MCC Lake Havasu graduate receives $10k as 2023 Kathy Hodel Most Outstanding Student award

MOHAVE COUNTY – Adam Romano is described as tenacious, inquisitive, insightful and many other great words by his peers. Romano is the 2023 Kathy Hodel Most Outstanding Student Award Recipient.

Along with the honor of being this year’s recipient, Romano will also receive $10,000 cash to put toward anything he wants.

“Being selected as the 2023 Kathy Hodel winner feels absolutely fantastic, my supportive wife said that she knew I would win but I had my doubts,” Romano said. “I was stunned when I realized that I had won and when I regained my composure I felt humbled honored and quite happy.”

Romano said there are so many deserving students attending MCC this year who could have won the award because MCC’s student body serves the community in so many different and diverse ways.

He will use the funds to help continue his education and help his growing family create a strong foundation. Winning the award also fuels his passion for education and service.

Kathy Hodel was known for her community service efforts and that’s one of the criteria students who apply for the award need to meet. Romano put in countless hours of community service while attending MCC and he is often described as a great community leader.

“He’s known by so many in and around the MCC community as an empathic leader a team builder and he is not afraid to get in there and do the work when necessary,” said Dr. Maria Ayon, Dean of Student and Community Engagement Lake Havasu campus. “I’m so proud of Adam as he sees challenges as opportunities to make effective changes for the larger good.”

When asked what community service means to him and how did he service his community, Romano said he serves his community as an advocate for the arts and humanities, he supports innovative people and ideas and connects people with the community.

Romano is graduating from MCC with an Associate of Arts in Fine Arts. He attended the college’s Lake Havasu City Campus and is currently attending Arizona State University to pursue a bachelor’s degree in museum studies.

During the 2021-2022 academic year, he was selected to be part of the All Arizona Academic Team which means he was awarded a full-tuition scholarship to any public university in Arizona. Romano was also named the 2022 Coca-Cola Academic Team Gold Scholar and received a $1,500 scholarship.

Mohave Community College is currently enrolling students in fall semester classes, which start August 14. For those who would like to become a student, the first step is to create an account and fill out the free online application at Apply.Mohave.edu. For more information visit the college website at Mohave.edu or call 1-866-MOHAVECC.

Adam Romano, MCC Lake Havasu campus student, has been named the 2023 Kathy Hodel Most Outstanding Award recipient.

Dr. Stacy Klippenstein, MCC President (right), presents Adam Romano, the 2023 Kathy Hodel Award Recipient, with a $10,000 check for being an outstanding student. The award was presented during the MCC 52nd Commencement ceremony May 12, 2023.