June  2025

No Property Tax Increase in Yavapai College’s 2025-2026 Approved Budget

 The College did not seek an increase in its primary property tax levy and has gone without a tax increase in four out of six years of President Lisa Rhine’s tenure.

The approved budget includes funding for the college’s strategic priorities, initiatives, and improved services for students and the community. The state funds less than 3% of the College’s budget.

Yavapai College is the premier place to learn in Yavapai County. This past spring, 1,258 students graduated from Yavapai College with a degree or certificate. That is 1,258 firefighters, police officers, nurses and healthcare workers, business owners, and skilled tradesmen and women who are now trained to enter the workforce in Yavapai County, provide a better life for their families, and contribute to the county's economy.

YC fills the needs of students of all ages through learning and training opportunities and community partnerships. The College serves as a stimulus for economic development, and investing in Yavapai College results in a return for the local economy. The College adds $203.7M to the Yavapai County economy annually, and for every $1 that students invest in their education, they receive a return of $7.80 in future lifetime earnings.

Last week, Yavapai College became the first community college in the United States to offer a three-year bachelor’s degree when it announced a 92-credit Bachelor of Applied Science in Business. The degree not only gets students their credentials sooner, but it can be obtained for just $9,482 in total tuition cost. That is one-fifth of the average price for the same degree at Arizona’s Universities.

Yavapai College remains one of the most significant values in the state for higher education. Keeping tuition low gives all residents of Yavapai County access to affordable, life-changing education.

Budget Highlights:

• YC’s base tuition rate is $113 per credit hour, and YC has no fees, making the tuition price the third lowest in the state of Arizona
• Full-time students receive a discount and only pay $1,356 for a 15-credit semester
• Yavapai College tuition is 80% below the Arizona public university average for full-time students, saving students approximately $9,000 per year in tuition and fees alone
• YC’s tuition is 36% below the national community college average for full-time students and 23% below the national community college average for part-time students
• YC’s cost per student is at the national community college average
• 65% of YC programs lead to a living wage job
• YC now offers four bachelor’s degrees, including a Bachelor of Science in Business, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, and a 92-credit Bachelor of Applied Science in Business
• In addition to the full-time student discount, YC offers a dual-enrollment discount for high school students at $10 per credit, a concurrent enrollment discount for high school students at 50% off online classes, and a senior citizen discount at 50% off credit classes.

• The Yavapai College District Governing Board is responsible for governing on behalf of and is accountable to the taxpayers of Yavapai County. The Board's role is to act as a link between the taxpayers and management, directing and regulating the organization on the taxpayers' behalf.

Registration for fall 2025 semester classes is open, starting at the beginning of the fall semester on Mon., Aug. 18. Anyone interested in pursuing the degree should go online to degrees.yc.edu to learn more.

Yavapai College operates seven campuses and centers throughout Yavapai County and offers over 100 degrees and certificates, four baccalaureate degrees, student and community services, and cultural events and activities. To learn more about YC, visit www.yc.edu.

To learn more about the Yavapai College District Governing Board, visit www.yc.edu/dgb.

Area First-Responder Agencies gain 18 new YC-trained Paramedics

The graduates of the program that trains area first responders to perform life-saving feats during emergency calls were feted at a completion ceremony earlier this month at the Yavapai College Prescott Campus.

YC President Dr. Lisa Rhine was among the celebrants, congratulating the new paramedics for making it through “grueling coursework, endless lab hours and countless practice scenarios.” Praising them for bringing “calm, care and competence” to people on what may be the worst day of their life, Rhine told the new paramedics: “You are the steady hands, the reassuring voice, the ones who don’t run away from emergencies, but toward them. You don’t just save lives, you show up over and over again for strangers who desperately need someone to care.”

In his congratulatory remarks, YC EMS Program Medical Director Dr. Chris Lampe asked the graduates to never forget how it feels to celebrate earning the title paramedic and never underestimate how much they will inspire others over the course of their careers.

Taylor Oest, the lead instructor for Cohort 18 who has since been named director of EMS at YC, divulged in her remarks that her last group of students told her early on that they were going to be her best class ever. “And if I am being completely honest, they were right. Class 18, you have been my best and last class as the lead instructor. That’s bittersweet. Which makes tonight just a little extra meaningful for me. I am incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to watch each of you grow, not just in skill, but in confidence, your leadership, and your compassion. And truthfully, I’ve grown alongside you. You’ve challenged me to be better, to stay curious, and to keep showing up with heart. For that, I thank you.”

Delivering the keynote address at the paramedic completion ceremony was Alexander Lewis, YC Associate Dean of Public Services. He said Paramedic Cohort 18 stood out for being the first to complete the newly restructured, intensive two-semester program and for helping the college sail through a resulting reaccreditation process.

“Cohort 18, you are leaving behind more than a legacy. You’ve helped build a foundation that will serve students and communities for years to come. You’ve proven what’s possible in EMS education, and you’ve raised the bar for everyone who follows. Today, we don’t just celebrate the completion of a program; we celebrate your growth, your transformation, and your readiness to lead with skill, compassion, and courage. We are proud of you. We believe in you. And we can’t wait to see the impact you will make in the world,” Lewis said.

