Left to right: Qinghua Alice Wang, Jennifer Clancy, Elaine Wilson-Gibson, Melissa Hurtado, Brooklyn Moss, Mathilde Pinault and Laurie Hobbs MESA, Ariz. – Jan 24, 2018 – Mesa Community College Interior Design students earned top honors during the 2018 International Interior Design Association (IIDA) Western Region Student Design Charette – Southwest Chapter finals held in November at Forward Tilt in Phoenix.

Charette teams of five student designers, each at different stages in their education, are given a design problem to solve. After an intense day of teamwork each team presents drawings and renderings illustrating their solution to a team of local interior design professionals serving as judges.

“It is wonderful to see the charette launch a free flow of thought between designers, each idea building upon another until a fitting concept or design solution is found,” said Cherise "CJ" Robb, program director, MCC Interior Design Program.

IIDA Southwest Chapter charette first place team included three MCC students: Laurie Hobbs (Phoenix), Qinghua “Alice” Wang (Tempe) and Elaine Wilson-Gibson (Queen Creek). They will participate in the IIDA Western Region Student Design Charette on April 6 and 7 in Denver, Colorado. During this charrette they will be teamed with student designers from IIDA’s Northern Pacific, Oregon, Northern California and Southern California chapters to compete for a place on an international charette during NeoCon, the world's leading platform and most important event of the year for the commercial design industry, in June 2019. The NeoCon Charette grand prize is a $10,000 scholarship.

“The IIDA Student Design Charette taught me how important it is to identify the elements of a project and the strengths of each team member right at the beginning,” said Laurie Hobbs. “My team was able to match those strengths to accomplish elements of the project in a timed environment. It’s great to know what we did well, but also what we could have improved, which helps us prepare for the real world.”

MCC students Melissa Hurtado (Mesa), Jennifer Clancy (Mesa) and Brooklynn Moss (Queen Creek) earned second place honors. Moss was selected by charette judges as an alternate. She will participate in the regional competition if anyone from the first place team is unable to attend.

Another MCC interior design student, student Mathilde Pinault (Phoenix), contributed to the Southwest Chapter finals charette.

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Media contact: Dawn Zimmer, dawn.zimmer@mesacc.edu, 480-461-7892

Mesa Community College is nationally recognized by the Aspen Institute as one of the top 150 community colleges in the United States and is known for service learning, career and technical programs, civic engagement and innovative approaches to education. The college serves as a resource for career readiness, transfer education, workforce development and lifelong learning. Host to more than 30,000 students annually, MCC offers degree and certificate programs online and at its two campuses and additional locations. Through the implementation of Guided Pathways with Integrated Support Services, MCC is transforming ways it champions student success; college completion, university transfer and career attainment for all students. MCC is a Hispanic Serving Institution with a diverse student body, including more than 400 international students representing over 60 countries, who enrich campus learning experiences. Award-winning faculty are dedicated to student success, providing the education and training to empower MCC students to compete locally and globally. Located in the East Valley of Phoenix, Arizona, MCC is one of the 10 colleges in the Maricopa County Community College District. Learn more at mesacc.edu.

Mesa Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

The Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) is an EEO/AA institution and an equal opportunity employer of protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or national origin. A lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in the career and technical education programs of the District. MCCCD does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age in its programs or activities. For Title IX/504 concerns, call the following number to reach the appointed coordinator: (480) 731-8499. For additional information, as well as a listing of all coordinators within the Maricopa College system, visit http://www.maricopa.edu/non-discrimination.