A PUBLICATION OF THE COCHISE COLLEGE FOUNDATION
SPRING 2016
On the Ball Page 4
BOARD PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE The “Accolade” magazine shines a light on special and newsworthy activities at Cochise College. Now reaching more than 14,000 stakeholders twice a year, it is the Cochise College Foundation’s most informative communications tool, and one we continue to believe is important. Among the wonderful college news in this issue you’ll see an article about three additions to the foundation board of directors. New board members are an investment in the future, not just for the foundation but also for the students and communities the college serves. Several of us have served more years than we can count. Like all healthy organizations, the Cochise College Foundation needs new energy, ideas and connections in order to continue to grow and change. Although several of us have been inducted into the Cochise College Hall of Fame, foundation board service is not about prestige and recognition. Members of the foundation board volunteer because they have the capacity to make a difference and believe in the promise of education. Without it, most of us wouldn’t be where we are today, and we want others to have similar opportunities. The individual benefits from education, of course, but society benefits as well. I’d like to thank all of the members of the foundation board and also take this time to welcome our newest members Sheila, David and Mark. We all look forward to working with you. Sincerely,
Mark Battaglia, JD Board President Cochise College Foundation
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Cover: Laura Hughes, center, is more than a basketball coach to freshmen JuWanna Milton, left, of Mesa, Ariz., and Jordyn Penniman, of Moreno Valley, Calif. She’s also their biology instructor and mentor.
Board Officers Mark Battaglia, J.D., President Gail Zamar, Vice President Gene Manring, Secretary Karen L. Justice, Treasurer Board Members Yolanda Anderson Chuck Chambers Sheila DeVoe Heidman Jean Giuffrida Jan Guy Dan Rehurek, Ph.D. David Smith Bob Strain Ruben Teran, J.D. Dr. Mark von Destinon Board Member Emeritus Shirley Gregory Linda Staneart Ex-Officio Member J.D. Rottweiler, Ph.D. (ex-officio) Honorary Members Marsha Arzberger George Bugen Cochise College Foundation Staff Denise Hoyos, Executive Director Sheila Selby, Foundation Coordinator Rose Berumen, Administrative Assistant “Accolade” is published by the Cochise College Foundation, 4190 W. Highway 80, Douglas, AZ 85607. (520) 417-4100 Contributors Rose Berumen Amanda Helt Denise Hoyos Keith Ringey Sheila Selby Rick Whipple “Accolade” inspires charitable contributions in support of Cochise College by raising awareness about competitive advantages of the college and the activities of the Cochise College Foundation, which promotes student success through scholarships, facilities development, and program support. By supporting Cochise College, the Foundation endeavors to increase the college's accessibility to our diverse and changing communities.
FROM THE COCHISE COLLEGE PRESIDENT As another academic year closes, Cochise College is proud to observe and recognize the achievements of its students. We recently hosted our 51st commencement and a ceremony for student nurses; some of our most accomplished students played a role in those ceremonies. Lesser known but equally inspiring are those who enroll in Adult Education. The college held a GED Recognition Ceremony the week of graduation for students who earned a credential that has become more rigorous in recent years. I commend these students for having the courage to take this step toward success and an enhanced quality of life. Teaching basic English to people who speak other languages also falls to the Adult Education program. This year, a group of these students achieved something they never imagined. With the guidance of their teacher, Robert Johnson, they published a book. “Our Stories: The Dream Makers” - available through Amazon - is a revealing look at the realities that drive some people to immigrate to the United States, as well as the challenges they face when they arrive. Luis Perez earned an advanced degree in engineering in his native Puerto Rico but came to America with a family member seeking a more secure future. Ana Miladi Salazar had a successful career in Guatemala but came to the U.S. in search of personal peace and the opportunity to pursue her professional aspirations. Shafi Faizi tells of the dangers of attending school in Afghanistan, about working security near the U.S. Embassy, and of acquiring special immigration status as protection from the Taliban. As Cochise College looks toward its future, these students’ stories remind us that the human spirit is alive and well, and that it’s never too late to pursue your dreams.
