MCC grad wins seed money and resources to launch her own business
Robyn Mackelprang, a 2026 graduate of Mesa Community College, won $1,000 and top honors at MCC’s Mini Pitch Business Competition. The Mesa resident successfully convinced the three-member panel with her confidence and strong business plan for starting a small business social media management company. Returning to school after years as a full-time mom, she had previously earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Brigham Young University in 2005 when social media wasn’t part of the curriculum. To bridge the gap, she enrolled at MCC, earning a Certificate of Completion in Social Media Marketing, to secure the credentials and hands-on experience she needed to confidently re-enter the workforce.
Partnership with Intel offers AI Youth Camp
MCC and the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) partnered with Intel to host an Intel AI Camp, a four-day learning experience designed to introduce high school students to artificial intelligence, digital literacy and emerging career opportunities. Several students received invitations from Intel Corporation to participate in the Intel AI Global Impact Festival which takes place October-November 2026 when student innovators from more than 30 countries compete for prizes by showing their responsible AI innovation. The camp reflects MCC’s commitment to providing innovative learning opportunities that prepare students for a rapidly evolving digital landscape and expose participants to pathways in higher education and the workforce.
MCC student nationally recognized for civic engagement and leadership
MCC student Leonardo Warnick has been recognized by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge as one of only 168 students nationwide named to the 2026 ALL IN Student Voting Honor Roll. Warnick was acknowledged for outstanding leadership and initiative in advancing nonpartisan civic engagement through campus events such as National Voter Registration Day, Vote Early Day and Election Hero Day.
MCC students build Apple IT careers through innovative paid industry internships
Four MCC students have been awarded paid internships through the Maricopa Information Technology Institute (MITI) providing real-world, paid experience applying the skills they learned in MCC’s Enterprise IT Professional for Apple Technology program. The internship program is the result of an innovative partnership between MITI and Jamf, a software company creating tools for managing Apple devices for schools, businesses, hospitals and other organizations to help them control and support all their Macs, iPhones and iPads from one central system.