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Heart of education

South Mountain Community College’s Guadalupe Center grows minds and community

 Not long ago, a college classroom was the last place Guadalupe native and high-school dropout Angelina Valencia expected to find herself.

Valencia’s future had room for little more than taking a few computer classes to get her a job. But those plans came to a screeching halt after her first report card from South Mountain Community College’s Guadalupe Center was comprised of A’s and B’s.

“I never considered going to college. But when I saw my report card, I was surprised. I thought, ‘Wow, I can do this,’” says Valencia, who earned her associates degree and is attending Arizona State University in pursuit of a degree in American Indian Studies.

Valencia’s story is one of many that Guadalupe Center director Raul Monreal says triggered the renovation and expansion of the campus. A grand opening ceremony was held May 31 at its location at 9233 S. Avenida del Yaqui in the town of Guadalupe.

When the Guadalupe Center opened in 1989, in the Mercado, 50 students were enrolled. When it moved south to its current location in a larger space in 2000, more than 500 students, including an increase in full-timers, were enrolled. Steady enrollment figures showed that the community was willing to support a school in their backyard, so Monreal figured it was time to match that support.

“That was the true message. Our environment sends a message we are serious about learning. The increase in students sent us the message they were serious, too,” he says. “We are ready to serve our community and educate people for life.”

The expansion consists of the addition of nearly 5,000 square feet, which adds five new classrooms, a community multipurpose room and a quaint outdoor tree-shaded courtyard that provides a picturesque backdrop for guest speakers, Tai Chi and other intimate events. Benches allow students to eat and hang out, an intentional move by Monreal, who says he wants to do away with what he terms a “fast food” style associated with community colleges.

“I wanted to have a space where students can get together, mingle and talk to each other,” he says. “Students need to feel college is not threatening, that they are comfortable.”

The center occupies a total of 10,000 square feet, and includes a computer lab that is available for public use. Classrooms and labs feature state-of-the-art technology and equipment. Plaques that state the name of each room or department are affixed on doorways and printed in English, Yaqui and Braille. There is a space to add a Spanish translation in the future.

Valencia, who works at the Guadalupe Center as a student services specialist, says the new digs are a refreshing change from the original “ancient” location she started out at.

“There is a sense of support, comfort. Staff went the extra mile for me,” she says. “The community will be accepting of the new center and will view it as an instrument in the community.”

A few days before the grand opening, Guadalupe Center students Brianna Mori and Angelina Madrid, both 19, walked the town handing out event invitations to residents. Mori lives in Tempe but because her family is from Guadalupe she feels right at home in the neighborhood.

“I feel comfortable here, people talk to me and get me involved,” says Mori, who wants to earn an elementary education degree. “I think the Guadalupe Center makes is easy for people here to continue their education. It’s just down the street so they can’t say it’s too far or they don’t have time. There’s no excuses to not go to school.”

Madrid chose to attend SMCC’s Guadalupe campus because of its proximity to her south Phoenix home.

“I like the small classes. I get more one-on-one time with instructors,” says Madrid, an aspiring nurse. “I think the community will see this new center as more of an opportunity to take classes.”

For information about the Guadalupe Center, call (602) 243-8217, or visit http://guadalupe.southmountaincc.edu