Fourteen students from Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, India, Indonesia, South Africa, and Turkey arrived at MCC in July 2023 to earn a certificate in early childhood education, electronics technology, emergency medical technician (EMT), sustainable agriculture, and graphic design during the 2023-2024 academic year.

Since 2013, excluding the 2020-2021 academic year, MCC has hosted more than 130 international students under the Community College Initiative Program (CCI). In addition to their studies, CCI students are required to complete 75 hours of volunteer work, a 50-hour unpaid internship, and a community impact project.

Upon successful completion of the program, students not only earn a certificate of completion and gain a first-hand understanding of American culture, they also develop practical skills that equip them to participate productively in the economic life of their home countries.

The CCI Program is administered by Northern Virginia Community College in cooperation with the Community College Consortium.

In January, working in partnership with CCI, MCC welcomed a delegation from Mexico to discuss the semiconductor industry and the impact of MCC’s leading edge Semiconductor Quick Start program to meet the industry’s workforce development needs.

Learn more about the MCC International Education program.

Eight MCC students received scholarships totaling $25,500 to study abroad with support of the U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program in summer 2024.

The program enables American undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding to study and intern abroad through scholarships of up to $5,000. Students studying critical need languages are eligible for scholarships up to $8,000.

The 2024 MCC Gilman scholars participated in short term, faculty-led programs in Italy, Japan, and France.

Studying art history and cultural communication in Florence, Italy: Stephanie Marquez received a $3,000 award; Asia Benally who was also a South Mountain Community College student and recipient of a $3,000 award; Erideily Garcia Cheriz, who was also attending Phoenix College and received a $3,000 award; Michaela Love, who was also attending Estrella Mountain Community College and received a $2,500 award; Pearl Willis, who was also attending Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC) and received a $3,000 award.

Temya Jackson Long, who was also attending GateWay Community College received a $6,000 award to study the Japanese language and conduct a psychological analysis of the traditional and current Japanese pop cultures in Fukuoka, Japan.

Studying the history, language, culture, and marine habits in and around Nice, France were: Karson Mock and Alicia Salazar, who were also attending CGCC and each received a $2,500 award.

According to the U.S. Department of State, Gilman scholars are more successful in their academic and professional lives as a result of their experiences abroad by increasing their professional and academic skills and serving as citizen ambassadors representing U.S. culture in more than 160 countries around the world.

MCC study abroad opportunities are open to community members 18 years of age and above. More information is available on the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships and MCC Study Abroad program websites.

MCC Recognized as a Gilman Scholarship Top Producer

In November 2023, MCC was named a Gilman Scholarship Top Producer by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs for awarding the most Gilman recipients for the 2021-2022 academic year in the two-year institutions category. Twenty-nine MCC students have been awarded Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program Gilman Scholarships between 2014 and 2022.

The MCC Study Abroad program provided opportunities to six destinations during the 2023-2024 Academic Year.

In addition to providing distinctive academic experiences, other benefits of study abroad include personal growth and maturity, increased self-confidence, facing and solving challenging problems, developing a personally informed view of the world, and gaining a better understanding of one's own cultural values and respect for diversity.

According to a report by the Institute of International Education (IIE), studying abroad has a beneficial impact on employability after graduation. IIE data shows that 11 out of 15 21st century workplace skills were gained through an experience overseas.

MCC Study Abroad destinations for 2025 will be announced in fall 2024.

MCC recognized the cultural and critical indigenous contributions of its students during the month of November. Events and activities were specifically designed to enrich knowledge of Native American peoples, lands, languages, and traditions.

The Inter-Tribal Student Organization and the American Indian Institute kicked off the celebration with a RezMarket featuring Indigenous vendors selling authentic Native jewelry, arts, and crafts; and cultural performances representing Hopi, Zia & Jemez Pueblo, Comanche, Lakota, Navajo, and Apache Nations. The idea for the RezMarket originated with students who wanted to bring a bit of home to the campus, share cultural awareness, and do some successful fry bread fundraising.

Other activities included Corn Pollen Teachings and Drum Making workshops; Grandma’s House Party featuring the Native Health Care Unit offering vaccinations, testing, screenings, and other services; an Elders’ Teachings luncheon; a Killers of the Flower Moon film screening and dialogue; and the Miss Native MCC Pageant.

The 2023 Tribal Blessing Day, hosted by the American Indian Institute and the student-led Inter-Tribal Student Organization, joined students and community leaders to bless the college and all those who attend in the traditional style across a diverse group of indigenous tribes. This year’s ceremonies saw a return to tradition with song, dance, and a combination of each tribe’s unique culture to wish the college success, wellness, and health for the academic year.

(Photo by Rey Covarrubias Jr./The Mesa Legend)

Free and open to the public, the Pow Wow featured people from different tribes coming together in a social gathering to celebrate and honor their traditions and Indigenous ancestry. The all-day event also featured American Indian food as well as arts and crafts vendors of jewelry, apparel, and artwork.

Sponsored by the MCC Inter-Tribal Student Organization, this annual event recognizes, honors, and celebrates the rich cultures of the 22 indigenous, federally recognized Arizona Tribal Nations served by the college. MCC has the largest indigenous population of all 10 colleges within the Maricopa County Community College District.

The 2024 event featured Pow Wow dance performances from the warrior societies of the Southern and Northern Plains, hoop dancing, traditional O’odham dances, and traditional bird dances. Performances of Native American songs and drumming as well as authentic arts and crafts were offered. Also in attendance were Miss Native MCC Kadence Sayles (Ft. McDowell Yavapai/Lakota) and First Attendant Kaitlyn Yazzie (Navajo).

More than 400 indigenous students are currently enrolled at MCC. MCC and the  Maricopa Community Colleges are committed to supporting and empowering indigenous students and communities by promoting opportunities for cultural and academic support, engagement, and advocacy.

Hosted by the MCC Art Department and Student Life and Leadership, this annual event brings students and the surrounding community together to celebrate the arts at MCC. Now in its tenth year, the festival offers an opportunity for student musicians, poets, storytellers, dancers, and actors to display their talents and features student bands, live performances, food trucks, and more than 50 student and community artists selling their art and handmade items.

The festival also showcases the types of programs offered by the MCC Art Department such as student-run technical, sound, and emcee services in the MCC DJ program. Due to the event’s popularity the college partnered with MCC Student Life and Leadership and added evening hours and a silent silent auction to help fund MCC’s student emergency fund in 2024.

The Mesa Community College Art Gallery presented dual exhibits honoring Black History and Women’s History months. Titled “Future Matriarchs: The next generation of matriarchs,” it included 10 women artists. Antoinette Cauley, a fine artist born and raised in Phoenix and the first artist-in-residence at MCC, curated the exhibit. According to Cauley, “These works call into question important social and political issues that, if properly addressed, could lead to a more hopeful future for Black American communities.”

The show was paired with an exhibit curated by independent documentary creator Bruce Nelson, called "Matriarchs of Washington Park: the African American Women who Persevered through Racism in Segregated Mesa." Washington Park, aka North Town, is a one-square-mile-radius community located just north of downtown Mesa and was a once-segregated neighborhood. Today it is recognized by the city as the Washington-Escobedo Heritage Neighborhood.

MCC launched a Diversity, Awareness, and Heritage Calendar as a resource for the college and the community. The events listed are reminders of our diverse community, shared identities, and individual experiences.