Mesa Community College

Center for Service-Learning

Why Service-Learning?

Making a Difference in the Lives of Others

MCC hosts the Special Olympics Arizona Summer Games with our Service volunteers playing a critical role in the success of the games. In 2010 we logged over 700 hours at the 3 day event. Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for all children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community. See the Special Olympics Retrospective here.

Personal & Professional Connections

Many Service-Learning alumni find that their Service Project introduces them to the larger world of community action, volunteer organization, political activism, neighborhood preservation, and Social Service.

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These Service opportunities have been found to deeply impact the student participants with increases in college retention and graduation rates and graduate school attendance. Many felt a greater desire to socialize with diverse people, and help others in difficulty. These Service experiences can foster a more meaningful life philosophy, and better cultural and racial understanding.

Many Service Alumni continue to participate in community action programs, environmental cleanup and awareness education, and had greater social awareness long after the completion of their Service Project. Students report a sense of efficacy, developed more meaningful personal relationships and felt better prepared for career and degree aspirations.

According to scholars Eyler and Giles (1999), with the service-learning model "experience enhances understanding; understanding leads to more effective action." Your Service-Learning experience can pave the way to a profound change in your life.

Reflections on Service

Shane McNeil - A Few Words on Service: "Helping others enriches your soul, whether you've helped them understand a concept that they couldn't grasp before or serving them in a soup kitchen. The true investment with service is in the future. It's in the people, and the return on the investment is shared by everyone."

Read more Student Reflections to see how this program changed their lives - and the lives of others.

Academic Honors & Recognition

Any Mesa Community College student who completes 500 hours of service in total during their time at MCC, and at least one (1) service-learning project recognized by the Center for Service-Learning can apply to receive the MCC Excellence in Service Award medallion to wear at graduation. The President's Volunteer Service Award is earned by demonstrating outstanding volunteer service and civic participation over the course of a 12-month period.

See what it takes to qualify for these prestigious awards.

Scholarships & Tuition Reimbursement

There are several monetary awards available for Service-Learning participants. Click each award to learn more:

Coca Cola Scholarship: Up to $1000.00

Applicants must be first or second year community college students planning to continue their education at a two-year institution to be nominated by their college to apply for the Coca-Cola Two-Year Colleges Scholarship. Only two (2) students from the Southern & Dobson and two (2) from the Red Mountain campuses will be eligible for nomination.

Through the Coca-Cola Two-Year Colleges Scholarship Program, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation awards up to 400 awards annually in the amount of $1,000 each. Students must have demonstrated academic success and completed at least 100 hours of community services within the previous 12 months to apply. We recommend completion of at least 300 hours of volunteer service in order to be competitive with this program.

Judging is based on character, personal merit, and commitment. Merit is demonstrated through leadership in school, civic and extracurricular activities, academic achievement, and motivation to serve and succeed. Application period: January - March of each academic year. Download the application. Return your completed application to the Center for Service-Learning.

All-MCC Academic Team: Up to $400.00

The All-MCC Academic Team seeks to honor outstanding students from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines to hold up as representatives of all outstanding two-year college students. Applicants must be currently enrolled at Mesa Community College during the 2007-2008 academic year, and should expect to graduate by August 31, 2010. The nominee must have completed at least 12 semester hours in pursuit of a degree, and must currently have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5.

The top two (2) students from the Southern & Dobson (including all extended campus locations) and Red Mountain campuses will be the official students nominated to the National All-USA Academic Team and will have the chance at further scholarships and In-State tuition waivers. Return your completed application to the Center for Service-Learning.
Download the application as a Word .doc .   |   Download the application as an Acrobat .pdf file.

Add Strength to Your Scholarship Applications

Applicants for MCC and Foundation scholarships directly compete for each scholarship award. Applicants are judged on academic achievement, financial need, and even demographics. With Service-Learning hours and a successful Project on your resume, you have an edge that will highlight your achievements. On average, many Service participants are successful in their garnering of multiple scholarships. Follow the Steps for Scholarship Application or visit the Scholarship website.