Alumni Success

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

I'm a working DJ, and I teach new students in the music business. I have worked on major music festivals and events for the city of Mesa, and I DJ at a Scottsdale club on the strip, but that's just today, and I'm only getting started. This summer, I'll be in the studio working on my music productions and so much more. I was even eligible for a Grammy twice.

What made SCC the right fit for you?

It was the right school at the right time, and SCC offered the programs that interested me.

Please share your experience at SCC.

I started SCC in 2019 as part of the Disc Jockey (DJ) program, earning an Associate in Applied Arts degree. I also dual-enrolled in audio production. I eventually became involved and was chairman of the student body. While I was there, we accomplished some amazing feats, such as having a rolling stage where we live DJ'ed on a trailer for the Parada Del Sol parade. We had to overcome COVID-19 and lockdowns and find solutions in real-time to problems that even the industry had not thought of or implemented. We had to be investors, leaders, and pioneers, and it made us stronger. Primarily, I made friends, formed bonds, and learned a great deal. It was a great time in my life, one I look back on fondly and hope others, too, have a memorable experience.

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

I was on the Council of Civic Engagement (the student body). I was also a member of the Music Industries Club (MIC).

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

I completed the Disc Jockey program at SCC.

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

I received the SCC General Scholarship and the David L Hallstrom Memorial Scholarship. Receiving a scholarship meant everything at the time, and I still feel the same way now. This financial support lifted a weight from my shoulders, enabling me to focus on my academics. I felt as though I had a support system in place. I wanted to embody the values of the scholarship donor in both my academic and extracurricular activities. I tried to make the donors proud, and I felt propelled forward by their support in the constant pursuit of success.

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

My journey with SCC began immediately, as I was asked to return to MCC and assist with the program after it relocated from SCC. Additionally, I was eligible for a Grammy, as I was part of a professional guild. I also started DJ'ing for a few events and clubs, eventually performing at music festivals and other events. I now own my own business and am doing what I love.

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

College isn’t just where you learn facts—it’s where you find your voice. At SCC, you don’t just grow academically, you grow into who you’re meant to be. The journey of a thousand dreams begins with one bold step.

What made SCC the right fit for you?

As an adult learner in my forties who recently moved to Scottsdale from the Midwest, I wanted a supportive learning environment close to home. I also wanted to be able to coordinate with my family’s schedule, which included my preschool and preteen daughters.

Tell us about your experience at SCC.

I received a quality education in a supportive environment with accessible faculty and advisors. I served on the Adult Re-Entry Advisory Board and as one of the coordinators of AWARE (The Association for Women's Active Return to Education). As a student, I created and directed the monthly Well-AWARE-ness Lecture Series attended by faculty, staff, students, and community members. Additionally, I coordinated a holiday gift program of toys and gift cards for the children of students in need. The first year, we entitled the program "A Merry Christ-Moose," and the second year, "The Wishing Star." I dressed up in a moose costume and took candy canes to the campus childcare center. One year, after filling all the requests, we had two carloads of toys left to donate to the Chrysalis Center.

Tell us about your favorite memory of SCC.

My favorite memory occurred during the graduation ceremony when I received a standing ovation from some of the faculty and custodial staff. I also received the first award of "Outstanding Communication Student" from the Communication Department.

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

SCC provided me with the confidence and self-awareness to continue my education, the opportunity to be creative, and the resilience to meet new challenges personally and professionally.

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

I was on the Dean's List and later selected for the Dean's List of America.

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

I earned an Associate of Arts degree. Some of my classes included communication, psychology, and humanities.

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

I graduated "summa cum laude" with a BA in Communication from ASU and an M.Ed from NAU. My career path included Director of Western Maricopa Tech Prep Consortium, which includes fifty-eight high schools and six Maricopa Community Colleges. We won a "Best of the West" award for the implementation of my idea of a career expo at the stadium in Glendale. The event was attended by over 10,000 students, teachers, parents, and business professionals. In my capacity as director, I met annually with members of the House and Senate in AZ and D.C. on matters of education. I also presented at local, regional, and national conferences.