Following are the graduates of Yavapai College Paramedic Cohort 18 and the first-responder agencies they represent:

Travis Adcock, Copper Canyon Fire and Medical District; Matthew Dalcerro, Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority; Kaden Dougan, Prescott Fire Department; Daniel Dulin, Prescott Fire Department; Jonathan Dwyer, Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority; Matthew Gonzalez, Prescott Fire Department; Loretta James, Copper Canyon Fire and Medical District; Randall Justus, Copper Canyon Fire and Medical District; Jacob Loaiza, Copper Canyon Fire and Medical District; Nelson Lopez, Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority; Kyle Lund, Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority; Taylor Mathews, Copper Canyon Fire and Medical District; Jacob McIntire, Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority; Noah Medrano, Prescott Fire Department; William Tate Nall, Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority; Mason Siebe, Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority; Kris Smith, Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority; and Logan Yardley, Guardian Medical Transport.

For information about YC Emergency Medical Service programs, visit yc.edu/ems.

Yavapai College operates seven campuses and centers throughout Yavapai County and offers over 100 degrees and certificates, four baccalaureate degrees, student and community services, and cultural events and activities. To learn more about YC, visit www.yc.edu.

First YC Practical Nursing Students complete program, celebrate at pinning ceremony

The PNs, many of them former Certified Nursing Assistants, or CNAs, advanced their skills for their current or future healthcare industry employers and cut in half the time required should they choose to pursue an associate’s degree and registered nurse (RN) licensing.

In all, 28 YC students earned the PN credential this academic year, celebrating with their loved ones at a pinning ceremony May 15 at the Yavapai College Prescott campus.

YC President Dr. Lisa Rhine was among the first to congratulate the new practical nurses, saying in her welcome remarks that PN students are a “special breed” who are now prepared to make a difference in our community.

“You are about to step into a profession that matters – a profession where you will hold hands during hard moments, celebrate victories both big and small and be the quiet hero in someone’s hardest hour. Never underestimate the power of your presence, your skill and your kindness,” Dr. Rhine said.

Delivering the keynote address at the PN pinning was Professor Nicole Goldberger who, like the PN graduates, started her YC journey in fall 2024.

“We were all new in some way when this began. We figured it out together—and I thank you for giving me grace as I learned right alongside you,” Goldberger said. She told the pinning ceremony audience and graduates that on day one of the PN program, “I saw something special in this class. You brought grit, determination, and a quiet strength that never wavered… Together, we built something special. We had fun, we laughed, we struggled, we celebrated, and we pushed through. We created inside jokes, forever friendships, and a classroom culture rooted in support, hard work, and a whole lot of heart.”

Following are the spring 2025 Practical Nurse program graduates:

Shaunte Anderson, Hannah Arwine, Ellen Blair, Katrina Boyd, Trysta Castro, Amberlee Church, Johnathon Damschroder, Danielle Gaines, Jacqueline Galvan, Rebeka Galvan, Eric Garduno Estrada, Sarah Gregory, Halie Holleman, Justine Khan, Jourdan Kinnison, Terry Lovell, Ryan Morris, Reanna Pierce, Kyle Powell, Amber Richards, Katheryn Reischer, Jessica Robison, Catherine Seaton, Fauve Stan, Robert Stanley, Ashtyn Torrez Rodriguez, Amy Williams and Anna Zea.

For information about YC’s Practical Nursing program, visit yc.edu/alliedhealth

Bringing the Artist to the Inspiration

June’s Plein Air Workshop takes YC student painters out to the scenery

The online listing for ART 198, Yavapai College’s Plein Air Workshop, describes the Summer course as ‘classroom-based.’ But instructor and professional painter Rick Derman says that couldn’t be further from the truth. “We do gather for a brief initial meeting, in a classroom, to go over class structure and rules for an hour,” he said. “After that, we hit the trail.”

And hit the trail they do. In the spirit of Plein Air painting – a discipline that advocates creating art while out in nature – YC’s ART 198 students will abandon the paint-spattered surroundings of the studio and spend June mornings painting Arizona’s gorgeous landscapes at the feet of the landscapes that inspire them.

“Workshop participants will meet every Wednesday mornings, each week at a different location in and around Prescott, to work in their favorite mediums.” Derman said.

They won’t paint alone. Along with Derman, Workshop students will park and paint with a roster of accomplished Plein Air artists. Guest artists like Cindy Carrillo, Neil Orlowski, and Cathy Kreiger will set up their easels alongside the students, sharing tips and insights as they endeavor to capture the surrounding scenery together.

“It’s a great chance to learn from established painters, and to enjoy the experience of painting at the same time,” Derman said.

Enrollment for ART 198, YC’s Plein Air Workshop, is open now. First class is Wednesday, June 4. To register, or get more information, please visit: www.yc.edu.

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