The Roundup E-Newsletter

June 2024

Commencement gets bigger and better

Cochise College put a new twist on its traditionally joyous commencement ceremony in May by inviting students who had earned a technical certificate to participate. In the past, only associate's degree earners "walked" at the annual commencement, while certificates were celebrated throughout the year at the department level. As a result, nearly 500 graduates participated at the Sierra Vista Campus ceremony. The college awarded 1,439 degrees and nearly 700 technical certificates in 2023-2024. In addition, 45 students earned high school equivalency through the Adult Education program. More recently, the college graduated 21 cadets from the Southeast Arizona Law Enforcement Training Academy; the recruits represent municipal law enforcement agencies in Benson, Bisbee, Douglas, Safford, and Sierra Vista, as well as the Cochise, Greenlee and Santa Cruz County sheriff's departments. Click and scroll to see photos from the May 17 commencement ceremony, May 16 nursing pinning, and May 15 high school equivalency recognition.

Investing to meet local workforce needs
Joint Op-Ed by Dr. J.D. Rottweiler and Fire Chief Brian Jones

In today’s rapidly evolving job market, investing in workforce development is more crucial than ever before. Employers need the human capital that can set their organizations up for success. People with skills and knowledge become the raw materials that drive the economy of the 21st century. The need for human capital is most evident in rural areas where recruiting and retention may be limited. As innovation advances at lightning speed, the need for a robust workforce

becomes vital.

Here’s why investing to meet local workforce needs is important. Workforce development is not just about filling positions but about preparing individuals for critical roles that drive economic growth and community viability. Cochise College proudly partners with many organizations at the community, county, and state levels. These successful partnerships, built on shared goals, create thriving communities and

empower people. Through collaboration, organizations can address their workforce challenges and develop tailored solutions. One example is the collaboration between Sierra Vista Fire & Medical Services and Cochise College. Together, we developed an accelerated Fire Science Training Academy. This format provided eight...read the full column.

Local opportunities showcase student creativity

Cochise College student Josselyn Vega is spending nine months learning about the Douglas/Agua Prieta region, visiting the threads of history, migration, social justice, and politics through the perspective of border identity, and documenting it through art, thanks to a Border Arts Corridor fellowship. Vega and four other fellows, to include former faculty member Margarita Ramirez Loya, will move through investigation, artmaking, and documentation with

mentors serving as thought partners and critics in preparation for a public exhibition. Fellows receive a $3,000 stipend, $1,000 for materials, and access to professional artists and border experts, photo and video documentation of their work, and exhibition and performance space. Border Arts Corridor sees the international border between Douglas, Arizona, and Agua Prieta, Sonora, as an opportunity to create art that transcends boundaries and unites communities. It works to drive forward social justice policies, public art, and local artists who shine a light on the communities in which they live. Vega's area of practice is visual mixed media, and Ramirez Loya's is writing.

In addition, Sierra Vista's Oscar Yrun Community Center is a little bit prettier since students in JenMarie Zeleznak's murals class unveiled their most recent work there. The multi-wall mural is similar to one created by a different group of Zeleznak's students at the Sierra Vista Police Department in that it is reflective of the region. But it differs in style, featuring a colorful, magical, and whimsical desert dream theme. Ten students examined contemporary murals across Arizona, emphasizing the use of visual elements to create unity and harmony in large outdoor spaces. The Neighborhood Partnership Grant Initiative, facilitated by the City of Sierra Vista, awarded $2,486.52 to support the project.

Latest issue of "Accolade" now available

A college basketball player, a daughter, a sister, a photographer, a student, and a Native American, Mikayla Silas is many things, and during her first year at Cochise College, she has made it a priority to focus on her identity and to share it with others. Read more about Mikayla in the "Accolade ," which also features articles about the college's new bachelor's degrees and Paraeducator Certificate Program, and a student receiving the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholarship.

If you can identify the students appearing on the final page of this issue, contact Librarian-Archivist Ashlee Gray at graya@cochise.edu.

Mission Moment
Your generosity provides opportunity to scholarship recipients

Becoming a forensic pathologist requires individuals to hold a medical degree and medical license and to participate in a medical residency and pathology fellowship, more than eight years of higher education. Emma Thatcher says, "Count me in!"

But, the recent high school graduate is well aware of the costs. The affordable tuition, proximity to family, and Senior

Scholarship sealed her decision to enroll at Cochise. She also was a member of the National Honor Society, plays in a couple of bands, and works 25 hours per week. She's quick to point out that the education that Cochise College offers allows her to overcome the changes in her life at a comfortable pace, and that the Senior Scholarship will encourage her to try her hardest in class.

"You're not just giving me money. You're giving me a happier and less stressful life, and I will forever be grateful for it."