Additionally, as an adjunct instructor for Maricopa Community Colleges, I taught communication courses. This included: SCC, EMCC, GateWay, GCC, and Rio. At Grand Canyon University, I taught public relations, upper-division public speaking, and the history of visual arts.

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

Start your college journey by including an elective that interests you. Avail yourself of the resources offered by the college by meeting with teachers, advisors, counselors, and tutors. Create and implement manageable goals for the semester and plan ahead to ensure the courses further your academic aspirations and your career goals.

What made SCC the right fit for you?

I enrolled at SCC when it first opened. I took one class to get a feeling for the experience. From that, I enrolled full-time. Dr. Gloria Little contacted me and asked if I was interested in joining her to establish AWARE, an organization to help women return to the workforce. I loved it, and we did well, eventually awarding a scholarship. I took every class I could and assisted Dr. Ruth Cox in applying for our accreditation. I even worked part-time for the dean. Finally, in 1976, I took the plunge and graduated with my Associate's degree.

Tell us about your time at SCC.

I was very active and loved every minute

Tell us about your favorite memory of SCC.

My favorite memory is of a little lady who returned to school to get a degree in music. The kids loved her, and she was always surrounded by them. Her name was Lulu Longfellow. She went on to ASU.

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

I am now 93 and value my time as a student. I attended SCC because I wanted to, not because I was looking for a career.

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

I loved helping women get back into the workforce

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

I took everything I could, even algebra, until I had to graduate. I told everyone I couldn’t go to ASU because I probably would not be able to find a parking space.

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

I went on to be active in politics for Scottsdale. I even became a city councilmember and served the City of Scottsdale for a four-year term.

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

The junior college system is the best option for young people to start their educational journey.

What made SCC the right fit for you?

Working full-time, I knew that someday I would return to school. Relatively new to married life, still working part-time and consumed with the role of caregiver for my mother (who was recovering from brain surgery), I realized that I needed to do something for myself. I had always loved riding horses and realized that my interest in horses could be an outlet and an opportunity for personal and professional growth, not to mention some much-needed self-care. Thus began my educational journey at SCC with a focus on Equine Science.

Tell us about your favorite memory of SCC.

My favorite memory is a one-to-one meeting with the SCC President, Dr. Jan Gehler, upon being selected to participate in the Student Public Policy Forum (SPPF). This opportunity was both rewarding and validating. Taking a class from the State Historian, Marshall Trimble, was also a very impactful experience. I was elated to receive one of his books, an acknowledgment of my commitment to learning all about Arizona history.

Tell us about your time at SCC.

My employment and caregiver responsibilities necessitated taking one or two classes a semester. At this pace, it was a long and challenging journey as I juggled multiple roles of employee, student, wife, and caregiver. While at SCC, I focused mostly on my Equine curriculum; however, I had several stand-out professors in my core education. I loved film, Spanish, English, and my amazing speech class with Professor Judy Balan.

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

SCC gave me the confidence to navigate life. I learned to ask questions and advocate for myself and others. I have continued my advocacy role as a Volunteer with Camelot Therapeutic Horsemanship, my appointment and service to both the Parks and Recreation Commission and Tourism Development Commission for the City of Scottsdale.

Tell us about your involvement at SCC. 

My participation in SPPF provided me with an in-depth experience of how government works and culminated in my travel to Washington, D.C., where I had the opportunity to lobby members of Congress on higher education issues that mattered to me. It was also affirming to be honored at Excellence Under the Stars for my hard work and talent, and to be asked to submit a speech for consideration to be the SCC Commencement Student Speaker. I was recognized for my investment of time, energy, and talent in my schoolwork, and for that, I am most grateful.

