Matthew Collins, one of 60 chosen from 1,700 applicants across the nation, earned the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Foundation (JKCF) Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. On a premedical pathway, Collins is majoring in biology with the goal of being a trauma surgeon or oncologist.

As a member of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society, he received details about the scholarship and submitted an extensive application including nine essays. The highly selective scholarship is for the nation's top community college students to complete bachelor's degrees at four-year universities. Each Cooke Scholar receives financial support for two to three years for tuition, room and board, books and fees up to $55,000 annually. It also includes college planning support, ongoing advising, and the opportunity to connect with a community of JKCF Scholars.

Originally attracted by MCC’s affordability, Collins quickly found the college offered many other services and advantages students don't find at large universities. In addition to parking, career services, tutoring, counseling, and advising—all at no charge—Collins says the small class sizes are ideal for in-depth learning interactions with professors and other students.

Collins commented that he found a real collegiate community atmosphere at MCC, a sense of being welcomed as part of the college. He honed his leadership skills as vice president and senator of the Pre-Medical Club, which involved attending student senate meetings, club events and collaboration with other officers creating a smooth running and fun club environment.

In November 2023, MCC was recognized with a silver Terry O’Banion Award from the National Council on Student Development for the success of the iBelong initiative.

Today MCC is the only college in the MCCCD and the only community college or college in Arizona offering the program. While it’s not the only school in the U.S. that has such a program, MCC is the only school in the country that can credit the program’s success to its outstanding faculty.

The iBelong Student Success Initiative is a common platform for teaching and learning that offers access to technology tools and resources to students who may not have the financial resources to purchase them. Students are provided with an iPad Bundle consisting of an iPad, keyboard and Apple Pencil, and easy access to a robust technical support system. Since the program was introduced two years ago, it has proven to be extremely beneficial for students and faculty while demonstrating a cost-savings for the college. 

By the end of the 2022-2023 school year, 2,000 students were enrolled in the initiative. For 2023-2024 that number rose to 4,000. An MCC poll found that 73% of these students are female with 53% having first-generation status. An overwhelming majority indicated that the initiative helped improve their learning and is aiding in improved course completion and retention. 

Because iBelong eliminates the need for school supplies like notebooks, pencils, highlighters, printing toner, and paper, students can save an estimated $500-plus per semester.

iBelong also has support from the faculty, a major component in the initiative’s success. Within the first six-months of the iBelong training period, faculty participation grew from five faculty members to 50. For the 2023-2024 school year, faculty participation was at 110 and continues to increase semester to semester.

Six Mesa Community College Thunderbird teams and 45 athletes earned All-Academic honors from the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).

This past season’s teams earning academic recognition include Women’s Tennis, Men’s Tennis, Women’s Golf, Women’s Cross Country, Women’s Beach Volleyball, and Women’s Basketball. A list of the individual athletes receiving honors can be found at mesatbirdsports.com.

To qualify for the NJCAA honor, athletes must have at least a 3.60 GPA during the previous year. Those with 4.0 averages earn First Team recognition, those with a 3.80-3.99 average are on the Second Team, and those with 3.60-3.79 GPAs are Third Team.

Coaches monitor the athletes’ academic progress. Each team hosts study sessions and in an athlete gathering area and classroom space, they can use technology to complete assignments. In the library, athletes sign up when they enter to research or study and sign out when they leave. Coaches can access the library time data.

The state-wide All-Arizona Academic Team program celebrates the outstanding academic achievements and distinguished leadership of students enrolled in Arizona’s community colleges. All-Arizona students demonstrate academic excellence and intellectual rigor combined with leadership and service that extend their education beyond the classroom to benefit society.

Four academically exceptional MCC students, Charlotte Fornasiero, Matthew Skabelund, Jakobe Stevens, and Isabel Rei Zann Wee, were recognized for their outstanding accomplishments and brilliant leadership at the 2024 ceremony in Tempe.

Fornasiero, who majored in liberal arts and studies/general studies at the Southern and Dobson Campus, transferred to Arizona State University (ASU) to earn a bachelor’s degree in a biology-related field such as natural resource management/wildlife conservation followed by a master’s degree. 

Majoring in health-related professions at the Red Mountain Campus, Skabelund transferred to ASU where he plans to major in kinesiology and ultimately earn a clinical doctorate in physical therapy.

Stevens is majoring in biological and biomedical sciences, also at the Red Mountain Campus, and transferred to ASU to earn a bachelor’s degree in neurobiology.

