Alumni Success

Tell us about your favorite memory of SCC.

My favorite memory at Scottsdale Community College was when I finished a big assignment online and actually understood it. I felt really proud because sometimes school can be hard for me, especially with my mental health.

What made SCC the right fit for you?

Scottsdale Community College was the right fit for me because it offers a supportive, flexible learning environment that aligns with my goals and lifestyle. I like that the class sizes are smaller, which helps me feel more comfortable asking questions and getting to know my instructors. Another reason it stood out to me is the variety of programs and resources available to help students succeed, especially with balancing school, work, and personal responsibilities. Most importantly, SCC was a place where I grew both academically and personally while working toward my future career.

Tell us about your time at SCC.

My experience at Scottsdale Community College was fully online, and that worked really well for me. Taking classes online helps me feel less overwhelmed and gives me a more comfortable space to learn, which is important for my mental health.

I like that I can work at my own pace and create a schedule that fits my life. It helps me stay more consistent because I’m not dealing with the stress of being in a crowded classroom. When I start to feel stressed, I can take short breaks and come back to my work, which helps me stay focused. Even though my classes were online, I still felt supported by my instructors. They responded to messages and gave helpful feedback, which made me feel not alone in the process. Overall, doing school online at SCC has helped me balance my education and my mental health. It has made it easier for me to stay on track and keep working toward my goals.

What value has SCC brought to your personal life and/or career?

SCC has helped me a lot in my personal life and my future career. In my personal life, it has helped me become more organized and responsible. It also helped me take better care of my mental health by learning how to balance school and my own needs.

In my career, SCC helped me build skills I will need in the future, like staying consistent, completing my work, and learning new things. Overall, SCC has made me more confident and helped me believe that I can succeed if I keep trying. It might not seem like a big deal, but it meant a lot to me.

Please describe your involvement at SCC. 

I have been involved in Phi Theta Kappa, an honor society for students who do well in their classes. Being part of this made me feel proud of myself and my hard work.

Even though I do school online, being in Phi Theta Kappa still makes me feel connected to the college. It shows that I am staying committed to my education and doing my best, even when things are hard. This involvement has played a big role in my overall experience, as it gave me confidence and motivation to keep going. It reminds me that I am capable of success and that my efforts matter.

Tell us about your journey after graduating from SCC.

After graduating, I continued working toward my goals in early childhood education. I started by volunteering at a preschool, which helped me learn more about working with young children and made me realize how much I enjoy it. After that, I became a teacher’s aide at the preschool. That was a big step for me because it showed that my hard work was paying off. I get to help take care of children and support their learning.

Now, I am continuing to grow in my career and build more experience. I feel more confident working with children and more sure about my future. My journey started with volunteering, and now I am working in a job I really care about, which makes me proud of how far I’ve come.

What advice would you give others embarking on their college journey?

The advice I would give to someone starting college is to take things one step at a time and not be too hard on yourself. It’s okay if things feel hard at first. What matters is that you keep trying and ask for help when you need it.

I would also say it’s really important to take care of your mental health while you’re in school. Try to stay organized, take breaks when you need to, and don’t compare yourself to others. Everyone learns at their own pace.

I recommend Scottsdale Community College because it is a supportive place where you can grow and feel comfortable. The classes are flexible, especially online, and the professors are helpful and understanding. SCC makes it easier to balance school and life and still work toward your goals.

Overall, I would tell someone that SCC is a great place to start because it helps you build confidence and gives you a strong foundation for your future.

Tell us about your time at SCC.

I met so many other great people who were also working and attending school as a means to reach their goals. It was empowering to walk the journey with others who would support me, and I could return the favor.

What made SCC the right fit for you?

I was working full-time with a toddler, so the evening classes were such a benefit to me.

What value has SCC brought to your personal life and career?

Without SCC, I would not have been able to finish my required classes on time to get the promotion I was working towards. That promotion moved me from the mailroom to getting my opportunity to be a licensed insurance agent.

Tell us about your journey after graduating from SCC. Where did you start and where are you now?

