Zion Park was one of three star student speakers featured in Chandler-Gilbert Community College’s 2026 commencement ceremonies. Park graduated from CGCC with an Associate in Applied Science in Accounting.
During her time at CGCC, Park maintained a 4.0 GPA while balancing the responsibilities of being a full-time student and a mother of two. She served as Chief Financial Officer of the Phi Theta Kappa Sigma Nu Chapter, where she helped manage the organization’s budget and support student-led initiatives. Park also completed an internship with First Credit Union, where she gained hands-on experience in accounting operations and developed a deeper understanding of teamwork and communication in a professional setting.
Park’s journey reflects her belief in lifelong learning and perseverance. Returning to college later in life, she embraced every challenge as an opportunity to grow and set an example for her children. She hopes to use her education to build a meaningful career in accounting and eventually open her own business.
“There were many times in my life when it wasn’t the right time to attend school, or it didn't even seem possible,” said Park in her commencement address. “I started my first-ever Maricopa Community College class in 2013. Attending school after many years of being away was not easy. I had other things in my way. There were always many reasons to postpone my goals one more time. But somewhere along the way, I realized something important: There will always be obstacles, but that does not mean we should stop learning. It does not mean we should stop growing. And it does not mean our dreams no longer belong to us.”
“I came back to learn,” Park added. “I came back to prove something to myself. I came back because I wanted more for my future, for my children and for my family. And I kept going, one assignment, one discussion board, one quiz, and one final exam at a time. CGCC gave many of us the place to keep growing. It gave us a place to begin again. A place to grow. A place where your hard work mattered. A place where people believed in us, sometimes even before we fully believed in ourselves. To the professors, staff, advisors, mentors, classmates, friends and family members who helped us along the way: thank you. Thank you for your patience, your encouragement and your faith in us. None of us got here completely alone.”
Park plans to transfer to Paradise Valley Community College to pursue a bachelor’s degree in accounting and continue working toward becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).