MESA, Arizona – Feb. 13, 2026 – A classroom toolkit designed by Alejandra Maya, Civic Engagement Program Coordinator at Mesa Community College (MCC), was recently selected to represent MCC at the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) competition, where one innovation is chosen to move forward to the national 2025-2026 Innovation of the Year Awards competition hosted by The League for Innovation in the Community College.

Created in collaboration with the Ask Every Student 2025-26 Codesigner Campuses and titled the “Mindfully Informed Civic Engagement Classroom Toolkit,” Maya’s project seeks to strengthen civic learning by combining a staff-facing handbook with a student-centered presentation. The handbook provides colleges and universities with a complete system to oversee, train and mentor student presenters who deliver nonpartisan civic presentations in the classroom.

Twenty classrooms within MCC have already implemented the toolkit, and Maya anticipates many more colleges and universities will adopt the toolkit during the national and primary election cycles. 

“Many students who attend colleges and universities throughout the country are voting for the first time and feel overwhelmed by the process,” Maya explained. “What comes after you register to vote? How do you determine who you should vote for? I wanted to create clear, practical resources that make civic engagement feel approachable instead of intimidating.”

Maya notably served as the first student trustee for the MCCCD Governing Board and launched MCC Votes, a peer-to-peer classroom presentation program that equips students with tools to become informed, engaged voters while addressing political fatigue and civic anxiety.

“I am deeply thankful to the Mesa Community College Center for Community & Civic Engagement, my colleagues and the students who continue to inspire this work every day,” Maya said. “This recognition reinforces my belief that civic engagement is strongest when it is human-centered, student-led and intentionally supported.”

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Media Contact: Dawn Zimmer, dawn.zimmer@mesacc.edu, 480-461-7892

Mesa Community College (MCC) is nationally recognized for its excellence in university transfer, career and technical programs, civic engagement, and innovative education. Serving more than 25,500 students annually, MCC offers a range of degree and certificate programs across its two campuses and additional locations. MCC students contribute more than 8,500 hours of community service annually. MCC serves as a key resource for education, workforce development, and lifelong learning. The college enhances student success through Guided Pathways with Integrated Support Services. A Hispanic Serving Institution, nearly 50% of MCC students are first-generation college attendees, and it boasts the largest Indigenous student population among Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) colleges, supporting students from 22 Arizona tribes and additional out-of-state tribes. Our award-winning faculty are committed to helping students achieve their goals through high-quality education, training and undergraduate research opportunities. Located in the East Valley of Phoenix, Arizona, MCC is one of 10 MCCCD colleges. Learn more at mesacc.edu/newsroom.

MCC is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), hlcommission.org.

The Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) is an EEO institution and an equal opportunity employer of protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or national origin. A lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in the career and technical education programs of the District. MCCCD does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age in its programs or activities. For Title IX/504 concerns, call the following number to reach the appointed coordinator: (480) 731-8499. For additional information, as well as a listing of all coordinators within the Maricopa College system, visit www.maricopa.edu/non-discrimination.