MESA, Arizona – March 20, 2017 – Lydia Perez, Mesa Community College TRIO Student Support Services program director, received the Steve Holeman Award during the Western Association of Educational Opportunity Personnel’s (WESTOP) annual conference held Feb. 26 through March 1 in Monterey, California.
Named for Steve Holeman, a former Upward Bound director at Occidental College in Los Angeles, the award acknowledges the accomplishments of directors of educational equity programs who have demonstrated continuing dedication to the cause of educational excellence and equity, who show concern for the development of their students’ potential and who demonstrate professionalism in the administration of their program.
“I am honored to receive this award and even more honored to be in a position to support ‘my’ students as they earn their post-secondary degrees or credentials,” said Perez.
TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) at MCC is a federally funded college persistence and retention program for first-generation, low-income college students and college students with disabilities. Participants receive tutoring, counseling and other support services.
Perez, a 20-year WESTOP member and previous board member, is a TRIO/Upward Bound alumna. She started her career helping underserved students as a student assistant for the Upward Bound program at Arizona State University, eventually serving as its director.
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Media Contact Dawn Zimmer, dawn.zimmer@mesacc.edu, 480-461-7892
Mesa Community College is nationally recognized for service-learning, career and technical programs, civic engagement and innovative approaches to education. The college serves as a resource for career readiness, transfer education, workforce development and lifelong learning. Host to 30,000 students annually, MCC offers more than 195 degree and certificate programs at its two campuses and additional locations. MCC is an emerging Hispanic Serving Institution with a diverse student body that enriches the learning experience . Award-winning faculty are dedicated to student success, providing the education and training that empowers MCC students to compete locally and globally. MCC, located in the East Valley of Phoenix, Arizona, is one of the 10 colleges that comprise the Maricopa County Community College District. For additional information, visit mesacc.edu.
Mesa Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association (NCA) http://www.ncahlc.org
The Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) is an EEO/AA institution and an equal opportunity employer of protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities.