1950s
Joan N. (Iacabone) Murray ’58 of Thornton, CO graduated from PCC with a degree in Business education. She attended PCC on a joint honors scholarship. She was the only female from her Italian family to go to college in her generation. It was an honor as a first generation American. She has published a cookbook entitled “Creative Cuisine Collection” using her Italian name from her grandmother who came over from Italy with my father in 1908, Giovannina Murray. Joan family came from Agnonne, Italia, in the province of Campobasso. She earned a BA, two MA's and an Ed.S. degree. She assisted Dr. Edmund Vallejo in integrating the handicapped into the regular classrooms as a School Psychologist. Joan is on the Wall of Tolerance in Washington DC for working with diverse youth in store front schools. She has a daughter, 47; a son, 42, six grandchildren ranging from 22 to 13, and one great grandson, 5.
1960s
Roland Hawthorne, ’65 of Arvada, CO briefly worked in Greeley, Colorado after graduation until he was drafted. He served in the Army until his honorable discharge in September, 1972. Roland began working on his Bachelor of Science degree from Colorado State University and earned his degree in Business/Information Systems in December 1976. He was a successful computer programmer, project manager, and systems analyst. He worked most of his career at Information Structures, Inc. in downtown Denver. Roland married Ann in May 1976 following his discharge from the Army. They have two children, Robert and Melissa. They enjoyed many outside activities as a family including camping, hiking, fishing, and traveling. Roland was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) in May 2004. He passed away on March 18, 2006. He died at home at age 57, just a short of two years after his diagnosis.
1990s
Randi Gonzales ’98 of Pueblo, CO is currently employed at Parkview Medical Center as a Staffing Coordinator/Health Educator. He recently graduated with a Master of Science in Health Promotion/MBA Certificate in Health Care Administration from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. He is currently applying to Medical School seeking to specialize in Reproductive Medicine/Surgery.
2000s
Christina Mascarenas ’00 of Pueblo, CO is an award winning, newborn, infant, and child photographer. She is the owner and portrait photographer for Celebrating Life Art which specializes in artistic but contemporary portraiture of pregnancy, newborn, infant, baby, child and family. She also provides high school senior and executive portrait photography.
Mary Connie Armenta ’04 of Pueblo, CO continued her education with the University of Phoenix, where she received her Bachelor of Science with an emphasis in Business Administration (BSBA) in January, 2007. She was hired at Pueblo Community College as an Administrative Assistant I in 2004 in the Community Education Department with the Alternative High School Diploma Program. She continued her employment at Colorado State University– Pueblo in 2007 as an Administrative Assistant II in the Admissions office as an Application Processor. Mary was successful because “my journey to be able to get an education and apply for positions was because of all the help I received from my instructors and staff at Pueblo Community College. I would not have continued if I had not gotten the support and encouragement from everyone at PCC. ”
Mose Winchester ’05 of Pueblo, CO graduated from the Radiologic Technology program While a student he served as a Student Ambassador in 2003. He has been working at Parkwest Imaging for over six years. Mose says “thanks to my degree, I have an exciting career and a positive future!”
Amanda Winchester, ’07 and ’09 of Pueblo, CO graduated from the Diagnositic Medical Sonography program and from the Radiologic Technology program. She served as Student Senate President in 2006-2007. She held several jobs since first graduating from PCC, and now is a traveling Sonographer currently assigned to work in the Monterey, CA area. Amanda credits “PCC is responsible for my career, and my life, as I met my husband while a student there! We were married in 2008 at the PCC ampitheater. PCC is a large part of our lives and we recommend it to everyone.”
Pamela Baker ’10 of Cortez, CO walked into PCC one day in 2007 then graduated with the class of 2010 and became a RN. Just graduating was a feat, with 4 kiddos at home and as a single mom....but graduated with honors! She now works on the Medical/Surgical floor at Mercy Medical Center, Durango. She has been there for two years of working the night shift and just scored a coveted day position. Pamela has taken her RN license in different directions, on a part-time basis. She is a sub-contractor for a nursing company out of Grand Junction and does home health once a week in Montezuma County. It's a tough job, but one of the most rewarding things she has ever done. Pamela just enrolled her eldest daughter for her first college semester at PCC and she is just starting out her college life, destination unknown. Pamela states, “I'm a firm believer in PCC and would recommend it to anyone! I was a terrible high school student, but LOVED learning as an adult and really enjoyed all of my classes and am now considering going for my bachelors.”
Mary Romano ’10 of Mancos, CO started to work at a Nursing home a few weeks after graduation. In September she was hired to work at Southwest Memorial Hospital as a CNA on the 2nd floor Medical Surgical unit, where she takes care of Post ops and many other illnesses. She is excited and says, “The job is nothing like you would imagine, it's fast pace and you are always learning.” She has been at the Hospital for a year and she can still say she loves her job. It's all about PATIENT CARE. She thanks Lee VanderBosch of PCC for her education.
Cheryl M. Snyder ’10 of Canon City, CO graduated from PCC and was accepted into Colorado State University's Interior Design Program in Fort Collins, Colorado. She passed the Design Scenario Test that is required for advancement into the second year of the program and is now well on her way to becoming a Professional Interior Designer.