After graduation, I continued to Arizona State University and graduated with my Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. I relocated to Texas but kept going to receive my Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from Texas State University. Since attending SCC, I have been with the same employer and am now a Risk Management Director. This year, I celebrated 22 years. I also have an LLC and provide consulting services to individuals and small businesses.

What advice would you give others embarking on their college journey? What would you say to convince someone to come to SCC?

Don’t quit! However long it takes, no matter the setbacks, keep going. The staff at SCC cares about your success. There’s no better learning environment than one where the staff supports you and celebrates your achievements.

What made SCC the right fit for you?

It was close to home, affordable, and offered night classes that worked for my schedule as a working parent.

Tell us about your time at SCC.

I truly enjoyed my experience at SCC. It gave me the freedom to explore my creativity, challenge myself, and test my boundaries. I surprised myself along the way – first by receiving a scholarship and then by becoming an honors student. SCC helped me recognize abilities in myself that I had not fully seen before.

Tell us about your favorite memory of SCC.

I have several favorite memories. One began in English class, when I wrote a paper about my husband. I received an A, but my instructor noted that the topic wasn’t quite appropriate for that particular assignment and encouraged me to take creative writing. My next paper also received an A and was read aloud to the class. I had never thought of myself as a creative person, so those experiences opened an entirely new way for me to express myself.

Many of my other favorite memories came from film school: finding a new way to express myself, finding my people, working alongside them, and creating something together. Screening our final film at the end of our capstone was incredible. We all signed a poster for the film and gave it to the school. I don’t know whether it is still there, but I hope it is!

Film school challenged me mentally, physically, and emotionally. It prepared me for the work ahead, and I am incredibly grateful that I now get to work in the industry.

What value has SCC brought to your personal life and/or career?

I was already a working adult when I started at SCC. After earning my GED, attending college helped me feel that I belonged in the same rooms as colleagues with impressive academic credentials.

Public speaking courses helped me become a stronger presenter, and today I teach public speaking to children through Toastmasters. SCC also helped me transition from risk management roles in insurance into marketing, where I could use the skills I gained in film school.

One of the most unexpectedly valuable courses I took focused on data and included Computer Usage and Applications. That knowledge helped me advance into management in less than five years. I understood the data and could communicate with IT, marketing, and the property management teams that would use the system I helped implement.

When I eventually started my own video production business, I quickly realized I didn't have a data system in place, and I am working to implement one.

What role did involvement in extra curricular activities play in your overall SCC experience?

My involvement at SCC centered primarily on the film program, which often felt like a second job. In addition to completing my own projects, I regularly worked on my classmates’ films and supported their productions. Because I also worked full-time and raised a family, I had limited time for other extracurricular activities.

As an honors student and a scholarship recipient, I attended a dinner honoring scholarship donors and recipients. My involvement in the film program became one of the most meaningful parts of my SCC experience. It taught me collaboration, commitment, time management, and how much every production depends on people showing up for one another.

Tell us which degrees or certificates you earned or which types of classes you completed at SCC.

I completed the majority of the Film Production program requirements, including the capstone course. Although I didn’t complete the remaining requirements needed to earn a certificate or associate degree, the film production courses and hands-on experience gave me skills I use in my career today.

List any scholarship(s) you received while attending SCC.

Dougherty Foundation Scholarship and the Honors Scholarship.

Tell us about your journey after graduating from SCC.

After graduating from SCC, I left my career as a risk analyst and took an administrative position on a marketing team to begin using my new skills. Over the next five years, I grew professionally and gained experience in marketing, technology, and management. Eventually, I took another leap and purchased my first business, AZ Event Video. Today, I own and operate the video production company in Scottsdale, using the creative and professional skills that SCC helped me develop.

What advice would you give others embarking on their college journey?

I would tell them not to underestimate what can begin at a community college or what they can become. I started SCC as a working adult with a family, unsure whether I belonged in college. SCC allowed me to explore my creativity, build confidence, and discover an entirely new career path.

My advice is to stay curious, take classes that challenge you, and remain open to unexpected opportunities. One class, one instructor, or one project can change the direction of your life. SCC is a place where you can find your people, discover strengths you didn’t know you had, and build practical skills that can carry you far beyond graduation.

