Phoenix College (PC) is a

public In public relations and communication science, publics are groups of individual people, and the public (a.k.a. the general public) is the totality of such groupings. This is a different concept to the sociology, sociological concept of the ''Öf ...

community college A community college is a type of undergraduate higher education institution, generally leading to an associate degree, certificate, or diploma. The term can have different meanings in different countries: many community colleges have an open enr ...

Encanto, Phoenix, Arizona Encanto Village is one of the 15 Urban villages that make up the Phoenix, Arizona, City of Phoenix, in Arizona. The village, centered along Central Avenue, is home to the popular Central Avenue Corridor, Midtown and Melrose Districts, as well as ...

. Founded in 1920, it is one of the oldest community colleges in the country.

History

The college was originally a part of the Phoenix Union High School and Junior College District (now

Phoenix Union High School District The Phoenix Union High School District is a High school (North America), high school-only school district in Phoenix, Arizona, United States. It is one of five high school-only districts in the Phoenix area. Overview The school district serv ...

), and was known as Phoenix Junior College (PJC). PC became a part of the

Maricopa County Community College District The Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD), also known as Maricopa Community Colleges, is a Public college, public community college district in Maricopa County, Arizona. Headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, Tempe, MCCCD is among the la ...

in 1960, and is now considered the

flagship campus A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, characteristically a flag officer entitled by custom to fly a distinguishing flag. Used more loosely, it is the lead ship in a fleet of vessels, typically the ...

of one of the largest community college systems in the world.

Campus

Phoenix College consists of the main campus in Midtown Phoenix, as well as a

downtown ''Downtown'' is a term primarily used in American and Canadian English to refer to a city's sometimes commercial, cultural and often the historical, political, and geographic heart. It is often synonymous with its central business district ( ...

campus located in the central business district of Phoenix.

Academics

Phoenix College offers over 200 degree and certificate programs. PC also offers training geared towards professional community/business development and general interest. PC is also home of the Student Services Institute.

Athletics

Phoenix College has seven sports teams competing in the

National Junior College Athletic Association The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) is the governing association of community college, state college, and junior college athletics throughout the United States. Currently the NJCAA holds 24 separate regions across 24 states ...

(NJCAA). The women's

softball Softball is a Variations of baseball, variation of baseball, the difference being that it is played with a larger ball, on a smaller field, and with only underhand pitches (where the ball is released while the hand is primarily below the ball) ...

team has won the NJCAA National Women's Softball Division II Championships nine times (2000, 2001, 2004–08, 2012, 2021). The school has also won NJCAA championships in baseball (1960, 1962, 1965), men's track and field (1964, 1965, 1966), wrestling (1967–68, 1968–69), men's golf (1964), football (1964), and women's cross country (1985). In 1980 PC won national team championships in women's and mixed archery (two-year college division). Women's archery also won national titles in 1933 and 1934. The Maricopa Community College District elected in February 2018 to eliminate all football programs associated with its schools. Programs cut included those at

Scottsdale Community College Scottsdale Community College is a Public college, public community college just outside of Scottsdale, Arizona. It is on the city's eastern boundary, on 160 acres (650,000 m2) of land belonging to the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. ...

, Glendale Community College,

Mesa Community College Mesa Community College (MCC) is a Public college, public community college in Mesa, Arizona. It is the largest of the 10 community colleges in the Maricopa County Community College District, the largest community college district in the Unite ...

and Phoenix College's own program.

Notable people

Alumni

Alumni include two

Miss America Miss America is an annual competition that is open to women from the United States between the ages of 18 and 28. Originating in 1921 as a "bathing beauty revue", the contest is judged on competition segments with scoring percentages: ''Priva ...

s (

1949 Events January * January 1 – A United Nations-sponsored ceasefire brings an end to the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. The war results in a stalemate and the division of Kashmir, which still continues as of 2025 * January 2 – Luis ...

and

1964 Events January * January 1 – The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland is dissolved. * January 5 – In the first meeting between leaders of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches since the fifteenth century, Pope Paul VI and Patria ...

) and two Arizona governors (

Wesley Bolin Harvey Wesley Bolin (July 1, 1909 – March 4, 1978) was an American Democratic Party politician who served as the 15th governor of Arizona between 1977 and 1978. His five months in office mark the shortest term in office for any Arizona gover ...

and

Jack Richard Williams John Richard Williams (October 29, 1909 – August 24, 1998) was an American radio announcer and politician. After gaining public recognition throughout Arizona because of his work in radio, he went on to become a two-term mayor of Phoenix, Ar ...

). Other prominent alumni include the Navajo Nation's first president

Peterson Zah Peterson Zah (December 2, 1937 – March 7, 2023) was an American politician who held several offices with the Navajo Nation. From 1983 to 1987, he was chairman of the Navajo Nation, its then head of government. At its 1991 restructuring, he bec ...

, film star

Nick Nolte Nicholas King Nolte (; born February 8, 1941) is an American actor. Known for his leading man roles in both dramas and romances, he has received a Golden Globe Award as well as nominations for three Academy Awards and a Primetime Emmy Award. Nol ...

Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ce ...

