Receive Full Tuition, Books & Living Allowance Through the Nina Scholars Program

~ Deadline is April 1st, 2010 ~

Who Can Apply?

• Incoming freshman or continuing students ages 18-25, raised through the child welfare system and having no form of financial support (A person who has experienced time in the child welfare system may have lived in an institution such as group home, child protection agency, special facility for children, and/or with a foster family)

• College-age youths and adults with physical disabilities

• Adults 25 years of age or older who have dependents in their household

What are the Criteria?

• Applicants must qualify for one of the above AND meet all of the following criteria

• Be working toward their first college degree

• Be a U.S. Citizen and a resident of Arizona

• Have a family income no higher than 80% (approx. $41,250) of the median income for Maricopa County

• Have no more than 24 college-level, degree applicable credits

Additional Information
Information and applications can be downloaded or completed online at: www.maricopa.edu/studentaffairs/NMPLS/Nina

Only completed applications will be reviewed. All forms include application, FAFSA, recommendation letters, essay and unofficial transcripts.

Maricopa Community Colleges
Nina Scholars Program
Division of Academic and Student Affairs
2411 West 14th Street
Tempe, Az 85281
480.731.8619
nina.scholars@domail.maricopa.edu

The Nina Scholars Program is funded by the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.

Dumpster Dive and Comedy Show to Increase Recycling Awareness

To increase recycling awareness and initiatives at Phoenix College (PC), students, staff and faculty will participate in a dumpster dive and enjoy a comedy show presented by Don't Trash AZ on Tuesday, March 9 from 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at Phoenix College, 1202 W. Thomas Rd.

Participants will collect all trash on campus for a 24-hour period and later dump the college’s trash on the Sophomore Square grounds to separate the discarded items into two piles of recyclables and non-recyclables.

“Since the last dumpster dive, more recycling containers have been placed across campus,” said James Sousa, PC Green Committee Co-Chair. “We hope the results improve from last year. This event will give us a great measure of how much trash we generate on campus and how well we are recycling.”

Last year, the PC Green Committee held the college’s first dumpster dive where 30% of collected trash was salvaged from going to the landfill by being recycled.

At noon, Don’t Trash AZ will present a comedy show where personality Ken Kaz will deliver an entertaining and memorable monologue about litter and its negative impact on the state.

“Our goal is to emphasize the importance of recycling across the entire campus. I believe both adults and young people are more aware of environmental issues and some are making conscious efforts; however, I believe there is more we should be doing,” said Sousa. “Recycling is everyone's responsibility, and it really takes an extra effort from everyone on campus to enforce environmental practices.”

The PC Green Committee helps enhance recycling efforts and awareness across campus. Each year, the committee hosts several events to raise awareness and increase faculty, staff and student involvement. Events include talks on urban farming by Greg Peterson, campus-wide dumpster dives, a screening of The Eleventh Hour, and several Earth Day activities.

To help with the Dumpster Dive or to request more information, contact James Sousa at (602) 285-7154.

Scholarship Workshops Available Through March 11th

The Phoenix College Honors Program and Alumni & Development are pleased to offer students a series of scholarship workshops which will begin on February 22nd and run through March 11th.

In order to provide more focused information, two versions of the workshops will be offered. One version will focus on writing the personal statement and acquiring recommendations, while the second version will focus on accessing and navigating Scholarship Manager, the online application system. Details about each workshop are included below. Information is also available at the PC scholarship website: www.phoenixcollege.edu/scholarships.

Personal Statement & Recommendations:
Learn how to write a dynamic and persuasive personal statement and gain valuable tips on who to ask for letters of recommendation. Seating is limited to 30 people. All sessions take place in the Dalby Building, Room 225.

Choose the session that best fits your schedule:
-- Wednesday, February 24th from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
-- Thursday, February 25th from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
-- Friday, February 26th from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
-- Tuesday, March 9th from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
-- Wednesday, March 10th from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
-- Thursday, March 11th from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
________________________________________

Access and Navigate Scholarship Manager:
Learn to access and navigate the new online scholarship application system in order to be automatically considered for thousands of dollars in tuition assistance for next semester. Seating is limited to 30 people. Unless otherwise noted, sessions take place on the lower level of Fannin Library in the Catalina Room.

Choose the session that best fits your schedule:
-- Monday, February 22nd from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
-- Tuesday, February 23rd from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
-- Wednesday, March 3rd from 10:00 - 11:50 a.m.
-- Thursday, March 4th from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
-- Tuesday, March 9th from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. (Encanto Room)
-- Wednesday, March 10 from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. (Encanto Room)

*** The deadline for completing and submitting online applications is Friday, April 9, 2010 ***

Experience the Urban Hip Hop Culture Through Unique Art Event

Community members are invited to join Phoenix College students, faculty and staff to experience the urban hip hop culture of Phoenix at the Graffiti Up event. Live graffiti battles, break dance battles and music will be showcased at the free event, which will take place at Phoenix College, 1202 W. Thomas Rd. on Friday, March 5, 2010 from 1-8 p.m.

The event will launch with the graffiti battle starting at 1 p.m. as local graffiti artists Brandon Cruz, Gabriel Alvarado and Joseph Perez spray paint 8’ x 9’ graffiti murals on the mobile walls of the Eric Fischl Gallery at Phoenix College. PC alumnus Gabriel Zamora will also exhibit recent artwork in the side gallery.

During a juried competition in February, Graffiti Up co-curators Phoenix College Art Instructor Tim Hernandez and Phoenix College Alumnus and Vangaurd Scholarship Recipient Francisco Garcia selected the artists to participate at the event.

“Graffiti art has been an art form for thousands of years, dating back to ancient hieroglyphics. For the past 20 years, we’ve seen the rise of graffiti art,” said Hernandez. “However, this art form is still underrepresented in art galleries in Phoenix, and this event is a way to reach and recognize graffiti as a common language among many artists in the Valley.”

The graffiti battle will end at 6 p.m. Attendees will have the opportunity to judge the murals, and the winner will be announced.

The event will also include one-on-one and two-on-two break dance battles to live music by a local DJ. Break dance winners will be selected by three judges and attendees’ majority vote. Artists and dancers will receive a $100 cash award for being selected to participate in the event.

Completed murals will be on display in the Phoenix College Eric Fischl Gallery for the month of March, along with three other art pieces from participating artists. Garcia will also exhibit his graffiti artwork in the gallery. Regular gallery hours are Monday – Thursday from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

For more information about the Graffiti Up event at Phoenix College, contact Hernandez at (602) 285-7283.