Yavapai College

Yavapai College is a public community college located in Yavapai County, Arizona. The main campus is in Prescott, and there are additional locations in Clarkdale, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, and Sedona. As a community college, it offers many different courses and programs to help students learn new skills and prepare for further education or careers.

History

Yavapai College started in 1965 after a vote by people in the area. Over the next few years, leaders were chosen, money was approved, teachers were hired, and plans for learning were made. The first classes began in fall 1969. In February 1970, the college opened its first buildings in Prescott. These buildings were on a 100-acre site that used to be part of Fort Whipple, a military base built in 1864 to keep the area safe.

Campus

Yavapai College has housing for students at its Prescott Campus in two places called Marapai and Kachina. The Rider Diner serves meals every day, and there is a cafe in the library for snacks and light meals. The college has police services available all the time.

In 2012, the college decided to spend money to improve its housing for students.

Academics

Yavapai College offers many ways for students to learn and grow. In 2010–11, students could choose from 99 different certificates, degrees, and ways to move on to four-year colleges across 73 programs. The college has special options like learning from past experiences, internships, online classes, and classes for children and high school students.

The college offers seven types of Associate degrees, including Arts, Science, Business, Education, Fine Arts, General Studies, Nursing, and Applied Science. It is also home to the Yavapai College Gunsmithing School, which has been one of the best gunsmithing schools in the United States.

Student life

Yavapai College supports four sports teams: men's soccer and baseball, and women's volleyball and softball. The teams compete in Division 1 of the National Junior College Athletics Association (NJCAA) and are part of the Arizona Community College Athletics Conference (ACCAC).

The college's teams have won many national championships in soccer, baseball, softball, and cross country. In 2014, the college started showing its sports events online for everyone to watch.

Notable people

Yavapai College has helped many people achieve great things in different fields.

Government

• Ken Bennett, former Arizona Secretary of State

Sports

• Kyle Blanks, professional baseball player
• Kole Calhoun, professional baseball player
• Willie Calhoun, professional baseball player
• Gabriel Claudio, professional soccer player
• Chad Curtis, professional baseball player
• Christian Encarnacion-Strand, professional baseball player
• Roger Espinoza, professional soccer player
• Ken Giles, professional baseball player
• Alan Gordon, professional soccer player
• Billy Hatcher, professional baseball player and coach
• Kelvin Jack, professional soccer player
• Avery John, professional soccer player
• Merrill Kelly, professional baseball player
• Jesse Maldonado, professional soccer player
• Justin Meram, professional soccer player
• Eric Prindle, mixed martial arts fighter
• Mike Randolph, professional soccer player
• Jennifer Sadler, volleyball player
• John Scearce, professional soccer player
• Curt Schilling, professional baseball player
• Kirby Yates, professional baseball player

Arts

• Brian Stauffer, award-winning illustrator

Science

• Jani Ingram, chemistry professor