-winning actor

Stephen Spinella Stephen Spinella (born October 11, 1956) is an American stage, television, and film actor. Early life Spinella was born in Naples, Italy, to a father who was an American naval airplane mechanic. He grew up in Glendale, Arizona, and graduated fr ...

, actor

Peter Billingsley Peter Billingsley (born April 16, 1971), also known as Peter Michaelsen and Peter Billingsley-Michaelsen, is an American actor and filmmaker. He is best known for portraying Ralphie Parker in ''A Christmas Story'' and ''A Christmas Story Christm ...

, daytime television star

Jaime Lyn Bauer Jaime Lyn Bauer (born Norma Marvhne Bauer; March 9, 1949, in Phoenix, Arizona) is an American television actress, best known for her soap opera roles as Lorie Brooks on ''The Young and the Restless'' and as Laura Horton on ''Days of Our Lives' ...

, Pop/Rhythm & Blues singer

CeCe Peniston Cecilia Veronica "CeCe" Peniston (; born September 6, 1969) is an American singer and former beauty queen. In the early 1990s, she scored five number one hits on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot Dance Music/Club Play. Her signature song " Finally" re ...

, artist

Eric Fischl Eric Fischl (born March 9, 1948) is an American painter, sculptor, printmaker, draughtsman and educator. He is known for his paintings depicting American suburbia from the 1970s and 1980s. Life Fischl was born in New York City and grew up on s ...

, Mixed Martial artists

UFC The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. The larg ...

veteran

Homer Moore Homer Moore (born November 12, 1971) is an American retired former professional mixed martial artist who competed as a Light Heavyweight for the UFC, WEC, and Chicago Red Bears of the IFL. Background Moore won the 1992 National Junior Colleg ...

AAGPBL The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) was a professional women's baseball league founded by Philip K. Wrigley, which existed from 1943 to 1954. The AAGPBL is the forerunner of women's professional league sports in the Un ...

pioneer

Charlotte Armstrong Charlotte Armstrong Lewi (May 2, 1905 – July 18, 1969) was an American writer. Under the names Charlotte Armstrong and Jo Valentine she wrote 29 novels, as well as short stories, plays, and screenplays. She also worked for ''The New York Times ...

. Investigative journalist Ron Ridenhour, who exposed the My Lai Massacre, attended Phoenix College before being drafted into military service in Vietnam in 1967. Politicians who attended the college include State Senator Juan Mendez and Democrat fund-raiser

Ed Buck Edward Bernard Peter Buck (né Buckmelter; born August 24, 1954) is an American convicted felon and political donor. Starting in politics as the leader of the movement to recall Governor Evan Mecham in Arizona, Buck achieved prominence as a major ...

. Several former football players have played in the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...

including

Fred Carr Freddie Alton Carr (August 19, 1946 – February 19, 2018) was an American professional football player who played linebacker for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL) from 1968 to 1977. Carr attended Phoenix Union High ...

, Bob Wallace,

Lyn Larsen Lynette Ann Larsen (born 3 February 1963) is an Australian former cricketer who played as an all-rounder, batting right-handed and bowling right-arm leg break. She appeared in 15 Test matches and 49 One Day Internationals for Australia betwe ...

Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi (born February 15, 1995) is an American football wide receiver and kick returner for the Arlington Renegades of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Phoenix College. Early life After growing up ...

Tory Nixon Torran Blake Nixon (born February 24, 1962) is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the San Francisco 49ers. He played college football for the San Diego State Aztecs a ...

Andy Livingston Andy Livingston (born October 21, 1944) is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played professionally for the Chicago Bears and the New Orleans Saints. Early life Livi ...

, and "Scooter" Molander.

Dennis Layton Dennis "Mo" Layton (born December 24, 1948) is a retired American professional basketball player. A 6'1" point guard from USC, Layton played five seasons (1971–1974, 1976–1978) in the National Basketball Association and American Basketball ...

played for the

National Basketball Association The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). The NBA is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Ca ...

Phoenix Suns The Phoenix Suns are an American professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division (NBA), Pacific Division of the Western Conference (NBA), We ...

and John Smith toured with the

Harlem Globetrotters The Harlem Globetrotters is an American Exhibition game, exhibition basketball team. They combine athleticism, theater, entertainment, and comedy in their style of play. Over the years, they have played more than 26,000 exhibition games in 124 ...

. Bears who have played

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...

include

Gary Gentry Gary Edward Gentry (born October 6, 1946) is an American former right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher. Early years Gentry was a second baseman at Camelback High School in Phoenix, Arizona, and only began pitching while at Phoenix Junior C ...

and Dave Rajsich.

Faculty

John S. Goff John S. Goff (June 20, 1931 – April 8, 2001) was a college professor who studied Robert Todd Lincoln and the history of Arizona. He was active in historical organizations. Personal Goff was born in Los Angeles, California, on June 20, 1931, to ...

(1931–2001), studied Robert Todd Lincoln and the history of Arizona

References

External links

* {{authority control 1920 establishments in Arizona Community colleges in Arizona Universities and colleges established in 1920 Maricopa County Community College District

Phoenix College Phoenix College (PC) is a Public university, public community college in Encanto, Phoenix, Arizona. Founded in 1920, it is one of the oldest community colleges in the country. History The college was originally a part of the Phoenix Union Hi ...

NJCAA schools Two-year colleges in the United States