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Northland Pioneer College honored three of the area’s outstanding students at the May 11 commencement. Tanisha Yazzie of Holbrook represented the Associate of Business recipients. McKenna Rae Sargent of Snowflake is the top Associate of Science graduate and Amanda Louise Hatch of Taylor is the top Associate of Applied Science graduate.
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Tanisha Yazzie, a first-generation college student, is the Associate of Business Outstanding Graduate. She idolizes her good friend, Patricia, a full-time engineering student at NAU. According to Yazzie, “She has two part-time jobs and pays her $900/month apartment rent on time. So, whenever I feel overwhelmed, I always think to myself, ‘If she can do all of that, then I can definitely do this.’ I love you, Patti; you’re my idol.”
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Born in Greasewood, and a graduate of Holbrook High School, Yazzie is the president of NPC’s multi-cultural Eagle Club, helping to organize events that highlight the diversity of NPC’s student body. She also served as a work study in the Financial Aid Office.
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Yazzie plans to transfer to the University of Arizona, where she will be pursuing her bachelor’s degree in accounting, with a career goal of becoming an accountant or tax advisor.
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Her hobbies include running and watching documentaries. She wants to learn more about playing the piano. Her favorite quote is by actor Johnny Depp: “I think the thing to do is enjoy the ride while you’re on it.”
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McKenna Sargentbelieves that with determination, hard work and dedication, everything is possible. Sargent is the Associate of Science Outstanding Graduate. This Snowflake native and 2016 valedictorian graduate of Snowflake High School demonstrated her determination by balancing eight high school courses with one or two evening NPC courses during her junior and senior years.
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Sargent has been accepted into NPC’s Nursing program, moving her a step closer to a career goal of becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). She will also be utilizing her Arizona Board of Regents tuition waiver as a member of the 2019 All-Arizona Academic Team to be concurrently enrolled in the Bachelor of Science – Nursing program at ASU.
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A member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Sargent thanks her parents for their support. “I had many long nights of homework and studying and my parents were always there encouraging me every step of the way.” Sargent is very active in church activities, speaking at local conferences, serving as a summer youth tribal leader and a former missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Chile. “I love to sing and perform. I enjoy learning new things and being able to use my talents and knowledge in helping others.”
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Amanda Hatch believes, “Leadership is sharing the knowledge graciously given to me by others.” Hatch is the Associate of Applied Science Outstanding Graduate. She enjoys community activism, doing animal rescue work and serving as president of NPC’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter for two years, and as the 2018/19 PTK Arizona Regional Vice President. She also served as the Student Government Association Vice President.
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“The future is created and recreated daily by our interactions and the passing of knowledge, choices and inclusion,” Hatch continues. “The future we live in is a direct result of the choices we make and the sharing of knowledge from all areas of life.”
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Hatch is completing her second year in NPC’s Nursing program and is currently also attending ASU’s Nursing Program, working on her bachelor’s degree, utilizing the tuition waiver she earned as a member of the 2018 All-Arizona Academic Team.
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Her career goal is to earn her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and work for the United States Public Health Service. She would eventually like to work with Doctors Without Borders. Hatch is the recipient of multiple national scholarships, including the Guistewhite, Jannette Rankin Foundation and Coca-Cola Silver Scholar. “Live a life wide open and dream big,” concludes Hatch.
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