now?

Upon graduating summa cum laude with an Associate of Arts degree from SCC, I moved on to ASU. I graduated summa cum laude again with a degree in Innovation in Society and earned a certificate in Applied Business Data Analytics. The certificate landed me a job in the finance industry. I was a Branch Service Manager at a wealth management company before taking a role geared more toward servicing clients and learning about financial planning. I passed my Series 7 and 66 Exams and became registered, which enables me to place securities trades. I have also recently obtained my Life, Accident, and Health insurance license. This year I plan to participate in a program through my employer that will expose me to the Financial Advisement aspect of the industry.

Tell us the ways that SCC prepared you for additional education and/or your career.

SCC offered excellent resources and diverse programs, but on a smaller scale. I essentially learned to be a student prior to becoming part of the mammoth institution that is ASU. The SCC tutors and instructors were always incredibly helpful. I came to trust that I would do well as long as I put forth the effort and utilized their resources. SCC taught me that I was not going to be shouldering everything on my own as a student because support and encouragement are part of the academic package.

Tell us about your involvement at SCC: list extracurricular and co-curricular affiliations such as clubs, organizations, programs, honors and/or athletic teams?

I didn’t have any time for extracurriculars because I had to work. My only extracurricular activity occurred at the tutoring center when I needed help with math.

What advice would you give others embarking on their college journey?

Make school your priority. Take it seriously. You can still make friends and have fun, but stay focused on your education. Do not give up when it gets hard. It’s ok to change majors, but never quit. And please steer clear of unsafe activities and relationships.

I was looking for an affordable film school in the valley where I could get a hands-on education and access the equipment immediately. Many film schools don't give you that opportunity. They focus more on theory, but I wanted to make movies.

Tell us about your time at SCC. 

I attended SCC twice. The first was in the late 90's for three years, right out of high school. In 2007-2008, I returned to continue my education and add fresh energy to my skills. The second time at SCC, I found many long-time collaborators that I continue to work with today.

Tell us about your favorite memory of SCC. 

My favorite memories at SCC are meeting like-minded students in the film department. It was an exciting time, there was always something going on such as a film shoot to be a part of. It was a time of collaboration; we were able to help each other with our movies.

What value has SCC brought to your personal life and career? 

SCC gave me access to the tools I needed to advance in my career.

Tell us what degrees or certificates you earned or what types of classes you completed at SCC. 

I attended SCC for five years and earned a certification in AVID editing.

List any scholarship(s) you received while attending SCC. 

Artist of Promise (Live Performace/Multi-Media)

Tell us about your journey after graduating from SCC. Where did you start and where are you now?

After leaving SCC I started my own production company, Squishy Studios. I continued to make short films and web series with several collaborators I met at SCC. I also pursued work in freelance video production as a director and editor on corporate and commercial video.

But my heart has always been with narrative storytelling, particularly genre comedy. I love weird stories, with sci-fi or magical elements and are also comedic. That's why we're proud of our biggest project to date, a feature film entitled "The Last Movie Ever Made", which has been five years in the making. We won Best Arizona Feature Film at the Phoenix Film Festival in 2023, and the movie was just released on Amazon and Apple TV.

The story, which is set and filmed in Arizona, is about a man in his forties who, when he finds out the world is about to end at the end of the month, tries to finish one big project to give his life some meaning ... his abandoned sci-fi movie from high school. He has to convince old friends and strangers to help him before everyone's time is up.

I met the star of the film, Adam Rini, and one of our producers, Josh Kasselman, at SCC in 2008 and we continue to work together today.

The experience I had at SCC is very important to me. Now I teach a film course at Glendale Community College's film program and I consistently draw on the experiences I had at SCC with my students.

What advice would you give others embarking on their college journey? What would you say to convince someone to come to SCC?

Right now is the time to say yes to everything. Get on as many student film shoots as possible. If you want to be a director, work in the sound or art department for a few shoots to learn more about how those other roles work. And you need to make a lot of stuff. This is the time to crash through walls, stumble around, and fall on your face. You’ll always learn the most from making your own mistakes.

Graduated with an Associate of Applied Science degree from the SCC Interior Design program in 2003 and then took advantage of a new program offered on the SCC campus - a 2+2 articulation agreement between SCC and Northern Arizona University. This program allowed her to apply her two-year degree from SCC to a four-year NAU Bachelor’s degree program. Due to Rachel’s deep respect and appreciation for the education she received at Scottsdale Community College, she decided not to end her educational journey there.

