Give back, mom will tell PCC graduates

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May 09, 2008, 12:47 a.m.
RENÉE SCHAFER HORTON
Tucson Citizen

Karla Bustamante Scott has a simple message for the nearly 3,000 students at Pima Community College set to receive associate degrees or certificates this spring: Give back to the community now that you have some skills.

Bustamante Scott, a part-time PCC student for the past three years, will be the keynote speaker at the college's 7 p.m. graduation ceremonies May 20 at the Tucson Convention Center.

"I was a stay-at-home mom for 10 years and when my youngest started kindergarten, I started at Pima," she said. "I always wanted to be a teacher, but I felt I needed to take time for my own kids first."

Bustamante Scott will continue pursuing her elementary education degree through Northern Arizona University's satellite campus at PCC. She said her graduation message will center on not giving up, but giving back.

The 31-year-old single mother knows something about the concept.

As vice president for the local Phi Beta Kappa honor society, Bustamante Scott chaired a local African Well Water Project and raised $1,000 to buy a clay water pump for a South African village.

In addition, she was president of the Gallego Basic Elementary School PTO and a parent site representative to the Sunnyside Unified School District.

Bustamante Scott maintained honor roll standing throughout her time at PCC, and her academic and community achievements were rewarded with a number of scholarships.

She made the Second Team in the national All-USA Academic Team competition and was on the First Team in Arizona. Bustamante Scott also was the Century Scholar for the state and a Leader of Promise for Phi Beta Kappa.

Of PCC's 64 associate's degree programs, liberal arts, general studies and nursing will have the most graduates this year, spokesman David Irwin said.

Liberal arts will have 865 graduates, 475 will get associates in general studies and 255 will get two-year nursing degrees.

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