Central Arizona College THRIVE Center Ribbon Cutting

By Angela Askey, Executive Director Public Relations and Marketing

Central Arizona College will officially open the THRIVE (Transforming Hope and Resources into Vaquero Empowerment) Center at the Signal Peak Campus (M Building, Room M101B, 8470 N Overfield Road, Coolidge, AZ) with a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house event on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025. The ribbon cutting ceremony will begin at 3 p.m., followed by an open house that will end at 6 p.m. The first 100 students will receive a gift bag of appreciation.

Rikki Morrison, CAC’s Basic Needs Coordinator explains, “The THRIVE Center is a place where students can come to receive information about resources that will help them meet their basic needs such as housing, food, clothing and more.” She added, “It is our goal to provide a space where all students feel safe and accepted.”

Additional opportunities for students include the Title V Bookstore grant which aids in purchasing required or recommended materials for classes students are enrolled in. To be eligible, students must apply, must be enrolled in at least three credit hours and enrolled in an associate degree or certificate program, and maintain a 2.0 GPA. Also, the Center hosts a clothing closet where individuals can receive free clothing items or donate items.

The THRIVE Center is funded through a Title V Grant Program. The U.S. Department of Education awarded Central Arizona College a five-year Title V Strengthening Hispanic Serving Institutions grant of $2,894,823 in April 2023. No institutional match is required. The Title V grant funds 100% of the project.

Many of the resources available at the THRIVE Center are provided by local partners. If a business, organization or individuals are interested in offering partnership opportunities or for more information about the CAC THRIVE Center please contact Rikki Morrison at Aurica.Morrison@centralaz.edu.