Mesa Community College has partnered with the A-Mark Foundation and the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation to award an inaugural A-Mark Student Journalism Award, a $5,000 grant for a graduating student journalist who works with The Mesa Legend, the college’s student-run newspaper.
The A-Mark Student Journalism Award is intended to be an annual grant presented to one student at each participating community college. The program, established in 2025, is currently administered by 10 community colleges nationwide and is expected to expand to more than 30 institutions in the coming years. MCC’s first awardee will be announced in April 2026, in advance of May graduation.
Endowed by its founder, Steven C. Markoff, the A-Mark Foundation is a nonpartisan 501(c) (3) nonprofit incorporated in 1997. As an organization, the group believes that a healthy and free media is the foundation of democracy. The organization’s mission statement reflects this core belief: Making focused grants to organizations that offer awards to promote and encourage journalism and investigative reporting.
“I was excited to work with MCC because of my personal connection to the college,” said Tracey DeFrancesco, chief operating officer of the A-Mark Foundation. “Both of my parents taught at MCC for many years.”
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 4,100 press-related job openings are projected annually nationwide.
“By investing in MCC’s Journalism program, the A-Mark Foundation directly contributes to the advancement of responsible journalism.
As information moves faster and across more platforms than ever before, the need for well-prepared journalists has never been greater,” said MCC President Dr. Richard Daniel. “Mesa Community College is committed to developing professionals who can responsibly gather, evaluate, and communicate information in service to their communities.”
“MCC’s Associate of Applied Science in Journalism and New Media Studies places a strong emphasis on news judgment, ethics, and real-world reporting,” said Nadine ‘NAR’ Arroyo Rodriguez, MCC Journalism and New Media Studies program director.
“Students gain practical experience by working with professionals, including the college’s media relations team, as they develop skills essential for university-level training and news reporting internships,” Nadine continued.
“By supporting students who demonstrate strong potential but face financial barriers, this award allows them to concentrate on building professional skills as they prepare for their career in journalism. This is more than a scholarship — it’s an investment in the future of our students, our program, our profession, and the democratic values that journalism upholds.”
A-Mark also provides an annual $500 grant to participating colleges to support journalism programs and student media outlets. This year the funds will subsidize wages of The Mesa Legend student editorial team, which publishes bi-weekly online.
Founded in 1963, The Mesa Legend provides hands-on reporting experience for student journalists. It is the only student newspaper of its kind at the community college level in the Phoenix area.
MCC is the only college within the Maricopa County Community College District offering an Associate of Applied Science in Journalism and New Media Studies and an Associate of Applied Science in Public Relations.
Learn more about these programs and the career opportunities available to individuals earning these degrees at mesacc.edu/programs/journalism.
Note: The MCC News Writing class contributed to the development of this news release.
The Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation, with its donors and partners, supports the Maricopa County Community College District, its students, faculty, and staff, through scholarships, programs, equipment, and financial and human capital. Visit mcccdf.org to learn more.