Corey Lycopolus

What made SCC the right fit for you?

I lived in Arizona before being stationed in New York with the Army. I had attended NAU for a couple of years and wanted to get back into the swing of school via community college.

Tell us about your favorite memory of SCC.

The extracurricular activities and opportunities offered are among my favorite memories. These provide great opportunities for on-the-job, real-world training and set you up for college and university success.

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

The classes and extracurricular opportunities were directly applicable to my career path.

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

I was very involved in the Center for Native and Urban Wildlife. I also utilized the Veterans Administration (VA) lounge and VA resources. This resource enabled me to connect with other Veterans on campus and offered a quiet place to study.

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

After graduating from SCC, I completed a degree in Applied Biological Sciences and Visual Photography at ASU. I continued to help out at CNUW while attending ASU. Dr. John Weser, Professor of Biology, Life Sciences Department Chair, and Executive Director of the Center for Native & Urban Wildlife, was a reference when I applied for the position of Education Assistant with the National Audubon Office in Phoenix. My experiences at CNUW were instrumental in securing this job, as I had limited prior work experience with birds. I often returned to SCC when I was leading tours with the National Audubon Society. My next professional experience was as an Education Technician for the National Park Service. I am now an Interpretive Park Ranger at Valles Caldera National Preserve in Jemez Springs, New Mexico. I provide leadership for interpretation, education, and volunteer divisions. The goal is to connect visitors to the materials and resources we have. I enjoy speaking to groups and leading tours and field trips for K-12 and university students. I visit classrooms and talk about the National Park Service in general. The programs I coordinate focus on art, photography, and birding. I have initiated bringing music to the park through concerts. In April, we hosted the first-ever silent disco at a national park. I am the Night Sky Manager, which means I manage volunteers and oversee after-hours programs that offer stargazing, astro photography workshops, and moonlit hikes. I also lead a monthly guided hike, utilizing instant film cameras as a medium to explore the park. Participants learn the basics of photography and compositional recommendations while slowing down and appreciating the surroundings using an instant film camera, all while exploring Valles Caldera.

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

SCC offers ready access to your professors and small class sizes, which make for a very engaging educational experience.