J.D. Rottweiler, Ph.D. President Cochise College jdr@cochise.edu
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ON THE BALL Cochise women's basketball's player-centered coaching philosophy pays dividends for students in the classroom and on the court. When the women’s basketball team arrives on the Douglas Campus at the beginning of each academic year, coaches Laura Hughes and Daviyonne Weathersby introduce the “Values and Virtues of a Cochise College Basketball Player.” There is a hand-out. Of the 10 items listed, only one - fundamentals and conditioning equal victory - is physical in nature. The other nine are respect and appreciation, positive mental attitude, best effort, commitment, communication, loyalty, tough responses, accountability and believe and be confident/learn. That says a lot about the philosophy of the Cochise College women’s basketball program. Hughes and Weathersby spend their time helping players transitioning from high school to university, and from teen to adulthood, become mature, productive, successful people. Their No. 1 inspiration is graduating players and moving them to the next level. So far, so good. In Hughes’ first four seasons as head coach, 18 sophomores, or 90 percent of graduating players, went to a university. They’ve landed at places like the University of Texas El Paso, Idaho State University, the University of New Hampshire, and the University of Hawaii Hilo. Another five sophomores graduated this spring. “Our proudest moments are when players go on to the next level,” Hughes said. In Hughes’ five years with the program, the “allabout-the-player” approach has resulted in a 104-48 record in one of the most competitive community college conferences in the country. The 2013 team recorded a school record 26 wins and finished runnerup in the region. Hughes also landed her 100th win last year - her fifth - about a season and a half faster than the only other Cochise women’s basketball coach who has reached that milestone. Teams have appeared on the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) academic achievement list every year Hughes has coached, and the 2016 team earned the program’s highest ever grade point average of 3.4 in fall 2015.
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“That’s a reflection of the players we’ve had and that they’ve bought into what we’re trying to do,” Hughes said. What she and Coach Weathersby are trying to do is build a culture around positive attitude and hard work. Recent achievements are evidence of the importance the program places on mentality, which Weathersby identifies as the most important part of playing college basketball and overcoming bigger, stronger or faster players, or life in general. Team members are required to focus on school first, because without that, they can’t be student-athletes, and the opportunities for women who have not pursued an education are minimal. Coaches make themselves and their shared office available for counseling sessions on all manner of off-court issues, serving as life coaches, nutritionists, advisors, and psychologists. And the team volunteers, visiting elementary school students and working with the Bisbee 1000 Stair Climb and the Bisbee Boys and Girls Club.
“Coach Laura” recruited Sierra Vista player Arianna Anderson from nearby Buena High School. Anderson started every game as a walk-on and freshman. She earned a full scholarship to play at Cochise her second year. She appreciated coaches’ priorities related to academic achievement, commitment and teamwork and pointed out that minimal distractions make it easy to focus at Cochise. Next fall, she’ll play and study sociology on a partial scholarship to Thomas University in Thomasville, Ga. “I just worked hard at practice and in every game,” Anderson said. “Being committed is huge. Everybody has a common goal.” While the program looks regionally, it’s attracted players from New Jersey, Hawaii, New Zealand and France. The focus is on motivated students who want to play but need a couple more years of academic support or skill development. Hughes points to the disciplined and structured days - class, study hall, lifting, practice - as well as a quiet environment that is conducive to studying and meeting the requirements necessary for the next level of education.
“This isn’t just about basketball, because that’s going to end one day,” Weathersby said. “It’s about helping them grow as people. Sometimes, our intervention or theirs can be life changing.”
“You have to work to fail here because there’s so much support,” Hughes said. “We’re very, very hands on, and we work hard to have the students recognize that we’re working for them.”
Hughes and Weathersby both played Division I basketball, at Santa Clara University and California State University at Fullerton, respectively. Hughes also was an assistant coach at Arizona State University. Memories of the start of her undergraduate playing career at San Diego’s Mira Costa College are what drew her to community college coaching. The success of Cochise College’s other athletic programs was an indicator of the support the program had, and she found her Division I experience helpful in recruiting players who had that as their goal.
Cochise is currently positioned as an emerging program in the conference. While Hughes would like to win a conference championship and go to a national tournament, student success remains her top priority. “We’ve done well so far, and there’s room to achieve more,” Hughes said. “I really believe if you have a positive attitude and work hard you’re going to accomplish great things.”