After graduating from NAU, she went on to complete her master’s degree in Interior Design at Arizona State University, in the hopes of teaching as an adjunct for SCC’s Interior Design program. Rachel also began working on her own interior design projects. Through her graduate research and professional practice, Rachel specialized in the renovation of mid-century and historical buildings in Arizona; becoming a leading member of the local historic preservation and modern design community.

In 2006, Rachel began teaching building systems and drawing and rendering for SCC. She eventually taught design history and space planning as well. Moving to Europe in 2009, Rachel created the program’s first online class, teaching historical and modern architecture and furniture from Greece, until moving back to the United States in 2011. She continued teaching online for SCC, and also served as adjunct faculty for ASU and the Art Institutes. In 2016, she finally secured the position she believes she was born to fill, residential faculty for the SCC Interior Design program. She teaches alongside some of her own former professors and occasionally practices design professionally with some of her former students. Rachel serves as the faculty advisor for the student American Society of Interior Designers chapter at SCC, and in 2020 became the Program Director for the SCC Interior Design program.

Since Rachel joined the program, she has worked with other full-time faculty members to increase their online offerings. She believes that SCC provides the best interior design education available. She encourages anyone passionate about a career in the industry, no matter the age, to try the online Introduction to Interior Design course and see if they might want to turn their passion into a rewarding career, as she has done herself.

Tell us about your time at SCC.

At SCC, I had a wonderful time. The first time when I met my instructor Carlyn Sikes for advisement, she told me about the entire training plan. This gave me confidence that I was in the right place with an expert Yoga trainer in charge of this department. My other teachers, Marivic Wrobel, Lisa Henrich, Ross Temple, and Jill Ellis, were all very helpful and kind. In all classes, the teachers taught enthusiastically, and filled everyone with positive energy. Even when I felt lazy and tired, the asana classes were a real energy booster. Students are motivated and energized by the end of each session. The teachers were always available to help and guide us. We had a great time together and made study groups. I especially enjoyed the Philosophy class of yoga.

What made SCC the right fit for you?

I moved to the United States from India in September 2013. I did my master’s degree (Post graduation) in Ayurveda, holistic medicines systems. I wanted to pursue my study further here in the USA, specifically in holistic health, yoga or naturopathy. I am a believer of health preservation and find that through yoga, I can help myself and others prevent lifestyle disorders and that yoga can act as a non-invasive therapy in the treatment of some ailments . Yoga and Ayurveda are sister disciplines. At SCC, I got the golden opportunity as Yoga Teacher Training- Certification Course and timing of classes were suitable for me as I am a homemaker and a mother of 2 daughters (9 and 4 years).

What value has SCC brought to your personal life and or career?

In my personal life, SCC made me a better person physically. I had an accident in 2012, which injured my spine. When I took the admission exam at SCC for Yoga Teacher Training, I was afraid of certain exercises. Gradually I was able to do headstands, shoulder stands, backbends, and forward bends. I felt myself getting physically stronger each day. As everyone knows, the mind and body are connected to each other. If a body is not healthy and active, the mind can’t be healthy and active either. So, I find myself physically fit, mentally stronger and calm. I am hopeful that my Yoga Teacher Training certification helps me achieve my financial goals and more importantly, helps me to help others gain their optimal health naturally.

How has SCC helped influence your success?

SCC has had an influence on my own personality. When starting college in a foreign country, one needs to adapt to the new culture, language, rules and regulations. I did not have much experience or knowledge of the college environment, course curriculum, class schedules, etc. in the USA as I did most of my education in India. Starting college in a foreign country, one needs to adapt to the new culture, language, rules and regulations, etc. and I was concerned about whether I would fit in. SCC provided a very friendly environment not only at the fitness center and in classes, but also in the administration block, student center, and library. I felt welcome. The teachers were super awesome; devoted to their teaching and practice of Yoga. Many workshops were conducted/facilitated by the department with senior Iyengar Yoga teachers (Nancy Stechert and Carolyn Belko). These were enriching and valuable learning experiences. As a yoga teacher and as a person, SCC has been a positive influence on my personal and professional life. Wherever life takes me, I will always cherish my time spent at SCC.

What would you say to convince someone to come to SCC?

