Stories of Success
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Do you know of a Mesa Community College student or alum doing great work? Are you one of them? Please let us know.
For more than half a century, thousands of students have charted their path to success at Mesa Community College. Here we feature a compendium of their inspiring stories and reflections. Check back occasionally to see new stories featuring the impact MCC has had on lives and the communities we serve.
Successful Thunderbirds List
For as long as Nathan Schroeder can remember, he has always been obsessed with cars.
After earning an Associate in Applied Science in Automotive Service at Mesa Community College (MCC), he received an offer to pursue his dream career as a technician at the Nissan Technical Center North America–Arizona (NTCNA–AZ).
“It was…
Passion for Education
Many staff and students on both Mesa Community College campuses find inspiration when speaking with Astika Anak Agung. At age 66, he’s graduating with an associate’s degree in arts and plans to transfer to Northern Arizona University to pursue a degree in public administration.
After a lifetime of varied occupations, Agung may be ready to retire, but he’s…
Lena Nape came to Mesa Community College seeking a fresh start—an opportunity to redefine her goals and build a strong foundation for the future. What she found was a supportive community that encouraged her to grow, take risks and believe in her potential.
After graduation, Nape will transfer to Arizona State University to pursue a bachelor’s degree in fine arts with…
Mesa Community College graduate Trent Cortazzo, 20, of Mesa, found a fresh start at MCC after a less-than-stellar academic history at Red Mountain High School.
“I was always the kid that teachers said had potential,” Cortazzo said. “I did just enough to get by, ending up with a 2.9 GPA in high school. Since I didn’t have a plan, my dad thought I was a bad investment…
After graduating from high school and receiving offers from multiple universities, Mesa resident Kashmir Baillie, age 20, decided Mesa Community College was the perfect fit for her educational goals.
“I will never forget how MCC helped me reach the first step in my higher education,” said Baillie, whose career goal is to be a lawyer. “I would recommend MCC to anyone…
When Sam decided to go back to school, she quickly realized that an onsite college experience would be nearly impossible for her. With her spouse in the military at the time, they moved frequently around the US, so the search was on to find an online school where she could receive an excellent college education at an affordable cost.
Sam selected MCC – though she didn’t reside in Arizona…
Model UN Alumnus Working Dream Job at United Nations
Aaron Holtz’s passion for international relations began on Sept. 11, 2001, as he watched planes crash into the World Trade Center in New York City on a television at Mesa Community College. After watching the chaos on the screen, he walked to his next class taught by Brian Dille, Ph.D., professor of political science.
“No one knew what was going on,” Holtz said. “I went to Dille’s…
Grad Finds her Creative Niche at MCC
Creativity is important to Mesa Community College graduate Christina Court. As an elementary education major, she knows that all children learn through different methods, so as a teacher, she plans to use creativity in her lesson plans.
Court said she found a wonderful niche of creative thinkers and mentors amongst her professors at MCC. Those teachers…
Outdoor Enthusiast Finds Dream Job
Scott Mackey’s job at the Arizona Game and Fish Department often takes him out into the middle of nowhere. But for Mackey, an avid outdoor enthusiast, that’s exactly where he wants to be.
“The thing I love most about my current job is the hands-on nature of field work,” said Mackey, who is currently performing habitat assessments of potential bighorn sheep transplant sites. “I spend the…
Girl Scouts honor MCC Alumna
The Girl Scouts-Arizona Cactus-Pine Council recently honored MCC alumna Kelley Stewart with the Women of Distinction World of Courage award. Honorees are chosen for their exceptional community service and leadership.
Stewart is a 2004 graduate of the MCC Red Mountain campus and is currently double majoring in applied psychology and multimedia writing and technical communication at…