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.
Zachary St. Martin has found the right prescription for his life. St. Martin will transfer to Arizona State University where he plans to major in the science of healthcare delivery with the intention of pursuing joint Doctor of Medicine and Master of Public Health degrees. His goal is to become a physician-champion for medically underserved populations.
A first-generation college student out of... Read more about Zachary St. Martin
Dennis Wilson, Ph.D., Mesa Community College Biology faculty, has traveled with MCC Study Abroad students into the wilds of Africa, the piazzas of Italy, and the jungles of Costa Rica, exploring amazing wildlife and breathtaking landscapes along the way.
Growing up in England, Wilson was mesmerized by the wildlife shows about Africa, but he was also troubled by the famines in Ethiopia and the... Read more about Dennis Wilson
MCC alumnae Shachi Kale’s artwork causes people to stop and look a little closer at all the delightful details hidden in her paintings. You’ll find caterpillars in the corners, birds in the borders, and all types of patterns that give life to her creations.
She’s a visual storyteller, graphic designer and children’s book illustrator. Locally, her work has appeared at the Mesa Arts Center,... Read more about Shachi Kale
For Shelby Prockish, 30, Mesa Community College’s Red Mountain Campus was just the right fit when he decided to pursue a degree.
“It just clicked with me,” Prockish said. “It’s a community out here. It’s so small, so friendly and you really know all the professors and staff as long as you utilize all the services—tutoring, student life, service learning, etc. It’s like my second home.”
After... Read more about Shelby Prockish
Mesa Community College’s Alisa Tripiciano had accumulated nearly half of her credits for a degree in social work when fate intervened in 2005. A severe car crash resulted in serious spinal injuries and head trauma. Her doctors were amazed she survived the accident. Prior to surgery to remove bone fragments from her spine, they told her it was likely she would be paralyzed.
“They told me I would... Read more about Alisa Tripiciano
When Gabriela Mansilla moved from Guatemala to the United States at age 25 seeking a college degree, she chose Mesa Community College partly because she had always been drawn to the beauty of Arizona. She was pleased to discover MCC fit her needs in multiple ways, with a staff deeply committed to helping students. Mansilla excelled and is this year’s Class Honors Speaker.
“While researching, I... Read more about Gabby Mansilla
Justin Michael Freemyer has always dreamed big and has never taken no for an answer. A reverse transfer student, Justin will be graduating with his associate’s degree in public relations at MCC after completing his bachelor’s from ASU six years earlier.
Raised in Chandler, Freemyer grew up with a blue-collar work ethic and midwestern values. At two, he was reading newspapers and singing from a... Read more about Justin Freemyer
It had long been a dream of Melanie Clover Delgado, age 63 of Mesa, to find her path to higher education. Now, she’s on her way to making a real difference in the lives of vulnerable populations as a social worker/counselor.
Beginning with a difficult childhood, Delgado overcame multiple obstacles, including anxiety, depression, drug abuse and low self-worth, by seeking counseling.
“Something... Read more about Melanie Clover Delgado
After graduating from Mesa Community College with an Associate in Applied Science degree in Veterinary Technology/Animal Health in 2008, Tempe resident Courtney Waxman has found a great deal of success as a specialist in emergency and critical care as well as a speaker and representative for Valley veterinarians.
Waxman first found out about the MCC Veterinary Technology Program when a career... Read more about Courtney Waxman
Molly O’Dwyer took a circuitous route from Mesa Community College to the University of North Carolina, where she received her Master’s Degree in Information Science in December 2013.
O’Dwyer, now 30, grew up in Mesa and graduated from Mesa High School before attending MCC. She received MCC’s Alumni & Friends scholarship in the spring of 2004, and attended MCC from 2001-04.
“I never... Read more about Molly O’Dwyer