Ursa Student Awards
Ursa Student Leadership Awards
The Ursa Awards were established in 2003 to celebrate bear stars, Phoenix College's student leaders. The honors were inspired by the constellations Ursa Major, which in Latin means Great Bear, and Ursa Minor, Little Bear.
Sponsored every spring by Student Life & Leadership, college employees nominate students who merit recognition for their outstanding leadership and service to the college, or community. Students are only eligible for this recognition once.
Faculty & Staff, Nominate a Student!
Nomination Details
The deadline to apply for Ursa Awards is Thursday, Apr. 16, 2026, by 5 pm.
If you're an employee who'd like to recognize an outstanding student who attended Phoenix College during the Fall 2025 or Spring 2026 semesters, please complete the online nomination form.
Awards Ceremony
Nominators are asked to attend the award ceremony, which will take place on Thursday, April 23, 2026, from 5 - 7 pm, in Sessions Hall in the Music building. Additional details apply; please review the nomination form thoroughly. Refer questions to Aris Mosier of Student Life & Leadership.
Review Past Honorees
Ursa
Review the award recipients in the 2024 Program. (coming soon)
Review the award recipients in the 2023 Program.
Ursa
Review the award recipients in the 2022 Program.
| Heather Agoodie | Zach Knapp |
| Diana Chavez | Sarah McAllen |
| Janelle Chavez | Kristen Oliva Marrero |
| Maricruz Chavez-Tinoco | Amanda Nolan |
| George Childs | David Leon Ortiz |
| Michelle Cunneen | Yahir Mendoza Rubio |
| Pocahontas Daniels | Elsa Ruiz |
| sara Davis | Hana Ruiz |
| Michaela Footracer | Amanda Siegrest |
| Jasmine Goode | Joshua Smith |
| Janet Hernandez | Brittany Spears |
| Charidy Hullilhen | Lucero Vargas |
| Peniella Irakoze | Kerrington Vaughn |
| Bryan Ixtabalan | Ryan Young |
| Heather Agoodie | Diana Chavez |
| Janelle Chavez | Maricruz Chavez Tinoco |
| George Childs | Michelle Cunneen |
| Pocahontas Daniels | Sara Davis |
| Michaela Footracer | Jasmine Goode |
| Janet Hernandez | Charidy Hullihen |
| Penielle Irakoze | Bryan Ixtabalan |
| David Leon Ortiz | Zach Knapp |
| Sarah McAllen | Yahir Mendoza Rubio |
| Amanda Nolan | Kristen Oliva Marrera |
| Elsa Ruiz | Hannah Ruiz |
| Amanda Siegrest | Joshua Smith |
| Brittany Spears | Lucero Vargas |
| Kerrington Vaughn | Ryan Young |
| Sumiyyea Abdul-Rasheed | Branco Roebers |
| Esteban Bejines | Angel Verdugo |
| Misgana Gebremariam | Dorothy Nadeau |
| Adriana Galvez | Jonathan Fuentes |
| Richard Whatley | Marlen Flores-Castaneda |
| Michael Garcia | Sydney Horton |
| Nicole Day | Darenda Gilder |
| Deisy Curiel | Sara Solomon Tezare |
| Maksudakhon Samadova | Michael Garcia |
| Marcos Polanco Meda | Melina Aguayo |
| Charlene White | Maria Rodriquez |
| Ely Gonzalez | Gabriela Flores |
| Cristal Zambrano | Gabriella Palma |
| Alema Jenkins | Diana Torres |
| Sarah Lawson | Cathy de Veyta |
| Cassandra Moya | Luis Aguilera |
| Juan Herrera | Ashley Flores-Prez |
| Lucero Vegas | Chiao Chen Wang |
| Christopher Sanchez | Yesenia Martinez |
| Laurel Smith | Anna Bain |
| Omar Corral Armas | Jasmine Goode |
| Tanya Nesselrode | Macedonio Pena |
| Jaziel Olmeda | Amanda Morris |
| Kassandra Barrera | Alondra Lopez Solis |
| Andre "Dre" Adams | Emily Lopez |
| Joise Garth | Kerrington Vaughn |
| Michelle Cunneen | Nam Nguyen |
| Randy Long | Reynaldo "Rey" Bujan |
| Hernan Acosta | Arturo Sosa Mendoza |
| Danny Al-Qasemy | Rosa Mendoza |
| Sebastian Aguas | Salman Mohammed |
| Luz Acuna Corona | Karina Ramirez |
| Vito Favaloro | Areli Ramos |
| Ely Gonzalez | Stella Rodriguez |
| Adeena B. Hender | Andrew Ruiz |
| Precious Jackson | Tirso Tonche |
| Keenan Johanson | Quianna Tyler |
