Stories of Success
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Do you know of a Mesa Community College student or alum doing great work? Are you one of them? Please let us know.
For more than half a century, thousands of students have charted their path to success at Mesa Community College. Here we feature a compendium of their inspiring stories and reflections. Check back occasionally to see new stories featuring the impact MCC has had on lives and the communities we serve.
When Arlen Sykes retired from the U.S. Navy, he decided to attend Mesa Community College to become a physics teacher.
It didn’t take him long to switch his major.
“I wasn’t doing well in math, and I went to Dr. Ewing, and she said maybe it’s a good thing, because what kind of teacher would you be when it’s hard to associate with those struggling in class,” he said of his math studies. “She made... Read more about Arlen Sykes
For most of us, the phrase “path of least resistance” probably does not include studying Psychology at a major university and advanced courses in science and math on the way to Optometry school.
But most of us are not MCC alumnus Dr. James Abbott, who came home to open his Optometry practice in Mesa 35 years ago.
“I started at MCC in the summer of 1972, and received my Associate of Arts degree... Read more about James Abbott
Ange Good Bear began her quest for an education after going through a divorce in August 2005. She knew she had to do something to support her children so she enrolled that fall at Everest College. She completed a Medical Assisting certificate and worked in the field for two years. However, her dream was to become a nurse.
In late 2006, Ange’s oldest daughter who was a student herself at Mesa... Read more about Ange Good Bear
Mesa Community College student Sonia Garcia-Tillson believes she has found her true calling.
After more than 30 years in real estate, banking and insurance, Sonia has put her customer relations skills to use in the mortuary field, assisting people with one of the most sensitive and emotional decisions we can make in life.
It’s not that different from her previous employment, Sonia said. In all... Read more about Sonia Garcia-Tillson
Mesa Community College Basketball team member, Alli Gloyd, was chosen as the top MCC Thunderbird overall female athlete for 2011-2012. Over the past two years she has earned numerous honors.
Other awards Alli claimed this year include: 2012 Player of the Year in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference (ACCAC); 2012 First Team All- American; 2012 First Team All-ACCAC; and 2012 First... Read more about Alli Gloyd
The Native American Journalists Association (NAJA) selected Mesa Community College alumnus Tommy “Tom” Arviso Jr. as the 2021 NAJA-Medill Milestone Achievement Award recipient. The award honors an individual who has made a lasting impact on media to the benefit of Indigenous communities and is given jointly by NAJA and the Medill School of Journalism, Media, and Integrated Marketing... Read more about Tom Arviso Jr.
As a software developer at Glendale Community College (GCC), Karri Sisson believes in continuous learning. “Any programming class improves your skills as a developer because you can always pick up new concepts or ways to apply them to your current work,” she says.
So, when Sisson first heard about Pega Systems Architect Essentials, she was intrigued.
Wanting to learn more, Sisson tried to learn... Read more about Karri Sisson
"You know, thanks to this call, I'm remembering a lot about my time at MCC. It's probably the most personal I've been during an interview," says Douglas Miles Sr., independent artist, owner of Apache Skateboards, and advocate for artistic expression for communities and people of color.
He attended MCC part-time in the 1980s while working at the then-booming Motorola Semiconductor plant on... Read more about Douglas Miles Sr.
Shannon Poppell's dream of graduating from college alongside her two sons, Jeffrey and Kevin, is about to come true. When they receive their diplomas, it will be the culmination of time spent juggling many obligations. Shannon, 52, of Mesa, said to accomplish these goals, she recognizes the importance of having support and guidance through the college experience and beyond. She said she found... Read more about The Poppell Family
Not many alumni can say that their relationship with MCC started before preschool. But, Joshua Sykes can. Joshua was just 3 years old when his father, Arlen Sykes – now a very active alumni board member – was taking classes at Mesa Community College (MCC) and enrolled him in the MCC Children’s Center.
As he grew, Joshua attended and volunteered at alumni events, such as MCC Homecoming and... Read more about Joshua Sykes