Cochise Newsroom

Thanksgiving offers an important opportunity to reflect on the work taking place across Cochise College and the lives our mission touches. As the semester enters its final stretch, students and faculty are hard at work on projects and major assignments, yet a shared sense of gratitude already fills the air. It’s a reminder that our work here at Cochise College is more than degrees, certificates, and workforce development; it is about transformation.
 
This year, we are proud to be recognized as one of the top community colleges in the nation and ranked #1 in Arizona by SmartAsset’s 2025 national rankings. While the recognition is meaningful, the real reward is the students whose lives are changed as a result. Their success is our greatest achievement.
 
During the academic year, the college awarded over $878,600 in scholarships and other financial opportunities. Behind each story of perseverance is a first-generation student balancing work and family, or a parent returning to school to pursue a new path.
 
We are also pleased to honor our associate faculty through the 2025 Superior Teaching Award Recipients (STARs) recognition program: David Dahl, instructor in the Arts & Humanities department; Jared Haros, instructor in the Fire Science and Emergency Medical Services programs; and Tim Timson, instructor in the Computer Information Systems and Cybersecurity programs. Their dedication highlights what makes community college a student’s first choice: personal attention, empathy, and flexibility to meet students where they are and help them reach their full potential.
 
As a veteran, I am also grateful for the continued support we offer to military learners and their families. The Cochise College Fort Huachuca Center remains open and ready to assist active-duty service members, veterans, their families, and civil servants.
 
This Thanksgiving, I am reminded about the faculty who inspire, the staff who support, the students who persevere, and the community that believes in the importance of higher education. I am filled with gratitude. Gratitude for a college that provides innovative educational pathways, meaningful careers, and lifelong learning.
 
As we give thanks this season, I’m reminded that the spirit of Cochise College lives in every student who dares to dream and every instructor and staff member who helps make that dream possible. Together, we are shaping tomorrow, one student, one class, and one degree at a time.
 
Dr. James D. Perey, Cochise College President.