Class of 2021

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | MAY 26, 2021

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Congratulations Class of 2021!

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | MAY 26, 2021

Proud Sponsor of the Annual Graduation Section

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THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | MAY 26, 2021

Ottawa gave him a passion for learning

BY SCOTT ALBRIGHT Ottawa University

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loyd Daniels lost his job unexpectedly in 2013, when his employer closed its Phoenix office. He was 39, had worked his way up to management level with only a high school education and was now at a crossroads.

He realized that education needed to be his priority, so he decided to pursue an associate’s degree in business administration and enrolled in Everest College.

Nearly two years later, with only two courses left to complete his degree, Everest filed for bankruptcy in 2015 and closed all its campuses nationwide.

“Needless to say, I was devastated and discouraged – I just felt hopeless,” Daniels said “This is when I was introduced to Ottawa University’s Arizona campuses. I remember meeting with an Ottawa admissions representative, who encouraged me by saying: ‘It’s not over. Let me help you complete your degree.’

“I was defeated at the time, thinking maybe I wasn’t meant for school, so that’s exactly what I needed to hear.”

Daniels took the information shared with him about Ottawa’s flexible, online adult education offerings, which included an opportunity to finish his two outstanding associate’s degree courses and a transfer opportunity to get his bachelor’s degree from Ottawa.

Though he thought of taking a break, he received a call from the admissions department at Ottawa University-Arizona asking if he was ready to finish his education.

“Even though I wasn’t yet convinced about my plan of action, something made me say, ‘Yes, let’s do it.’ By the summer of

Ottawa University in Arizona has campuses in Surprise and Phoenix. (Photo courtesy of Ottawa University)

Floyd Daniels lost his job unexpectedly in 2013, when his employer closed its Phoenix office. (Photo courtesy of Ottawa University)

2015, I was enrolled and taking my first class at OUAZ’s Phoenix campus.”

Now 41, Daniels was on his way to earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He was also working again fulltime, putting in a minimum 55 hours per week.

“There were many times I wanted to quit,” Daniels said. “I figured I made good money, so why did I need to continue? I came to the realization that this was not about the money. It was something I needed to do for myself. Not having a degree and working around many that did make me feel inadequate. This frame of mind really motivated me to push forward.”

In 2017, Daniels experienced what he says was “one of the proudest moments of my life:” He walked the commencement stage after completing his bachelor’s degree.

“I can remember saying, ‘God, please let me get through this,’ and with his grace I

did,” Daniels said.

There was something inspiring about the accomplishment and his experience at Ottawa: he wanted more.

“I never would have thought I’d consider pursuing another degree after what it took to get my bachelor’s,” Daniels said.

“But that’s exactly what I did. In 2018, at the age of 44, I decided to take the leap once more and get my master’s in leadership from Ottawa.”

Daniels completed his masters in 2019.

He could have just move on to the next chapter in his life.

But he wasn’t quite finished yet.

“The strangest thing happened, I enrolled yet again!” Daniels said. “This time, I am pursuing a second master’s in human resources. I’m currently in my last two classes which I will complete at the end of April 2021 at the age of 46.

“I won’t say this time that I’m done because, obviously, I have developed a passion for continuing my education. Ottawa instilled that passion in me, and really changed my life.”

Daniels is the first and only member of his immediate family of eight to have completed any type of degree. He said he

will be forever grateful that “Ottawa took a chance on me and allowed me to live up to my potential.”

“It has truly been an honor, and I sing Ottawa’s praises every opportunity I get,” Daniels said.

To learn more about Ottawa University’s Arizona campuses in Phoenix and Surprise, visit ottawa.edu/ouaz or contact an enrollment adviser at 1-855-546-1342 or ouazadmiss@ottawa.edu to set-up an advisory session.

Founded in 1865, Ottawa University has grown from a single building in Ottawa, Kansas, into a comprehensive educational institution serving more than 5,000 students through its residential campuses in Ottawa, Kansas, and Surprise, and adult campuses in Overland Park, Kansas; Phoenix; and Milwaukee as well as online.

Ottawa University-Arizona (OUAZ) in Surprise opened in August 2017 and since then has grown to more than 800 students.

With its adult campus in Phoenix, Ottawa University has had a footprint in Metro Phoenix since 1977 with more than 8,000 alumni. Nationwide, the university has more than 22,000 graduates. Information: ottawa.edu.

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THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | MAY 26, 2021

CACTUS SHADOWS T

he class of 2021 has approximately 470 graduating seniors.

Congratulations to Jessica Brashear for being named the valedictorian, Alicia Rifkin being named salutatorian and Katianna Blackwell Scott was named a National Merit Finalist.

The graduating class of 2021 was awarded approximately $13 million in secured scholarships.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR

Football • 5A Northeast Valley Region Player of the Year: Hafeez Ahmed-Momoh • 5A Northeast Valley Region Special Teams Player of the Year: Ryan Wintemeyer • Five players were selected for all-conference first and second teams Cross country • Merit Thompson individually qualified and took fifth place in the Division 2 State Cross Country Meet

High School

Swim and dive • Girls swim team took third at state • Madelyn Bachmeier: 200 IM state champion and 100m backstroke state champion • Sera Hanagan: 200 IM runner up • Katherine Rink: third place in 50 freestyle and second place in 100 freestyle • State champions 200 free relay and the 400 free relay with Katherine Rink, Jenna Moore, Sera Hanagan and Madelyn Bachmeier.

Girls volleyball • Division 2 state runner up • Four: first- and second-team selections for the 5A Northeast Valley all-region teams • Two: honorable mentions for the 5A Northeast Valley all-region team

Girls golf • Division 2 team state runner up • Calynne Rosholt: Division 2 team individual state champion

Boys golf • Division 2 team state champions • Jacob Tarkany: Division 2 team individ-

ual state champion • Jacob Tarkany selected for the all-state boys golf team

Boys basketball • 5A northeast region conference champions • Two: first- and second-team selections for the 5A Northeast Valley all-region teams • Cole Caruso named 5A Northeast Valley Region defensive player of the year • Three honorable mentions for the 5A Northeast Valley all-region team Girls basketball • 5A Northeast Region conference champions

Boys Soccer • Sam Rojo named all-conference second team • Two first- and second-team selections for the 5A Northeast Valley all-region teams

Girls Soccer • Nine first- and second-team selections for the 5A Northeast Valley all-region

teams • Emily O’Neil named all-region offensive player of the year Wrestling • Brayden Hasher placed third at state • Brandon Herzog placed second at State

As part of the superintendent’s challenge, Ryland Davidson accumulated 938.5 hours over his four years at Cactus Shadows High School of volunteer service time. Forty-eight seniors participated in this superintendent’s challenge and the class of 2021 contributed a total of 12,365 volunteer hours to the community over the four years.