Yavapai College’s top students across all disciplines for the 2022-2023 academic year were honored at separate Evening of Recognition ceremonies at the Prescott and Verde Valley Campuses.
The annual events recognize students who, as YC President Dr. Lisa Rhine put it in her remarks at the Prescott campus event, “had to reach in deep, sacrifice and commit to excellence in their work. Individually and collectively, the students we honor today embody our college’s mission—to make the world a better place through our ideas, our innovations and our engagement with one another.”
Rhine also praised YC faculty and staff for their contributions to the honorees’ success saying, “Across the disciplines, you are developing and shaping ideas that make a positive and lasting impact on our future and I thank you for your efforts.”
YC Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Diane Ryan, speaking directly to the student honorees at both ceremonies, said: “You are a testament to resiliency and determination. You have shown us anything is possible and we are proud of you and all of your accomplishments. You are an inspiration to all of us.”
The college’s highest student honor, the President’s Award for Excellence, was bestowed on future engineer Aidan Skoch at the Prescott Campus and future nurse, Taidyme Mae, at the Verde Valley Campus.
A YC Honors student and vice president of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society, Aidan was lauded as an “exceptional” student and leader who “always seems to be five minutes ahead” of his professors in class. Aidan is one of four YC students who earned All-Arizona Academic Team scholarships this year. After graduating this spring, he plans to pursue mechanical engineering at Arizona State University.
A first-year nursing student at the Verde Valley campus, Taidyme serves as the president of the Student Nursing Association. “Taidyme is an effective and vital force with the Verde SNA chapter and exemplifies the ability to inspire, guide, delegate and mobilize students,” her nomination stated.
Finalists for the President’s Award for Excellence this academic year were Chasity Bryant and David Wauters on the Prescott campus and Staci Fowler and Pam Gonzales on the Verde campus.
Earning the Vice President’s Award for Academic Accomplishment on the Prescott Campus was Visual Arts student Zoe Harman. Finalists were Keenan Hammack, Rosa Laban and Megan Young. The Vice President’s Award winner for the Verde Campus was 84-year-old lifelong learner Carolann Chambers. Matthew Rickman-Jones was a finalist for the award.
Following is a list of this year’s Outstanding Students by discipline and by campus:
Prescott Campus:
School of Arts & Humanities
School of Social Sciences
School of Business & Computer Systems
School of Heath & Wellness
School of Science & Engineering
Verde Valley Campus:
School of Arts & Humanities
School of Social Sciences
School of Heath & Wellness
