Distinguished Alumni Award

Ken Bennett graduated from PHS and became a successful businessman and financial professional with a long history of public service in Arizona.

In between attending Yavapai College and Arizona State University, he served a two-year Christian mission in southern Japan.

Upon earning a degree in accounting from ASU, he returned to Prescott and helped run his family business, Bennett Oil, as CEO for over 20 years.

Ken has served as an executive and on boards of directors of several companies, including ten years with Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Goodyear. He served on the Prescott City Council, the Arizona State Board of Education and in the Arizona State Senate for ten years, including four years as President of the Senate. Ken was Arizona's 19th Secretary of State from 2009 to 2015.

He and his wife, Jeanne, have three children and ten grandchildren.

Robert M. Brutinel was born in 1958 and moved to Prescott, AZ in 1961. He attended Prescott Public schools from kindergarten on and was a member of the first class to complete elementary school at Taylor Hicks. He then attended Prescott Junior High School and graduated from Prescott High School in 1976.

Justice Brutinel attended college at George Washington University and Arizona State University, graduating from ASU in 1979, with a Bachelor of Science degree. He completed law school at the University of Arizona, receiving his Juris Doctor in 1982.

He practiced law in Prescott and served two terms as the President of the Yavapai County Bar Association. In 1996, he was appointed to the Yavapai County Superior Court and was reelected five times and served as the Presiding Judge from 2004 - 2010. During that time, he was chosen as the national Court Appointed Special Advocate Judge of the Year and served as the President of the Arizona Judges' Association.

In 2010 he was appointed as a Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court. In 2018, he earned a Master's Degree in Judicial Studies from Duke University.

Justice Brutinel was elected as the 46th Chief Justice of Arizona in 2019 and served as Chief until the completion of his term in 2024.

Justice Brutinel is married to the Hon. Jennifer Campbell and has four children, all educated in Prescott's public schools.

Mike Fann grew up in Prescott and attended Lincoln Elementary School, graduating from Prescott High School in 1975. Mike is the CEO of Fann Contracting, a multi-generational heavy-civil construction firm founded in 1960.

After earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Construction Engineering from Arizona State University in 1980, Mike took the helm of the business in 1990.

Under his leadership, Fann Contracting has become one of the largest heavy-civil Contractors in Arizona, constructing highways, airports, underground utility infrastructure and municipal water production and wastewater treatment facilities.

Fann Contracting employs more than 325 people in Prescott and across Arizona.

An avid leader in community investment, he launched the FEMAD (Fann Employees Making A Difference) program over 18 years ago, which has raised more than One Million Dollars for local non-profits to date. Mike also established the James Fann Memorial Scholarship at Arizona State University, co-led the creation of the Mike Fann Skateboard Park in Prescott and now spends much of his time on philanthropic endeavors.

Mike serves and has served on multiple non-profit Boards including Prescott Charities, Prescott Chamber of Commerce, Yavapai Silent Witness, Arizona Community Foundation and the Central Arizona Partnership, among others. 

Fiorello LaGuardia (1882-1947) was a dynamic mayor of New York City (1935-1945), known for fighting corruption, supporting labor rights, and modernizing the city with New Deal programs.

Born in NYC to italian and Jewish parents, he spent part of his youth in Arizona, attended Prescott High School, and later worked as a translator and joined the U.S. Consular Service.

He served in Congress before transforming NYC through infrastructure, housing, and social services.

Nicknamed "The Little Flower," he was a multilingual reformer. LaGuardia Airport honors his legacy as one of NYC's greatest mayors, and a tireless advocate for public service.

Ernest A. Love (1895-1918) was born in New Mexico. Ernest was a celebrated World War I Aviator who grew up in Prescott, Arizona. An accomplished student and athlete, he graduated from PHS in 1914 and then attended Stanford University before enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1917.

Ernest trained as a pilot and was sent to France with the 141st Aero Squadron. On September 12, 1918, his plane was shot down, and he later died from his injuries and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Prescott's airport, Ernest A. Love Field, was named in his honor in 1928, commemorating his service, sacrifice, and pioneering spirit in American aviation history.

Kris Mayes is one of Arizona's strongest consumer advocates and an attorney who has distinguished herself as a fighter for the people in a lifetime of public service. 

Born and raised on a tree farm in Prescott, Kris Mayes attended Arizona public schools with her brother and sister. Her mom was a teacher and her dad worked as a pharmacist.

Kris studied political science and journalism at Arizona State University and went on to work as a reporter. She later earned a Masters of Public Administration from Columbia University and her law degree from ASU. 

Kris served in a senior role with the Napolitano Administration in the early 2000's before being appointed to the Arizona Corporation Commission. She went on to win two statewide elections and served as a Commissioner from 2003-2010 and was the Commission Chair from 2009-2010. Kris was admitted to the Arizona State Bar on January 10, 2005.

Prior to her election as Attorney General, Mayes worked as a professor at ASU's School of Global Sustainability and taught a course on energy law for the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at ASU.

Kris is honored to serve as Arizona's 27th Attorney General, becoming the first mom and second woman ever to be elected to the office. She looks forward to continuing working on behalf of Arizonans as the top law enforcement official and consumer guardian in the state. 

Patty Pauley Rummage is a native Prescottonian who has been involved in our community all her life. 

As an educator for sixty years, she has taught at all levels, the majority in Prescott Unified School District. Patty takes a holistic approach to developing each student to their full potential using a variety of modalities.

As a member of Solid Rock Christian Church, she founded and continues to lead the 5 and 2 Soup Kitchen, providing community for all those in need who attend. She also served as church pianist for many years.

The college ministry was under her leadership for thirty years. Patty has received several awards, including Delta Kappa Gamma Woman Educator, Soroptimist of America Women of Distinction for Educational Development. Prescott Unified School District Grandparent and Teacher Extraordinaire and Alpha Delta Kappa Arizona Women of Distinction.

Kathy Olsen Sischka is a healthcare professional, co-owner of Olsen's for Healthy Animals and dedicated volunteer. Kathy incorporates passion and leadership skills to enhance the efforts of the organizations she is involved in. 

Seldom has she been without a significant role in whatever community need presented itself.

Kathy chaired the Courthouse Lighting Committee for the Prescott Chamber of Commerce in 1989 when Prescott was named "Arizona's Christmas City". 

She is currently in her 10th year on the PUSD Education Foundation Board, where she has worked to cultivate an environment in which students and staff can achieve long term success. Kathy also serves on the Prescott Campus Advisory Board at ERAU.

Kathy is a graduate of Prescott Area Leadership, an active member of P.E.O., serves at her church and is on the leadership team for Prescott Women Who Care. 

On Friday mornings, you will find her volunteering at the front desk of YRMC West. 

She is married to Steve Sischka, has 2 children (both PHS alumni) and 3 grandchildren. 

When she isn't volunteering, Kathy enjoys golf, Pilates, skiing and traveling to spend time with family.