MCC Financial Aid Director Heather Patenaude
MOHAVE COUNTY – Mohave Community College will have one of its employees as a fellow at The Arizona Center for Civic Leadership during the Flinn-Brown Fellowship seminar series.
Heather Patenaude, MCC Financial Aid Director, is one of 31 civic leaders that were chosen to fellow at the seminar. Presenters will represent four counties in Arizona, Coconino, Maricopa, Pima and Mohave.
The seminar is 12 full days in late August that talk about topics ranging from public health, higher education, PreK-12, economy, environment, criminal justice, communications, media relations and more.
During the seminar Patenaude will learn about the importance of financial aid and how it can help people fulfill their educational goals.
“Coming from a world of financial aid I want to promote college affordability and increase graduation rates particularly in rural Arizona,” Patenaude said.
Patenaude said that as a first-generation college student she knows that a college education can be life-changing for individuals and for communities.
“Education is often the first step for someone to achieve a larger dream. They may want a promotion to change careers or to open their own business,” she said. “People need to know that there’s help available to make their dreams happen and their goals can increase college graduation rates will contribute to a stronger local economy that will both support local business and attract new ones to the areas.”
Presenters include highly experienced, subject-matter experts, including elected and appointed officials, judges, executives, scholars, and other administrators engaged in decision-making at the highest levels.
The Flinn Foundation is a Phoenix-based private, nonprofit, grantmaking organization, founded by Dr. Robert S. Flinn and Irene P. Flinn in 1965 with the mission, “To improve the quality of life in Arizona to benefit future generations.” Along with the Arizona Center for Civic Leadership and its Flinn-Brown Fellowship, the foundation supports the advancement of Arizona’s bioscience sector, the Flinn Scholars Program, and Arizona arts and culture organizations.
