Grateful, determined, inspired to give their best.
Wearing a sparkling forest green ball gown, face glitter and a smile that ignited the Commons area of Coconino Community College, Lindsey DeStefano was one of many carefree and enthusiastic young people receiving scholarships and celebrating an exciting next chapter in life.
But DeStefano’s story goes much deeper than most of her college peers. Though undetectable on the dance floor, every day DeStefano faces a debilitating injury that happened during U.S. Coast Guard basic training while in her 20s. “I remember being told I would not ever walk again unassisted,” she said. “I beat the odds.”
Her injury was so extreme that she returned home in a wheelchair. What followed were multiple surgeries, expected to help with mobility and ongoing pain. Her last surgery, 17 years later, was an emergency amputation of her right leg below the knee – the result of a life-threatening infection after a previous surgery.
By her side through the trauma and procedure last year was best friend Sabrina Beard, Discover Flagstaff’s marketing specialist. “I am so proud of her,” said Beard. “She’s such an amazing person.”
On Friday night, Sept. 19, Beard was by her side again, along with her parents, Sarah Bickel and Tom DeStefano and a community of students, friends, donors, faculty members and administrators, cheering for the U.S. veteran and single mom, who came to CCC to build a better future for herself and her daughter.
“I came back to Flagstaff a decade after my injury with very few options,” said DeStefano. “I found school. I found learning.”
As a featured speaker at the CCC Students First Celebration, she shared her goals with the crowd, which include continuing her education with a focus on American Sign Language interpretation and a secondary emphasis in art. “I plan to finish both degrees and transfer to Northern Arizona University to finish the latter part of my art. My plan is to use these degrees to give back to my community through art and interpretation.”
Acknowledging that her journey has not been easy, the 39-year-old said she will continue to blaze the path forward. “I will not quit. I bring that drive to school. I want to show my amazing 10 year old that it is never too late to follow your dreams and follow through.”
That night, DeStefano embodied the spirit of gratitude and determination shared by many scholarship recipients in the room. She also captured the hearts of those in attendance, including legendary Phoenix television news anchorwoman Mary Jo West.
“Lindsey is such a strong and beautiful champion of perseverance despite extraordinary adversity,” said West. “She is exactly the kind of woman we had dreamed we could support and encourage when we created the scholarship for excellence in communication. I am so proud of her for what she has accomplished already and can’t wait to see how she’ll touch the world through American Sign Language and her art.”
DeStefano is the recipient of the Veteran’s Scholarship as well as the Mary Jo West Excellence in Communication Scholarship. More than 88 CCC students received funding, totalling $106,374 in scholarships for the 2025-2026 academic year.
“Moments like this remind us that we’re on the right path,” said DeStefano, on behalf of the scholarship recipients. “They remind us that we are capable of more than we sometimes believe. And maybe even more importantly, they remind us that we’re not doing this alone. There are people – donors, faculty, mentors – who believe in us. Who have invested not just in our education, but in our potential.”
“Students First is always such a special event,” said CCC Vice President of Advancement Dianna Sanchez. “It is a true celebration of our students and their incredible accomplishments.”
Sanchez also shared information about CCC’s Student Emergency Fund, which exists to help students overcome unexpected financial emergencies and stay on their educational path to degree or certificate completion. “Last year, the CCC Foundation awarded $36,000 in emergency funds, supporting requests that ranged from help with childcare, textbooks, car repairs and healthcare needs,” she said.
Addressing the scholarship donors, DeStephano said, “Your investment is not just changing our lives – it’s creating a ripple effect. The work we go on to do, the people we serve, the communities we uplift – that is your legacy, too.” FBN
By Bonnie Stevens, FBN
Photo courtesy of Samantha Hipolito: Pioneering Phoenix television news anchorwoman Mary Jo West was moved by the stories at CCC’s Students First Celebration with Lindsey DeStefano, Bonnie Stevens, and Sabrina Beard. DeStefano is the third recipient of the Mary Jo West Excellence in Communication Scholarship, founded by West and Stevens, FBN editor and former television news anchorwoman.