Welcome to the Spring 2021 semester at Mesa Community College! This newsletter is published bi-weekly, and the link can be found on the Virtual Student Life Center, which also serves as a resource to stay informed on upcoming virtual events, clubs, services and more!
Science of Interstellar
Math Club Meeting, open to all!
Tuesday, February 2 at 3:00 pm | LINK password: mccmathclub
Did watching the movie Interstellar leave you with more questions than answers? How realistic was it? MCC Math Club is excited to present The Science of Interstellar with MCC Astronomy Professor and Planetarium Director Dr. Kevin Healy. Dr. Healy will explain how Caltech physicist Kip Thorne brought math, physics, and astronomy textbooks to life in a movie that vividly portrays complex, theoretical concepts and makes them accessible to audiences around the globe.
Math Club has many exciting meetings planned for this semester on topics including how to teach and learn math, the history of the development of math, and the mathematical trends of the stock market including how to best manage your money.
We Care Wednesday
Wednesday, February 3 | 10:00 am-12:00 pm
The next We Care Wednesday drive through produce distribution at the SOUTHERN/DOBSON campus is happening on Wednesday, February 3 . It will take place from 10 am-12 pm. This is free and open to the public!
Enter campus on Solar Way off of Dobson Road. A volunteer will place the food in your trunk/car. Please wear a mask for the safety of our volunteers. For more info, visit this link. The next We Care Wednesday at the Red Mountain campus will take place on 2/17/21.
Student Success Workshops
February 2 at 12 pm and February 3 at 10 am | LINK
February 9 at 12 pm and February 10 at 10 am | LINK
Foundations for Student Success offers free workshops throughout the semester to help you be successful at MCC! These are "live online" workshops that happen on Tuesdays from 12-1 and Wednesdays from 10-11. Workshop topic changes each week. Find the full schedule here.
The Foundations for Student Success will continue offering student success workshops during spring semester. Workshops are free and are conducted via WebEx. Please share with the students you teach or interact with. Pre-recorded sessions will be available soon, for those who cannot attend in person. Link to all workshops can be found here.
Black History Month has turned into Black History 2021 -A YEAR of Recognition at Mesa Community College. We will be hosting events and programs throughout the next year to celebrate the history and achievements of the African American and Black community, and their important role in history. Find out more by visiting this website. There you will find employee and student spotlights, history, resources, and upcoming events. Bookmark that page to stay connected all year.
The Life and Times of African Americans
MCC Sociology Professor Rod Golden will be leading a virtual presentation and discussion on The Life and Times of African Americans, which will include "African American Contributions Amongst Civil Rights Flashpoints: A Story of Purpose and Progress." The presentation will focus on the Civil Rights Movement and the contributions of African Americans to science, medicine, and public health.
Langston Hughes Project
featuring Dr. Ron McCurdy
Live Music | Spoken Word | Imagery
A multimedia virtual presentation of Langston Hughes’ kaleidoscopic Jazz poem suite, “Ask Your Mama: 12 Moods for Jazz.” The suite was Hughes’ homage to the struggle for artistic and social freedom at home and abroad at the beginning of the 1960s.
Renown music Professor and creator of the Langston Hughes Project, creator, Dr. Ron McCurdy, will share the vision of the Langston Hughes Project and be available for a Q&A period after the event. Register/RSVP
Student Leadership Retreat
Maricopa One-Day Virtual Leadership Retreat
Join students from around the Maricopa Community College District for our annual One-Day Student Leadership Virtual Retreat. This will be held on Friday, February 26 with sessions throughout the day from 10 am-4:30 pm. The focus of this retreat will be on YOU and your well being. Self care is so important always, but especially during challenging times such as these. We'll have sessions in resilience, mindfulness, cultural awareness, and even a virtual yoga class! Full schedule will be released soon, but please consider signing up today! This is free and open to any students who attend the Maricopa Community Colleges. Sign up HERE!
Free Dental Screening
February 6 from 9 am-2 pm
FREE Preventative Dental Screening to help MCC Dental Hygiene seniors find patients. Includes x-rays and screening. Treatment can be scheduled at a later date. All services are completed by MCC dental hygiene students, while being monitored by faculty and dentists.
ASDOH Dental Clinic
5855 E Still Cir, Mesa, AZ. 85206
Footlight Forum
Mesa Community College Theatre & Film Arts presents a monthly discussion on equity, inclusion, access, representation and justice and applying it through the lens of theatre.
Featuring guest speaker Walter Belcher.