I would say SCC is the best place for someone who is looking for a suitable platform to start their college diploma or graduation or profession journey. For me, I found SCC a very unique place which offers a world class Yoga Teaching Training and Yoga Therapy program with an affordable fee structure, flexible class schedules, experienced teaching staff and a lot of learning opportunities. The iInfrastructure at SCC is exceptionally good including classrooms, fitness center, library and other faculty buildings. Most importantly, SCC understands every student's need and even provides basic facilities like food and financial help to their students who require assistance from time to time. SCC promises you success.

Tell us about your favorite memory of SCC.

It's difficult to choose a single favorite memory, but if I must single out one, it was the workshop of senior Iyengar yoga teacher Nancy Stechert. This three-day workshop was enjoyed by most of the Yoga teachers of SCC as well as many current and former students. In between classes, we had small breaks and some fun time talking to each other. The experienced Yoga practitioners were interacting with new members and sharing their experiences and success stories. It was an awesome experience to get to know many new faces and fellow students. What are you doing now and for whom? As a talented and dedicated Yoga Instructor with significant training and practice of Iyengar yoga, I am currently employed as a part-time yoga instructor and therapist at LA Fitness in California.

What made SCC the right fit for you?

My first field of interest in healthcare was as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) after working as a volunteer firefighter. After 12 years as a full-time firefighter/paramedic, I became interested in a nursing career and started taking courses at SCC. SCC provided an opportunity to attend a school that was convenient for me and close to home and allowed me to continue working as a Patient Care Tech (PCT) in the Emergency Room using my healthcare skills.

Tell us about your time at SCC.

After completing the prerequisite nursing courses with the numerous academic departments across the SCC campus, I applied to the SCC Nursing Program. At that time, there was a 2-year waitlist, but it was worth the wait. The program came with high regard and outstanding student outcomes that helped me to enhance the skills I already had in healthcare, and took my career to the next step as an RN.

What would you say to convince someone to come to SCC?

SCC is a convenient and cost-effective way to get a jump on your education, regardless of your education and career goals. After obtaining my AAS in Nursing at SCC I went on to complete my Master’s Degree in Nursing at Grand Canyon University. This allowed me to become an adjunct clinical nursing instructor and led to my career as the SCC Nursing Lab Manager.

How did SCC influence your success?

The faculty was always helpful as I was gaining experience with the new nursing skills that enhanced what I already knew from my past healthcare employment. Even though we had some equipment in the laboratory, it was not the high-tech laboratory that we have available for students now. At that time, we only had rubber hands and arms that had embedded tubes as veins to practice intravenous techniques of starting IV catheters and hooking up IV fluids. Now, we have full-body, high-fidelity simulation mannequins that have this same equipment but are much more realistic as students can practice a more holistic approach to patient care along with learning a skill.

Tell us about your favorite memory of SCC.

The best part of nursing school at SCC was the support from classmates and being able to have a shared experience every step of the way. We helped each other during study group sessions, working through personal challenges, and preparing for exams and care plans.

Have you visited SCC since you graduated?

I often came back to campus to visit my wife who taught here in the Interior Design Program. As my nursing career continued, I worked with nursing students in the Emergency Department and eventually started working as an adjunct clinical instructor for SCC. After working with students and gaining skills as an educator in the laboratory and clinical environment, I became the Lab Manager. Many of the faculty who were my instructors in nursing served as great mentors and are still here today, which speaks volumes for our SCC Nursing program.

What are you doing now and for whom?

I am currently the Lab Manager for the SCC Nursing program. It is a pleasure to be able to help the next generation of nurses and to see that the program I attended continues to flourish. Seeing the students working together in the lab and studying together in the hallways takes me back to the reason I returned to SCC.

Tell us about your favorite memory of SCC.

My favorite memory of attending SCC was the ability to work part-time on campus while attending classes. I got to learn a great deal about the community college environment and the supportive faculty and staff. I made many friends who influenced me along the way.

What made SCC the right fit for you?

I decided to attend SCC after graduating high school because of its proximity, convenience, and the ability to work on campus while attending school.

What would you say to convince someone to come to SCC?

SCC provides quality education in a personalized setting at a relatively low cost. Additionally, it offers a pathway for students to transfer to universities.

What are you doing now and for whom?

I serve as the chief of police for the city of Chandler. I started my career in policing in 1986 serving with the Scottsdale police department until 2014 when I became police chief in Chandler.

Have you visited SCC since you graduated?

Yes, many times.

Tell us about your time at SCC.

