3 MCC Bullhead Campus students selected as 2024 All-Arizona Academic Team members

MOHAVE COUNTY – Mohave Community College would like to congratulate Bullhead Campus students Jennifer Schaefle (transfer), Tenny McWilliams (transfer) and Samantha Covey (workforce) for being selected as 2024 All-Arizona Academic Team members.

All-Arizona Academic Team members in the transfer category receive a full-tuition scholarship to any public university in Arizona after they graduate from MCC. The scholarship covers resident tuition for 10 consecutive undergraduate semesters or 60 credits for the fall and spring semesters.

Those in the workforce category will be placed in a competition for the All-USA Academic Team, Coca-Cola Academic Team and the New Century WORKFORCE Pathway Scholarship Awards through Phi Theta Kappa. 

Jennifer Schaefle

Schaefle is majoring in liberal arts at MCC. Upon completing her associate degree, she will transfer to Northern Arizona University in the fall where she will work toward getting her bachelor’s degree in chemistry.

“I have had my eye on this scholarship since I heard about it and I tried to keep myself from getting my hopes up, but the All-AZ Academic Team was plan A,” Schaefle said. “I found out on my birthday and it just felt unreal and I’m beyond grateful for this opportunity as well as all the people who helped me get here.”

She decided to attend MCC because she has always known the value of education but after dropping out of high school, she knew MCC was a great way to start to get back into academics and eventually attend a university.

Schaefle’s ultimate career goal is to become a faculty researcher in the field of chemical oceanography. She would like to study ocean acidification or abiotic factors of deep-sea ecosystems.

At MCC, she’s Student Activities Council and Phi Theta Kappa-Alpha Chi Psi chapter president, and a member of the chess club.

Tenny McWilliams

McWilliams is pursuing her associate degree in social and behavioral science because she knows mental health is important, and wanted to learn more about human behavior. After MCC, she plans to attend Arizona State University to obtain a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership.

“Winning this award brings me gratitude, pride and financial relief because it shows all of my hard work has finally paid off,” said McWilliams, who along with other university-bound team members will receive a scholarship that covers tuition. “I’m so honored to represent MCC in the All-Arizona Academic Team and grateful for everyone who believed in and supported me.”

She decided to go back to school after getting the position of Student Success Coach at MCC. As a success coach, she helps students develop academic skills to promote academic success. In 2022, McWilliams won the MCC Ellen Licari Service to Students Award for going above and beyond in making sure students are successful in their college journey. Her career goal is to continue working for MCC to help students succeed and eventually obtain a leadership position.

As a student, she is involved with student clubs like Phi Theta Kappa-Alpha Chi Psi where she is the Vice President of Fellowship. She’s also a member of the Psyched Out and Art Club.

Samantha Covey

Covey is pursuing her associate degree in dental hygiene because she has a passion for caring for patients and educating them about the importance of their oral health. After MCC, she hopes to start her career as a dental hygienist and continue her education to eventually obtain a bachelor’s degree.

“Receiving recognition and being selected to compete for awards such as the All-USA Academic Team, Coca-Cola Academic Team, and the New Century WORKFORCE Pathway Scholarship Awards is an incredibly humbling and exhilarating experience,” Covey said. “It feels like the culmination of dedicated effort, hard work and a commitment to academic excellence.”

She decided to attend MCC because the locality of the College and flexible class scheduled fit well into her daily schedule. Covey also attended MCC because of its affordability and made pursuing higher education more manageable for her.

Covey is also a mother, wife and Vice President of Membership with Phi Theta Kappa-Alpha Chi Psi.  She’s also a first-generation student, meaning she is the first in her family to go to college or a higher education institution. She encountered challenges when going through the process of what it means and takes to be a college student. In high school, she took dual enrollment classes where she was offered a glimpse of being a student in higher education.

“Being the first in my family to attend college fills me with a profound sense of pride and accomplishment,” Covey said. “While it comes with challenges, the opportunity to pursue higher education not only transforms my own life but also opens doors for my family.”

MCC partners with in-state universities like Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University and The University of Arizona to make transferring credits a seamless process. The College also has academic partners across the country. MCC can be a stepping stone to an advanced college degree or other specialized education opportunities. Students in the transfer category were celebrated during a ceremony Wednesday in Phoenix with all the other All Arizona Academic Team recipients across the 10 community college districts.

Jennifer Schaefle is a student on the Bullhead Campus and has been selected as a 2024 All-Arizona Academic Team member.

Tenny McWilliams has been selected as a 2024 All-Arizona Academic Team member. She’s a student on the Bullhead Campus.

Samantha Covey is a student on the Bullhead Campus. She has also been selected as a 2024 All-Arizona Academic Team member in the workforce category.