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.

Charlene Fernandez

Democratic Leader of the Arizona House of Representatives

State Representative Charlene Fernandez currently serves Legislative District 4 -- which includes parts of Yuma, Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal Counties -- in the Arizona legislature, and is the Democratic Caucus Leader of the House of Representatives.
Charlene is one of the legislature's strongest advocates for public education, frequently pushing for more school funding from her position on the appropriations committee.
Prior to being elected to the legislature, Charlene worked in a variety of policy and constituent service roles for Congressman Ed Pastor, Governor Janet Napolitano and Congressman Raúl Grijalva. Charlene also served for more than 12 years on the Yuma Union High School Board.
Charlene was born and raised in Yuma, Arizona. She attended Yuma High School where she graduated, and went on to attend Arizona Western College before transferring to Northern Arizona University earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. We are proud to say that she got her start at AWC! Once a Matador, always a Matador!!

Thu Pham

Student

Thu Pham attained her Associate of Science in Biology in 2013 from AWC.  She has been accepted to a dual degree program, Doctor of Pharmacy and Master of Public Health. She is enrolled in the Master of Public Health program at the College of Public Health, University of Arizona and is seeking a master degree in Health Policy and Management.

She will start her first semester at the College of Pharmacy this coming Fall at the University of Arizona, in order to pursue the Doctor of Pharmacy degree.

Giber Becerra

Athletic Trainer

Giber Becerra, who has been a trainer for the Mexican national soccer team and for "Club America", a professional soccer team. Giber is from San Luis, Arizona, graduated from Kofa High School, earned his associate's degree from AWC while playing for AWC soccer as a student athlete,and finished his Bachelor's degree in Athletic Training/Sports Medicine at Grand Canyon University.

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.”