MOHAVE COUNTY – Erika Hiestand, a 2020 Mohave Community College graduate, is on the road to continue her education at Arizona State University in Tempe.
Hiestand was honored to be the 2020 MCC Student Speaker during the Virtual 2020 MCC Graduate Recognition Ceremony. She was a 2019 All Arizona Academic Team member. Hiestand is a Physical Therapist Assistant student and is continuing her education to earn a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology at Arizona State University.
She decided to attend MCC because of the great program, affordable tuition, smaller class sizes, board passing rates and the one-on-one attention between students and instructors.
“I have learned professionalism in the workforce and academic setting. I have also learned that it’s possible to get an amazing education with smaller class sizes and affordable tuition rates,” Hiestand said.
After high school she decided to attend college because she knew she wanted to work in health care and thought MCC’s Physical Therapist Assist. program was the right place to “get her feet wet.”
“Ultimately choosing to move on to higher education has been very rewarding and has truly shown me the passion I have for physical therapy and helping people in need,” Hiestand said.
While attending MCC, she was involved in student organizations such as Phi Theta Kappa with the Lake Havasu City and Bullhead City chapters. She was in Student Activities Council representative and Vice President of the Physical Therapy Assisting Club.
Hiestand decided to pursue a career in health care because of the stories her mom and sister would tell her from working at the hospital. She decided nursing at first but realized that wasn’t her calling.
Her interest in physical therapy started during an internship called M*A*S*H Multiple Avenues in Successful Healthcare. Hiestand had the opportunity to shadow a physical therapist and realized she found interest in physical therapy.
