At Rio Salado College’s recent collegewide planning day, faculty and staff heard directly from the people at the heart of the institution’s mission: its students.
Moderated by President Kate Smith, a student panel featuring Shaniqua Hopkins and Alex Prince offered a reminder of the resilience, determination, and purpose that define Rio Salado learners.
Mom of 7 Demonstrates Power of College Persistence, Engagement
Hopkins is a soon-to-be graduate of Rio Salado, a mother of seven, and an entrepreneur who founded a nonprofit supporting teen parents and foster youth. This spring, she will complete her associate degree, with plans to continue on to her bachelor’s degree with the Maricopa Colleges.
Despite financial challenges and competing responsibilities over the years, Hopkins pushed forward with her education, earning certifications along the way, and engaging in student life opportunities at the college (including PTK). She did this while she built her nonprofit 7th Dream Helping Hearts.
It meant long nights, early mornings, and a bit of a stop-and-go pattern with her classes, but, “for me, it was important to try to stay in college.”
Her future goals include completing her business degree and growing the nonprofit.
“The bigger goal is to have transitional housing for those youth,” Hopkins told the packed house of Rio Salado leadership, faculty and staff. “Our rec center will be a safe place to study, provide child care and transportation to medical appointments. That’s the bigger picture.”
When asked what would be one improvement - or a way to “reimagine Rio,” she emphasized the importance of recognition and community support in helping students persist.
“Awards and recognition are very important… they open professional doors, they strengthen your voice as a leader,” Hopkins said.
Hopkins should know: she was named the college’s inaugural recipient of the Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2025. When she says that out in the community, she realizes she’s inspiring others.
However, it was the people and the flexibility that kept her at Rio to finish her goal.
“When you go to school online… it can make students feel like they are going to school alone, but I don’t feel like that at Rio.” She also said she has met more individuals through Rio Salado than when she attended other institutions in person.
Adult Education Learner Encourages Others to Finish Their Goals
Alex Prince’s journey reflects a different path. An adult education learner, Prince enrolled at Rio Salado to improve his English and earn his high school equivalency (HSE) diploma.
His message to students was simple and powerful: persistence matters.
“When life gets hard, don’t give up, ever. Keep going,” Prince said. “This is the third time I’ve started… if you never give up, you will make it.”
After he completes his HSE, Prince plans to pursue a degree in cybersecurity at Rio Salado, driven by both passion and purpose.
“It’s all about your dreams… to support yourself, your life, your family,” he said. "If you give up on your dream, you give up on yourself"
Prince echoed the value of support systems Rio provides, noting how encouragement from Rio staff helps him stay on track.
“If you have a tough time… you can always come back. That’s good support. I appreciate it,” he said.
Prince also highlighted the importance of accessible education for learners like himself, an immigrant from Afghanistan, and others in his community, especially when it comes to language acquisition.
“If you are learning from the beginning, you need to start at Rio. This is a good place. They really care about you,” he said.
Throughout the discussion, both students emphasized the importance of connection, whether through faculty, peer networks, or proactive outreach about available resources. Together, their stories reinforced a central truth: student success is not one-size-fits-all. It is built on flexibility, support, and a community that believes in every learner’s potential.
College updates
The day also reflected on several focus areas for the college, including the recent HLC four-year assurance argument completion (with all initiatives met), enrollment updates, and the college’s work with Education Design Lab (The Lab) and the Reimagining Community College project. A few of the highlights included:
- Spring 2026 headcount is up 6.7 percent over last year
- Fall 2025 headcount was up 9.8 percent over the previous spring
- The new strategic plan is in development with alignment to the Maricopa Community Colleges strategic plan
In addition, through the multi-year grant from The Lab, Rio is working to strengthen sustainability for the college, connecting existing initiatives together to create a big picture of what the college is working toward, especially with the upcoming strategic plan.
The collegewide presentation ended with annual highlights from each of the divisions.