Mesa Community College will honor four high-achieving MCC students who have been named to the All-Arizona Academic Team competition on Feb. 20 at the Mesa Hilton. Community college scholars from all over the state will participate in the ceremony, which celebrates the outstanding academic achievements and distinguished leadership skills of the students. The competition qualifies students for placement on the national All-USA Academic Team.
All four MCC honorees are members of Phi Theta Kappa, an international honor society for two-year colleges, and have logged thousands of hours of combined service work for MCC and the community.
The MCC honorees include:
Lauren Campbell, All AZ Team
Lauren Campbell, Red Mountain Campus, Gilbert resident
Major: Psychology
GPA: 4.00
Transferring to: Arizona State University
College/Community Activities: American Cancer Association, Sunshine Acres, Banner Gateway Hospital
College Honors: Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Psi Beta Honor Society
Personal Quote: “Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.” –Jim Valvano
Mirelle Wright, All AZ Team
Mirelle Wright, Red Mountain Campus, Mesa resident
Major: Nonprofit Leadership
GPA: 4.00
Transferring to: Arizona State University
College/Community Activities: Multicultural Club, charity drives for multiple nonprofits, Mesa Community College Strategic Planning Committee
College Honors: Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society
Personal Quote: Accept your past without regrets, handle your present with confidence, and face your future without fear.
Devin Oakes, All AZ Team
Devin Oakes, Southern and Dobson Campus, Mesa resident
Major: Non-profit Leadership and Management
GPA: 4.00
Transferring to: Arizona State University
College/Community Activities: Arizona Regional President and Chapter President of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Volunteer with Special Olympics Arizona, Volunteered at Banner Desert Medical Center
College Honors: U.S. President’s Lifetime Volunteer Service Award for 4000+ hours of service, AmeriCorps Clinton Global Initiative University Scholarship, Coca Cola Leaders of Promise Scholarship Award
Personal Quote: "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." -Mahatma Gandhi
Sahba Zaare, All AZ Team
Sahba Zaare, Southern and Dobson Campus, Mesa resident
Major: Mathematics/Physics (Pre-Med)
GPA: 4.00
Transferring to: Arizona State University
College/Community Activities: Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (2012 Honors in Action Officer and Arizona Regional Fundraising Vice President, 2011 Finance Vice President), completed 140+ hours of clinical and clerical service at Maricopa Integrated Health System under the direct supervision of the Chief of Neuroradiology, completed 415+ hours at Mesa Dental Care College
Honors: 2012-2013 Chancellor’s Scholar, Mesa Community College Honors Program, 2011-2012 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholar, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (2010, 2011), 2012 American Mathematical Association of Two Year Colleges national math contest
Personal Quote: I arrived in America as a refugee approximately 3.5 years ago. Today, I am deeply grateful for my experiences at Mesa Community College, my involvement in Phi Theta Kappa, and my dedication to community volunteer service, all of which have affected profound and lasting improvements in my life.
Phi Theta Kappa, American Association of Community Colleges, Arizona Community Colleges, Arizona Board of Regents and USA TODAY help these exceptional students reach their educational goals by awards of scholarship and issue tuition waivers to any of Arizona’s three Universities: Arizona State University, University of Arizona or Northern Arizona University.
The All-USA Academic team will be announced at a later date in USA Today.
About Mesa Community College
Mesa Community College provides outstanding transfer and career and technical programs, workforce development, and life-long learning opportunities to residents of the East Valley area of Phoenix, Arizona. MCC excels in teaching, learning and empowering its more than 40,000 students who attend annually to succeed in a local and global community. Mesa Community College is one of ten colleges that comprise the Maricopa County Community College District.
Please direct media inquiries to Angela Askey at angela.askey@mesacc.edu or Sally Mesarosh at sally.mesarosh@mesacc.edu or the Office of Institutional Advancement at 480-461-7445. IA website: www.mesacc.edu/ia.