MCC Newsroom
MOHAVE COUNTY – Mohave Community College is proud to announce that Sheena “Ku’uipo” Waszkiewicz has been named as the 2025 recipient of the Kathy Hodel Most Outstanding Student Award. This prestigious honor recognizes an exceptional student who exemplifies academic excellence, leadership, service and perseverance.
“It’s an incredible honor. I’m deeply grateful and humbled to receive this award,” Waszkiewicz said. “It’s not only a recognition of my hard work but also a reminder of the importance of service, leadership and perseverance. I’ll carry this with me throughout my life and career.”
Along with the honor of being this year’s recipient, Waszkiewicz will also receive $10,000 cash to put toward anything she wants. She plans to use the funds to help pay off any nursing school expenses and reduce her student loan debt.
She’s currently pursuing her certificate in practical nursing and Associate of Applied Science in Nursing at MCC while simultaneously working toward her Bachelor of Science in Nursing through Northern Arizona University’s concurrent enrollment program. This semester she’ll graduate with her Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts. Her ultimate goal is to become a nurse practitioner or earn her doctorate in nursing practice where she wants to work with underserved or rural communities.
Waszkiewicz decided to start her educational journey at MCC because of its strong nursing program, affordability and supportive environment. The College provided her with a strong academic foundation, leadership opportunities, mentors, friends and experiences that have shaped her into who she is today.
Throughout her time at MCC, Waszkiewicz has been involved in campus and community life. She’s an active member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society-Alpha Chi Psi Chapter, Beta Beta Beta Biology Honor Society (TriBeta), where she serves as president, and the Student Nursing Association. In her community, she volunteers through the Camp Mohave Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization and is a member of her church community.
“I serve my community through student-led initiatives, education and faith-based involvement believing that community isn’t defined by where you live, but by how you live with others, through compassion, service and heart,” she said.
Waszkiewicz is a first-generation college student, meaning she’s the first in her family to attend a college or university. She has lived in Fort Mohave for six years since moving from Kaneohe, Hawaii where she was born and raised.
About the Kathy Hodel Most Outstanding Student Award:
The Kathy Hodel Most Outstanding Student Award was established through an endowment gift to the MCC Foundation. It was provided by Dr. James H. Childe to honor the memory of his friend Kathy Hodel. She passed away in 2018, after a long battle with bone cancer.
Dr. Childe, a retired attorney and MCC instructor, gave nearly a quarter-million dollars to establish the endowment. He chose to use this gift as a way to honor outstanding graduating MCC students, and Kathy for her countless hours and efforts working to help MCC and our local communities. Dr. Childe passed away in 2023.
Sheena “Ku’uipo” Waszkiewicz has been selected as the 2025 Kathy Hodel Most Outstanding Student. She’s a nursing student on the Bullhead Campus.
Posted on May 19, 2025 in Press Release, Student Success.
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