Si Se Puede Foundation recognizes math faculty as Educator of the Year Honoree

The Si Se Puede Foundation recognized Chandler-Gilbert Community College mathematics faculty Melinda Rudibaugh as an Educator of the Year Honoree on March 30 at the 13th Annual Cesar E. Chavez Educators of the Year awards dinner.

Rudibaugh promotes success skills to students in the Si Se Puede program so they understand the need to finish high school and attend college. Her calculus students provide leadership and tutoring to K-12 students for 11 Saturdays to enhance core math skills.

The CGCC-Si Se Puede partnership teaches success behaviors, reinforces core concepts and exposes youth to career fields such as engineering. The types of relationships built in these programs are transformational for CGCC’s students, staff and faculty as well as the Si Se Puede youth and foundation. CGCC students serve as role models to the local K-12 students they work with, inspiring kids to reach for college.

“Though I’m honored, the real recognition goes to Alberto (Esparza, president and CEO of Si Se Puede) who proposed we teach the children calculus, the college students who do all the work and the parents of the children who support them because they want their children to do well,” said Melinda Rudibaugh.

Additional CGCC connections at the recognition dinner included honoree Monica Garcia, a former CGCC student active in service-learning, and Lourdes Nieto, coordinator of Destination College, hosted each summer at CGCC.