Majoring in engineering at the Southern and Dobson Campus, Wee, an international student from Singapore, transferred to the University of Arizona to pursue a bachelor’s degree in engineering.

Organizations like Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society of two-year colleges and academic programs, the American Association of Community Colleges, Arizona Community Colleges, the Arizona Board of Regents, and Follett Higher Education Group help these extraordinary students reach their educational goals by awarding scholarships and issuing tuition waivers for Arizona’s three state universities: Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, and University of Arizona.

Students from the disciplines of Design, Dance, and the Performing Arts competed in the February 2024 Region VIII Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) in California at Glendale Community College. Once again, MCC received a wealth of awards and acclaim for talent, skills, and creativity.

Two students went on to compete at the National Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in Washington, D.C. In the Musical Theatre Initiative, Jose Andres Uribe Garza earned first place for singing, qualifying him for the national competition. Zoe Russo is one of only four students from across the nation selected as an Institute for Theatre Journalism and Advocacy finalist.

The following MCC students received honors and awards at the Region VIII KCACTF.

• Beau Morgan, Alex Parker, Meg Perales - Irene Ryan Acting semi finalists
• Bo Staas, Theodore Felix Grant McEntire, Rigo Sandoval, Brian Wayne, Tegan Sanders, Amaya Martinez, and Meghan Perales - Design Finalists awarded to all the MCC student designers
• Rigo Sandoval, Brian Wayne, Tegan Sanders, Amaya Martinez, Meghan Perales - Don Childs Cross-Discipline Collaborative Design Award for "Everything In the Garden"
• Bo Staas - Randy Lutz Allied Design and Technology Award and the Gene Flaharty Mehron Award
• Theodore Felix Grant McEntire - Design Student Choice Award for Lighting Design
• Brian Wayne - Design Student Choice Award for Property Design
• Rigo Sandoval - Design Student Choice Award for Costume Design
• Breckyn Hall - Dramaturgy:10 minutes Program Notes Award
• Ransom Allen - Dramaturgy: Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas Early Career Dramaturgy Award
• Suzy Olson, Thea Moore, Autumn Morgan - Musical Theatre Initiative: Singing Finalist
• Rio Chavez, Beau Morgan - Musical Theatre Initiative: Singing Alternate
• Ben Emerick, Brenda Peres, Alexandra Vargas, Porter Molinar, Suzy Olson, José Andres - Musical Theatre Initiative Dance Finalists
• Autumn Kelleher Morgan - Musical Theatre Initiative: Most Vulnerable
• Thea Moore - Musical Theatre Initiative: Most Comedic

Thirty-two Mesa Community College Paramedicine students were recognized as program graduates during a ceremony in August 2024.

Paramedicine graduates are prepared to pass the national certification exam to achieve the highest certification level of a pre-hospital care provider in the United States.

MCC is ranked as one of Arizona’s top colleges for the first-time pass rate for the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) certification exams – underscoring the exceptional commitment and effort of both our students and faculty.

The MCC Paramedicine Program is accredited through the Commission on Accreditation of Applied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). The program features knowledgeable practicing instructors, specialized content experts, hands-on learning, state-of-the-art augmented and virtual reality simulation, and a well-balanced curriculum.

A tradition at MCC is bestowing academic achievement awards to the top five students in the program. The Top Gun award is given to a student who exemplifies outstanding leadership qualities and is chosen by their peers as someone who represents their class effectively.

This year, Chris Dooley, Daniel Hicklin, Aiden Metzler, Nathan Smith, and Gabe Gamboa received academic achievement awards. Gamboa was also recognized as the class’ “Top Gun” honoree.

MCC Women's Basketball team, National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region 1, Division II champions, took home third place in the 2024 NJCAA Division II Women's Basketball National Championship in March after their 60-48 victory over No. 4 CCBC Essex.

Mackenzie Shivers finished the game with a career high 28 points on 38% shooting from the field while nailing five three-pointers. Shivers also grabbed six rebounds while snatching two steals in the win.

To say Kamiyah Hurd was an anchor for the T-Birds on the glass is an understatement as she grabbed 20 total rebounds (nine offensive, 11 defensive) while also scoring six points. Hurd (9) almost had as many offensive rebounds as the Knights (13) did as a team.

With their 28th win of the year Mesa tied the program record for most in a season while their third place finish is their best since their national championship back in 2014.

(Photo by overtimejimmy/Instagram)