Pima Stories
Pima Community College (PCC) is committed to transforming lives through affordable education. Our mission is to empower every learner, every day, for every goal. Read stories of students, past and present, about the impact PCC is having on their lives, careers and communities.
Why Pima?
From seasoned professionals to students embarking on ambitious careers. Hear from current and former students about why Pima Community College was the best choice for them in education.
Explore a World of Possibilities
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Purpose In Motion
In two years at Pima, Melicia Nelson earned several honors: NJCAA Division II National Tournament Most Valuable Player; First Team NJCAA All-American and many more.
Read her story
PCC at Tucson Festival of Books
Pima's Literary Arts programming connects students and aspiring writers to the literary community through events like the Tucson Festival of Books.
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Courage and Determination
Pima Hero awardee, Zamir has come a long way from his native Afghanistan. As a refugee he is not only rebuilding his life, but helping others along the way.
Read his story
Spring Musical: Urinetown
Get a behind the scenes look at all the hard work and creativity that goes into producing a musical.
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Be Future Ready
What can a single semester truly accomplish? At Pima Community College, it can open doors to opportunity, confidence, and a meaningful career path. Learn about the experience of one mid-career student who found a promising new career.
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Pima Heroes Award
The inaugural Pima Heroes awardee shares what compels her to be of service to others.
Read her story
Gen Z and the Workforce
Can you turn your creative dreams into a reality in today’s current economy? A recent panel at SATEC addressed these and other questions.
Learn how to build your creative business
Creative Exploration
From a budding artist to working on public art installations that aim to inspire and delight, Rachael Sanchez says Pima played a big role in shaping her journey.
Learn about her Pima experience.
Bringing Stories to Life
Pima's film and theater departments have come together for this unique collaboration to create a full digital film version of the play Night of the Living Dead.
Learn more about the show
Recipe for Success
For Don Guerra, James Beard award winning baker and owner of Barrio Bread, baking and sharing bread is both art and science. He spoke to us about his journey from being a first generation college graduate to running a successful business and all the lessons in between.
Read his story
Journey to Success
Life's come full circle for Brian Alday. From being a student and baseball player at PCC he is now a school leader and sports announcer. Roles in which he gets opportunities to positively influence the next generation.
Learn about his Pima experience.
Bernal in Mexico
Louis Carlos Bernal's photography has spoken to people across generations. Most recently the exhibition first curated and shown at Pima's Bernal Gallery was invited to the consulate museum in Mexico city.
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Behind the Scenes of ‘Borderline’
From crisis emerged beauty and wonder when a duo of digital arts students saved the show this spring just in time for the opening of "Borderline", a play set in the borderlands. Read more about their backstage scramble.
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Jack Kent Cooke Scholar
When Malyssa Shaw enrolled at Pima Community College, she was searching for more than just an education — she was rebuilding her life. The support at PCC helped her regain her confidence and find a new purpose. She aspires to become a lawyer. Read her story.
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2025 Commencement Speaker
Pima's student commencement speaker shares her motivations to go back to school and career goals she's hoping to achieve.
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Congratulations Grads!
Pima's Class of 2025 is full of inspiring stories, brave ideas and brand new horizons. Read stories of three inspiring students graduating this spring and celebrate with us at the commencement ceremony.
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Find a New Career
Anisah wasn't sure what she wanted to study or pursue as a career. One geology class at PCC changed all of that!
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Take the Plunge
For Trynia, enrolling at Pima after she already had a bachelor’s degree was not a step down but a door that led to new opportunities and a fulfilling career.
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Making a Change
For Oscar Casillas, the culinary arts program at Pima was the lifeline he needed. From learning valuable skills to gaining mentors, it has changed his life is profound ways. Read his story
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Build a Legacy
When Ariane Davaul began studying Automated Industrial Technology (AIT) at Pima Community College in January 2020, she didn’t have a clear career goal. What began as an exploratory path turned into a life-changing journey. Read her story
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Share Your Vision
Zora Street, a current student, serves as Assistant Director in Pima Arts electrifying production of Dracula that explores the chilling battle between good and evil in the heart of a secluded asylum, where a powerful and ancient vampire terrorizes the living.
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Find Your Calling
Ehren Keltz wasn't sure about his life path until he read a riveting article in the National Geographic. Once he knew he could turn his interest in archaeology into a career, there was no stopping him.
Read his story
Achieve Your Potential
Nick Davis, an honors students, turned his life around with the help of his mentors in Pima's honors programs and the rehab center where he now helps others do the same.
