Four-year institutions

Arizona Theatre Company (ATC) welcomed two individuals to its administrative team: Matthew Graber, director of marketing, and Zacory Boatright, director of sales and business development.

Mae Ferguson will be the keynote speaker at the Arizona Sister Cities 2012 State Conference luncheon on Saturday, Oct. 20 at the Wells Fargo Learning and Event Center, 100 W. Washington St. in Phoenix.

Ahwatukee Foothills resident and Kyrene Altadeña seventh-grader Clark Scalia has been notified by the National Geographic Society that he is one of the semifinalists eligible to compete in the 2012 Arizona National Geographic Bee.

High school seniors, as well as sophomores and juniors, are invited to attend Future ASU STEM Devil Night at Arizona Science Center, 600 E. Washington St. in Phoenix. Students and their families will have an opportunity to meet with representatives from admissions, financial aid, and a variety of schools that focus on STEM-based careers.

The city of Phoenix is partnering with the state of Arizona and other local cities to streamline the process for installing residential solar energy systems, cutting time and costs, utilizing $710,000 in funding through the U.S. Department of Energy's SunShot Initiative.

The Arizona Women's Hall of Fame (AWHOF) is now accepting nominations for the 2012 induction. The Executive Committee of the Women's Hall of Fame encourages nominations of Arizona women from all walks of life and various ethnic backgrounds who have been deceased for at least two years, and who have contributed in significant ways to their communities and to the state.

The Arizona Women’s Hall of Fame (AWHOF) is now accepting nominations for the 2012 induction. The Executive Committee of the Women’s Hall of Fame encourages nominations of Arizona women from all walks of life and various ethnic backgrounds who have been deceased for at least two years, and who have contributed in significant ways to their communities and to the state.

The first Roman Catholic presence in Arizona dates to 1539, when Franciscan priest Marcos de Niza explored the Southwest in his quest for the mythical seven cities of gold.

Arizona Opera, currently in its 42nd season, is galvanizing its future as a world-renowned opera company through its $8.5 million “Raising Our Voice” capital campaign. Arizona Opera has always been an integral element in Arizona’s arts community, and now, the company is embarking on a watershed and transformational next step with a new Opera Center. Centrally located in the heart of the Phoenix Arts District, and easily accessible by light rail, the center will anchor the cultural gateway, along with the neighboring Phoenix Art Museum, Heard Museum and Phoenix Theatre.

Five after-school programs in Arizona will each be awarded a $1,500 grant by the Arizona Center for Afterschool Excellence to create new or expanded ways to incorporate technology-based learning in after-school programs.

We just can't help but use this space to highlight our wonderful Ahwatukee youths doing extraordinary things in these uncertain times we live in.

A 200-mile running relay that includes 12 runners, day and night, through the Arizona desert is taking place Feb. 22-23. The run is from Wickenburg to Tempe.

Prior to presenting the ABC Project (Ahwatukee Baseball Complex) to the city of Phoenix, project coordinators are looking for a local architect, who would be willing to provide a “Basic Drawing” of what the proposed baseball complex would look like.

Students from the Everest College Phoenix campus recently donated their time and energy to assist St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance with packing food boxes for those in need throughout the state of Arizona.

Students ambassadors from the Everest College Phoenix Mesa campus hopped to help the Easter bunny this year by providing more than 100 Easter baskets for children at Cardon Children’s Medical Center. This marks the fourth year in a row that the Everest College Phoenix Mesa campus has helped to give the children at the medical center a surprise on Easter morning.

CoAdvantage announced its expansion to the Phoenix market.

The U10 Girls AYSO 1046 Hurricanes won its first championship of the spring season at the Ft. Lowell Soccer Shootout in Tucson on Jan. 15. The Hurricanes outscored their opponents 13-0 in their places.

The AYSO 1046 U11G Thunderbolts won the U12G bracket in the Stars & Stripes International Soccer Tournament, at Reach 11 in north Phoenix, to win its division.

After months of deliberation, National School Choice Week has selected Arizona to host its official kickoff celebration in 2013.

Anaphora, LLC, a Phoenix-based private holding company, announced the acquisition of Brillare Hairdressing Academy.

OB Sports Golf Management announced new summer stay-and-play packages for Scottsdale and Sedona, Arizona and Las Vegas.

Zack Tamburo of Ahwatukee has received the university scholarship and residence life leadership award to attend Southeast Missouri State University for the 2013-2014 academic year.

Ahwatukee Foothills resident and Cesar Chavez senior Chandler Hovik signed a letter of intent with Phoenix College.

Former Desert Vista big man Connor MacDougal enrolled at Corona del Sol recently after leaving Westwind Prep because of family issues.