MESA, Arizona - May 11, 2021 -- Eight Mesa Community College students receive honors in Artists of Promise (AOP), a competition hosted by the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) to highlight student accomplishments in dance, creative writing, visual arts, music, fashion, theatre and film.

MCC honorees are listed below by category and are featured on a celebratory MCCCD website. A total of 86 artists from each of the 10 colleges within the District participated in this year’s competitions. Among the nine MCC students recognized, four placed first in their category.

Creating Writing

Fiction

First Place: Valerie Neal for “Jivan Yatra” -- Neal moves forward to compete at the National Level in the League of Innovation in the Community Colleges Creative Writing Competition.

Second Place: Aelin Mayer for “Get to Work”

Poetry

Second Place: Jacqueline Gentry for “Corruption”

Creative writing awardees will be published in the MCCCD literary magazine, Passages, later this spring.

Fashion

Cosplay

First Place: Lorraine Rossi for “Byzantine Noble Woman”

Second Place: Helena Balderrama Sauceda for “Flower”

Original Design

First Place: Thao Vo for “Check The Summer”

Music

Composition

Third Place: Patrick De Noia

Instrumental - Other

First Place: Ashley Tenney “Chaminade Concertino in D major”

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Media Contact: Dawn Zimmer, dawnzimmer@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.