T-BIRD MOMENTS OF 2025-26: AWARD-WINNING JOURNALISM AND A TOP-FIVE NATIONAL FINISH

The 2025-26 academic year showcased the success of Mesa Community College students both inside and outside of competition, highlighted by national recognition in journalism and another strong finish for Thunderbird men's cross country.

Journalism student Gwendolyn Owen became the inaugural recipient of the A-Mark Student Journalism Award at Mesa Community College, earning a $5,000 grant in recognition of her outstanding work as news and photo editor of The Mesa Legend. The award recognized her accomplishments in student journalism, her strong multimedia portfolio and her commitment to continuing her education at Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

Graduating with an Associate of Arts with an emphasis in Journalism, Owen maintained a 3.9 GPA while producing impactful reporting on education, local politics and issues affecting community colleges. Her work in writing, photography and digital storytelling highlighted the strength of MCC's Journalism and New Media Studies program while positioning her for a promising future in the field.

The pursuit of excellence continued on the course as the Mesa Community College men's cross country team battled challenging conditions to finish fifth at the NJCAA Division II National Championships in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Competing through snow, freezing temperatures and slick footing, the Thunderbirds totaled 230 points to secure their fourth top-five national finish in the last five seasons, continuing one of the nation's most consistent runs of success.

Cal Schnepf led Mesa with a 25th-place finish, followed by Brady Moar (38th), Alex Lopez (48th), Dean Haller (53rd), Benett Kaup (80th) and Josef Iker (84th). The balanced effort helped the Thunderbirds overcome difficult racing conditions while reinforcing the program's championship culture.

The fifth-place finish added another chapter to an impressive era for Mesa men's cross country, demonstrating the resilience, consistency and competitive standard the program has established on the national stage.

From award-winning journalism to sustained excellence in national competition, these accomplishments reflected the many ways Mesa Community College students continued to excel during the 2025-26 academic year.