Tohono O’odham Scholarship Office Open House Nov. 30, PCC Desert Vista Campus
November 23, 2011
Tucson, AZ – Pima Community College’s Desert Vista Campus will host an open house for its expanded Tohono O’odham Nation Scholarship Fund & Higher Education Services office from 1 to 2 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011.
“The partnership between PCC and the Tohono O’odham Nation represents a tangible commitment to supporting Native American students to not only access higher education, but to have the scholarship resources that will enable them to persist, complete and pursue a productive career,” said Dr. Johnson Bia, Desert Vista Campus President and long-time advocate for youth leadership and workforce development for American Indians.
Bia, a member of the Navajo Nation, noted that the Tohono O’odham Nation Scholarship Fund was established in 1995 to assist Tohono O’odham members in furthering their education and developing skills in their areas of interest. The services provided include funding, counseling, and hosting such events as Student Meet & Greets, Job Fairs and Annual Student Recognition Ceremonies, as well as program outreach events.
“We applaud the tribe’s investment in growing the scholarship program and we are pleased to assist in the development of human capital for the future of Native American people,” he said.
At the open house, Tohono O’odham Nation Director of Education Victoria Hobbs will give welcoming remarks on the patio, between the Pueblo and Plaza buildings. Ella Begay will lead a traditional opening prayer. Tohono O’odham Chairman Ned Norris, Jr., is expected to attend. A ribbon-cutting and open house offering refreshments follows in the scholarship office, Room F-214. Desert Vista Campus is at 5901 S. Calle Santa Cruz.
All scholarship office staff will be on hand to answer questions.
The Scholarship Fund & Higher Education Services currently provides funding for approximately 500 students attending various post-secondary institutions throughout the United States and Mexico. The largest population of students attends Pima Community College. A total of 96 American Indians were part of PCC’s 2011 graduating class.
American Indians and Alaska Natives made up 2.9 percent of PCC’s Spring 2011 enrollment, the latest semester that data was available. American Indians and Alaska Natives make up 2.5 percent of the population of Pima County.
The scholarship office has been at Desert Vista Campus since 2007. The Nation acquired more campus office space in 2011 to meet demands as a growing number of Tohono O’odham members pursue higher education. The expansion allows the office to add an Education Assistance Specialist and provide additional services to the Tohono O’odham students.
CONTACT:
C.J. Karamargin
Vice Chancellor for Public Information and Government Relations
(520) 206-4850