Walter Belcher is originally from Cleveland Ohio, by way of Arizona. He is a proud UWP alumnus of Cast C 89-90. Walter joined AmeriCorps, becoming a VISTA volunteer and working to improve the quality of life for impoverished families throughout Arizona. As a professional vocalist and advocate for youth, Walter values combining the arts with service learning and the cross cultural components that create this unique experience known as camp up with people.
Virtual Painting Party
Thursday, February 11 at 12:00 pm | LINK
Do you want to show off your painting skills but don't know how? Join and paint with our Student Ambassadors and other MCC students. This event is also an opportunity to learn what resources Student Life offers. Everyone is welcome! No need for actual painting supplies (but if you prefer to paint on paper you are welcome too). The website that we will use to paint will be provided during the meeting.
Center for Community & Civic Engagement Upcoming Events
VolunteerFest
Wednesday, February 3 | LINK
Thursday, February 4 | LINK
You are cordially invited to attend the MCC's VolunteerFest, sponsored by the Center for Community & Civic Engagement.. The VolunteerFest is a free event to recruit volunteers and network with other agencies. Sessions happening at 9:00am, 10:30am, 12:00pm, and 4:30pm. Please contact Dawn at dawn.rhodes@mesacc.edu if you have any questions.
Environmental Engagement Team
Thursdays at 3:00 pm | LINK
The Center for Community & Civic Engagement invites you to join the Community Engagement Team to help plan and implement service events, or simply show up the day of the event and volunteer! They will meet every Thursday at 3 pm starting February 4. These planning meetings are intended to heighten awareness about environmental problems and build knowledge through education. Projects will include the Monarch Waystations and the Maricopa Seed Library and more.
Please complete and submit THIS FORM to be included on upcoming events.
Civic Engagement Action Hour
Human Trafficking Awareness
Wednesday, February 10 from 12:00-1:00 pm | LINK
Speaker: Sheila Polk
Yavapai County Attorney and serves on the Arizona Human Trafficking Council and chairs the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission.
Forget everything you think you know about sex trafficking. If you believe it only occurs in big cities, other countries, not in your community, or doesn’t happen to your children, you are wrong. According to the U.S. State Department, Arizona is a main destination and transit point for labor and sex trafficking. One in three homeless young adults in Arizona have experienced sex trafficking. In this program, you will learn what sex trafficking is, the myths and the facts, how to recognize signs of sex trafficking, and how to help a victim.
This is an Honors Co-Curricular Approved Event
MCC Service Scholarship
Application deadline extended to February 12, 2021!
$500 MCC SERVICE SCHOLARSHIP application is available now!
Be an MCC Student enrolled in at least 6 credits for Spring 2021 term
Complete 100 community service hours at a non-profit or government agency during the 2020 calendar year
Submit the application and supporting documentation on or before the extended deadline of February 12, 2021
Application is online : For more information, contact the Center for Community & Civic Engagement at getengaged@mesacc.edu
What do you know about the MCC TRiO Program?
TRiO may be able to support you! TRiO Student Support Services is a federally funded program that provides academic and social support to students with an academic need and that are first generation, low income or have a documented disability.
There are two different grants that the TRiO department holds. The population those grants serve are for STEM TRiO students and Classic TRiO students. Stem stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math while Classic is just the general population of TRiO students. Both STEM and Classic grants are only to be used on students that meet the TRiO requirements that were mentioned in the previous paragraph. There are currently around 260 students that participate in the program.
There are some websites that help connect students to the TRiO department. Those are:
A short youtube video describing the program by a TRiO faculty member and a Mesa Community College alumni student: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EtUy1NhRe0&feature=emb_logo
College general website: https://www.mesacc.edu/students/trio
ONGOING PROGRAMS
AND EVENTS
Mesa Market Curbside
Request your food today!
Every week students can order a food bag filled with basic food pantry items. Hygiene products and school supplies will also be available. Curbside services are available at both the Red Mountain and Southern and Dobson campuses. Curbside services need to be scheduled by noon the day before your pick-up.
Southern and Dobson Campus
Access the Southern and Dobson pickup from the Library Entrance east of Dobson Road
Tuesdays- 10 am-12 pm (schedule curbside service by noon on Monday)
Thursdays- 4 pm-6 pm (schedule curbside service by noon on Wednesday)
Red Mountain Campus
The Red Mountain pickup site is at the Red Mountain Way (bus stop by the flagpole) in front of the Mesquite building
Wednesdays- 11 am-1 pm (schedule curbside service by noon on Tuesday)
Click HERE to request your Food/Hygiene/School Supply bag. Would you like to receive text reminders about the Mesa Market and We Care Wednesdays? Text the code @MesaMarket to the number 81010 (or click here) to be added to a Remind group.