From award-winning pastries to a thriving neighborhood bakery and wine shop, Tracy Dempsey has built a career defined by creativity, hard work, and community. After leaving a successful career in education to follow her passion for baking, she found the foundation she needed in Scottsdale Community College's Culinary Arts Program. Today, as the founder of Tracy Dempsey Originals and co-owner of ODV Wines in Tempe, Tracy is known not only for her innovative desserts but also for championing local makers and mentoring the next generation of culinary professionals.

What made SCC the right fit for you?

Growing up in a family of bakers, Tracy developed a love of baking at an early age. As a teenager, she dreamed of studying Hotel and Restaurant Management, but the University of Arkansas did not offer the program. Instead, she attended the University of Arkansas and later the University of Oklahoma before beginning a career teaching French and English in Arizona State University's American English and Culture Program.

During a semester off from teaching, Tracy accepted a catering job and quickly realized she had found her true passion. Ready for a career change and with her student loans paid off, she began exploring culinary programs. Scottsdale Community College stood out because of its convenient location, small class sizes, and respected Culinary Arts Program. The Commercial Baking and Pastry Certificate offered the comprehensive, hands-on training she was looking for and prepared her for a professional career in baking and pastry.

Tell us about your time at SCC.

"I had such a good time," Tracy recalled. "The instructors were very good, and I made great friends."

She especially enjoyed learning from Chef Dominic O'Neill, whose "wicked sense of humor" made a lasting impression. Tracy also appreciated studying alongside classmates who would later become well-known names in Arizona's restaurant industry.

She was part of the first class to use the program's new culinary building. During her first semester, she gained valuable experience in the Artichoke Grill, followed by evening service in SCC's Fine Dining Restaurant during her second semester. Those real-world kitchen experiences helped prepare her for the fast-paced demands of the culinary profession.

Tell us about your favorite memory of SCC.

At age 30, Tracy was older than many of her classmates, whom she affectionately called "kids."

One day, after becoming overwhelmed during kitchen service, she walked off the line–a major culinary faux pas. Chef Dominic pulled her aside for a much-needed pep talk. He affectionately nicknamed her "Mother," a playful reference to her given first name, Teresa, and Mother Teresa. It's a memory that still makes her smile.

What value has SCC brought to your personal life and career?

"A lot," Tracy said. Graduating from SCC's Culinary Arts Program gave her immediate credibility in the industry. Combined with the internship she earned through a Marriott scholarship, the education and hands-on experience helped open doors, including her first Executive Pastry Chef position at Lon's at the Hermosa Inn.

Please describe your involvement at SCC.

While enrolled in the Culinary Arts Program, Tracy participated in numerous special events that expanded her skills beyond the classroom. After graduating, she remained connected to SCC by returning as a guest chef for the Chocolate Tasting class and regularly substituting in the evening Pastry course. Sharing her knowledge with the next generation of culinary students became a meaningful way to give back to the program that launched her career.

List any scholarship(s) you received while attending SCC.

Tracy received a Marriott scholarship, which led to an internship at The Cottonwoods Resort as a pantry cook and eventually to an entry-level baker position at the Mountain Shadows Resort. With a little more than a year’s experience, Tracy applied for the executive pastry chef position at Lon's at the Hermosa Inn. That experience proved instrumental in launching her professional career.

Tell us about your journey after graduating from SCC.

Growing up in different countries and states exposed Tracy to a wide variety of cultures and flavors, influences that continue to shape her desserts today.

Her first professional culinary experience came with Pat Christofolo at Santa Barbara Catering Company. After graduating from SCC, she worked her way through several of the Valley's top kitchens, beginning in the bakeshop at the former Marriott Mountain Shadows Resort.

While working there, she spotted an opening for Executive Pastry Chef at Lon's at the Hermosa Inn. The position demanded extraordinary dedication, with early mornings, late nights, high-volume dinner service, weddings, and elaborate custom cakes. The experience sharpened her skills and solidified her reputation as one of the Valley's rising pastry chefs.

