Alumni in the News

At MCC, we never tire of hearing about the pursuits and successes of our alumni.  Below is a compilation of alumni who have been in the news over the past few months.  If you or a fellow alum is featured in the news, we’d like to know.  Send the information to marcy.snitzer@mesacc.edu.

Display of Determination: Graduate Faced Obstacles on Way to Degree
Marlynn Radford-Brown is graduating from Arizona State University with a degree in construction management.  A little more than five years ago, she was a single parent with a second child on the way when she was laid off from her job, and her mother had recently passed away.
ASU News, May 15, 2014

Baseball Pipeline Flows From Las Vegas to Mesa, AZ
Story from Las Vegas publication about eight local Vegas kids who played baseball at Mesa Community College this season. All eight were major contributors to the Thunderbirds’ success, and the T-Birds had a lot of success.
Las Vegas Review-Journal, June 11, 2014

One year in, tribes’ CEO looks back
In 2013, Jake Suppah and his family had a comfortable life in Mesa, Ariz., where he had been the accounting manager for the Fort McDowell Casino for the previous decade.  When he got a call from his brother-in-law letting him know that he was nominated for secretary-treasurer, which is essentially the chief executive officer job for the tribes, he embraced the challenge.
The Madras Pioneer, June 18, 2014

Work Stories: Arick Dombrowski and a Mortician’s Outlook on Life
Arick Dombrowski is a 34-year-old funeral director at Johnson’s Mortuary in Yuma.  Dombrowski is a native of Somerton, Arizona and attended Yuma’s Cibola High School before going on to get his mortuary degree at Mesa Community College.  In this installment of Arizona Edition’s Work Stories, Arick talks about his profession and the outlook it puts on life, as well as the most difficult case he has ever handled.
Colorado River Public Media, KAWC, June 25, 2014  

Gearhead2, The story of MCC Welding Grad Nyki Robinette
Fueled by her passion for vintage cars, Nyki Robinette is learning to repair and fix new and old hot rods, with her daughter! Seeing the sparks fly, Nyki was trained in the welding program at MCC and now works at Big J Seamless, a mechanical contracting company. From welding pipes at work to welding a 41 Cadillac in her home garage, Nyki’s thirst to learn more will take her to the top.
Cox 7 LaunchPoint video, Aired July 1, 2014

MCC Mortuary Science Program Helps Graduates Continue Family Business
Three MCC students graduating with Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees in Mortuary Science will be taking over local family businesses.
Funeral Home and Crematory News, July 10, 2014

Mesa Community College Successfully Trains Next Generation in Advanced Manufacturing with Aid of Tool U-SME
Alumnus Matt Tellefsen is featured as a Student Success Story after securing a job in the aerospace manufacturing industry within a week of graduating with his Associated of Applied Science Degree in Machining and Product Development.
ToolingU/ SME website, August, 2014 newsletter