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.
It’s often a challenge to be a first-generation college student. Coming from a family without a college-going tradition can bring additional challenges and open the door for participation in supportive groups or programs.
Mesa Community College student Amanda Camacho, a 21-year-old resident of Tempe, has experienced firsthand the ups and downs of college life as a first-generation student.
“I... Read more about Amanda Camacho
Mesa Community College graduate Elizabeth Ward just completed her first step toward her lifelong goal of becoming a judge, she just graduated with two degrees and two certificates at MCC.
Coming from a family of lawyers and judges in Houston, Texas, the criminal justice field had always appealed to Ward.
“I want to see justice and equality for everyone,” said Ward, of Chandler. “I want to work... Read more about Elizabeth Ward
Mesa Community College student Cynthia G. Walker knows what it takes to succeed in a challenging world. As she prepares to graduate with an associate’s degree from MCC this month, she would like to encourage others to pursue their education.
“If I can reach just one individual, they can take that information and teach others,” said Walker, who is a member of the Diné and Cochiti tribes.
Walker... Read more about Cynthia Walker
When Deborah Bateman attended Mesa Community College, two classes ended up being what she calls “the underpinning foundation of my life.”
“I became very involved in business classes at the time, and competed in state and national contests as a member of DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America),” Deborah said. “Communications and Speech classes ended up being really formative for me,... Read more about Deborah Bateman
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 who wants a quality education... Read more about Kashmir Baillie
For Mesa Community College (MCC) student Matthew Skabelund, 23, education is more than learning facts and figures. Skabelund, who attended the Red Mountain and Southern and Dobson campuses, said he has discovered traits such as perseverance and resilience are equally important as he pursues his degree in physical therapy.
“Completing my education has become much more about excelling as an... Read more about Matthew Skabelund
"You know, thanks to this call, I'm remembering a lot about my time at MCC. It's probably the most personal I've been during an interview," says Douglas Miles Sr., independent artist, owner of Apache Skateboards, and advocate for artistic expression for communities and people of color.
He attended MCC part-time in the 1980s while working at the then-booming Motorola Semiconductor plant on... Read more about Douglas Miles Sr.
Robin Wilson, lead vocalist for the Gin Blossoms, spent a large part of his youth on the Mesa Community College campus where his father, Lee Wilson, taught accounting from 1971 through the early '90s.
“I have a big place in my heart for that campus,” said Wilson during a phone interview from his tour bus as he promotes the band's latest release, Major Lodge Victory. “I grew up there. I used to... Read more about Robin Wilson
Since opening the Tilt Gallery in Phoenix in 2005, Mesa Community College graduates Michelle and Melanie Craven have enriched the Phoenix art community by sharing their photography skills and knowledge.
The twin sisters originally pursued a space for their own photography, but quickly realized there was a greater need for a fine art photography gallery in Phoenix specializing in alternative and... Read more about Michelle and Melanie Craven
Mesa Community College graduate, Noemi Panza, age 22, said she is very glad she discovered MCC as the place to begin her college career.
Originally from Cosenza, a small town in the city of Calabria, Italy, Panza who is a first-generation college student said, "I saw that MCC had an easy transfer program and thought it was the best option. These years at MCC have been the best years of my life.... Read more about Noemi Panza