Four Cochise College students named to the 2011 All-Arizona Academic Teams have received tuition waivers to complete their bachelor’s degrees at one of the state’s public universities.
On Feb. 23, Cochise College students Ajaa Jackson, Adayr Martinez, Staci Smith, and Ellen Whitehead received scholarships from the Arizona Board of Regents that will help them take a significant step toward achieving their goals. They are among 66 community college students from across the state who earned full tuition waivers to complete bachelor’s degrees at one of Arizona’s public universities.
The scholarships are part of the All-Arizona Academic Team program that aims to point the best and brightest community college students toward enrollment at Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, and the University of Arizona. Since the program began in the 1990s, it has awarded more than 700 full-ride scholarships to Arizona community college students.
The students received the waivers and were honored Wednesday, Feb. 23 at a special luncheon at Mesa Community College, where they joined with family, friends, and community college representatives to celebrate their achievements.
Students nominated to the teams are evaluated for academic performance and service to the college and the community. The nominations are reviewed first by business, civic, education and government leaders and then judged a second time by representatives of various federal agencies and education associations. They are ranked and placed accordingly on first, second and third academic teams.
Smith and Whitehead were named to the All-Arizona First Team, and Martinez and Jackson to the second team. In addition to the tuition waiver, each also received a cash scholarship from the Cochise College Foundation in the amount of $1,000 for first-team members and $750 for second-team members.
Staci Smith
Staci Smith
Smith, of Huachuca City, is a mathematics major who is exploring various fields of interest. She has worked as kennel staff at a local animal hospital and as an English tutor on campus. Smith chose to attend Cochise College because her father was an instructor there for 30 years and because both her mother and sister also attend. Because she was home schooled, she began her studies at Cochise at the age of 15, when she enrolled in language, advanced math, and lab science courses. Smith has worked on the college student newspaper Kaleidoscope and is involved with Bisbee’s Obscure Productions community theater, in which she conducted an honors project to interpret plays for the deaf and ultimately bringing deaf actors to the stage.
Ellen Whitehead
Ellen Whitehead
Whitehead, of McNeal, is a sociology major who plans to pursue a master’s degree. In addition to attending school full time, she works for her family’s ranch, growing, cutting, baling and selling hay/ tractor work, building and repairing fences and farm structures; and feeding and taking care of more than 40 cattle, as well as horses, goats and chickens. Whitehead is treasurer of the Douglas Campus Student Government Association and a member of the rodeo team. She mentors kindergarten students at a local school and is has created a program to teach about hate groups as part of an honors project. She also interned at the district office of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Whitehead plans to become a sociology professor.
Ajaa Jackson
Ajaa Jackson
Jackson, of Sierra Vista, is a computer science major who expects to graduate in August. She has worked as an English tutor, given piano lessons, and worked as a pianist for her church. Jackson serves as president of the Sierra Vista Campus Student Government Association, worked as an editor on the Mirage, the college’s literary and arts magazine, and helped organize the Reading Rocks! children’s reading circle. She has also worked as a preschool volunteer. She is active in honors programs at the college, serving as fundraising officer of the Phi Theta Kappa chapter at the Sierra Vista Campus and organizing an alternative spring break project to clean up a portion of the city. Jackson plans to work as a systems analyst.
Adayr Martinez
Adayr Martinez
Martinez is a business administration major who plans to pursue a doctorate and is already enrolled at the University of Arizona in Tucson. He graduated from Douglas High School and enrolled in the college English as a Second Language program, earning an associate degree earlier this year. Martinez served as president of the Douglas Campus Student Government Association. Prior to transferring to the university, he volunteered as a mentor at Faras Elementary School and started and promoted a bowling school for kids through his employer; three of the participants represented Agua Prieta, Sonora, in the state bowling championship, and one won a trip to the regional championship. Martinez’s goal is to work as an economist for the U.S. Government.
In addition to the tuition waivers and scholarships, honorees received a certificate and commemorative medallion. The No. 1-ranked Arizona student also is expected to receive a New Century Scholar award and a $2,000 stipend from the Coca-Cola Foundation. All-Arizona team honorees automatically compete for the All-USA Academic Teams, which will be announced in April in the USA TODAY newspaper. The national competition is co-sponsored by Phi Theta Kappa, the American Association of Community Colleges and USA TODAY.