Inside Mesa

Mesa Community College closed out April with a wonderful awards luncheon that included many distinquished guests. It was an honor for me to be included, and to witness the activity going on in higher education.MCC President Larry Christianson opened by welcoming everyone, that is after one of the best lunches I’ve seen served in a long time! Everyone at my table had comments praising the variety of delicious food and service.Mesa Public Schools Superintendent, Deb Duvall was invited to the podium to help facilitate the awards. Dr. Christianson often includes Dr. Duvall in the many educational forums, meetings, and award opportunities - providing to all a picture of K-12 in partnership with higher education, a must in today’s world. An asset to any young woman or young man graduating from high school, to enter an affordable Mesa Community College.Forging Alliances - Synergy - Strength - Success - was the energy centered around the awards. Emcee Deanna Villanueva-Saucedo, Community Liason, Mesa Public Schools and Mesa Community College, sailed through the awards with her articulate, professional yet warm nature, making it easy to hear and enjoy.David K. Udall, Counselor, Udall, Shummay & Lyons, P.L.C., provided comments as we moved toward presenting awards.Awards included Business/Economic Partners, Chamber of Commerce, Community Building and Group, Program Partners, Healthcare, International and Power Partnerships. Honorary Chairs, Commission on Excellence in Education.Lots of Mesa friends were in attendance - Mayor Hawker, Councilmembers Griswald and newly Scott Somers, Phil Austin, Attorney & President MAHC, Jared Langskilde, MCC, David Luna, MPS, Napoleon Pisano, MAHC Education Committee, Maria Mancinas, Head Start Program and many others!I was able to stand when Dr. Christianson asked if anyone had children attending MCC, my daughter pursuing a second degree!I’m looking forward to MCC and Mesa Libraries coming together to provide a Mesa downtown academic library — something we can all look forward to. It will be a great asset!

Elvis lives! Making a surprise appearance at Thursday’s 2005 United Way Campaign Awards luncheon at the Hilton in Mesa, Elvis performed and was in rare form. He brought with him 3 brothers, as talented as the King himself.Wondering how that is possible? Matt Salmon, Former Congressman, dressed like Elvis…many of us were amazed at the likeness! Standing in for Elvis’ brothers were look-alikes Boeing Executive Ed Koopman, Mesa’s Mayor Keno Hawker, and past Mesa United Way Board Chair John Giles. It must have been the great hair style! Sally Downey, Superintendent, EVIT, with her great poodle skirt, saddle oxford shoes, pony tail and pink sweater - fit right in, as did Judy Bowden, CFO Mesa United Way, with her black peddle pushers, saddle oxfords, pink sweater and scarf.Carol McCormack, President and CPO Mesa United Way, and her team that put this together did a great job with a 50’s theme, providing food - hamburgers, french fries, chocolate cake, bread pudding -fun in the midst of announcing some very important milestones from those that give unselfishly to many worthwhile causes under Mesa United Way’s umbrella of service to the community. Donations, large contributions from local business, monetary gifts making possible a 2005 Mesa United Way Campaign of over $4.8 million. Out going Mesa United Way Chair, Denny Barney said "We are very proud to help children, seniors, and disadvantaged people in Mesa to this extent". He attributes much of the success to the Corporate Cornerstone Program, 24 companies that provide recognition incentives for companies doing business in Mesa to earmark their corporate gift toward meeting Mesa’s United Way administrative costs. The program is in it’s second year, what a fruitful idea that benefits so much for so many.A special award went to Boeing for contributing over $1 million, 10 years in a row. Wow, what an on-going commitment year after year!The Heart of Mesa Award is new this year, going to Mesa Bank. Two runners up to this new award, ASU Polytechnic and Farnsworth companies. The award was sculptured by glass artist Jim Robins and will be displayed at Mesa Bank this campaign year.Mesa United Way truly has the spirit to engage companies that have a giving heart, a desire to assist those in need by giving, and committed to supporting the needs of Mesa in which our United Way can help.