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Three inducted into college Hall of Fame Cochise College welcomed three new, but not unfamiliar, faces to the Hall of Fame during its second induction ceremony May 7. About 80 people turned out to celebrate the contributions of Mark Battaglia, long-time foundation board member; the late Raymond Eugene Levra, art faculty; and Dr. Mary Lee Shelden, retired English faculty. Inductees were nominated last fall through letters of recommendation that explained the ways in which each individual holds a deep connection to Cochise College or has made a substantial contribution to the college through personal time, effort and interest. Battaglia’s contributions center around his legal work in obtaining gifts for scholarships, as well as his service as foundation board treasurer. Assets and scholarships increased significantly when he held that office. Scholarship endowments with which he was involved now award enough to cover full-time tuition for 46 students annually. In addition, every student receiving a scholarship from an endowment fund is impacted by the growth in foundation assets during the time Battaglia served as treasurer. Friends of Levra focused on his welcoming presence as one of the college’s first art faculty members, as well as his leadership in reaching out to art students of all ages and interests. Levra retired in 1989 but continued to visit campus until just prior to his death. Friends are working to grow the Raymond E. Levra Art Scholarship into an endowment that will provide awards in perpetuity. Guests supporting Shelden, described as a “tough, gutsy” teacher, acknowledged the lengths she went to in order to help students be successful. The current rodeo, tutoring, Student Government Association, and Phi Theta Kappa honor society programs owe part of their ongoing presence on campus to Shelden’s involvement. Rodeo Coach Rick Smith presented her with a buckle won by the undefeated 2016 women’s rodeo team. The Mary Lee Shelden Scholarship provides assistance to first-generation Cochise College students. Last year, the college inducted 19 in the first Hall of Fame class that honored the 50th anniversary. There are now 22 members. Information about Hall of Fame criteria and nomination is available at www.cochise.edu/alumni.
Top to bottom and left to right: Dr. J.D. Rottweiler, Cochise College president, Mark Battaglia, and donor Ernie Graves; Greg Figueroa ('79) and faculty emeritus Dr. Joe Gilliland with a Ray Levra painting; retired and emeriti faculty Arlo Janssen, Dr. John Doty, Dr. Mary Lee Shelden and Dr. Joe Gilliland.
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COCHISE COLLEGE HALL OF FAME Honor your memories and the legacy of those who make a difference at Cochise College and beyond. Categories: ● Student/Alumni ● Team/Group of Students ● Faculty/Staff ● Community Leader Nomination deadline: May 30, 2017 www.cochise.edu /alumni
Students succeed in electronics pilot program A shift in electronics training is giving Cochise College a chance to experiment with a teaching model that enhances student confidence while also providing them with the skills they’ll need in the workforce. The college for many years offered an avionics program that traditionally focused on electronics for the aviation industry and more recently included instruction related to unmanned aerial vehicles. Staffing changes initiated an exploration of other opportunities, and in 2014-2015, the college re-focused the program on electronics. In addition, a $10,000 grant from USA Funds allowed the college to embed relevant math instruction directly into electronics classes. The college used the grant to pay a math tutor to present relevant math concepts in the electronics class on a regular basis. Those concepts correlated directly to the electronics instruction taking place at the same time. The pilot effort allowed the college to modify the number of credits and the time necessary to earn a credential while also closing the gap between math instruction and electronics instruction. “This model really helped these students dig into their subject,” says Bruce Richardson, dean of Business and Technology. “It saves them time and money and allows them to focus directly on the work they want to pursue.”
In light of a strategic initiative focused on completion, as well as a substantial portion of students who need developmental courses in order to complete programs under a more traditional model, the college is considering other ways to embed relevant math and reading directly into training programs, says Dr. Verlyn Fick, vice president for instruction/provost, who applied for the USA Funds grant while he was at a conference. “We are interested in providing an educational experience that gets students where they want to go in a timely manner and at a reasonable cost,” Fick said. “Education is changing, and finding new ways to help students overcome obstacles while also completing a useful credential of which they can be proud is part of the equation.” In addition, the college recognizes a shortage of biomedical equipment repair technicians and training programs and is making plans to add that as a component of the electronics program. The reorganized electronics program is now enrolling students for the fall 2016 semester that begins in August. Faculty Christopher Ritter, above, worked with a math tutor to introduce relevant math concepts directly into electronics classes.
