Districtwide Winner
Gaucho Security Operations Center - GSOC
Glendale Community College
The Gaucho Security Operations Center (GSOC) is a unique nationally recognized program in cybersecurity that provides an opportunity to students to serve a paid internship at the end of their program giving them up to 300 hours of experience in a live security operations center upon graduation. This is the only program of its kind in the district and the state. The GSOC provides cybersecurity as a service to rural municipalities who fall at or below the cybersecurity poverty line; they are a critical infrastructure that demands cybersecurity monitoring but do not have the resources to supply it. The GSOC is added as a supplemental resource to monitor, detect and inform the clients regarding potential cybersecurity threats or vulnerabilities on their network. This program was developed and implemented to answer the gap between academia and the workplace. This program gives students experience upon graduation giving them the experience they need to meet industry requirements.
Team Members
- Rachelle Hall, Department Chair, Cybersecurity Program Director
Finalists
The pandemic transformed how CGCC engaged with the community through its Service-Learning and Civic Engagement (SLCE) program. As nonprofits faced surging demands, CGCC adapted to help. In spring 2020, CGCC began implementing GivePulse, a platform to streamline volunteer management and track student participation. Although initially unrelated to the pandemic, this was timely as in-person service opportunities dwindled. By fall 2020, GivePulse laid the foundation for reimagining service-learning in a hybrid world. In spring 2021, the SLCE team launched CommUNITY, a virtual series connecting students, faculty, and staff with local nonprofits. Over time, CommUNITY evolved into monthly volunteer events addressing the volunteer shortages caused by the pandemic. With intentional scheduling and transportation options, these events expanded access for students. GivePulse and CommUNITY empowered CGCC to promote service opportunities and transform experiential learning.
Team Members
- Katie Haar, Program Supervisor Service-Learning and Civic Engagement (SLCE), CGCC;
- Ashley Bouknight, Program Coordinator Service-Learning and Civic Engagement (SLCE), CGCC;
- Teressa Dulle, Early Childhood and Teacher Education Placement Coordinator, CGCC;
- Nikita Horn, SLCE Assistant, CGCC;
- Alisa Beyer, Psychology faculty and SLCE faculty liaison, CGCC;
- Kerry Gerle, Nursing faculty and SLCE faculty liaison, CGCC;
- Buzzy Sullivan, Photography faculty and SLCE faculty liaison; CGCC
- Blake Small, Director of Student Life and Leadership, CGCC
The Creator Fest on Affordable Textbook Costs for New Bachelor’s Degree Courses was launched two years ago within the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) to address the significant financial burden of textbook costs on students in the newly developed Bachelor’s Degree programs. By empowering faculty to identify, adopt, and integrate Open Educational Resources (OER), Low Textbook Cost (LTC), and Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) materials into courses, particularly upper-division and newly developed lower-division bachelor's degree programs, this initiative aims to improve access to high-quality, affordable education while enhancing academic success. Through this Creator Fest, 41 faculty at 7 participating colleges developed 54 courses across 6 Bachelor’s degree programs, including 2 Bachelor's Z-Degrees (zero-textbook cost degrees). Approximately 2000 students are enrolled in those programs, leading to a projected textbook cost savings of $2.7 million for those students.
Team Members
- Helice Agria, District Director of Academic & Student Systems, DO
- David Perry, Program Manager - Baccalaureate Degrees, DO
- Lisa Young, Faculty Administrator of Open Education and Innovation, DO
- Debbie Baker, OER Coordinator & Instructional Designer, DO
- Stephanie Green, Faculty, PC
- Jacqui Higgins-Daily, Librarian, GCC
The "Let’s Get Ready Together" Open House at EMCC is a community-building initiative designed to promote academic success, foster engagement, and build a sense of belonging for students and their support systems. The event is held before each semester and connects attendees with faculty, staff, and campus resources in a welcoming environment. Over three semesters since Fall 2023, nearly 800 students and their support systems have participated. Activities include campus tours, lab demonstrations, and interactive resource fairs, providing insights into academic programs, support services, and extracurricular opportunities. This initiative has been particularly impactful for first-generation students, who comprise 36% of attendees, bridging gaps in support and accessibility. By prioritizing relational interactions and resource accessibility, the Open House advances EMCC’s goals of improving student satisfaction, retention, success, and fostering a strong sense of community.
Team Members
- Becky Baranowski, Interim Dean of STEM and Workforce Development, EMCC
- Isaac Torres, Dean of Student Affairs, EMCC
- Laura Porritt, Admin Coordinator to Academic Dean, EMCC
- Sharon Lind, Administrative Coordinator to VPSA, EMCC
- Sara Schweitzer, Associate Coordinator to Dean of Students, EMCC
- Tracy Tanner, One Year Only Residential Faculty, formerly Career and Transfer Center Manager, EMCC
- Alissa Manzoeillo, Marketing Director, EMCC
The EMS/Fire Career and Education Fair hosted by Gateway Community College is an initiative connecting students, alumni, and the public with over 30+ employers and educational programs within the district.
Created and managed entirely by a single employee with departmental support, this fair provides career networking, professional development, and educational opportunities. With no marketing budget, this ""by the bootstraps"" event helped create a lasting impact while addressing workforce needs and fostering community engagement. Approved to be an annual event, in 2025, it will be expanded to include law enforcement, bringing a true circle to all emergency services.
This continuous growth aims to remain a vital resource for students and the community while also bringing in potential growth and enrollment for the district in various programs for all MCCCD campuses, not just Gateway.
