Kenneth Heaton

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

My studies there taught me to prepare well, work hard, and strive for perfection.

What made SCC the right fit for you?

Intimate learning environment with highly qualified, talented professors.

Tell us about your time at SCC.

SCC provided the perfect transition for me from a small rural Midwest high school to college. Bob Mugford turned me into a decent writer. Pamela Fields fueled my interest in theater.

Tell us about your favorite memory of SCC.

The flora and fauna of Arizona field trips with Dennis Massion's class.

Please describe your involvement at SCC, including extracurricular and co-curricular activities such as clubs, organizations, programs, honors, and athletic teams.

I was an assistant to Al Fischer in the SCC Public Relations office. He taught me a lot about the news business and public relations, which figured into several future positions.

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

Associate's Degree. Focused mostly on English and Performing Arts.

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

I went on to Arizona State University and earned a BA in English. Upon graduation, I worked as a Research Analyst for the Arizona House of Representatives. I performed in many professional theater productions in the Valley. I later graduated from the Yale School of Drama with a focus on playwriting. I later received a Fulbright fellowship to Croatia. I've worked as a reporter for several publications. My play 'The Ontological Detective' was produced off-Broadway, and 'Mustard Seed' won the Southern Playwrights Competition. As an actor, I have appeared in the Academy Award-nominated short, 'The Letter Room,' and on Hulu’s 'Chance.'

My post-apocalyptic sci-fi podcast, 'BlueLife' which was an Austin Film Festival script award winner, premieres its first three episodes on Sept. 1st. Go to https://www.bluelifeworld.com/ for details.

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

Challenge yourself. Learn from people who have 'been there.' Work hard and don't forget to have fun. SCC provides an ideal environment for learning and building community in an affordable, low-stress environment. It made me fall in love with learning.