Phoenix College

Not to be confused with the University of Phoenix.
Phoenix Community College
Motto Go far, close to home
Type Community College
Established 1920
President Christina M. Haines
Academic staff
 955
Students 12,000
Location Encanto Village, Phoenix, Arizona, United States of America
Campus Urban
Main: 52 acres
Colors Gold & Blue         
Nickname "PC"
Mascot Bear
Affiliations NJCAA
Website www.phoenixcollege.edu

Phoenix College, often referred to as simply PC, is a community college located in Encanto Village, Phoenix, Arizona, United States. Founded in 1920, it is one of the oldest community colleges in the country.

History

The college was originally a part of the Phoenix Union High School and Junior College District and was known as Phoenix Junior College (PJC). PC became a part of the Maricopa County Community College District in 1960 and is now considered the flagship campus of one of the largest community college systems in the world.

Campus

Phoenix College consists of the main campus in Midtown Phoenix, as well as a downtown campus located in the central business district of Phoenix.

Organization and administration

The college president (interim) is Christina M. Haines.

Academic profile

Phoenix College offers over 200 degree and certificate programs. PC also offers training geared towards professional community/business development and general interest. PC is also home of the Student Services Institute.

Student life

Sport

Phoenix College has 14 sports teams competing in the NJCAA. The women's softball team has won the NJCAA National Women's Softball Division II Championships eight times (2000, 2001, 2004-2008, 2012). The school has also won NJCAA championships in baseball (1960, 1962, 1965), men's track and field (1964, 1965, 1966), wrestling (1967–68, 1968–69), men's golf (1964), football (1964), and women's cross country (1985). In 1980 PC won national team championships in women's and mixed archery (two-year college division). Women's archery also won national titles in 1933 and 1934.

Notable people

Many PC alumni have gone on to local and national prominence with successful careers in the arts, business, government, medical, and legal professions. Distinguished alumni include mayors, state senators, Native American tribal leaders, publishers, business executives, two Miss Americas (1949 and 1964) and two Arizona governors (Wesley Bolin[1] and Jack Richard Williams[2]). Other prominent alumni include film star Nick Nolte, Tony Award-winning actor Stephen Spinella, actor Peter Billingsley, daytime television star Jaime Lyn Bauer, Pop/Rhythm & Blues singer CeCe Peniston, artist Eric Fischl, and AAGPBL pioneer Charlotte Armstrong. Investigative journalist Ron Ridenhour, who exposed the My Lai Massacre, attended Phoenix College before being drafted into military service in Vietnam in 1967.[3]

Several former football players have played in the National Football League including Fred Carr, Bob Wallace, Eugene Jackson, Lyn Larsen, Tory Nixon, Andy Livingston,[4] and "Scooter" Molander. Dennis Layton played for the National Basketball Association's Phoenix Suns and John Smith toured with the Harlem Globetrotters. Bears who have played Major League Baseball include Donnie Lee, Gary Gentry, and Dave Rajsich.

References

  1. ↑ "Arizona Governor Wesley Bolin". Retrieved January 22, 2010.
  2. ↑ "Arizona Governor John "Jack" R. Williams". Retrieved January 22, 2010.
  3. ↑ Ronald Ridenhour obituary, New York Times, May 11, 1998.
  4. ↑ "Andy Livingston". databaseFootball.com. Retrieved November 18, 2012.


Coordinates: 33°29′4″N 112°5′19″W / 33.48444°N 112.08861°W / 33.48444; -112.08861

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 2/3/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.