(PHOENIX, Ariz., April 20, 2004)—From the Crisis Nursery to the Phoenix College CAD Lab, PC students and staff are finding time to participate in rewarding volunteer work. Because of their dedication to the community, PC would like to recognize a few of those individuals who have used their time to help others.

Valerie Pacheco

Valerie Pacheco works in the President’s Office at Phoenix College, is a student at Gateway Community College and is a volunteer at the Crisis Nursery. Although her volunteer activities are important to the staff and children at the Crisis Nursery, Pacheco sees volunteering as a fun and rewarding way to give back to the community. During her visits to the Crisis Nursery, Pacheco helps with everything from cleaning house to playing with the children.

"I love kids and this gives me an opportunity to work and play with them," said Pacheco. "I feel that volunteering at the Crisis Nursery is as much for me as it is for them because I have so much fun!"

Pacheco paints, draws, colors, watches movies, plays video games, rides bikes, plays in the sand box, participates in sports and does anything else that the children request. Volunteering has become an important part of Pacheco’s life.

Cora McMiller

For almost one year, Cora McMiller has volunteered at Boswell Hospital in Sun City. As the Coordinator in the Volunteer Services Office, McMiller updates the system with volunteer information, schedules volunteers to assist in various screenings at schools and community centers, assembles orientation materials for new volunteers and organizes refreshments for various group meetings.

By the end of this semester, McMiller will receive both her ASMAT and Advanced ASMAT from Phoenix College. McMiller believes that volunteering is important because it extends the staff, saves on spending and provides knowledge and new ideas. She believes that volunteers are committed and donate time to the community because they want to, not because they feel obligated.

Wendy Huston

Volunteering on the PC campus works out perfectly for Wendy Huston. Huston is a PC student who commutes to campus by bus; therefore volunteering at the campus CAD lab is not only fun, but also convenient. After taking a CAD course, Huston realized she had a knack for it and enjoyed assisting other students who needed help. She was asked by her instructor to work as a teacher’s aid, but the time commitment was too intense for her class schedule so she offered to volunteer her services instead.

"I used to be a Special Education teacher and I enjoy helping others," said Huston. "I miss teaching so this gives me a chance interact with people and help them out. It’s fun for me."

Mandy Fleming

Spring break is a time for students to relax, enjoy the sun and take their minds off school for a week. For Mandy Fleming, a PC dental hygiene student, spring break this year proved to be much more than fun in the sun. She spent her time volunteering at Kivel, an assisted living center for the elderly. Fleming is graduating from the dental hygiene program at Phoenix College in May 2004 and feels that balancing school and volunteer work is important.

"I think no matter how busy life gets, you can always find some time to sacrifice," said Fleming. "I just try to keep a balance in my life."

During her visit to Kivel, Fleming assisted a dental hygienist with cleanings. By volunteering, she fulfilled a needed requirement for a class while simultaneously helping out in her community.

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