Faculty report a difference in the types of questions asked by students. Christopher Ritter, who led the pilot cohort and joined the college in 2010 as an avionics instructor, said that students didn’t ask questions about math, whereas previously, he observed them struggling to learn math and electronics concepts at the same time. “Preliminary indications are that the revised curriculum enhanced retention and benefited students greatly,” Ritter said. “Math just wasn’t an obstacle.” One student who participated in that program now works at the Sierra Vista branch of Northrop Grumman, and two others ended up at JT3, a Las Vegas company that provides engineering and technical support to four of the western test ranges for the U.S. Air Force and Navy under the Joint Range Technical Services Contract.
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Business owner transitions from construction to medicine By Amanda Helt Long-time Douglas resident and business owner Louie Garcia (‘90, ‘13, ‘14) earned an associate of applied science degree from Cochise College in 1990 but returned to the college to pursue a career in medicine. It was after his little sister, Maribel Yearra, was diagnosed with leukemia that Garcia’s passion for medicine grew, and he decided on a pathway for his future.
“We took care of [Maribel] at the hospital and supported her because she couldn’t really support herself during this time,” Garcia said. “I waited until my family was settled comfortably and my sister had fully recovered, then I enrolled at Cochise College.” During his first semester at Cochise College, Garcia managed his family-owned construction company. Despite the fact that Garcia already had a promising career, he slowly devoted more time to his education, working toward associate’s degrees in biology and chemistry. “It was a challenge for me, being a student and having to work and run my company,” Garcia explained. “Mid-way in, I stopped working full-time and cut it to like half-time, and by the end, I had to cut it down to like 10 hours a week.” While continuing his employment with his family’s small business, Garcia took an active leadership role in Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) honor society, and community service activities, including Earth Day celebrations on the Douglas campus. His services to Cochise received attention and eventually, his hard work paid off.
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Cochise College was the foundation for my pathway to medical school.
Garcia’s Earth Day project earned the Douglas Campus Service Learning Honors Award. He was nominated as Phi Theta Kappa Arizona Region Vice President of Communication, for which he won the Coordinator’s Award, and he was a part of the PTK officer team that won the Phi Theta Kappa Distinguished Chapter Officer Team Award.
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Upon successful completion of two associate's degrees, he graduated with honors in 2014 and earned a full scholarship as a member of the All-Arizona Academic Team, which helped secure his seat at the University of Arizona. More than two years later, Garcia has completed his undergraduate work at the university, where he earned bachelor of science degrees in molecular and cellular biology and physiology. He also pursued a biochemistry minor and maintained a 3.5 grade point average. Garcia says that earning multiple degrees in the sciences was not easy and required a lot of hard work and dedication. continued on next page
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continued from previous page “Fortunately, I have learned so much with all of these courses, and someday I will also be able to apply this knowledge,” he stated. “Cochise College was the foundation for my pathway to medical school. I would have never made it to medical school without going there. They have been so great. It really gave me the study skills that helped me succeed at the next level and because of all the scholarships, I don’t have to work full time at the construction company to cover tuition.”
New funds
Garcia was recently accepted into the University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson, Pre-Medical Admissions Pathway program, an intensive 12month Master of Science program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine – Medical Track program. He began the program in May. Upon successful completion, he’ll continue his education in medical school beginning in fall 2017. “If all goes well, I will graduate with my MD degree with the Class of 2021,” Garcia said. “…I once again have a renewed sense of energy – almost like I am starting all over again. Perhaps it’s because I have finally reached my destination. Finally, the long and tedious medical school application process is behind me. Now it’s time to begin the next part of that journey.”
