T-BIRD MOMENTS OF 2025-26: WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CORRIDOR TAKES SHAPE, MCC ALUMI RANDY BENNETT NAMED ASU HEAD COACH
Mesa Community College celebrated the groundbreaking of its new Workforce Development Corridor, marking the beginning of two transformational facilities designed to expand career and technical education opportunities.
The project includes a 30,000-square-foot Welding Technology facility and a 15,000-square-foot Veterinary Technology and Sustainable Horticulture building, representing nearly $39 million in approved capital funding. The new facilities will increase hands-on training opportunities, modernize instructional spaces, and strengthen workforce pipelines in high-demand industries while supporting generations of future MCC students.
Another memorable moment came on the national basketball stage as former Mesa Community College standout Randy Bennett was named the next head men's basketball coach at Arizona State University.
Bennett played for the Thunderbirds from 1980-82, helping Mesa compile a 56-10 record, win back-to-back ACCAC championships, and finish the 1980-81 season ranked No. 10 nationally. He went on to build one of the nation's most successful coaching careers, spending 25 seasons at Saint Mary's, where he won 589 games, made 12 NCAA Tournament appearances, earned seven West Coast Conference Coach of the Year honors, and became the program's all-time winningest coach.
From investing in the future of workforce education to celebrating the accomplishments of one of its distinguished alumni, these moments reflected Mesa Community College's continued impact in both education and athletics.
Click here to view the ground breaking article.
Click here to view the Randy Bennett article.
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