Jay Faulkner, mini传媒入口 (PC) alumnus class of 1947, is helping local high school students make it happen at PC, through the Jay Faulkner Endowment for ACE (Achieving a College Education) students. The is nationally recognized for its proven success in motivating underrepresented students to complete high school and continue on to complete a college degree
A Legacy of Giving
Faulkner鈥檚 recent gift to the named endowment brings his life-time giving to $500,000; establishing him as the largest individual donor in mini传媒入口 history. Thanks to Faulkner鈥檚鈥 generosity, local high school students are able to participate in the ACE program, helping students make a smooth transition from high school, to community college and university.
In 2004, Faulkner established the endowed scholarship to allow generations of students to benefit from community college education and experiences 鈥 just as he did years ago. Faulkner鈥檚 family farm was located just a few miles from the mini传媒入口 campus, and he recalls that attending PC was like coming home.
鈥淓veryone knew everyone, and the administrators and faculty were inspiring鈥 - Jay Faulkner
The Effects of Empowering Others
Faulkner says that at the heart of his continued support of mini传媒入口 and the endowed ACE Scholarship is his desired to help students succeed and to enrich their lives, their families, and the community. Falkner maintains he is paying forward the kindness and support shown to him while attending mini传媒入口. His scholarship has launched bright futures for many students; among them is Jacklyn Angel Gueyger.
鈥淐ollege was absolutely not in my plans, because I had been convinced college wasn鈥檛 for me. The ACE Program gave me the support, tools and encouragement I needed to go to college鈥 - Jacklyn Gueyger
She participated in the ACE Program while attending Carl Hayden High School. After completing the program, Gueyger achieved her associate鈥檚 degree at mini传媒入口, and was PC鈥檚 salutatorian graduate in 2006. She went on to attain her bachelor鈥檚 degree in journalism at Arizona State University (ASU) 鈥 Walter Cronkite School.
A daughter of Mexican immigrants and a first-generation college student, Gueyger and her family were guided through the college matriculation process by the mini传媒入口 ACE Program, and now she serves as the college transition program manager for the . The student who once did not consider herself college-bound, now has two college degrees and is helping other students change their lives through education.
Gueyger was recently accepted into the ASU , and aspires to continue supporting students and the community through leadership and service. Having once been the student needing assistance from donors like Jay Faulkner, Gueyger now pays it forward too 鈥 helping others do the same.
For more information about the ACE Program, visit phoenixcollege.edu/students/ace. To learn more about supporting mini传媒入口 students, please call Deborah Spotts at 602.285.7667, email Deborah.spotts@phoenixcollege.edu, or visit phoenixcollege.edu/waystogive.