There are nearly 50 scholarships available for the 2010 – 2011 academic year for new and continuing students. The dealine for most scholarships is April 9.

The TriWest Military Scholarship deadline for the summer I 2010 term is May 1, 2010.

The TriWest Military Scholarship is available to service members in the active, reserve, or guard component of any U.S. military service branch or spouses/dependants of service members.

To learn more or to apply for a scholarship, please click HERE.

Additional questions may be directed to Kala Weinacker at 480.731.8407.

Surprise and Dysart Unified School District sophomores, juniors, and seniors wishing to develop leadership skills are encouraged to register for the Second Annual Surprise Youth Leadership Summit, March 26.

Surprise Mayor Lyn Truitt will kick off the summit, featuring Congressman Trent Franks, Chamber President David Moss and former teacher and motivational speaker Justin Boudreau. This is an opportunity for high school leaders to expand their skills and knowledge base by interacting with these leaders and learning their tips for success.

The free one-day summit will be held on Friday, March 26, at the Communiversity @ Surprise, on the Surprise City Hall Campus, from 8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.

The summit is designed to encourage more young people to become engaged in their community and develop civic leadership skills and informational tables representing a broad range of opportunities will be on display.

The Summit is just the starting point for a larger Surprise Youth Leadership Program slated to launch in the coming months in an effort to embrace the enthusiasm of these ambitious young leaders.

Summit registration forms are due Friday, March 19. Forms can be picked up at the Community & Recreation Services Office, 15960 N. Bullard Avenue, or downloaded online at www.surpriseaz.com/recreation. There is limited space for this engagement. Early registration is recommended.

The summit is presented by the Surprise Regional Chamber of Commerce; APS; Dysart USD; Rio Salado College; the Communiversity @ Surprise; and the City of Surprise.

For more information, please contact Donna Miller at 623.222.2218 or donna.miller@surpriseaz.gov.

By David Staudacher, Rio Salado College PR Manager

Thomas Edison once said, “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”

Rio Salado College students Katherine Robinson, of Tempe, and Amber Jensen, of Phoenix, are two people who work hard in the classroom, and, due to their strong work ethics, have earned the opportunity of a lifetime.

On Thursday, Robinson and Jensen were named to the All-Arizona Academic Team during an awards celebration at Mesa Community College.

“We are honored to have these two students represent Rio Salado College,” said Rio Salado Interim President Chris Bustamante. “They are outstanding students who have shown a passionate commitment for education and their community.”

Robinson was named to the first-team, and was awarded a cash prize of $1,000 and a full two-year renewable scholarship at one of Arizona’s three state universities.
Robinson earned her spot on the first team by maintaining a 3.93 grade-point average (GPA), earning 57 credits, and participating in a variety of college and community activities. Her activities include: Vice President of Leadership for the Alpha Theta Omicron Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa; editor and writer for The Alpha Theta Omicron Alpha Bits; student coordinator of a Beautification and Community Garden Program; and a victim response member for Pandora’s Project.

As a member of the first team, she also is a candidate for the All-USA team, which will be announced in April. If named to the team, Robinson could win an additional $2,500 and be featured in the USA Today newspaper.

Jensen was named to the second team and received a $750 cash prize and a full two-year renewable scholarship at one of Arizona’s three state universities.

Jensen, who plans to transfer to Northern Arizona University, earned her spot on the team by maintaining a 3.8 GPA, earning 127 credits, and being active at Rio Salado and in the community. She used the skills she has been learning at Rio Salado’s School of Dental Hygiene by volunteering as a hygienist at the Central Arizona Shelter Services, the Dave Pratt Boys and Girls Club, and at the Give Kids a Smile for elementary school students. She also served as a member of the AmeriCorps Project Ayuda where she provided dental hygiene care for special needs patients.

“I am privileged to volunteer my services as a dental hygiene student at the Central Arizona Shelter Services clinic for the homeless,” said Jensen. “Not only am I able to practice technical skills I have learned, but I recognize the impact I can have on someone’s life through my education.”

