Tuition waivers, valued at over $50,000, have been awarded to eleven All-Arizona Academic Team students from Northland Pioneer College (NPC) to complete their bachelor’s degrees at one of Arizona’s three public universities. The Arizona Board of Regents awards the waivers, for up to 60 credits, to encourage the state’s top scholars to finish their educations.

NPC can nominate two students from each campus and center location to the All-USA team which automatically places them on the All-Arizona Team. To be eligible, a student must have a cumulative 3.5 or higher grade-point average, be working toward an associate degree, and demonstrate college or community volunteerism and leadership.

Team members will also receive a scholarship check from NPC, based on their ranking by national judges from business, civic, government, and education arenas.

All-Arizona Academic Team members from throughout the state will be honored at a virtual ceremony, Thursday, February 24, 2022 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at mesacc.edu/live.

For the past 25 years Arizona has separately recognized the state’s top two-year college students as a part of the All-USA Academic Team program, co-sponsored by the American Association of Community Colleges, Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society (PTK), Follet Higher Education Group, the Coca Cola Scholars Foundation, and USA Today.

A complete list of past recipients of the can All AZ Academic honor be viewed online at
www.npc.edu/past-AllAZ.

Angelica “Angel” Abeita

Hopi Center • Transferring to ASU

• Major (4-Year): Business Administration
• Career Goal: Angel plans to transfer to ASU’s W.P. Carey School of Business and earn a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. She plans to continue working in the field of Human Resources.
• College/Community Activities: Current Phi Theta Kappa Public Relations Officer and community volunteer.
• College Honors: Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, NPC President’s List, NPC Leg-Up Scholarship, Hopi Tribe Scholarship and Sinmuy Amungem Lois Qumyintewa Memorial Scholarship recipient.
• About Me: I am a proud Indigenous woman who is hardworking, dedicated and always willing to provide a helping hand. I am grateful for the support and encouragement I have received from my fiance and family; this is an achievement for US! #Hopi-Laguna-Santa-Ana #ForMySisterAmelda

David Aberle

Holbrook Campus • Transferring to U of A

• Major (4-Year): Computer Science
• Career Goal: David plans to attend the U of A and earn a degree in Computer Science with an emphasis on Cybersecurity. His goal is to work his way up the tech ladder and become a Chief Information Security Officer. He aspires to eventually start his own Cybersecurity firm.
• College/Community Activities: Indigenous medicinal/spiritual practitioner and avid volunteer.
• College Honors: Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society,  NPC President’s List, CASO Scholarship recipient.
• About Me: A father, husband, spiritual leader, and student seeking a higher education to blend the cultural life-way of my people with modern technology.

Ashlyn Adakai

Winslow Campus • Transferring to U of A

• Major (4-Year): Medical Sciences
• Career Goal: Ashlyn plans to transfer to the University of Arizona and earn a Bachelor of Science degree. She aspires to work in the medical field (biomedicine) and focus on the health needs of her rural community.
• College/Community Activities: United National Indian Tribal Youth (UNITY).
• College Honors: Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, NPC Fill the Gaps, and AndyVon Scholarship recipient.
• About Me: I am a young Navajo woman. I am hardworking and diligent and am extremely grateful to my family for helping me along the way. #Diné #Tààhwòajít’éego

Hannah Bahr

Springerville/Eagar Center • Transferring to NAU

• Major (4-Year): Nursing
• Career Goal: Hannah is transferring to NAU and plans to obtain her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She ultimately wants to work as the director of a labor and delivery or neonatal unit.
• College/Community Activities: Current Licensed Nursing Assistant, and creator and facilitator of the Ruthie Lindsey Project.
• College Honors: NPC President’s and Dean’s Lists, Honors Student.
• About Me: I’m a diligent, motivated and kind leader who wants to better my life by bettering the lives of others. #futurenurse #AllAZteam

Ashton Bishop

Holbrook Campus • Transferring to NAU

• Major (4-Year): Mathematics
• Career Goal: Ashton plans to earn his bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Northern Arizona University and hopes to become a high school mathematics teacher one day.
• College/Community Activities: Volunteer for CCP.
• College Honors: Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.
• About Me: Whether writing stories, making art, or spending time with my loved ones, I have a fierce passion for everything I do! #MathRules

Erica Novak

St. Johns Center • Transferring to U of A

• Major (4-Year): Nutrition
• Career Goal: Erica is transferring to the University of Arizona to become a pre-med student. She hopes to pursue a career in Emergency Medicine and looks forward to exploring her career options while attending medical school.
• College/Community Activities: WMRMC health fair volunteer, Apache County Attorney’s Office victim’s compensation advocate.
• College Honors: Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, President’s Scholar Scholarship recipient, First Place 2020 SkillsUSA Regional Competition.
• About Me: I’m hard working and always on the go. In my spare time I enjoy lifting weights, walking my dog (Koda) and spending time with friends and family.

Jamie Ortega

Show Low Campus • Transferring to ASU

• Major (4-Year): Nursing
• Career Goal: Jamie will transfer to ASU and plans to ultimately earn her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She wants to try a couple of different careers in the nursing field and find her true calling. She is interested in both psychiatric nursing and women’s health nursing.
• College/Community Activities: Phi Theta Kappa Chapter President (2019-20), Meals on Wheels volunteer driver.
• College Honors: Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.
• About Me: The more experience I gain, the more the possibilities intrigue me. I simply want to be an empathetic, caring and hardworking nurse.

Britainy Pennington

Winslow Campus • Transferring to U of A

• Major (4-Year): Nursing
• Career Goal: Britainy plans to transfer to the University of Arizona and to ultimately earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Her career goal is to become a flight nurse.
• College/Community Activities: Winslow Elks Lodge Christmas baskets and Rotary Food Bank volunteer.
• College Honors: Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, NPC President’s and Dean’s Lists.
• About Me: In addition to school and work, I love to thrift for vintage space items, take photos and travel. I can’t wait for my future! #futureRN

Jolie Selestewa

Whiteriver Center • Transferring to ASU

• Major (4-Year): Community Health
• Career Goal: Jolie will attend ASU’s Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation. She plans to earn a Bachelor of Science in Community Health and work to provide healthcare to underdeveloped communities. She hopes to one day implement an inter-disciplinary team of healthcare professional to address both traditional and modern views of medicine among indigenous tribes.
• College/Community Activities: Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, WM Women’s Club student speaker.
• College Honors: Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Dean’s List.
• About Me: #NativeScholar #ForksUp

Lauren Stidham

Show Low Campus • Transferring to ASU

• Major (4-Year): Nursing
• Career Goal: Lauren plans to earn her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and become a pediatric ICU nurse.
• College/Community Activities: S.A.D.D. Driving mock crash volunteer, community blood drive volunteer, and OTC drug prevention facilitator.
• College Honors: Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, NPC President’s List, recipient of NPC President’s Scholarship and the P.E.O. National Star Scholarship.
• About Me: I can achieve anything if I work hard enough for it. I enjoy spending time with my family and my golden retriever “Millie.”

Kaylen Wilson

Snowflake Campus • Transferring to NAU

• Major (4-Year): Education
• Career Goal: Kaylen plans to transfer to NAU’s College of Arts and Letters to ultimately earn her degree in Art Education. She wants to teach high school and community college students in rural communities.
• College/Community Activities: Snowflake High School Academic Decathlon volunteer.
• College Honors: Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, NPC President’s Scholar Scholarship recipient.
• About Me: I have always been inspired by teachers, especially the ones that have inspired me. I also love trivia and anything and everything creative!