Read his story
Reinvent Yourself
For Stacie Williams, a former nursing assistant, the pandemic provided an opportunity to reassess her professional goals and take a chance on college. Hear her talk about how it's paying off
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Age is Just a Number
From never having finished her dream to get a college degree to walking at PCC's graduation next week, Tricia has proven that age is just a number.
Read her story
Find a New Direction
From never drawing with a pencil to winning the Addy Award, Jennifer Phan has come a long way with the help of Pima. Read her story
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Recipe for Success
Hannah Puckett took a while to figure out what she wanted to pursue, and now that she's found her footing in the culinary arts program her mind is set on making the world a little more delicious.
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Find Your Niche
Pima grad and Tucson based artist, Lizz Denneau, honed her creative skills at Pima. Read her story
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Build Your Future
For Fernando Romero, returning to college seemed intimidating until he found his way to Pima's Automotive Technology program. Read his story.
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A New Passion
Jocely Valles finds cybersecurity both creative and intellectually stimulating. As a parent student the flexibility offered at Pima has helped her keep up with her education. Watch her Pima story
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Explore Your Options
Tucson based author, Matt Mendez, enrolled at Pima to simply explore his options. Instead he found his voice as a writer.
Read his story
Moving Forward
The childcare program at Pima's Desert Vista campus and other off-site partners is ensuring parent-students have the opportunity to return to school without compromising on the care and education of their children.
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Forge Ahead
Regina Santaniello has come full circle - from a student at Pima to a faculty - and that she says was all possible because of the support provided at Pima. Read her story.
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Shine Bright
Playing since the age of four, Gabi Amparano, is an All-Academic Athlete who is acing her classes while playing a crucial role on field. Learn more about why she chose Pima.
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Strive for Success
Accounting faculty, Samantha Overton, is instilling self-belief and courage to overcome academic hurdles in her students. She overcame her fear of numbers when the same help was extended to her as a Pima student. Read her story.
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TRiO Programs at PCC
Yara Villalobos felt lost until she found TRiO which helped her find the right support and eventually her passion for helping others.
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Lead the Way
Susan Ho, Pima social services graduate began the ARC as a student project and has returned to manage it full time. Read her inspiring story.
Susan's Story
Find Your Niche
2022 Pima grad, Genesis Benedith is on her way to become a software engineer and STEM role model.
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Calculating His Future
Nicolas Fimbres is graduating this May with plans to pursue a doctorate and become a college math professor.
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Trailblazing a New Path
Namrata Patel graduated with 4.0 GPA in December 2022 with an Associates of Applied Science degree in Hospitality Leadership. A seasoned professional she credits Pima for opening new doors in her career.
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Anything is Possible
Maleah Manning completed high school a year early, all while earning her associate's degree in liberal arts, setting herself up for success and proving that with hard work and determination, anything is possible.
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Putting Kindness First
Gabriela Fragozo, Pima's 2023 Commencement Speaker, came to Pima at a tumultuous time in her family's life. Through the guidance and support of faculty and co-workers, she's succeeded academically and chosen to prioritize kindness. Read her story.
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A New Trajectory
Covid changed Alexis Rose Young’s career plans, putting her on a path that she hopes leads to Hollywood.
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Thrive in Diversity
Nursing student, Fortune Dominic, found a new career pathway and friends at Pima. Read her story.
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Achieve Your Goals
A future CPA, Kira Okuma is one of seven Pima students honored as members of Phi Theta Kappa’s 2023 All-Arizona Academic Team. Read her story.
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Make a Difference
A researcher and future biomedical engineer, Mairan Jimenez could not have conceived of the possibilities college would offer. Read her story.
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Be Yourself
Gianbari Deebom and P.J. Peavy are honing their talents and making a space for themselves in the theater arts. Read about their experience at Pima.
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Take the Lead
Caleb Bailey enrolled at Pima unsure of what he wanted to do. Not only has he found a new major that he really enjoys, he founded the Black Studeny Union. Read his story.
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Pay It Forward
Barbea Williams, artistic director of the Barbea Williams Performing Company, Tucson studied at Pima. She shares how collaborating with the college has helped enhance BWPC's annual summer camp and more.
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Think Big
For Crystal Robles, 2012 CRC program graduate, making a difference in people's lives has always been a driving force. With the training she gained at Pima, she is putting her skills to good use. Read her story.
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Find your voice
A nurse in Mexico, Elizabeth Soto graduated from Pima's ESL course in May 2022 and is on her way to resuming her nursing career.
