Shaniqua Hopkins, Monse Rodriguez, and Alex Prince
Every day at Rio Salado College, students overcome obstacles, remain committed to their education, and find ways to accomplish their goals, even when the journey is far from easy.
This year, Rio Salado introduced the Waves of Student Excellence Awards, a recognition honoring students who exemplify not only academic achievement, but also perseverance, leadership, and service.
Nominated by Rio Salado faculty and staff, the students demonstrated that success is not always a straight path, but it is always worth pursuing.
“At Rio Salado College, we see every day how determination, resilience, and compassion shape student success,” said President Kate Smith. “The Waves of Student Excellence awardees embody the spirit of our college and show that with persistence and purpose, students can create meaningful change in their own lives and in their communities.”
About the Waves of Student Excellence Awards
Rio’s Student Life & Leadership department established three awards in 2026 to recognize credit and non-credit Rio students based on their achievements, with one winner selected for each award:
- Riverbend Resilience Award – recognizing perseverance through adversity
- Current of Academic Excellence Award – honoring academic growth and achievement
- Rising Tide Award – celebrating leadership and community impact
Three students were selected for the inaugural awards, and in mid-March, each recipient received a letter of recognition, along with a Rio sweatshirt and swag (courtesy of the O’Shea family), and participated in a small, informal ceremony where they took photos with their nominator and college and district leadership. Maricopa Community Colleges Governing Board members Dr. Tom Nerini and Marie Sullivan joined in the celebration.
Meet the Student Winners
Riverbend Resilience Award: Alex Prince
Alex Prince’s journey is a powerful example of determination in the face of ongoing challenges.
Originally from Afghanistan, Alex has worked tirelessly toward earning his High School Equivalency (HSE) diploma while navigating language barriers, financial hardship, and personal disruptions, including multiple trips abroad to support family.
Despite these obstacles, Prince continued to show up.
“You have to work in life,” Prince said. “Anything I do, I need to finish. I have a lot of support, as well, from my teachers and the many people who work there. And now I am one of them.”
Prince was recently hired to work at one of the Rio Salado locations.
Prince’s nominator said he spent hours studying independently, participated in tutoring and study groups, and remained committed to improving his English comprehension skills. His persistence and positive attitude not only fuel his own progress but also inspire those around him, his nominator said. He will receive his diploma this spring!
Rising Tide Award: Shaniqua Hopkins
Shaniqua Hopkins embodies leadership rooted in purpose, service, and lived experience.
As a single mother of seven, Hopkins has transformed adversity into action. She is the founder of 7th Dream Helping Hearts, an organization dedicated to supporting foster youth and at-risk pregnant and parenting teens. Her entrepreneurial efforts earned her the inaugural Rio Salado Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2025.
When she started at Rio Salado, she said, it became her community.
“Rio turned into my support, my resources, my family,” she said during the event.
She is finishing her associate degree in Family Life Education at Rio Salado this year and plans to transfer to earn a bachelor’s degree from Scottsdale Community College in business administration.
A foster youth and teen parent herself, she said she started her company to help “where I came from.”
“Getting this award means a lot because I don’t really look for recognition,” she said. “It’s nice that somebody sees me. And it’s also a reminder that I have to get up and go forward because somebody’s watching. … I can tell my teen moms, ‘I’m a single mom right now. I go to school. I go to work. I still run an organization. If I can do it, you have no excuse.’”
On campus and beyond, Hopkins leads by example, advocating for vulnerable communities, collaborating with leaders, and inspiring others to step into service and leadership roles.
Current of Academic Excellence Award: Monse Rodriguez
Monse Rodriguez’s academic journey is one of resilience, growth, and self-discovery.
After enrolling in Rio Salado’s High School Equivalency (HSE) diploma program, Rodriguez faced significant life challenges, including single parenthood and leaving a difficult personal situation. Though these experiences interrupted her education, they never ended her commitment to it.
Each time Monse returned to Rio, she did so stronger and more focused.
“I always wanted to come back from the first time I had to leave. One class at a time,” she said.
She now works at Rio Salado’s Northern location while she finishes her classes.
“Seeing the students and getting to work there with students like me, HSE and ESL (English as a Second Language) who come from immigrant parents, I can understand their stories, as well,” Rodriguez said. “I am forever grateful to Rio.”
Most recently, Rodriguez took on a leadership role through the East Valley Rotaract Club, based at Rio Salado College. Her journey reflects not just academic success, but a transformation in confidence, purpose, and vision for the future. She is enrolled in Adults Achieving a College Education (Adult ACE) and will complete her HSE this year.
Creating the New Rio Salado Awards
This special event was made possible through the collective efforts of many dedicated individuals across the college. The awards originated from an idea proposed by Kate Packer, director of Student Life and Leadership, and were developed and implemented in partnership with Rachelle Clarke, dean of Student Affairs. Faculty and staff played a vital role by taking the time to nominate their students, resulting in a strong pool of 15 outstanding nominations.
Special recognition goes to Michelle Meadows, Amber Johnson, and Rikki Karren, whose nominations were selected for the winning students. Their submissions reflected the heart, care, and genuine admiration for their students, and their effort truly brought those stories to life.
Every nominated student— whether selected as a final award recipient or not— received a personalized letter recognizing and quoting their nomination, ensuring they know their excellence is seen and valued. A committed review committee, including Christopher Orf, Diana Pinon, Elizabeth Eastin, Kathleen Luppker, Kelly Stewart, Marina Bilgin, and Tristan Marble, dedicated their time and care to thoughtfully evaluate each submission.
While the selection process was not easy, the three recipients stood out as truly deserving honorees. As this initiative becomes an annual tradition, we encourage everyone to participate in the future and continue uplifting the incredible achievements of our students.