Lynne Pancrazi

Yuma County Board of Supervisors District 5

Lynne Pancrazi has helped to change the face of education in Yuma and Arizona for the better. She did this through her work as an elected member of the Arizona House of Representatives (2007–2013) and the Arizona Senate (2013–2017), where she influenced legislation and policy at the state level and beyond on issues related to education, natural resources, public safety, and budget. She’s also known for her dedication to a safe and secure border, managed growth, adequate infrastructure and rural community issues. A product of Yuma public schools, Pancrazi spent 28 years as a teacher, instructor and athletic coach in Yuma Elementary School District One. She studied Criminal Justice at Arizona Western College and received her bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from Point Loma Nazarene College. Pancrazi also received her master’s degree in Elementary Education from Northern Arizona University. She currently serves District 5 on the Yuma County Board of Supervisors after being elected to the position in 2016.

AWC Distinguished Alumni

Felipe Covarrubias & Eva Aviles

Felipe currently works at AWC with the AccessABILITY and Health & Wellness.  He graduated at the top of his class HUMINT Interrogation Military Intelligence.  As a fellow veteran, he has helped many students at AWC by being a peer mentor.

Eva has been working for the KEYS Program for over a decade.  She is a great advisor who continuously motivates students to reach their maximum potential.  Eva has volunteered with the Arizona chapter of WESTOP, a non-profit dedicated to educational equity, as chair of their statewide Student Leadership Conference.

Magnolia Alonzo

Adult Education Program Coordinator, Somerton School District

My name is Magnolia Alonzo and I would like to share a little of who I am and why education has always been important in my life.  I presently work as Adult Education Program Coordinator for the Somerton School District and have been in this position for the past three years.  Prior to this, I was an elementary teacher for twelve years in the same school district.  My job now is different because it involves teaching adults as opposed to children; still, the love of teaching, guiding and advising others is the motivation of my profession.

I currently hold a Masters in School Counseling and a Bachelors in Elementary Education with a dual minor in Bilingual Education and Childhood Development.  Getting to this point in my education was not easy as it took lots of sacrifice and commitment.  As I decided to get married and start a family at an early age, barriers to complete my studies came along, yet I still had the desire to fulfill my career dreams and goals.

Both my husband and I had the same ambitions in life; we knew if we wanted to raise a family and live a confortable life, we would have to make sacrifices, nonetheless it would all workout in the end.  It is for this reason I knew attending Arizona Western College was going to be the best choice of school.  I was able to complete my Associate’s Degree along with all childhood development and introduction to education classes; which in turn prepared me to transfer my studies for my Bachelor and Master Programs.  For both my husband and I attending AWC was the push we needed to help us realize our education would not end there, rather it was only the beginning of a few more years to come.    

I always knew I wanted to be a teacher and a school counselor; but I never imagined I could do both acting as a coordinator of an educational institution.  I always struggled with the idea of exercising both jobs, as I have a passion for educating and counseling people.  Now I am part of the education and guidance of adults who will in turn go home and pass on to their children the importance of education, attaining a career and presenting a better future for their family and community.  As a leader in education, I am able to transfer this passion of education to my adult learners by supporting them and guiding them to find their career path.  I am able to do this with the help and support of my AWC partners and guidance advisers.  It is for this reason that education is and will always be a key component in my profession and in my family.

I believe if we educate our-selves, not only academically, but also in our values, self-expectations, motivations and priorities, we will help our children to grow and become outstanding adults and their minds set in what they want to become in life.  It is never too late to pursue an education and attain a career, especially having AWC as a starting point and great support in our education.

Bengie Molina

2017 Hall of Fame Recipient

Before Bengie Molina was an Angel, a Blue Jay, a Giant, or a Ranger – he was a Matador. After graduating from high school with honors in Puerto Rico, Molina played shortstop and pitched for Arizona Western College in 1991 and 1992. From there Molina went on to become a catcher in the Major Leagues where he won two World Series rings (Anaheim Angels in 2002, San Francisco Giants in 2010). He was also awarded a Golden Glove as the top defensive player at his position in both 2002 and 2003. Molina’s baseball career includes a rare feat of hitting for the cycle in one game. On July 16, 2010, Molina hit (in order) a single, a double, a grand slam home run, and a triple. He is the first catcher in Major League history to hit for the cycle with a grand slam. After retiring from the majors, Molina went on to coach with the St. Louis Cardinals and the Texas Rangers, and made a third trip to the World Series with St. Louis. Molina is also a published author, having written the New York Times bestselling book “Molina: The Story of the Father Who Raised an Unlikely Dynasty.”

Lorena ‘Nena’ Zendejas

Teacher at Gary Knox Elementary School

Nena is a coordinator for the ASU/Yuma County Early Literacy Project and a member of the Arizona School Boards Association. And participates in community committees and activities such as YES for Somerton Kids, Somorton School Board, Somerton Planning and Zoning Commision and the Somrton Future High School Committee.