Profiles - About Alumni for February 2009

Featured Alum: Juanita “Johni” Duncan, Nursing, 1970

Left: Juanita with her daughter Crystal Duncan.

Our featured alum this month is a graduate of that first nursing class in 1970 – Juanita “Johni” Duncan. Typical of many of our students, Johni was almost 50 when she decided to pursue more education. She was working at YRMC as a nursing aide at the time she decided to enter the new program to become a RN with the Associate Degree.

With a sparkle in her eyes she recalls how frightened she was to return to school and expressed her concern to be able to keep up with the young folks. She studied hard and found the stress was nothing compared to 7 teenagers as home (including two sets of twins). They spent many nights together studying around the kitchen table. Her studies fascinated her and she wanted to learn all she could about the body’s systems. She was a living role model for her 11 children.

Photo caption, left: Studying for their nursing degrees are (left, front to back): Mrs. Francis Vickery, Mrs. Charlotte Tompkins, and Mrs. Barbara Kitchens, director of the Nursing course. (Center row, front to back): Mrs. Gladys Davenport, Mrs. Patricia Harris, and Mrs. Wanda Plumstead, assistant director of the Nursing program. (Right, front to back): Mrs. Jerene Morrison, Mrs. Juanita Duncan and Miss Janet Sargent. Not pictured are Rita Bleakney, Miss Bernaleen Quintero, and Mrs. Victoria Major.

Johni remembers fondly two instructors who were inspirational - Barbara Kitchens and Wanda Plumstead. The small class size enabled them to personally help each and every student. There were 8 in the original nursing class, and 6 took the State Board of Nursing Examination. Johni was one of three that passed the first time. With her degree in hand she started a new job at the VA in Florida, and then continued her career in Idaho for several years at the Boise VA, finally returning to Prescott to retire.

Her 11 children are now scattered across the country. She has 21 grandchildren and an 23 great grandchildren. She is most grateful that her son Timothy lives with her now to share her life.

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Tania Sheldahl, Class of 1982

After graduating from Yavapai, I attended Northern Arizona University and completed my bachelor’s degree in Business, and then completed a Masters Degree in Human Relations Counseling. I currently live in Prescott and work at Yavapai College as the Director of Academic Advising. My husband Brian and I never ventured from Prescott after finishing school, and absolutely love living here! We have one daughter, Brittany, who is 13.

I have nothing but great memories of my time at Yavapai, which makes my current job easy when talking to students about Yavapai and all it has to offer. The people that were most significant was an instructor by the name of Stu Rooth, he taught me how to be a college student, and my coach Dave Brown, who helped me grow up and learn self-responsibility! Being on the women’s basketball team has given me many memories that I still hold close to my heart. Words cannot explain how wonderful it was to go to Nationals that year having beaten the Central Arizona College powerhouse.

My best memory was our trip to Sanitoba, Mississippi for Nationals. We elected to stay in Memphis, which was a short trip away from where the tournament was, and we toured Elvis’ house! Wow, for a small town girl like me, that was heaven! Maybe we did a little too much sightseeing because we lost the first 2 games and got to come home pretty quick.

Prescott was a small place in the early 80’s, and has changed exponentially over the last 25 years or so. I think the most positive thing about attending Yavapai and living in Prescott during the early 80’s was the small town feel that helped pick you up every time you fell down; like my calculus and physics instructors that spent untold hours helping me understand those subjects during their office hours, or the community member that called our coach because we were out too late!

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Sara Holter, 1993, Associate of Arts

Sara, a long-time staff member of the Learning Center on the Prescott Campus, tells of her experiences as a returning adult student and her transition to working in the Learning Center. Sara has spent many years as a staffer for YC - first as a tutor, then as an assistant with the Student Support Services TRiO Program, and currently many years as a Tutorial Specialist with the Learning Center for the Prescott area.

"As a student here quite some time ago, I was also a tutor for liberal studies, a couple of reading courses, communications – pretty much everything but math. I was also chairperson of the Student Leadership Council. We helped to restart the college newspaper – the Rough Writer (at the time called the YC News)."

She likes to tell everybody that she has the best job on campus because she gets to work with students looking to improve their grades. Whether they are 'C' students wanting to be 'B' students, or the proverbial student who just wants to be the best they can be and have a solid 4.0 GPA, she serves them all. She also works with some fantastic tutors. The program helps both the students and tutors to grow as individuals. "Student tutors are self-motivated, really smart, and concerned." Sara feels that student tutors benefit and do better in their own classes because of the knowledge they gain working closely with instructors.

After many years, Sara is still in contact with several of the students she tutored. "They have married and have families but still take time to send an email or card to say they were thinking of me the other day, and recalling how I helped them to pass one of their courses." Sara made students believe in themselves and helped them to succeed. Her enthusiasm helped students to make geology, history or English fun. One student that stands out in her mind is Timmy, a Native American from White River, AZ. He served on the Student Leadership Council representing the Native American Club. "He grew from a shy boy into a strong young man."

Sara is very proud of her son, Clark White, who is also an alumnus of Yavapai College. He is currently serving in the U.S. Coast Guard in N.C. When his hitch is up, he hopes to move back to AZ & enroll in the nursing program at NAU.

In the News: Adina Hirsch, Computer Systems Program Student at YC

West Yavapai Guidance Clinic honors two employees with $500 scholarships.

In the News: Ken Bennett, Attended 1978-81

Prescott resident Ken Bennett was sworn in Monday, January 26, as Arizona's secretary of state.

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