September 2024

recently, during a casual dinner with a colleague and her younger brother -- a recent engineering graduate from Texas Tech University now working in the Permian Basin oil field -- I heard something that completely reframed the way I think about student success. Not because it was groundbreaking, but because it was honest. He talked openly about his journey from a local community college to Texas Tech's engineering program.

The Midland College Chaparrals may have seen their remarkable season come to an end with a heartbreaking loss to Johnson County on Thursday, May 28, finishing third overall at the NJCAA Division I Baseball World Series in Grand Junction, Colo., but some of the most meaningful moments from the trip had nothing to do with wins, losses or life on the diamond. Instead, they came through laughter, piggyback rides, autographs and friendships formed during the annual Challenger Game.

After entering the NJCAA Division I Baseball World Series with a 50-10 record, the Chaps arrived in Grand Junction carrying the confidence of a team that has spent all season proving itself one game at a time. Guided by Head Coach Hector Rodriguez, Midland College has relied on explosive offense, gritty pitching performances, and an unwavering belief in one another throughout its postseason run.

Students and families often wonder if starting at a community college is really the right move. Despite the progress we've made in showing different pathways into a career, there is still a belief that where you start defines where you will end up. What I have seen, year after year, is the opposite. MC's commitment to student success is what makes it such a great place to start your education.