Alumni Success

What made SCC the right fit for you?

SCC was, and is, the perfect place to learn how to be a wise and thoughtful student. The qualities of a good student may not be measured in just test scores and GPA. It is, however, the wise student who learns how to articulate who they are and what they want from their education.

Tell us about your time at SCC.

My initial experience at SCC, from summer 2015 to fall 2017, was a potent mix of anxiety and excitement; being able to see so many possible paths in front of me was overwhelming as much as it was a motivation to step out of my adolescent bubble.

Tell us about your favorite memory of SCC.

This will sound strange, but please bear with me. My favorite memory of SCC comes from my time taking one of our excellent nutrition classes with Professor Donnenfield. I had been drinking water from a used water bottle time and again. Professor Donnenfield stepped in assertively, yet respectfully, to tell me how this could lead to poor health. There are plenty of memories that stand out and live with me every day from my time at SCC, but the most impactful ones pushed me to be a better, thoughtful, critical thinker, and to follow curiosity.

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

Opportunities for reflection and growth. I credit SCC for being the only school where I felt safe enough to "fail softly" and rebuild my confidence, and to see lessons as even more important than the corresponding grades.

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

I completed an Associate of Arts in 2017, and I am currently nearly finished with a certificate of completion within the accelerated Commercial Baking and Pastry Arts program.

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

After graduating from SCC, I started my Bachelor's in Film Making Practices at ASU. Then, in January of my last semester, the pandemic shattered our collective reality. I worked as a freelance remote video editor between 2020 and 2024, holding various retail and odd jobs to support myself. Not satisfied with what film and editing could be for me, I pivoted to a culinary degree at SCC. And now, I'm investigating what a career in behavioral health and counseling could look like.

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

Your time is precious and valuable. Take risks by investigating all your interests. A degree can open so many doors, but it's how you feel walking through the threshold that will matter decades later.

What made SCC the right fit for you?

At the time, I was being raised by a single father, and our resources were tight. I was seeking a space that would provide a solid education and that was within our budget. Although, at the time, I lived in Mesa, after visiting the SCC campus and speaking with several of the instructors and current students, it felt like a better fit for me than other options I explored.

Tell us about your time at SCC.

While I was at SCC, I focused on my core curriculum, like English, math, language, and some classes that brought me great joy in both history and art history. Those art history classes were the first I had ever taken, and they transformed me in a way I can’t adequately articulate. Now, working in an Arts organization, I can look back and see that some of those classes were instrumental in instilling in me a love of art and the importance of art within the scope of our humanity. I did eventually transfer to complete my bachelor's degree at Arizona State University.

Tell us about your favorite memory of SCC.

Ahh, this is a silly memory, but at the time there were some ground owls on the campus. I had a particularly rough day and happened upon them from a distance. I recall sitting down on the ground and just observing those owls for what feels like an exorbitant period of time. Owls, out in the middle of the day, and on the ground? What sorcery was that? At the time it felt that they appeared just for me, and in a moment when I needed to see something magical and unexpected. Those owls were exactly what I needed that day, and I returned often hoping to see them and brighten my days. I hope they are still on campus and living a good life. If they are, and you see them, please tell them hello for me.

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

SCC allowed me to jump start my education with affordable classes which eventually took me to ASU for my bachelor’s and eventually my masters degree in HR Management, and now as Chief Administrative Officer/Chief People Officer (CAO/CPO) for Scottsdale Arts.

Tell us about your involvement at SCC. What role did that involvement play in your overall SCC experience?

I did not participate in extracurricular activities. Like many paying their way through school, I had to hold down several part-time jobs while attending classes, which limited my availability.

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

I don’t believe I earned an AA through SCC, although I did transfer straight to ASU to finish up the last couple of years toward my BA. As I mentioned above, the art history classes were a particular favorite of mine.

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

After SCC, I transferred to ASU, where I earned my bachelor’s degree in History, with an emphasis in Medieval Russia. Upon graduation, I transitioned into the workforce and looked toward pursuing a law degree. I applied and was accepted into law school but then decided to shift direction to Human Resources when I met my husband and we decided to start a family. I obtained my master’s degree in Human Resources Management from Catholic University in America in Washington, D.C. I explored the field of HR in the private sector for many years and was recently hired as HR Manager for Scottsdale Arts in 2021. In 2023, I was promoted to CAO/CPO. It has been a gift to be able to serve the employees of Scottsdale Arts.