The All-Arizona Academic Team scholarships are offered every year to two students from each of the state’s community colleges. To qualify, students must have earned a high grade point average and many credits in different academic disciplines at Rio Salado College, be working toward an associate degree, and be an active participant in service learning activities such as block watch participation, charity organizations, political organizations, religious groups and other community groups.

For more information about scholarship opportunities at Rio Salado College, please visit www.riosalado.edu/financial_aid.

The Communiversity @ Surprise was recently featured on the January edition of Maricopa Now!

Maricopa Community Colleges Chancellor Rufus Glasper today announced the appointment of Dr. Chris Bustamante as the Interim President of Rio Salado College. Bustamante replaces Dr. Linda Thor, recently named Chancellor of the Foothill-De Anza Community College District, effective Feb. 16, 2010.

The appointment of Bustamante, who has served as the college’s Vice President of Community Development and Student Services since 2006, becomes effective upon Dr. Thor’s departure.

“Dr. Bustamante is well qualified to assume this prominent position,” said Dr. Glasper. “He possesses substantial leadership credentials in education and has an extensive track record of forging partnerships within the community. Specifically, he was instrumental in the collaborative development of the Arizona Communiversity concept, which recently opened its first site — the Communiversity @ Surprise.”

The appointment marks the first change in the college’s leadership in two decades. Under Thor’s nearly 20-year tenure, the college became nationally acclaimed for its innovations as a leading provider of online learning, as well as for its customized partnerships with business and government entities. “We congratulate President Thor on these and many other accomplishments, and we wish her every success as she transitions to this prestigious new role at one of the nation’s premier community college districts,” said Glasper.

Bustamante’s considerable other successes since joining Rio Salado as Dean of Academic Affairs in 2004 include:

• Oversight of the largest dual enrollment program in both the Maricopa District and all of Arizona, currently serving nearly 7,000 students annually through 54 partnering high schools


• Oversight of eight major capital projects for Rio Salado, including the building of the $4 million Adult Learning Center in the City of Avondale


• The launching of Rio’s Adult ACE and Puente ACE Programs that enroll more than 150 students annually


• Establishment of a partnership with the Phoenix Elementary School District to reopen Ann Ott Elementary School as an Adult Learning Center
  

Prior to his Rio career, Bustamante served the Maricopa Community College District as Director of Government Relations & External Affairs, and also held positions as Director of State Relations and the Associate Director of Government Relations. He began his Maricopa career in 1992.

Prior to working for the MCCCD, Bustamante served as the Assistant to the Superintendent for Community Relations for the Phoenix Union High School District. Bustamante also served as a Legislative Aide in the Arizona House of Representatives from 1984-1987.

Bustamante was a member of Maricopa’s Executive Development Program (2008), the Leadership Fellows Program of the National Community College Hispanic Council (2005), and was appointed by Governor Jane D. Hull to serve on Arizona’s Merit Award System Board and served as its Chairman (2002-2004). He currently serves on the Advisory Board of Experience Matters, as Honorary Commander at Luke Air Force Base (Alumnus), as an Advisory member for the REF Fund, Arizona Community Foundation, and as a Board member for the Be A Leader Foundation. He is a former member of the Task Force for the National State Relations Conference (Chair, 2004). Bustamante also served as the community college presidents’ staff liaison to the Governor’s Task Force on Higher Education (2000).

Bustamante received his Doctorate and Master’s degrees in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University (NAU). He also attended Pima Community College and Harvard University, and graduated from the University of Arizona in 1983 with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration/Finance. He currently serves as an Adjunct Professor for NAU in the M.Ed. in Educational Leadership Program/Maricopa cohort.

For the first time, high school students can earn a certificate in dental assisting, said Nicole Albo, who chairs the dental program for Rio Salado College, one of the Communivesity partners. Read more.

On Thursday night, the Communiversity @ Surprise was named a Best of the West award winner for higher education. The Best of the West awards recognize outstanding contributions to the image, lifestyle and economic development of the West Valley.

See a complete list of winners and slide show HERE.