The Rotary Club of Paradise Valley has been named the 2026 recipient of Paradise Valley Community College's (PVCC) Beth Koehnemann Community Impact Award, recognizing the organization's outstanding commitment to supporting students, strengthening the college, and enriching the greater Paradise Valley community.
Named in honor of community trailblazer Beth Koehnemann, whose vision and advocacy helped establish the Northeast Valley Education Center, now PVCC, in 1985, the award recognizes individuals and organizations whose dedication to education, collaboration, and service creates lasting change. Like its namesake, recipients embody the belief that strong communities are built through partnership and a shared commitment to opportunity.
Investing in Student Success
Since 2023, the Rotary Club of Paradise Valley has invested $24,000 in scholarships for PVCC students pursuing careers in Emergency Medical Technology, Paramedicine, Fire Science, Nursing, and Fine and Performing Arts. The organization's generosity has helped remove financial barriers, allowing students to focus on achieving their educational and career goals.
Beyond scholarship support, Rotary members have become active partners in campus life. Many serve on PVCC's President's Community Advisory Council, volunteer at college events, and collaborate with faculty, staff, and students on community initiatives.
One of those partnerships came to life in fall 2025 through The Dictionary Project, a national literacy initiative promoting lifelong learning. Rotary members joined PVCC faculty, staff, and students on campus to prepare 1,500 dictionaries for distribution to every third-grade student in the Paradise Valley Unified School District, helping inspire a love of reading and learning at an early age.
"The Rotary Club of Paradise Valley exemplifies everything this award represents," said PVCC President Dr. Jana Schwartz. "Like Beth Koehnemann, Rotary members understand that education transforms lives and that meaningful change happens when people come together in service of their community. Their unwavering investment in our students and college is creating opportunities that extend far beyond the classroom, strengthening our workforce, and enriching our community for generations to come."
A Partnership That Strengthens the Community
The Beth Koehnemann Community Impact Award honors a person or organization that demonstrates excellence through service to PVCC students, support of the college, and contributions to the surrounding community. The Rotary Club of Paradise Valley has distinguished itself in all three areas through its philanthropy, volunteerism, and commitment to educational opportunity.
Accepting the award on behalf of the organization, Rotary Club of Paradise Valley President Sherry Mischel said the recognition reflects the club's longstanding belief in the power of education and community partnerships.
"It is truly an honor for the Rotary Club of Paradise Valley to receive this award," Mischel said. "Supporting PVCC means investing in students who will become our future nurses, firefighters, paramedics, artists and community leaders. We are proud to partner with the college to create opportunities that strengthen both individual lives and our community, and we look forward to continuing that work for years to come."
To learn more about PVCC and our programs, visit the website.