| Jeanette Lalli | Julia Villalobos |
| Diamon “L” Lindsley | Kelly Wilson |
| Vivica Lopez | Rocio Zarate |
Ursa
| Alicia Aragon | Rosa Mendoza |
| Josie Brown | Salman Mohammed |
| Rebecka Cabrera | Stephanie Morales |
| Alysa Castillo | Jesus David Moreno |
| Ainsley Chapman | Muska Najib |
| Eric Clark | Marina Olguin |
| Jaideen Cobb | Natalia Olivares |
| Daniel (Kody) Cubbage | Jaime Pasillas Garcia |
| Deisy Curiel | Gabriela Orta Renteria |
| Shynia Davis | Estella Rodriguez |
| Nicole Day | Kiana Saumalu |
| Miranda Dominguez | Daniel Segovia |
| Joy Edwards | Arturo Sosa |
| Jonathan Fuentes | Markel Sumler |
| Reilly Goulet | Cynthia Terrazas |
| Luigi Hernandez | Tirso Tonche |
| RaeJean “Rae” Honie | Francisco Torres Castro |
| Brian Howard | Quianna Tyler |
| Jose Gaytan Landaverde | Selyna Monique Ulibarri |
| Diamond Linsley | Stephen Vega |
| Vivica Lopez | Mayra Velazquez |
| Averey Macias | Destini Vison |
| Jose Magana Perez | Ryan Wade |
| Janeli Maldanado | Jaimee Walker |
| Anyssa Manuel | Richard Whatley |
| Nidiana Martinez | Kim Wondra |
| Toure Masters | Rocio Zarate |
| Anna Alcaraz Jacinto | Luis Martinez |
| Naomie Amuli | Jose Magana |
| Sierra Aranda | Anyssa Manuel |
| Jessica Archibeque | Chaawpohdeey Melody |
| Victoria Bernal | Sawyer Morain |
| Lucero Botello | Jennifer Nguyen |
| Monica Calderon Morales | Thien Kha (Abbie) Nguyen |
| Victoria Castro-Corral | Chrisitan Ochoa |
| Celeste Celaya | Jasmine Ortiz |
| Tanzy Charles | Iliya Pahfilenko |
| Daniel Corral | Celena (CEL) Parra |
| Alvardo Cortes | Osvaldo Pena |
| Kevin Davis, JR | Cj Peregrina |
| Carlos De La Cruz | Xicgutk Ratas |
| Karen De La Fuentes Saenz | Tahseen Sage |
| Edder Diaz Martinez | Jose Sanchez |
| Darin Engquist | Rocio Sanchez-Rameriz |
| Jonathan Fuentes | Anthony Sandoval |
| Carlos Gama | Lyndelle Sanjuanero |
| Lora Gamoyen | Daniela Saucedo |
| Sarah Gilbreth | Daniel Segovia |
| Mercedes Gillon Gant | Arturo Sosa Mendoza |
| Izzamar Gracia | Sheila Shelton |
| Maurico Banos Hernandez | Lawrence Sims |
| Rae Honie Ethlei HSO | Michael Stark |
| Jarvis Horne | Cynthia Terrazas |
| Michelle Hovel | Richard Whatley |
| Matthew Jernstedt | Binh Ton |
| Michelle Juede | Tirso Tonche |
| Jamila Khan | Francisco Torres |
| Mustafa Khaleel | Kasey Vaughn |
| Juan Maldanado | Francisco Velazquez |
| Edgar Manriquez-Sandoval | Adrian Vidales |
| Brenda Martin |
| Sarah Allen | Leslie Reilly |
| Alicia Beltran | Nick Rosales |
| Mikal Benion | Daniela Saucedo |
| Brandon Brown | Ebony Scott |
| Crystal Diaz | Daniel Segovia |
| Shelby Drey | Daelane “Shack” Shackleford |
| Jessica Franco | Amanda Slim |
| Sergio Galarza | Gilberto Sosa- Mendoza |
| Jessica Galindo | Homero Sosa-Mendoza |
| Amelia Hernandez | Cynthia Terrazas |
| Maha Jawad | Billy Tallas |
| Mustafa Khaleel | Tirso Tonche |
| Noah King | Jason Turner |
| Luis Lopez | Daniel Valdez |
| Harris Lyons | Adrian Vidales |
| Klarissa Moreno | Richard Whatley |
| Lirio Orozco Chavez |
| Patricia Acuna | Brenda Martin |
| AnaMaria Ayala | Miranda Michaelson |
| Carlos Barajas-Hernandez | Brianna Monet Olmos |
| Aliza Benitez | Klarissa Moreno |
| Rosina Cabaillas | Jeremy Morrow |
| Gregory Carr | Aristotle Ocampo |
| Jerman Carrera | Jose Carlos Ortega |
| Ramon Chavez | Lirio Orozco-Chavez |
| Cristian Chavolla | Ami Perez |
| Danielle Cipolletti | Jessica Perez |
| Amy Cooke | Brendon Pineda-Morales |
| Makenzi Dallas | Jorge “Stanley” Reyes |
| Andrea Diaz | Challis Roles |
| Melody Diaz | Christian Santana |
| Maricela Delahanty | Lawrence Sims |
| Matthew Doherty | Ebony Scott |
| Lola Dominguez | Daelane “Shack” Shackleford |
| Cecilia Duarte | Sheila Shelton |
| Jose “Stretch” Estrella Redondo | Ryo Sugihara |
| Joseph Federico | Gerraldine Tahere |