I met so many other great people who were also working and attending school as a means to reach their goals. It was empowering to walk the journey with others who would support me, and I could return the favor.

What made SCC the right fit for you?

I was working full-time with a toddler, so the evening classes were such a benefit to me.

What value has SCC brought to your personal life and career?

Without SCC, I would not have been able to finish my required classes on time to get the promotion I was working towards. That promotion moved me from the mailroom to getting my opportunity to be a licensed insurance agent.

Tell us about your journey after graduating from SCC. Where did you start and where are you now?

After graduation, I continued to Arizona State University and graduated with my Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. I relocated to Texas but kept going to receive my Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from Texas State University. Since attending SCC, I have been with the same employer and am now a Risk Management Director. This year, I celebrated 22 years. I also have an LLC and provide consulting services to individuals and small businesses.

What advice would you give others embarking on their college journey? What would you say to convince someone to come to SCC?

Don’t quit! However long it takes, no matter the setbacks, keep going. The staff at SCC cares about your success. There’s no better learning environment than one where the staff supports you and celebrates your achievements.

Tell us about your journey after graduating from SCC. Where did you start and where are you now?

After SCC, I did the 2+2 program with NAU, earning my Bachelor of Science Degree in Hotel & Restaurant Management. Upon graduation, I was recruited to be an Intern at the JW Marriott Hill Country Resort & Spa. Since then I've held several different roles at this hotel in Front Office, Spa Sales, Reservations Sales, and Event Management, including weddings. In pursuit of my desire to gain more experience to one day run my own hotel, I moved to a Courtyard by Marriott Hotel where I was the Assistant General Manager overseeing not only day-to-day operations but also the hotel finances, which prepared me for my current role as the Business Operations Manager for Marriott Managed Select Brands, where I get to plan and execute regional meetings for on property staff as well as above property leaders.

Tell us the ways that SCC prepared you for additional education and/or your career.

Focusing my studies on hotel management at SCC better prepared me for real life examples of how I could apply what I learned to real business scenarios.

Tell us about your involvement at SCC: list extracurricular and co-curricular affiliations such as clubs, organizations, programs, honors and/or athletic teams?

Working full time, SCC allowed me the flexibility to take night classes. I also joined the Hospitality Club that had several experts in the field come as guest speakers.

What advice would you give others embarking on their college journey?

Get involved. Utilize the flexibility of class schedules. Utilize all of the resources SCC has to offer.

What made SCC the right fit for you?

SCC was the right choice for me because it offers a Degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management. After taking some time off after high school, SCC allowed for an easier transition back into the world of higher education. Additionally, SCC makes for a seamless transition to a 4-year degree in the same discipline.

Tell us about your time at SCC.

My time at SCC was an incredible educational experience. It encouraged my passion for the hospitality industry and in becoming a discipline expert. I will always remain an advocate for one to pursue education in their life.

Tell us about your favorite memory of SCC.

The most memorable thing from my time at SCC is the friends and connections I made. These are friends and connections I still have to this day. There is a large core of SCC alumnus who are currently industry professionals in the Valley and we all stay connected. I have also maintained a close relationship with the faculty and the program itself.

After leaving SCC, did you get a job or did you transfer to a university?

I transferred to NAU to pursue my bachelor’s degree in the same discipline. I was also dual enrolled for a semester. Immediately following my graduation from NAU I obtained my first leadership position in Hospitality.

Have you visited SCC since you graduated?

Yes.

What would you say to convince someone to come to SCC?

I would encourage anyone curious about pursuing higher education to start at SCC. Specifically, I would encourage anyone in the hospitality field to explore their degree in HRM. The HRM program at SCC is well designed and continues to adapt to today’s climate. It’s led by faculty who are hospitality professionals and have a passion for our industry.

What value has SCC brought to your personal life and or career?

The quality of the HRM program at SCC brought immense value into my career. It allowed for a seamless transition for me to continue my education. There is content I learned and connections I made which I still carry with me to this day.

What are you doing now and for whom?

I am the Assistant General Manager for The Camby Hotel, An Autograph Collection Hotel in Central Phoenix. The Management company I work for is Davidson Hotels and Resorts. This is my second stint with The Camby and Davidson, as I was previously the Director of Rooms from 2018-2020. In between my time at The Camby, I worked for Marriott at the St Regis Deer Valley in Park City Uah. During my 20 year career I have worked for Fairmont, Starwood, Marriott, and Davidson.