She later served as pastry chef for several acclaimed restaurants, including Restaurant Hapa, Gregory’s World Bistro, Cowboy Ciao, Kazimierz Wine Bar, and Sea Saw, creating desserts inspired by international flavors and techniques.

In addition to her restaurant career, Tracy returned to SCC, first as a guest instructor and later as a chef instructor, where she taught kitchen management, menu development, purchasing, costing, staffing, international cuisine, and professionalism.

In 2009, Tracy took another leap of faith by leaving restaurant life to launch her own business. She initially envisioned opening a dessert bar, but the economic downturn led her in a different direction. Instead, she rented kitchen space during off-hours, sold her desserts and signature Bacon Pecan Brittle at farmers markets, and introduced her products to local cafés, boutiques, and restaurants.

Word spread quickly. Her wholesale dessert business expanded to serve numerous restaurants and resorts, eventually requiring a dedicated commercial kitchen and a growing team of bakers. Along the way, she added wedding cakes, cooking classes, and other specialty offerings.

A major turning point came when Tracy and her husband renovated the space next to her commercial kitchen, transforming it into a neighborhood bakery and wine shop. Their vision extended beyond selling pastries—they wanted to showcase fellow Arizona makers and small businesses that, like Tracy, were building something from the ground up.

Today, Tracy Dempsey Originals is known for its cookies, breads, pastries, ice cream, and other handcrafted specialties, while ODV Wines highlights carefully selected wines alongside locally produced goods. Nearly a decade after opening their storefront, Tracy remains passionate about supporting local businesses and creating a welcoming gathering place for the community.

What advice would you give others embarking on their college journey?

"Your major may not end up being what you do forever. The important thing is to start, finish, and allow yourself to grow. You never know where your education will lead, and SCC can give you the foundation and confidence to discover the path that's right for you."

Tell us about your favorite memory of SCC.

It’s hard to pick a favorite. But I think getting to know my teachers as people rather than solely as teachers was pretty cool.

What made SCC the right fit for you?

It was close to home, affordable, gave me a scholarship (honors), and allowed me to learn in a smaller classroom with the same teachers who taught at ASU. The small community feeling at SCC is something that I didn’t realize was so important until going to a big university and missing the closeness of everyone

Tell us about your time at SCC.

At first, I was reluctant to go to community college, as most of my friends went to a university in or out of state. Looking back, I was so grateful I went to SCC. I got to meet and learn from people and professors who influenced my decision to pursue the path of medicine. I still remember things I learned that help me with being a physician today

What value has SCC brought to your personal life and/or career?

My educational experience at SCC directed me toward the path of the medical profession.

Please describe your involvement at SCC. What role did that involvement play in your overall SCC experience?

As a recipient of the Honors scholarship, I was enrolled in several Honors classes, and I was in a play entitled “A Midsummer Night's Dream.” I can’t remember if I was in a specific club, but I did spend a LOT of time in the biology study area doing homework and getting help from the tutors on the difficult aspects of my homework. I worked with Dr. John Nagy in the science lab on research on the Krebs cycle, brittle bush, and pikas.

Tell us what degrees or certificates you earned or what types of classes you completed at SCC.

Associate of Science at SCC, Bachelor’s of Science - Biology Genetics, Cells and Developmental Biology from Arizona State University, 2013-2015 | Cum Laude | AMSA Executive Board Member, and an MD at St. George’s University located in Grenada, 2017-2022.

List any scholarship(s) you received while attending SCC.

Honors Scholarship.

Tell us about your journey after graduating from SCC. Where did you start, and where are you now? 

I have now completed my residency in family medicine, and I am currently in a Fellowship to focus on complicated obstetrics, making me an FMOB (Family Medicine Obstetrics) in Marysville, Washington.

What advice would you give others embarking on their college journey? What would you say to convince someone to come to SCC?

The first two years of college are the same everywhere; doing them at a community college enables you to complete the same credits and offers a better experience with the number of classes you can take and with teachers who love to teach. Most of them teach at ASU as well.