Alumni News

It was a night of pride, reflection, and new beginnings as Scottsdale Community College’s 2025 class celebrated their graduation. Among the evening’s most powerful moments was a heartfelt speech from SCC alumna Aristina Sanchez, a proud member of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and the newly appointed Associate Judge for the Salt River Tribal Court.

What a gratifying night! Scottsdale Community College’s Spring 2024 Commencement celebrated all the hard work of our newly minted graduates, punctuated with hugs, high-fives, and a few teary goodbyes. Mikah Carlos, a proud Artichoke and a member of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, returned to her alma mater to share her inspiring journey and impart wisdom to the new graduates.

How does the daughter of Mexican migrants go from Iowa farm girl to Sandra Day O’Connor intern to Harvard graduate to honorary Brigadier General with three Presidential Appointments?

Abbott is the Vice President of Development at Junior Achievement of Arizona (JAAZ), a Tempe-based nonprofit that works to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy. At JAAZ, volunteer mentors from the community teach students about the importance of money management, workforce readiness, and entrepreneurial thinking. Providing this kind of critical education at a young age aims to prepare the next generation for a future with more financial stability, a better-trained workforce, and a more robust economy.

In 1975, as a student at Scottsdale Community College (SCC), Ramona Ortega-Liston
became the first SCC intern in Sandra Day O’Connor’s Arizona State Senate office.

When husband and wife Jason and Katherine Dwight opened Persepshen in central Phoenix in 2019, they had a clear vision for the restaurant. “We wanted to help change people’s perception of how to eat sustainably and organically utilizing local ingredients and making everything from scratch,” Jason says. As co-owners, Katherine is the Executive Baker and Pastry Chef, and Jason is the Executive Chef.

What can look like overnight success from the outside is often the result of years of tireless work and effort. As a rising star at Arizona’s Family news team, David Caltabiano admits that the journey wasn’t always easy. He points to his time at Scottsdale Community College (SCC) as a pivotal period. 

From the walkways of Scottsdale Fashion Square to the seats of the Footprint Center and beyond, State Forty Eight apparel has become an iconic brand for Arizonans who want high-quality, stylish gear to represent their home state. And it all started when CEO and Co-founder Michael Spangenberg studied hospitality at Scottsdale Community College (SCC).

When Pamela Keller Hallows decided to return to school at 64, she felt reasonably nervous – attending a new school with classmates far younger than her felt intimidating. But Hallows never shied away from a challenge.

Arizona continues to grow as a popular tourist destination, with approximately 47 million people visiting the Grand Canyon state in 2019, spending more than $25 billion and generating more than 300,000 hospitality and leisure jobs.