[CED/CD/EAT] UofA Santa Cruz County Extension - Emerging Leaders Certificate program featured KOLD news

Tue Oct 21 10:25:03 MST 2025

Dear Collaborators,

The link below contains a news article from KOLD news published yesterday on the University of Arizona Emerging Leaders certificate program.
https://www.kold.com/2025/10/21/rigorous-program-offers-project-based-learning/

This program started in August 2024 and graduated the first generation in May 2025 as the curriculum is covered in 2 semesters. Five of these students are now helping to coordinate the program and are crucial on mentoring the new students. We started the 2nd generation in August 2025 with graduation happening on May 9th, 2026, where the 45 outstanding students as selected by school officials from 7 middle and high schools across Santa Cruz County, are actively working on becoming our new leaders. This group of students are expected to receive a Leadership certificate from the University of Arizona after they complete all program requirements including team community projects, individual "shadow a leader" interviews to elected authorities County and State-wide, and monthly homework assignments that are centered on reading leadership books and making oral presentations on knowledge learned.

During the October 17, 2025 session of the Emerging Leaders held at the County Superintendent of Education facilities at the Old court house in Nogales, AZ, we had a unique collaboration with the Calabasas Alliance led by Robin Lucky, who organized an Environmental Youth summit during the afternoon featuring prominent speakers from UofA, ASU and several environmental social organizations studying and working on developing strategies for community action towards preserving our precious natural resources based on scientific findings. We very much appreciate the participation of our authorities including County Supervisor Luis Carlos Davis and Deputy County Manager Chris Young, Nogales City Council member Saulo Bonilla, and Superintendent Maya Donnelly and Deputy Kerri Munoz, who collaborated so much on organizing the event at the old courthouse. The superintendent is also supporting the program on providing a bus for field trips which are a crucial component of the program as they allow showcasing in real settings what is learned in the classroom.

We so much appreciate the efforts and collaboration of so many authorities, social organizations, private enterprises and media outlets like KOLD, Nogales International newspaper and Nogales Public Media for their continued and valuable support to spread the word about this program and its impacts in community development.

Please feel free to forward it as you consider pertinent!.

Enjoy!,

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Rodolfo Martinez Morales, PhD

Director-Santa Cruz County Cooperative Extension

Associate Agent-Agriculture and Natural Resources

Cell Phone: 520-987-6057

Web: extension.arizona.edu/santa-cruz

Email: rodolfom at arizona.edu<mailto:rodolfom at arizona.edu>

489 N. Arroyo Blvd, Nogales, Arizona 85621

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