There is one person behind the donuts serving as welcoming magic at Mesa Community College (MCC) at Red Mountain while also offering a sweet start to college life.
Donuts aside, it takes real pros to make good things happen for students.
Erica Horihan, program specialist from MCC’s Red Mountain campus, manages the Student Life Office with a strong conviction. She has led Red Mountain MCC’s student activities, club events and leadership seminars, assisted by Samantha Ashworth, for more than three years. Erica has nearly seven years experience on the job. She is on track when it comes to creating new ideas for student platforms and leadership experiences.
“We get to be the fun people here,” said Erica. Fun is in such upcoming events as the Red Mountain Madness on March 9. This carnival, in the desert-style courtyard, includes amusements ranging from video game trucks to photo booths, with student clubs participating on their own agendas.
“We have nine student clubs of various kinds residing at Red Mountain,” Erica pointed out. Those include honor societies and special interests. Overall, 40 clubs, combined with the Southern/Dobson campus, are available to all students.
Throughout the year, office coordinator Samantha is busy facilitating special events, including vendor fairs (next on Feb. 16), blood drives and interdepartmental activities. From holiday employee brunches, to United Way and Empty Bowls fund-raising events, the Student Life Office whips up the glue holding Red Mountain’s social fabric together.
As every MCC student is welcomed by the broadly fanned literature on the hospitality table, a friendly smile can make this student’s day. Erica and Samantha swear by cheerfulness as part of their mission.
Despite welcoming donuts and free coffee on Mondays, however, Student Life, located on the second floor of the Mesquite Building on the courtyard side, sometimes experiences difficulty getting the word out. The office currently is beating the drums to recruit members for the Events Programming Council of the student government.
Thus, Erica introduced