Whether he's reporting the weather, "hunting down happy hour deals" or sharing stories about children in need of foster and adoptive families, MCC alumnus and 3TV, CBS 5 Arizona's Family meteorologist Ian Schwartz says his job is rewarding.
Reporting news and weather for the past 19 years, Schwartz got his start at MCC, attending from 1999 to 2002.
"Yes, I'm a proud T-Bird, and I really wouldn't be where I am today without MCC actually," he says. "It was affordable and I really didn't know what I wanted to do, and it seemed like a good place to kind of get my feet wet when it came to college."
Recalling a favorite memory, Schwartz says it was his time reporting for The Mesa Legend, MCC's student-run newspaper. But, it almost didn't happen.
Unsure what to major in, Schwartz enrolled in a variety of classes including jazz, science, and journalism. He also accidentally enrolled in a newspaper writing course with journalism faculty member Jack Mullins.
"I went up to him afterward and I said, 'Oh my gosh, I took the wrong class, I'm ahead of myself. I need to drop this class.'" Schwartz explained. "He convinced me to stay in the class, saying, Listen, just give it a shot, I will help you edit your stories."
So, Schwartz continued in the class, with Mullins' reassurance that he wouldn't let him fail.
"I loved it and it was that moment and that man, Jack Mullins, that convinced me to stay in journalism. I owe him for telling me to stick around, getting me interested in writing," commented Schwartz.
Throughout his career, there's one constant that keeps him going, "making the viewer laugh," he says, "because there's a lot of doom and gloom sometimes on the news."
Another passion is volunteering. Since 2020, Schwartz has been the emcee for the All-Arizona Academic Team Recognition Ceremony, which recognizes Arizona's community college students for their outstanding academic achievements, community service, and distinguished leadership.
"I was asked to emcee once with the late Grant Woods (Arizona's former attorney general)," Schwartz says. "He had done it for 20 years, was a big name and someone I looked up to and had known about. I think it is a great event."
After Woods passed away, Schwartz took it over to keep Woods' name and legacy associated with the event and also to follow in his footsteps.
"It's important to give community college students recognition for their hard work and acknowledge that they have a lot to offer," he says.
So, what weather tips does Schwartz have for the rest of us? "Respect our heat. I know we say it a million times, but hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of people each summer succumb to the heat, our slow motion natural disasters if you will." Another tip he shares is, "Enjoy our beautiful state, there's so much to do and see here. I hope people explore and soak it all up because it's a very unique place that we live in and it, too, has a lot to offer."
The Mesa Legend, established in 1963, when MCC was an extension of Phoenix College, is still operated by student journalists and is available online at mesalegend.com.