NEW GIFTS SUPPORT STUDENT SUCCESS Ten students of Mexican descent received $1,000 scholarships co-funded by the Mexican Consulate in Douglas and the Paul Dwyer Memorial Trust, which has funded a similar scholarship at Cochise College for many years. The IME Becas program, sponsored by the Secretaria de Relaciones Exteriores and the Instituto de los Mexicanos en el Exterior, seeks to assist Mexican students pursuing higher education in the United States. Students attending Cochise College in Santa Cruz County also are assisted through a contribution from the Mexican Consulate in Nogales. • Hudbay Minerals Inc. is expanding a practice implemented by its predecessor and this year will award five $1,000 Rosemont Project scholarships to Cochise or Santa Cruz county high school graduating seniors who are first-generation college students. The scholarship will assist students enrolling in programs related to the mining industry, including agriculture, automotive technology, biology, chemistry, drafting, electronics, geology, physics, and welding. • During its annual awards luncheon, the Sierra Vista Woman’s Club provided a $2,000 contribution in support of computers for the Cochise College Downtown Center. The center, housed in the former Sierra Vista Regional Health Center hospital facility, opens in August. It will include all of the college’s healthcare training programs, the culinary arts program, several community outreach and service programs. Several computer labs also are part of the plans.
The nurse in this photo, which appeared in the Fall 2015 Accolade, was mis-identified as Hazel Shown. Contact alumni@cochise.edu if you can identify the nurse..
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NEWS OF ALUMNI & FRIENDS University School of Law, recalls his fondest educational experiences were with the caring, quality faculty members at Cochise College. He practices with Boroweic and Boroweic, PC.
1990s Carol S. Allen (‘92) worked as a licensed practical nurse in various nursing homes and later became a California Home Health licensed vocational nurse.
technical high school in Massachusetts, a job he believes he acquired because he also earned a welding certificate at Cochise College. Mark now teaches in California.
1980s Elsa (Ramirez) Duarte (‘82) is a sales director with Mary Kay.
Fidel Montoya, who attended Cochise in 1995, manages a Starbucks in New Mexico.
2000s Mariana Rivera who attended in 2002-2003 is a Boeing 777-200 first officer with Aeromexico.
Cinderella Smith (‘76) learned she was able to achieve a degree at Cochise College. After leaving with an associate of arts, she tackled an associate’s in business administration at Victor Valley College (California) and raised two college graduates. She is a career resource specialist for Goodwill AJCC.
Dr. Ibrahim Naim (‘82) serves as interim director of Global Education Services at Glendale Community College. He earned a bachelor’s in ecology and evolutionary biology, a master’s in Near Eastern studies, and a doctoral degree in Near Eastern studies with a minor in cultural anthropology at the University of Arizona.
Joel Jay Borowiec (‘78), an attorney who attended Northern Arizona University, the University of Arizona, Hamline University School of Law, and Boston
Brian Colwill (‘85), who earned an associate of arts in physical education, is a personal fitness trainer/manager at Tucson Racquet & Fitness Club.
The electronic proving ground (EPV) in Sierra Vista is managed by Kimberly Friend (‘94), who first earned an electronics technology degree before also pursuing an avionics technology degree and certificates in building maintenance and teleservices. She repaired navigation instruments for Spirit Aviation at the Tucson International Airport before taking a position taking care of medical equipment maintenance and repair at Southeast Arizona Medical Center. Friend moved to a Department of Defense position in facility maintenance and management at the Raymond W. Bliss Army Health Center on Fort Huachuca before joining the EPV.
1960s Clarke and Laura Ammerman, who attend the college in 1968 and 1969, are now retired. 1970s Shirley M. (James) Jones (‘73) graduated from the nursing program and retired as a school nurse from Bisbee Unified School District.
Martin Robitaille, who played baseball in the mid1980s, is a medical sales representative with Alcon Canada. Richard Acevedo, who attended Cochise College from 1983 to 1985, is an armored carrier with Garda Cash Logistics. Borowiec Jack Allen (‘88) studied philosophy at Cochise after leaving an active military post. He resumed work with Army Civil Service and later took a job with the U.S. Army in Japan.