Team Members
- Jessica Discua, EMT Instructor Senior, GWCC
CTS / M&O collaboration on a common service solution “ServiceNow”( Best In class). Giving the M&O team the same analytics, visibility and metrics as the IT team has. Streamlining operations from our two largest service providers on campus.
Team Members
- Alvin Bridges, Chief Information Officer, MCC
- Tom Dyre, IT Manager ST, College Technology Services, MCC
- Patricia Herrera, System & App Admin Sr, College Technology Services, MCC
- Timothy Williams, Tech Support Supervisor ST, College Technology Services, MCC
- Sergio Ybanez, Facilities Director, MCC
- Jesus Garcia, Facilities Project Manager, MCC
- Edward Gonzales, Maintenance Ops Manager, Facilities, MCC
To build relationships, we need to have meaningful experiences together. To this end, Ability Maricopa and Equality Maricopa invited employees to craft boxes this academic year to convey themes related to disability, mental health, gender, women’s studies, race, or culture. Participants altered and decorated boxes as conduits for their stories, resulting in art that explores identity-related issues. Through making choices regarding craft materials and design, and whether to attend in person or online, we are teaching about ourselves so others can know what we need to excel.
Hybrid box-crafting sessions occur District-wide. We hold crafting sessions in classrooms, CTLs, and other spaces. Supplies and refreshments are provided by Ability Maricopa, Equality Maricopa, and host colleges; employees often bring items such as scrap cloth and magazines. This endeavor culminates in a three-hour hybrid session for box-finishing, display, and discussion at PVCC on March 26, 2025, from 12-3 p.m
Team Members
- Jay Franzen, Student Services Analyst, PVCC, President, Equality Maricopa, District Office
- Kate Mohler, Residential English Faculty, Mesa Community College, President, Ability Maricopa, District Office
Data from 2023 indicate that 14% of Phoenix College students are homeless or housing insecure. To address this challenge, the H.O.P.E. Initiative was created to offer an innovative, sustainable, and scalable housing model that: (1) provides financial support utilizing a Rapid Re-Housing, evidence-based model, (2) connects homeless students to permanent housing, (3) conducts intensive career advisement to increase income, and (4) provides holistic case management. The goals of this program are to provide personalized support for students experiencing homelessness, increase utilization of career services, counseling, and community resources, and close gaps in student services to increase completion of postsecondary degrees. These goals align with student service activities while increasing persistence and academic achievement for our most vulnerable students. So far, the program has provided over $213,288 of housing support to 26 students, with 6 students reaching successful completion.
Team Members
- Joanna Torres Perez, H.O.P.E. Initiative Coordinator, PC
- Kaylin Shady, Single Stop Coordinator, PC
- Roberto Villegas-Gold, Faculty/Counseling Department Chair, PC
In July 2023, Pell grants became accessible, once again, to incarcerated individuals. The purpose of this project is to address the need for accessible online learning opportunities which have historically prevented inmates from participating in the Second Chance Pell (SCP). Rio Salado College has developed courses tailored to meet the unique needs and circumstances of incarcerated students. The initiative is designed to remove barriers to education by providing incarcerated individuals with the opportunity to benefit from the Pell Grant, offering them a pathway to higher education. Through these courses, the program seeks to empower incarcerated students by equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and credentials needed for successful rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
Team Members
- Lisa Preston, Program Director Incarcerated Re-Entry, RSC
- Jim Tierney, IT Director Tech Services, RSC
- Jessica Smith, Program Manager Administrative Services, RSC
- Laurel Redman, SS Director Student Affairs, RSC
- Nanci Regehr, SS Director Student Affairs Sr Management, RSC
- Trish Scalzo, Faculty Chair Chemical Dependency, RSC
- Ramsey Itani, Program Director, Strategy & Advancement, RSC
- Will Leos, Program Manager Incarcerated Re-Entry, RSC
- Heather Tyler, Dean, Community Development, RSC
- Mary Rosas, SS Manager Financial Aid, RSC
- Karol Schmidt, Dean Instruction, RSC
- Lysia Hand, Program Manager, Incarcerated ReEntry, RSC
- Monica Castellano, IS Director Course Support, RSC
- Patrick Berens, Tech Project Manager Sr. Technical Services, RSC
- Tatum Pimental, SS Supervisor Student Affairs, RSC
- Zach Lewis, Associate Dean Institutional Effectiveness, RSC
- Murray Inman, Program Manager Instructional Technology & Accessibility, RSC
- Janelle Elias, Vice President of Academic Affairs, RSC
Classroom Culture: 3Rs: Right Start, Resiliency, and Recovery is a system to assist students in classroom success. The program includes best practices, identification of students who need additional care, incentives for success, lessons in resiliency, and recovery time at the end of the semester for students to improve their grades. This program is used in GBS 151, Introduction to Business. Introduction to Business is often the first college course for business students. It is in-person and is typically 16 weeks.
Team Members
- Dr. Bobra Crockett, Business School Residential Faculty, SCC
The SMCC Global Learning Hub (GLH) will be dedicated to supporting the Global Engagement Mission of MCCCD by providing faculty and staff with the resources and support needed for faculty to internationalize the curriculum, international students to succeed at SMCC, and local students to prepare for study abroad experiences. The GLH will combine existing international education programming with new initiatives that will provide a wider range of programs and services to students and faculty. The GLH’s initiatives will capitalize on the global resources in the local community, as well as expand international partnership and exchange program opportunities for SMCC.
Team Members
- Kimberly Mauldin, Language Arts Division Chair, SMCC
- Christine Raack, International Education Council Rep., SMCC
- Nicole Wetzel, Director of Admissions & Records, SMCC