John Ojeda, GCC student
Viviana Pacheco, GCC student
Jennifer Tyree, GCC student
Three academically exceptional Glendale Community College students, Viviana Pacheco, John Ojeda, and Jennifer Tyree, will be recognized for their outstanding academic and leadership accomplishments at the 2024 All-Arizona Academic Team Recognition Ceremony from noon-1:45 p.m. Feb. 28 at the Doubletree Hilton in Tempe.
“GCC is extremely proud of these three remarkably talented students,” said GCC President Dr. Tiffany Hernandez. “They have worked hard to in their respective fields of study and have distinguished themselves as leaders on campus. Their achievements at GCC will translate to similar success as they continue their academic path and in their future careers.
All-Arizona honorees demonstrate academic excellence and intellectual tenacity combined with leadership and service that expand their education beyond the classroom to benefit their communities and society. Each is working toward an associate’s degree, maintains a GPA of 3.5 or higher and is involved in campus and community volunteer activities.
The event will honor 77 students from 19 community colleges across Arizona. The event emcee is Ian Schwartz, morning meteorologist and reporter for KPHO-TV CBS 5 and KTVK-TV 3/AZFamily.com. Keynote speaker is Cordero Holmes, who spent more than 10 years in prison prior to becoming a 2022 All-Arizona Academic Team honoree and a recipient of a Coca-Cola Academic Team scholarship as a student at Rio Salado College.
Viviana Pacheco, who is majoring in Cybersecurity, plans to transfer to Grand Canyon University to earn a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity with the intention of advancing to a graduate program. Her career goal is to specialize in cyber investigations within a law enforcement agency.
Majoring in Business Administration/Finance, John Ojeda will transfer to the Eller College of Management and W.A. Franke Honors College at the University of Arizona to earn a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He will then pursue a PhD in Finance. His long-term career goal is to work at the highest level of leadership for major firms, then become an investor and manage small companies.
Jennifer Tyree is majoring in social work and plans to transfer to the Watts College of Public Service at Arizona State University to earn her master’s degree in social work. Her career goal is to become an American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists-certified sex therapist and sexual educator.
All-Arizona Academic Teams are judged in three rounds. First-round judges consist of local business, civic, education and government leaders. The second and third round of judging occurs in Washington, D.C. by representatives from federal agencies and national education associations. First team members each receive a $1,000 scholarship, second team members are each awarded a $750 scholarship and third team members each get a $500 scholarship from their respective community college. Team rankings are anticipated later this spring.
Organizations such as Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society of two-year colleges and academic programs, the American Association of Community Colleges, Arizona Community Colleges, the Arizona Board of Regents and Follett Higher Education Group help these extraordinary students reach their educational goals by awarding scholarships and issuing tuition waivers for Arizona’s three state universities: ASU, Northern Arizona University and University of Arizona.