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

I received several scholarships while at SCC as an adult re-entry student. My philanthropic spirit exemplifies my gratitude. I am now the proud donor of two scholarships established in 2021 to memorialize my parents and extend to others the financial support I received along my educational journey. These scholarships are: Robert Henry Karla Scholarship - Fish and Game, Sustainability, and Animal Husbandry, and Peggy Jane Karla Scholarship - Equine Science.

Tell us about your journey after graduating from SCC.

Upon retiring after 30 years of service with Grainger Industrial Supply Company, I pursued my interest in travel and am now an independent Travel Advisor with ties to Virtuoso, providing the best travel experiences for my clients. I have volunteered with the Camelot Therapeutic Horsemanship program for over 20 years. Camelot offers horsemanship-related services to children and adults with physical disabilities, a bridge leading to a life of freedom and self-fulfillment.

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

The warm embrace you will receive from professors, instructors, counselors, and the staff is amazing. Everyone at SCC is ready to make your dreams come true. You are ageless as a member of the SCC campus community. I am very grateful to all the people who supported my journey. As someone who has invested significantly in the care of others, it’s very affirming to receive the care and support offered at SCC.

Tell us about your time at SCC.

I attended SCC from 2000 to 2002 in the film production program and graduated with an Associate of Science degree, earning high honors. It was an incredible program and exactly what I needed at that stage in my life.

I was fortunate to learn from passionate instructors who took both the craft and the industry seriously. Eric Studd is one name I still remember, but truly, every instructor in the program made an impact. The program balanced creativity with practical production skills and gave me the confidence to pursue a career in the entertainment industry.

What made SCC the right fit for you?

The film production program.

Tell us about your favorite memory of SCC.

One of my most impactful memories was being on campus on September 11, 2001. It was a difficult day for everyone, but I remember feeling grateful to be surrounded by the SCC community. The conversations we had in class that day, and the perspective our instructors shared, left a lasting impression on me.

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

The program gave me the skills and confidence to move to Los Angeles after graduation and begin working in production. My career ultimately evolved into marketing and large-scale events, where I spent two decades producing global projects and living in cities like Los Angeles, London, and Las Vegas.

One of the most meaningful outcomes from SCC has been the network I built there. Many of the people I met during the program are still friends today, and several of us continue to work in production in different forms.

Another interesting thing about my journey is that my film degree has been a constant safety net. During major industry disruptions, the 2009 recession, the shutdown of live events during COVID in 2020, and a corporate layoff in 2025, I was able to return to film production work. Those technical skills have supported me throughout my career.

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

Most of my time was focused on the film program itself. I also worked while attending school, so I wasn’t heavily involved in extracurricular activities. However, I was very committed to my studies and graduated with high honors.

The film program was very hands-on, so much of the learning happened directly through production projects and collaboration with classmates. Even without many extracurricular activities, the program itself created a strong sense of community and teamwork.

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

After graduating from SCC, I moved to Los Angeles and began working in film production. Over time, my career expanded into experiential marketing and global events, where I spent nearly twenty years producing large-scale projects for companies such as Panasonic, Dell, Disney, NBC Universal, Dassault Falcon, and Bombardier.

My work has taken me to cities around the world, including London, Saint Petersburg, Cape Town, and Singapore, where I’ve led creative and production teams delivering global brand experiences.

Today, I run my own consulting studio focused on experiential marketing and event strategy, while also continuing to collaborate on film and animation projects.

After this recent career transition, I also decided to finish my undergraduate degree. I’m currently a senior at Western Governors University and expect to graduate at the end of this term. I plan to continue with an MBA to further strengthen and future-proof my career.

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

SCC is an excellent place to begin your journey, whether you are pursuing a career-ready program like film production or culinary arts, or completing general education before transferring to a university.

It’s an affordable way to build real skills, explore your interests, and gain momentum toward a career. In today’s world, having a degree helps open doors, and SCC is a great place to start building that foundation