Anthony Garcia attended Mesa High School and graduated class of 2007. In his sophomore year of high school, he took on an opportunity of a lifetime, applying to the Maricopa Achieving a College Education (ACE) Program. As a high school student, Anthony knew college was something he wanted to at least “try out” but was not sure if he would be successful. With his mother’s support, he submitted his application to the Mesa Community College (MCC) ACE Program. Anthony states, “ACE helped build a foundation for learning on my own. Learning the expectations from teachers was a reality check… ACE helped with my time management.”
During his ACE experience, Anthony also participated in STEM internships (Molecular and Cellular Biology and Genetic Engineering) with the University of Arizona and took additional college courses during the high school year, alongside his ACE schedule. Being a part of the ACE Program also changed the outlook of others around him. Anthony recalls, “while I was in ACE and sharing with my friends at high school that I was taking college classes, they were intrigued and even regretful that they did not sign up for the program when they had the opportunity to do so.” This became an opportunity for Anthony to encourage his friends to create study groups together and focus on their education.
Being a part of the ACE Program had a large impact for not only Anthony, but his family as well. Anthony recalls his experience as such:
“When I brought the ACE paperwork to my mom, she told me she wanted me to go to college, but she wouldn’t be able to pay for it…so we filled out the paperwork and never looked back. Once we were connected with Angela Chavez, (former Mesa Community College ACE Program Director) she directed us to major resources to improve our lives. I received tuition assistance with ACE and my mom received tuition assistance to attend Arizona State University (ASU). We applied for subsidized housing assistance to move us out of dangerous and distracting housing conditions. We were able to use those resources to move out of that situation and it moved my home life to a place that was conducive to learning. My mom became rejuvenated and did the best to keep me on an educational path along with my siblings. I never really had bad grades, but college was not really on my radar, which changed when I was accepted into the program. My life shifted tremendously. That culture of me going home studying…my younger brother and sister would see me on Saturday mornings going to class coming back studying… prioritize school and study first before playing.”
Being a part of the MCC ACE Program impacted the trajectory of the Garcia Family household. Anthony’s mother also received her bachelor’s degree in Spanish and social work. She started her career and worked many years giving back to the community, especially near Longfellow Elementary in Mesa. His siblings all pursued higher education, receiving bachelor’s degrees, with his youngest sister also participating in the MCC ACE program.
After graduating from Mesa High School, Anthony transferred to ASU on a full ride scholarship. While there, he also participated in an internship at the United States Department of Agriculture in the Arid Land Agricultural Research Center for Biofuels Research. Anthony received his bachelor’s in sustainability, which allowed him to work with the environment and people, hitting all the points he wanted in a career. Though he received his bachelor’s degree, Anthony still continued learning, returning to MCC to take additional courses in business and began his employment with Maricopa at South Mountain Community College (SMCC) as a Lab Technician.
Through this role he also went around the valley to help set up biotechnology labs for various high schools. Meanwhile, he continued school, pursuing a Certificate with Environmental Sciences where he wants to convey information into action. Anthony left SMCC for a new Weyerhaeuser Forestry company internship in pathogen identification, where he identified pathogens using their DNA to help with forest sustainability. Once he completed this internship Anthony returned to SMCC in 2014 as a part-time Lab Technician, moving to full-time, and eventually became the Biology Lab Specialist Supervisor.
Anthony is now at the Maricopa Community Colleges District Office as the Interim Sustainability Program Manager. He also works on creating sustainability events throughout the district, was a STEMS club co-adviser at SMCC, and was the SMCC Sustainability Chair. Part of his current role includes managing the districtwide sustainability committee, the installation of EV charging stations, retrofit to LED lighting, and creating a baseline of energy usage across MCCCD. Anthony has recently completed his Masters program in Executive Masters in Sustainability Leadership at Arizona State University. Anthony’s mission is to teach people how they can be sustainable in their current jobs and be adaptable in an uncertain future. He is grateful to have such a collaborative team to move MCCCD into a sustainable future and to be recognized for their leadership in sustainability by Valley Metro and the Salt River Project.
“ACE taught me that life might not be ideal but if you put in the effort, you’ll see the results. I didn’t allow opportunities to pass me by. I learned from the program that opportunities are out there, you have to seek them out and apply for them. Half the battle is showing up for the opportunity. What you put in is what you’re going to get out of it.”