| Sergio Galarza | Cynthia Terrazas |
| Wendy Garcia | Ruth Tewoldemedhin |
| Matthew Garren | Kaydee Turner |
| Sarah Hernandez | Daniel Valdez |
| Daesha Jackson | Paul Verrell |
| Maha Jawad | Richard Whatley |
| Francisco M. Lopez | Navid Yazdani |
| Saul Lopez | Angelo Zacchio |
| Priscilla Acosta | Tylee Marsh |
| Jose Alvarado | Luis Martinez |
| Nichole Barlow | Dwight Melvin |
| Vanessa Calderon | Juan Carlos Mendoza |
| Veronica Diaz | Jose L. Mungia |
| Lola Dominguez | Amanda Nieto |
| Kelly Fousel | Ashley Pedroza |
| Wendy Garcia | Roseann Pedroza |
| Muataz Hantosh | Kevin Reed |
| Margarita Hernandez | Stephanie Robles |
| Esmeralda Islas-Aniceto | Rebecca Ruegg |
| Nora Jafar | Lawrence Sims |
| Candance Johnson | Howard Turner |
| Jeanette Johnson | Keoni Wright |
Ursa
| Priscilla Acosta | Noel Hules |
| Rachel Albinda | Jessica Johnson |
| Andres “Jesus” Avila | Monica Jones |
| Kathryn Banning | Rasha Kareem |
| Ana Alcaraz | Marlenda Luther |
| Trudy Begay | Sheilagh Murray |
| Karime Cowan | Lorena Nava |
| Zelinna Palma | Manuel Ordones |
| Dairee Benitez | Kevin Oswalt |
| Angela Biddle | Farah Raheem |
| Ashoka Bighorse | Kristina Richardson |
| Valerie Carrasco | Rachel Schuerger |
| Loren Brock | Andy Sandoval |
| Lia Clark | Susan Sota |
| Teresita De Leon | Dauda Sheriff |
| Josue Esqueda Serna | Erick Tanchez |
| Diana De La Rosa | Khalid Stanikzai |
| Tomas Espinosa | Kaydee Turner |
| Desmond Fahie | Robert Turner |
| Gloria Gjeltema | Clarisa Valenzuela |
| Nicole Friend | Edgar Villarreal |
| Thomas Hudson | Setareh Zakikhani |
| Ryan Harper | Sepideh Zakikhani |
| Noorhan Jafar | Ziye “Zoe” Zhang |
| Priscilla Acosta | Alonzo Highsmith |
| Andres “Jesus” Avila | Natalie Hoover |
| Ahmed Al Brich | Trisha House |
| Zulema Barreras | Gabriella Lim |
| Jose Barron | Isatta Magona |
| Denisha Brown | Brittany Montoya |
| Rebekah Clawson | Tania Nieblas |
| Lucero Curiel | Francheska Nimes |
| Travis DeCocq | Maria “Yany” Ochoa |
| Jorge Gallegos | Rosa Paredes |
| Rhonda Gerchak | Kevin Reed |
| Yvonne Glen “Chuco” | Jasmine Richardson |
| Maxima Guerrero | Rocio Robles |
| Jose Garcia | Mkadasha Spencer |
| Muataz Hantosh | Michael Wainscott |
| Terri Hernandez | Deeda Weber |
| Bethany Hickman |
| Elizabeth Barretero | Hazael Perez |
| Bernardo Beltran | Mae Ramirez |
| Julie Bergdorf | Josefa Ramos |
| Tuli Das | Brittany Rexroat |
| Roberto Diaz | Cassandra Rogers |
| Hector Garcia | Peggi Rohner |
| Abel Hernandez | Corinne Rouille |
| Kay Jens | Sarah Sanogo |
| Alena Joyner | Silvia Michelle Soto |
| Yan Fen Jennifer Kuang | Nanette Tanner |
| Stephanie Le | Melissa Villela |
| Dave Munsell | Jasmine Ware |
| Adisa Osmankic | Raina Whittekiend |
| Debora Wilson |
| Jacklyn Angel | Teresa Y Guerra |
| De’Shonda Barnes | Chanel Harley |
| Keeley Barnes | Will Hightower |
| Haiar Benloughmary | James Legg |
| Flor Berber | Ivan Martinez |
| Ashoka Bighorse | Kathy McGee |
| Paula Brooks | Stephen McFarland |
| Paige Calvano | Chaz Nuanez |
| Miguel Castenada | Elizabeth Odneal |
| Amy Chase | Jessica Olguin |
| Cristina Chavez | Adrianne Penullar |
| Heather Chetkauskas | Anna Pillotte |
| Gene Cody | Michelle Poehls |
| Lyn Colorado | Rosa Querry |
| Jorge Cruz | Valerie Roy |
| Maria Figueroa | Roman Salt |
| David Fredericks | Jeremy Stegall |
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Tupuwa Betani Raymond Browning Rose Michelle Cano Angela Carter Fernando Castano Cristina Chavez Danny Chavez LaTresha Cox Erika Dominguez Charis Elliott Danny Flores Felipe Vincente Flores Victoria Uraina Garrett Jesus Granillo Zachary Hall Clottee Hammons Austin Herd Muna Jama Salen Lin |
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