All spotlights
MCC annual Festival of the Arts celebrates student talent
The annual celebration of student artists, musicians, poets, storytellers, dancers, and theatre performers brings MCC departments together. MCC art faculty member Gingher Leyendecker encourages community members to participate. There are demonstrations of painting, drawing and ceramics on display throughout the event.
“We are very excited to present what MCC students are learning to our community,” Leyendecker said.
Xavier Patton
MCC dance class prepares Xavier Patten for success at Walt Disney World and Universal Studios
Xavier Patten was a Disney Program intern, while at MCC in 2015. The experience led him to become a regular performer at Disney World in 2016. Today he works for Walt Disney World in Orlando as a parade performer and at Universal Studios as a dancer.
“I just enjoyed the MCC dance class so much,” Patten said. “MCC gave me the core of my dance training and I feel like it was the best place for me to get that foundation. Without it, I would not be where I am.”
Five MCC students receive photography awards
Digital Arts students Jessica Swofford, Sadera Nye, Mihwa Werle, Ace Kennedy and James Maggio were chosen as finalists from more than 12,000 entries in the 38th Annual College Photo Contest, an international competition sponsored by Photographer’s Forum magazine and Fujifilm.
MCC art professor Tom Klare said, “I believe these recognitions will be just the beginning of many career accomplishments for these students.”
Dr. Carole Drachler donates one-of-a-kind Library of Art History
MCC retired professor donates big.
Dr. Carole Drachler, retired MCC art history professor, and her husband Dr. David Drachler generously donated $250,000 to launch a library of art history for students, instructors, staff and community members. The donation includes over 3,000 art and art history books collected during years of extensive world travels.
“Books have been my passion, after family and teaching. I’m happy that generations of students will use the books I enjoyed,” she said.
Geoff Coppola
AllisOne and OneisAll
Alumnus Geoff Coppola's AllisOneenOsillA, a palindrome for All is One, One is All, was created in collaboration with MCC mathematics faculty Madeleine Chowdhury. The name chosen, AllisOneenOsillA, suggests how many small pieces make up a larger piece and an analogy of how many citizens make up one larger community, a tie to MCC’s International Education Department.
Students earn top 2019 ariZoni awards
MCC Theatre and Film Arts Department students earned awards and recognition for their talent at the 28th annual ariZoni Awards of Theatre Excellence held at the Tempe Center for the Performing Arts on Sept. 17, 2018. Top honors went to Lily Gastelum for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for "Story Theatre" and, to Steven May for Best Sound Design for "Eurydice."
MCC wins big at 2017 ariZoni Awards
Student’s talents earned awards and recognition
MCC Theatre and Film Arts students earned the college recognition as the most awarded two-year or four-year institution during the 27th annual ariZoni Awards. The top honor was the Best Overall Play for MCC’s presentation of Good ‘n’ Plenty. The performance received multiple honors for students including Best Actor in a Supporting Role and Best Costume Design along with many other nominations.
MCC students earn ariZoni awards and honors
Theatre and Film Arts Department students receive recognition
At the 28th annual ariZoni Awards of Theatre Excellence, MCC students receive nominations for exceptional work in all aspects of theatre. Top honors went to Lily Gastelum for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for "Story Theatre" and, to Steven May for Best Sound Design for "Eurydice." Kevin Dressler, MCC Theatre & Film Arts performance faculty said, “What I am happiest about is that essentially every facet of our program received nominations by the ariZoni Awards of Theatre Excellence.”
Empty Bowls Events
Fighting hunger one bowl at a time
At MCC's annual Empty Bowls events, you can choose one of thousands of handcrafted bowls and dine on a simple meal of bread and soup in observance of World Hunger Day. All proceeds go directly to the nonprofit Paz de Cristo Community Center, which provides anti-hunger and empowerment support for the East Valley's homeless, unemployed, working poor and their families. “During this past year, Paz de Cristo averaged 7,000 visits per month from those in need of food, clothing and other services,” said Paz de Cristo Director Arlen Westling.
Emigdio Arredondo
From a Small Village in Mexico, the World Became a Stage
MCC alumnus Emigdio Arredondo grew up admiring dancers on movies and television, but did not think the opportunities were available to pursue his dreams. At MCC he joined the Dance Company and eventually changed his major when his professor, Tina Rangel, helped him gain opportunities and network. Arredondo is one of over 600 dancers to be selected for the University of Arizona’s School of Dance in the fall of 2015. “It took a while for me to accept my passion, and I don’t think I would have done it so quickly and effectively without MCC,” Arredondo said.