We Care Wednesday
We Care Wednesday is a food distribution that takes place on the first Wednesday of every month at the Southern/Dobson campus and the third Wednesday of every month at the Red Mountain campus. The distribution happens from 10 am-12 pm. The food distributions are open to all students and community members in need of food assistance:
Drive-thru service. A volunteer will place food in your trunk or vehicle. (Walk-up service is available for those without vehicles.)
Masks are required. If you are feeling any cold or flu symptoms, please stay home and seek medical treatment.
Southern Dobson: Located in the Southwest parking lot. Please enter from Dobson Road onto Solar Way at the Southern and Dobson campus.
Red Mountain: Located in the Red Mountain Way Circle. Please enter from McKellips Rd and proceed straight through the stop sign. Distribution takes place in the former Bus Stop circle near the library.
Southern/Dobson Dates: Feb 3, Mar 3, Apr 7, May 5
Red Mountain Dates: Feb 17, Mar 17, Apr 21, May 19 (tentative)
SOS: Students Offering Support
Fridays from 12:00-1:00 pm | LINK
Every Friday at 12 pm, your Student Ambassadors will be online to answer questions, offer support, or just to chat! Join them through Google Meet by using this link. The MCC Student Ambassadors are here for you! Stop by and say HI! We're all in this together and it's so important to get engaged on campus, develop friendships and connections to your peers. Get to know some of our MCC student leaders. They know a thing or two, so feel free to ask your questions about being an MCC student!
Club Meeting Times
Will be updated as info becomes available
Math Club: Every other Tuesday at 3 pm starting Feb 2 (Link password: mccmathclub) (FB Group)
Geology Club: Tuesday, February 9 at 4 pm (Link) (Facebook)
Enthusiastic Sobriety Club: Wednesdays at 12 pm (Link) (Flyer)
Psi Beta (Psychology): Wednesdays at 12 pm (Link)
Student Entrepreneur Club: Wednesdays at 2 pm (Link)
Student Support Foundation: Wednesdays at 4 pm (Link)
Philosophy Club: First and third Thursdays at 12 pm (Link)
Intertribal Student Organization/AISES: Thursdays at 1 pm (Link)
ASMCC Student Senate: Thursdays at 2 pm (Link)
Aliento @ MCC: Every other Friday at 1:00 pm starting February 12 (Link)
Asian Pacific Islander Coalition (APIC): Fridays at 2 pm (Link)
Success in College Tip #1
by Maria Dawes, MCC student and Phi Theta Kappa Officer
Get engaged and get involved with campus events and activities early!
Join a club, check out events, and explore what each department at your campus has to offer. Oftentimes, our college experiences outside of the classroom can help shape and develop our interests, lead us down a path of success we never even imagined.
As one of the largest community college systems in the country, Mesa Community College has 2 campuses and many clubs and organizations to satisfy many different interests. We embrace diversity and strive to include individuals from all walks of life.
Check out our Student Life and Leadership Department for more information!
Spring 2021 | Career Services Virtual Workshops
The Career Services staff is going to be hosting virtual workshops for the Spring 2021 semester. They host workshops every Tuesday through April 27 (starting Feb 2). The workshops will take place three times each Tuesday at 10am , 2pm, and 6pm to reach as many students as possible. The topics of our workshops for the semester will be Resume/Cover Letter Writing and Interviewing. The links for each of the workshops can be found on the Events Calendar on the Career Services webpage. Each workshop is an hour long.
Find the answers HERE
Logic Puzzles
You are a cyclist in a cross country race. Just before you cross the finish line, you overtake the person in second place. What place did you finish?
I left my campsite and hiked south for 3 miles, then I turned east and hiked 3 miles. I then turned north and hiked 3 miles, at which point I came upon a bear inside my tent eating my food! What color was the bear?
A man is looking at a photograph of someone. His friend asks who it is. The man replies, "Brothers and sisters, I have none. But this man's father is my father's son." Who was in the photograph?
What has a mouth, but can't eat; moves, but has no legs; and has a bank, but cannot put money in it?
The number 8,549,176,320 is a unique number. What is so special about it?
A man pushes his car to a hotel and tells the owner that he is bankrupt. Why?
You are driving a bus. At the first stop, two women get on. The second stop, three men get on and one woman gets off. At the third stop, three kids and their mom get on and a man gets off. The bus is grey, and it's raining outside. What color is the bus driver's hair?
