Stories of Success
Share a Story
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
Dr. James Abbott
Mesa Optometrist Began at MCC
For most of us, the phrase “path of least resistance” probably does not include studying Psychology at a major university and advanced courses in science and math on the way to Optometry school.
But most of us are not MCC alumnus Dr. James Abbott, who came home to open his Optometry practice in Mesa 35 years ago.
“I started at MCC in the summer of 1972, and received my…
Kristina Morris didn’t think she would end up attending college. At age 57, she had a career, a family and was looking forward to the next chapter in life. But after she retired, she got bored. So, when her son started attending Mesa Community College, she decided to join him.
“I graduated high school in 1980 so going back to school was very intimidating at…
Local School Teacher Finds Success at MCC
When Arlen Sykes retired from the U.S. Navy, he decided to attend Mesa Community College to become a physics teacher.
It didn’t take him long to switch his major.
“I wasn’t doing well in math, and I went to Dr. Ewing, and she said maybe it’s a good thing, because what kind of teacher would you be when it’s hard to associate with those struggling in class,” he said of his math…
James Hoselton, 55, of Apache Junction, seems surprised that he is being honored with so many awards as he graduates this month. After enrolling in college in his 50s, with only a ninth grade education, he suffered a back injury from a car accident which caused him to miss a month of classes. He now uses a cane and still has some pain.
“The professors were…
International student finds success at MCC in Nurse Assisting Program
In her late 30s, Njideka “NJ” Nwalor found herself a widow with three young boys. Emigrating from Nigeria 19 years ago, she moved to Canada to be with her husband, who was a student there. He passed away in 2010 and, with two of the boys growing into teenagers, NJ moved to the East Valley in 2017 to be closer to family living in Gilbert.
“I decided to be a…
For many nontraditional students at Mesa Community College, age is just a number, and academic success is down to hard work, dedication, and focus. Mary Ann Jalloh, 57, is a prime example of that commitment to the college as she graduates this May with an Associates in Fine Arts degree.
“Education is in my spirit,” Jalloh said. “I don’t care how old I get…
Sierra “Blitzen” Wallace has overcome a lot of obstacles to get to graduation. Family issues caused Wallace to move around a lot, which made school work difficult at times. But now, Wallace is set to graduate in May with not one, but four degrees.
Wallace ,who prefers to be called Blitzen (German for lightning), or Charboday (a combination of family names),…
As a first-generation college student, Abby Scott Nonthe, 25, found the Achieving a College Education (ACE) Program at Carson Junior High School in Mesa a great way to provide a solid start on her college education. ACE, a nationally recognized scholarship program that gives qualified students the chance to take college credit courses while still enrolled in high school, enables students to…
What are cryptocurrency, blockchain and bitcoin? MCC Alumnus Michael del Castillo knows
As associate editor at Forbes in Jersey City, New Jersey, Michael del Castillo writes about how blockchain and cryptocurrencies are being adopted by enterprises and the broader business community. His articles focus on the use of cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin, ethereum and XRP, and extend to non- cryptocurrency applications of blockchain in finance, supply chain management, digital identity…
Nick Magel, who composed all of the music for Antigone, Mesa Community College’s first feature film, will always be amazed at his successful accomplishments.
“Me composing music for Antigone really exemplifies the ‘throw the students into the fire and watch them do miraculous things’ nature of the training at MCC Theatre and Film Arts,” Magel said. “The faculty here are really good at…