Motivation comes naturally for this teen who began his academic career at Mesa Community College when he was just 13 years old, while attending middle school at Sequoia Charter School in Mesa. At first the eighth-grader was unsure about attending college at such a young age but he quickly realized he could handle the rigorous college coursework in addition to his middle school classes and, subsequently, his high school studies.

Starting on a full-time basis in Summer 2018, Omar graduated from MCC, having earned an Associates degree in Applied Science in Programming/Systems Analysis, and high school, with a 3.8 GPA and an award for exceptional academic achievement, in May 2021 at 15 years old. He also earned an App Development Certificate of Completion and an iOS App Development Certificate from MCC.

Omar credits many of his professors with helping him adjust to college coursework and develop a strong work ethic. “MCC has helped me see other types of work in my field that I might be interested in. I've learned so much--much more than I ever thought I would and I am thankful for the time I spent at MCC,” he said.

He gives this advice to current and incoming Thunderbirds: “MCC truly cares about education and teaching students from any background. Staff and faculty are willing to lend time and help you reach your goals. If you truly care about your education, you should take this opportunity.”

After being awarded a $100,000 scholarship from College Bound Arizona, a non-profit community resource for aspiring, under-represented students, Omar is now enrolled at Arizona State University pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Software Engineering.