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Janice Torres (‘94) holds a master’s in nursing and healthcare administration and is a case manager with Northern Cochise Community Hospital. Toni Torres-McGehee (‘95), who played basketball at Cochise under coach George Nicodemus, is a tenured associate professor and graduate Athletic Train-
Torres-McGehee ing Program director at the University of South Carolina. After Cochise, TorresMcGehee finished her athletics eligibility at Southern Utah University, where she earned a bachelor’s in biology. Wayland Baptist University hired her as a certified athletic trainer, and she was an adjunct faculty member at Texas Tech University for three years prior to pursuing her doctorate at the University of Alabama. Her research focuses on the health and well-being of collegiate female student athletes. Rebecca (Rooney) Johnson (‘97) earned a bachelor’s in elementary education from the University of South Florida and now teaches in the Sierra Vista Unified School District. Prior to retiring from the U.S. Marine Corps, Mark Brosnan (‘99) earned a general studies degree that allowed him to become certified as a Junior ROTC instructor. His first position was with a vocational and
Gerald W. Harmon (‘06) is a retired registered nurse who also worked as associate faculty for Cochise College. Lorenza (Rascon) Gonzales (‘09) finished her degree after a 10-year absence. An accounts payable specialist with the City of Douglas, she returned to school in order to set an example for her daughter. 2010s Formerly a leader in the Student Government Association, David Cota (‘11) is now a recruiter for Western New Mexico University. Christopher King (‘14, ‘15, ‘16) is a transportation official with G4S Secure Solutions. Max Sobotka (‘15) studied intelligence operations and completed an associate’s degree online. He is now a political science student at the University of Arizona.
THREE JOIN FOUNDATION BOARD In Memoriam Don Johnson, who taught English from 1964 through 1989, passed away January 14, 2016.
Johnson Cochise College Foundation Board Member Emeritus Lt. Col. George T. Hooper passed away January 30, 2016. Contributions to the George and Barbara Hooper Scholarship for nursing students may be made in his memory. Ann Kull, who joined the college as registrar in 1974 and became director of financial aid in 1977, passed away March 20, 2016. Loren Cooper, who taught motor transport until the 2003-2004 school year, passed away April 1, 2016.
Share your news and updates at www.cochise.edu/alumni or email alumni@cochise.edu.
The Cochise College Foundation board of directors recently appointed new members representing Bisbee, Sierra Vista and Tucson. A Sierra Vista resident, Sheila DeVoe Heidman retired from Cochise College in 2014 after 17 years. She served the college as director of the Small Business Development Center; executive director for Business and Workforce Development; and dean of Extended Learning. As the dean, she oversaw college centers in Willcox, Benson and Santa Cruz County; Online/Virtual Campus; and the Center for Lifelong Learning, Small Business Development Center, Adult Education, K-12 outreach, and the Prison Education Program. She owned DeVoe College of Beauty in Sierra Vista for more than 20 years. In addition, she has served on various local boards and is secretary of the Sierra Vista Economic Development Foundation, where she previously held all other executive board positions. Long-time southern Arizona resident David Smith moved to Bisbee following a career in law enforcement. He owns and manages an international fire and explosion investigation and consulting company, serving as an expert witness throughout North America. He has served on several state commissions and, since moving to Bisbee, has served on the City Police and Fire Advisory Committee and Civil Service Commission, as well as Rotary Club president. He also was elected to a term on the city council. Dr. Mark von Destinon’s history with Cochise College dates to his childhood, when his father was the dean of business services. Mark served as college registrar, dean of students on the Sierra Vista Campus, and faculty in psychology and sociology. He retired in 2011 and was named faculty emeritus in 2013. Von Destinon has administrative and faculty experience at both the community college and university levels. His experience includes distance training program evaluation, and he is president of the board of the Tucson Preparatory School. In addition, he has more than 23 years experience working with the Pima County Attorney’s Office performing research and working on grants and publications in the areas of child abuse, domestic violence and victim’s services.
He values a Cochise College education. So he gives.
Bisbee native George Bugen saved for a lifetime and found a way to help Cochise College students now and in the future. Working with his attorney and the Cochise College Foundation, he set up a fund to help the college provide state-of-the-art education.
What do you value? We can help you leave a legacy that supports student success. Contact: Denise Hoyos 520-417-4148 / 520-515-3690 hoyosd@cochise.edu www.cochise.edu/give
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Cochise College wrestlers from 1968-69 never appeared in the college yearbook as a team, but one of those pictured bears a strong resemblance to the young actor Burt Reynolds. Help identify these students or recall this moment by emailing alumni@cochise.edu.