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

Education is a gift that you give to yourself, whether that be in pursuit of education for education's sake or to advance in your career. There is no metric for the correct way to pursue your education. I advise you to find the space that supports your dreams, and gives you a path forward. Community colleges are a great way to get started on that journey; to explore what interests you, to discover what you don’t like, and to find deep connections with peers and educators. I recommend SCC as such a space for people of any age and any background to explore their interests and discover a deeper part of themselves.

Tell us about your time at SCC.

Initially, I was not afforded the opportunity to continue to play basketball while attending college. After contacting the head coach at SCC, I was invited to walk on in the fall of 1986 and try out for the team. The team had an abundance of sophomores and was well-established, yet I impressed the staff enough to be offered to attend school, receive a fee waiver, and redshirt while still practicing with the team. During my second year, I suffered an injury that limited my ability for much of the season. However, the next season, 1988-89, I was the team leader both on and off the court. I led the team in scoring and shooting percentage, and was named a conference all-star. The challenges I worked through led to my success in my final year at SCC.

What made SCC the right fit for you?

SCC allowed me to play college basketball and attend school.

Tell us about your favorite memory of SCC.

Memories are not always completely positive. In a holiday tournament game hosted by SCC, we played the #2 team in the nation from Illinois. We, the Runnin’ ‘Chokes at the time with the colors red, white, and blue, played the best game we could play and took the #2 team to overtime. Although we lost the game, the experience was unforgettable.

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

SCC provided the core education and values for the future.

Please describe your involvement at SCC. What role did that involvement play in your overall SCC experience?

I was a member of the Artichokes basketball team for two seasons from 1987-89.

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

I earned an Associate of Arts in 1989.

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

I received a scholarship/fee waiver from SCC from 1986-89.

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

Following my graduation from SCC, I remained deeply connected to the Scottsdale community. My professional career began in 1989 as the manager of the newly established and nationally recognized United Artists movie theater at the Scottsdale Pavilions, where I served through the 1990s.

I then transitioned to public service, dedicating more than 26 years to the City of Scottsdale. During this time, I managed multiple sports complexes and community centers, including both of the city’s award-winning USTA tennis centers. I am particularly proud of the work my team and I accomplished in enhancing community recreation and expanding recreational opportunities for residents—most notably by helping bring much-needed pickleball courts to Scottsdale.

In addition, my background in basketball and my connection with the City of Scottsdale opened the door to a rewarding officiating career. I’ve been officiating women’s college basketball for 25 years and Arizona high school basketball for 28 years — experiences that have allowed me to stay connected to the game I love while contributing to the sport’s growth at multiple levels.

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

My son is currently a high school senior and is in the process of applying to multiple universities. One's next step in education is something we have been discussing for months and years. Everyone’s potential journey is different. I believe that it is important to do your research and obtain as much information as possible to determine the best fit for the individual. Each person should make the best choice for themselves, which may be a university, community college, trade school, or starting a career without a college education. Communicate with family and friends, do your homework, and find the best fit for you. Patient, educated decisions made with your heart will always be the right choice.

Tell us about your time at SCC.

I have always loved creating music, so in 2017, I decided to enroll in SCC’s Audio Production Technologies Program. The program includes a great balance of music business, music theory, electronic music and studio recording classes, and all of the professors are really qualified and supportive, so I always looked forward to attending classes! It was also great to meet so many like-minded peers who also had a passion for music production. I always enjoyed attending SCC concerts, and I was fortunate to perform in the 2018 George Benson Showcase where I was presented with the Oscar Mayer Scholarship. After taking 21 units in the Fall and 28 units in the Spring, I was happy to receive my Audio Production Technologies Certificate of Completion in May 2018.

What made SCC the right fit for you?

