Joshua Sykes, 19, of Phoenix, chose to attend Mesa Community College for the flexibility and affordability, but there may have been one more deciding factor—his father, Arlen Sykes, attended MCC. Arlen is chair of the MCC Alumni Association.

“My dad told me he had a good experience at MCC,” Joshua said. “It worked for me because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do and I wanted the flexibility to take general classes until I figured it out.”

Joshua, a graduate of Mountain Pointe High School, earned a Presidents’ Scholarship, which paid for his tuition at MCC. The scholarship awards first-time freshmen who are graduates of a Maricopa County high school enrolling full-time at MCC. Applicants must rank in the top 15 percent of their high school class or achieve specific minimum scores on tests.

While at MCC, Joshua was in the Honors Program and active in Phi Theta Kappa and Psi Beta, the honors psychology society. He found the Psi Beta lectures especially interesting.

“My experience at MCC has been really good,” Joshua said. “I feel I had a more personal experience with the instructors than I would have at a larger university. I really enjoyed having Wesly Feuquay as my psychology instructor.”

Joshua has more of a focus on his career goals now and he will enter the NAU Connect Program after graduation from MCC to pursue a business career.

His advice to other students is to learn what teaching style works for you and try to find an instructor that fits you.

“And remember, at MCC, it’s only two years, not four,” Joshua said. “You have more of a chance to figure out exactly what you want to do.”