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Be Creative
Marc Vaughn, 2021 Computer Science graduate, found creativity in tech at the East Campus Makerspace. Now pursuing a bachelor's in CS at the U of A, read his story.
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Chart a New Path
Aurora Sardina, an Iraq vet is retraining in cybersecurity with help from Pima. She graduated with an AAS in Cybersecurity in May 2022 and will pursue a bachelor's degree in Cyber Operations at the University of Arizona.
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Pursue Your Dreams
Luke Hunt is a 2022 Digital Film Arts & Animation graduate. While still in the film program Luke directed a short called Sheep which won an award at MINT 2021, Montana International Film Festival.
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Aim High
From singing the high notes to helping planes take flight, Suzanne Roy is on the cusp of a promising career. Read her story
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Find Your Calling
Lizbeth Mora took time to reevaluate her goals after first enrolling at the University of Arizona. Now employed at Banner Health, she is glad she made the switch and finished college debt-free. Read her story
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Reinvent Yourself
Tauty Sanchez is making a childhood fascination with tech come to life at Pima's Center of Excellence for Information Technology/Cyber Security. She will graduate with an Associate of Science degree with a specialization in cyber security. A mid-career professional, she chose to put her faith in Pima. Read her story.
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Build Your Community
Ana Silva Pereira, from São Luis, Brazil feels home at Tucson thanks to the staff, instructors and faculty at Pima. She will graduate soon with an Associates of Science.
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Pushing Boundaries
Jorge Muñoz, Ph.D. candidate in Applied Physics at the Northern Arizona University (NAU), Flagstaff got his start in STEM at Pima. As an underrepresented minority in the sciences, he is an enthusiastic promoter of diversity and a mentor for numerous students.
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Aiming High
Air Force Tech Sgt. Angie Buenrostro is an example of how Pima Community College makes it possible for a busy person serving their country to also pursue a college education.
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Realize your Potential
For Peter Keith, starting over at 40 after a 15 year prison sentence, the opportunity to pursue higher education has been cathartic. With the help of PimaOnline and the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, he’s moving forward with renewed confidence and self esteem.
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Broaden Your Horizons
Lupita’s journey at Literacy Connects and her career in Finance and Administration began with Pima’s Federal Work Study program. Find out more about how you can find financial aid at Pima.
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Create Your Future
Samantha Barrera, 2021 grad, is headed to UA law school. She found her voice and confidence at Pima. Read her story.
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Expand What's Possible
2022 grad, Samuel Phillips, is heading to UA Honors College with help from Pima’s STEM courses. Read his story
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Find Your Purpose
Pearl Celix hopes to be a CFO. Learn how Pima’s Federal Work Study program helped chart her career path. Read her story.
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Make Someday Today
See how Automotive Tech, Automated Industrial Tech, and IT/Cybersecurity programs at Pima help Ariane, Alice, and Tauty make better career changes.
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The Sky’s the Limit
Former Pima student, Liz Graybill embarks on a career in aeronautical engineering. Read about her journey.
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Expand What's Possible
2022 Commencement speaker, Webster Rose, spoke of achieving goals as a Pima Online student. Read more.
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Commencement Speech Highlights
As we prep for 2022's Spring Graduation, check out highlights from 2016 speaker Francy Luna Diaz
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Create Your Future
Former Military Medic and Nurse, Annette Perkins pursues new opportunity in Pima's HIT Program. Read her story.
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My STEM Story
Senior director at Raytheon, Misha Dawson, shares lessons for success from a 27-year-career. Hear her story.
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Invent New Possibilities
Educating black students about careers in STEM - conversation with Erica Martin, Academic Success Counselor, Pima Downtown Campus
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Treya Allen Q and A
Educator and activist, Dr. Treya Allen speaks about the importance of celebrating Black History month.
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Grow Your Career
UA researcher, Briana Pomales, got her start at Pima. Read her story!
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Expand What's Possible
Pima’s Culinary Arts program connects students with high-paying jobs and dynamic career paths. Learn more.
Read Their Story
News Contacts
General Information about the College and Upcoming Events
PCC Information Center
(520) 206-4500
Email: infocenter@pima.edu
News Releases or Media Contacts
Public Information
(520) 206-4850
Email: publicinfo@pima.edu
Media Inquiries
PCC Information Center
(520) 206-4788
Email: ehowell1@pima.edu
Public Records Request
Send requests for public records via email to RecordRequest@pima.edu