The flexibility of SCC’s programs made it the perfect fit for me! I attended SCC during my senior year of high school, so even though I had not received my high school diploma yet, I was still able to take as many SCC classes as I could every afternoon in the Fall of 2017 and the Spring of 2018. My professors and peers were always really supportive, which made SCC not only a great place to learn, but also a great place to build community and collaborate with people who had similar interests.

How has SCC helped influence your success?

Like many things in life, education is what one makes of it. I was fortunate that I was able to utilize my time at SCC not only to learn all about audio production and to meet like-minded people, but also to shape my time management and organization skills. Taking a variety of classes at SCC while being a senior in high school allowed me to prepare my time management skills and organization skills so that once I began school at the University of Southern California, I was able to utilize my time management skills by taking the maximum amount of units while interning each semester.

Tell us about your favorite memory of SCC.

My favorite memory of SCC was knowing that each week I would have the opportunity to take audio production and music classes that I was passionate about with a great community of students and professors. I enjoyed and appreciated the opportunity to learn so many useful skills and concepts in each of my classes.

What are you doing now and for whom?

As of Fall 2020, I am currently a Senior at the University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music. In addition to taking class, I am also an A & R Scout at APB, which is a joint venture with Atlantic Records. I enjoy discovering and pitching a variety of artists, writers and producers to the A&R (artists and repertoire) team which is responsible for signing and nurturing talent. I am also completing an internship at SiriusXM, where I work with the Music Programming , Music Library, and Archive teams to assist with research and channel builds. I also enjoy writing and producing original songs for my artist project, Serapha, and assisting friends with their artist projects through my artist services startup, Palm Court Drive. I am looking forward to continuing to pursue a career in the music industry to inspire people through the power of music.

How did SCC influence your success?

How does it not?! To this day, I use all the skills I learned in the program. Anywhere from teaching, choreographing, photography, video editing, tech needs, injury prevention/rebuilding, directing, professionalism, networking, etc.

What made SCC the right fit for you?

When I first started, it was the schedule and the fact that they accepted students under 18. I was 15 when I first attended SCC because I was homeschooled and started to complete my dual credits and general education requirements at an early age. SCC continued to be a good fit because of the amazing dance program.

What do you do now and for whom?

I am a studio business owner with my husband and friends. We own and operate Elektro Dance Academy which includes all ages, all levels, and all styles. I also have my own photography business on the side.

Tell us about your favorite memory of SCC.

My favorite memory has to be the fact that I met my husband at SCC. We both took a summer ballet class taught by Angela Rosenkrans. That was such a fun and magical summer packed with many core memories.

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

When I talk to others about attending SCC, I tell them that the dance program is one of the best and shaped me into who I am today.

Tell us about your time at SCC.

My time at SCC has been one of the best experiences I hold close to my heart. Because I started in the dance program at SCC at a young age, it significantly shaped me into the artist I am today. I took my time completing my degree due to other opportunities that slowed my degree flow down... But there were opportunities I wouldn’t have had or felt confident doing if not for my time at SCC and what I learned there. I created lifelong bonds with people. Angela Rosenkrans was my mentor and still is someone I go to for life talks and heart-to-heart advice.

I learned and worked with many working professionals nationwide from different dance companies. I got to travel with my teams for college dance festivals. I presented my award-winning choreographic work in competitions, and college festivals, and even got to perform my job at SCC’s fall/spring shows. I learned technology skills such as music editing, video work/editing, photography, etc. I also gained hands-on experience putting on a full-stage production. We learned how to create a light plot, properly set up the stage, hang lights, stage manage, call cues, and work the light board and soundboard, etc.

My time at SCC has also helped structure how I teach dance today because of the courses about dance history, somatics, and injury prevention, you learn how to anatomically approach your technique which helps you better understand internally what is going on for a healthy career and future in dance, and so much more. I could go on and on about the program and my time there because I have built much of my career and what I do now on the knowledge and experiences I have gained from SCC. The dance program is designed to help you have a great academic or professional career after your time there.

Have you visited SCC since you graduated?

Yes! I am honored and proud to say that I am now on faculty at SCC and teach Jazz and Modern every week and I do the photography for their teams and spring and fall performances. It’s a wild and fun full-circle moment. All my professors created such a memorable experience for me as an SCC student, so I aspire to do the same for the next generations of dancers.