MESA, Arizona – May 8, 2026 – Mesa Community College student Elliot Carosella has been awarded a prestigious Preparing Leaders and Nurturing Tomorrow’s Scientists (PLANTS) grant by the Botanical Society of America.
The competitive national award will support Carosella’s participation in the Botany Conference 2026 in Tucson, Arizona this August, with all travel expenses covered. As part of the program, Carosella will present original research, receive one-on-one mentorship from established scientists and gain professional development experience in a national academic setting.
“I am truly honored to be awarded this grant, and I cannot wait to see where it takes me,” said Carosella. “As the numbers and my experience started to come together, I realized how important this project is. Not just important in that this data I personally collected will be used in future planning for our beautiful arboretum, but also important to my perception of myself as a learner. After being selected for the PLANTS grant, I see myself as an active participant and scholar, someone who can succeed if only I learn to apply myself. I did, and I will continue to.”
Carosella’s research, conducted as part of her Special Projects in Biology coursework and presented at the MCC Undergraduate Research Symposium this spring, highlights the importance of maintaining species diversity and active tree management in urban campus environments. Her findings provide data that serve as a foundation for future canopy management planning and conservation initiatives on college campuses and the MCC Arboretum. Her analysis shows that the trees within the MCC Arboretum provide significant annual benefits, including the removal of 188.15 kg of air pollution (valued at $941/year) and the sequestration of 9.35 metric tons of carbon ($4,460/year). Additionally, the urban forest currently stores 249.20 metric tons of carbon with a total value of around $119,000; and produces 24.96 metric tons of oxygen annually. Beyond air quality, there is 85.29 m3 of surface water runoff avoided on campus per year ($201/year). To replace the worth of these trees based on their benefits, it would cost $2.07 million.
“It is a rare and significant honor for a community college student to receive this level of national recognition,” said Sean Whitcomb, faculty member in MCC’s Life Science Department. “Opportunities like the PLANTS Grant not only validate Elliot’s hard work and exceptional discipline, they also open doors for her to engage with leading researchers and gain invaluable experience that will shape her academic and professional future.”
Currently enrolled as a biological sciences major at MCC, Carosella plans to transfer to a four-year university to continue her research and pursue a career in wildlife conservation.
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Media Contact: Dawn Zimmer, [email protected], 480-461-7892
Mesa Community College (MCC) is nationally recognized for its excellence in university transfer, career and technical programs, civic engagement and innovative education. Serving more than 25,500 students annually, MCC offers a range of degree and certificate programs across its two campuses and additional locations. MCC students contribute more than 8,500 hours of community service annually. MCC serves as a key resource for education, workforce development and lifelong learning. The college enhances student success through Guided Pathways with Integrated Support Services. A Hispanic Serving Institution, nearly 50% of MCC students are first-generation college attendees and it boasts the largest Indigenous student population among Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) colleges, supporting students from 22 Arizona tribes and additional out-of-state tribes. Our award-winning faculty are committed to helping students achieve their goals through high-quality education, training and undergraduate research opportunities. Located in the East Valley of Phoenix, Arizona, MCC is one of 10 MCCCD colleges. Learn more at mesacc.edu/newsroom.
MCC is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), hlcommission.org.
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