Cochise College Alumni

09/02/2026

🎓✨ ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: Casey Carrillo ✨🎓

Cochise College alumni are making an impact across Arizona and beyond!

We’re proud to spotlight Casey Carrillo, a Cochise College alumna and Chief Innovation Officer for the University of Arizona Center for Innovation (UACI).

Under the leadership of Casey and the UACI team, the center was recently named one of America’s Best Incubators & Accelerators of 2026 by TIME Magazine! UACI ranked #6 among public university-affiliated incubators, #15 among all university-affiliated incubators and accelerators, and #56 overall nationwide.

For more than 20 years, UACI has helped entrepreneurs turn innovative ideas into growing businesses, supporting more than 1,500 entrepreneurs and 300 startups that have secured more than $200 million in capital.

Casey shared that the recognition reflects not only the success of the startups UACI serves, but also the strength of the partnerships and collaborative innovation ecosystem being built across Southern Arizona.

👏 We’re proud to see a member of the Cochise College alumni community helping drive innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic growth throughout our region!

Congratulations, Casey and the entire UACI team! ❤️🖤

🔗 Read more about the recognition: https://www.uaci.com/news/time-magazine-names-university-arizona-center-innovation-among-top-business-incubators

08/20/2026

In Memory of David "Dave" Pettes 💙

It is with great sadness that Cochise College shares the passing of David "Dave" Pettes, an early faculty member and Cochise College Hall of Fame inductee.

Dave joined Cochise College in 1968 as a social sciences instructor after studying history at Duke University and earning a master's degree in social science from Emory University. Over an extraordinary 46-year career, he served the college as both a faculty member and administrator, leaving a lasting impact on countless students, colleagues, and the institution itself.

Among his many contributions, Dave played a pivotal role in the college's accreditation efforts, helping ensure continued access to federal financial aid for thousands of students. He was deeply committed to student success, service learning, and building connections between K-12 and higher education. Known for his remarkable ability to recognize students' strengths and inspire them to use those talents for the greater good, Dave's influence extended far beyond the classroom.

Together with his wife, Irma, whom he met at Cochise College, Dave established the Dave and Irma Pettes Scholarship to support students with financial need who are not eligible for federal aid.

Dave retired from full-time service in 2014 and was inducted into the Cochise College Hall of Fame in 2015. His legacy of service, compassion, and dedication to education will continue to impact generations of students.

Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with Irma, their family, friends, former students, and all who had the privilege of knowing him.

05/29/2026

🎓 Raising a glass to the alumni who continue to make a difference in their communities, careers, and beyond. Thank you for joining us at our Alumni Social and helping strengthen the Cochise College alumni network. Here’s to staying connected and continuing to create futures together. ❤️

Don’t miss what’s next! Follow us for updates on upcoming alumni events, campus news, spotlights, and opportunities to reconnect with fellow Cougars.

05/14/2026

Art faculty came together to celebrate the students at the center of this photo as the 2025-2026 Artemizia Foundation Scholarship recipients. Pictured in front of Swoon's "Sonia Mandala" at the Artemizia Foundation Museum in Bisbee are Tate Rich (left), art faculty; Denise Hoyos, executive director of the Cochise College Foundation; Sloane Bouchever, artist, museum founder and scholarship sponsor; scholarship recipients Estefania Medina and Natalie Andres; and art faculty JenMarie Zeleznak, Ash Dahlke, and Stephen Crout. Thank you, Sloane, and congratulations, Estefania and Natalie!

Artemizia Foundation

05/07/2026

We're less than an hour away from Cochise College's first game in the NJCAA Region I Championship tournament. Click the link below to stream the game live from Nevada. We're No. 15 in the nation this week.

It's TIME!

🏆: Region 1 Tournament First Round
🆚 : #3 Arizona Western
🕒 : 10:00 AM
📍 : Henderson, NV
📺 : tinyurl.com/55vay2h5
📱 :

05/05/2026

If you're an alumnus or you're about to be, fill out our alumni form so we can keep in touch!

We’re interested in hearing about your life beyond Cochise. Please take a moment to update your information, nominate someone for the Hall of Fame, register your community service, and consider making a gift to support students at your alma mater.

04/29/2026

Please join us in congratulating the recently inducted Cochise College Hall of Fame Class of 2025! Left to right in the group photo are: Humberto S. Lopez ('67), Senator David Gowan ('02), former Governing Board Member Jane Strain, college president Dr. James Perey, Charles "Red" Young ('73), and retired faculty member Rebecca Orozco. Fantastic ambassadors for the college, every one.

We rely on nominations. You can find details and a nomination form on our website: https://www.cochise.edu/community/alumni/hall-of-fame/index.html

04/13/2026

The college awarded its first bachelor's degrees to nursing students in December 2025!

🎓Here’s something many people in our community may not realize… 📚

Cochise College is now offering the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree locally—and at the same affordable tuition rate as its standard classes.

That means students right here in Cochise County can pursue a four-year degree without taking on the high costs typically associated with universities, all while staying close to home, work, and family.

This is a major step forward in expanding access to higher education across our region—creating new opportunities for career growth, workforce development, and long-term success right here in Southeast Arizona.

Whether you’re a recent graduate, a working professional, or someone looking to continue your education, this program makes achieving a bachelor’s degree more attainable than ever.

🔗 Learn more: https://www.cochise.edu/bachelors