April 22, 2015

2015 Heroes of Education

(left) Dr Steven Helfgot, president and CEO, Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation; Heidi Schaefer, MCC Foundation board chair; Linda Mazon Gutierrez, honoree; Pam Conboy, Valley of the Sun United Way board chair; and Dr. Rufus Glaspar, chancellor ex officio, Maricopa Community Colleges

(right) Linda Mazon Gutierrez

The Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation honored

Linda Mazon Gutierrez

with the Heroes of Education Award on April 16. The 10^th annual fundraising

event was held at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown.

More than 440 community and business leaders attended the occasion, raising in excess of $120,000 for scholarships.

Gutierrez, president and CEO of the Hispanic Women’s Corporation, was recognized for her personal and professional commitment to support Maricopa Community College students and educational opportunities. She and the HWC have partnered with Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation since 2006 to provide scholarships for graduates of the Maricopa Community Colleges Achieving a College Education program.

Also recognized at a special ceremony prior to the event were 10 College Heroes, one from each of the Maricopa Community Colleges, representing individuals, organizations or companies who have distinguished themselves by providing exceptional support and/or service to one of the colleges. These honorees were:

>> The Honorable Adolfo Gamez, Estrella Mountain Community College

>> Elizabeth Acord Maribito, Gateway Community College

>> Dr. Ruth Tan Lim, Mesa Community College

>> Glendale Rotary, Glendale Community College

>> Warren Buxton, Paradise Valley Community College

>> Chief Kara Kalkbrenner, Phoenix College

>> The Honorable Harry Mitchell, Rio Salado College

>> Marshall Trimble, Scottsdale Community College

>> Dr. Yvonne D. Montiel, South Mountain Community College

Since its inception in 2006, the Heroes of Education event has raised more than $1 million in scholarship funds to support Maricopa Community College students.