Persistence Pays Off for MCC Graduate

Angelica Vega, 21, knows all about life's limitations, yet she never allowed those limitations to hold her back from graduating summa cum laude from Arizona State University this year. She shares her accomplishment with her daughter, Kaya Mae, who was only six weeks old when Vega began her education at Mesa Community College in 2004.

“Graduation was incredible,” Vega said. “It was the reward I was waiting for. All that hard work paid off.”

Vega, who earned a bachelor's degree in social welfare and women's studies, plans to continue her education by entering law school at ASU in 2008. She'll use her law degree to work for international human rights.

Vega said although beginning college with a 6-week-old baby was difficult, the close-knit environment at MCC made it easy for her to focus on her goals and make the transition to the university.

“Everyone helped me out,” said Vega, who worked on campus in MCC's Career Services Department while earning her degree. “They were very understanding and encouraging. They showed me that attitude is important and that there are limitations in life, but they don't have to stop you.”

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MCC Student Success Story- Sound Design

Sound designer Michael Hill has found his dream career working for Rainbow Studios, one of the largest video game developers in the Southwest. He was recently involved in the sound production of Cars, a Disney-Pixar video game, and spends his workday creating sound effects such as cars crashing and tires squealing.

“It’s an ideal job,” Hill said. “I work with talented programmers and artists who are really smart and creative. It’s incredibly interesting.”

Hill credits his success to the education he received at MCC, where in 2003 he earned a Certificate in Audio Production. His MCC instructors taught him both the technical side of creating a final product, and the personal side of dealing with personalities and keeping recording sessions running smoothly.

As a Dobson High School graduate, MCC was a natural choice. Then in his second semester, he enrolled in a recording class and found a passion for his future career.

“I’ve been a musician for most of my life and doing terrible recordings,” he explained. “It took about one class to realize that, and at the same time, discover audio production was the right field for me.”

This discovery led him to research schools for recording technology. After reviewing the cost and curriculum of other institutions he observed, “Other programs teach the same kind of material and charge about $10,000 more, or are specific for recording technology and don’t offer the balanced educational experience. When I looked into it, MCC had everything I was looking for.”

The program also prepared him to get a job he really enjoyed through internship opportunities and many live learning experiences with local bands and at concerts.

“Opportunities wouldn’t have been there for me if it hadn’t been for the courses I’ve taken at MCC,” Hill said.

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Internships Open Up Employment Opportunities

When MCC student Richard Bumbernick hits the books, he knows that what he learns applies directly to his job. Bumbernick, a ground support equipment technician at the Boeing Company’s Mesa plant, works on helicopter hydraulic and electronic systems while pursing an associate degree at MCC.

Bumbernick is one of many MCC students who pursue internships to get practical, on-the-job experience and a head start on their careers.

“This internship opened my eyes to the job opportunities in this field,” said Bumbernick, who will be offered a full-time position with Boeing after graduation. “I like this job very much and the offer of a full-time position is a good incentive to finish my degree.”

Career Services Internship Information:
http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/students/career/internships.html

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