Highlander Highlights
Meet MCC Veterinary Technology student & Presidential Scholar, Grace Vanek!
Grace Vanek began attending MCC in the Fall of 2024. Grace is pursuing a Veterinary Technology degree, with the goal of transferring to Tarleton State University in Stephenville or The University of Texas at Austin upon completion of her MCC coursework. Grace is a Presidential Scholar and a member of the Veterinary Technology student organization. “Besides the monetary aspect of paying for tuition, books, and fees, through this scholarship I have met lots of prominent people in the community and the state, and it has been cool to get to know them and hear their advice,” Grace said.
When asked about what sets MCC apart Grace mentioned, “At MCC, you have a name, instead of being known as a number like you would be at four- year universities or larger community colleges”. She also spoke about the professors at MCC, “We get to know the two professors on a more personal level- as opposed to a typical student-professor relationship,” Grace said.
When speaking about her experience, Grace reflected on the supportive professors, small class sizes, and opportunities at Highlander Ranch that MCC provides. “MCC's Veterinary Technology program is a hands-on program. As students, we practice our clinical skills on our resident animals; we have goats, horses, a donkey, a rabbit, and cats that live full-time at the program’s building,” Grace said.
Meet MCC Professor of Engineering, Paulina Sidwell!
Paulina Sidwell began working at MCC in 2012 as an adjunct instructor teaching Engineering and Mathematics, and shortly after transitioned into the role as a full-time Professor of Engineering. Sidwell was inspired to pursue a career in higher education due to her upbringing in a family of engineers and educators.
Paulina moved to Waco in 2012, where a friend mentioned that MCC’s engineering department—at the time consisting of just one professor, the amazing April Andreas—was looking for another instructor. Although she didn’t know much about MCC at the time, one visit to campus was all it took for her to apply. "I immediately fell in love with MCC’s campus. Everyone was so welcoming and kind. It’s hard to describe why, but this place just felt like home to me,” Sidwell said.
Sidwell, who has spent 13 years at MCC, has taught a variety of courses and reflected on her time working with students from diverse backgrounds, emphasizing the unique and valuable experiences each individual contributes to the MCC community. Regarding advice for current students, Sidwell encourages them to become familiar with the resources that MCC provides.
Sidwell also spoke about how a campus community is a vital part of a college student’s journey. “Feeling like you belong here can be a huge factor in student success. I hope all students have the chance to meet others who share their interests. I also strongly encourage students to take advantage of opportunities outside the classroom—whether it’s networking, extracurricular activities, or simply broadening their horizons," Sidwell said.
Sidwell was chosen as one of five honorees selected to receive the 2023 National Institute of Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Excellence Awards.
Meet MCC graduate and current TCU student, Kaedon Smith!
Kaedon Smith began attending MCC in the Fall of 2021 and graduated in August 2023 with an Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice. While at MCC, Kaedon was involved in a variety of extracurricular activities, such as the City of Waco’s- Police Law Enforcement Explorers Program, City of Waco’s Police Victim Services Volunteer Crisis Interventionist, and MCC’s The Stone Circle magazine, where he was awarded second place in visual arts photography for the 2021-2022 edition.
Kaedon spoke about his motivation to attend MCC, “MCC provided me with a great entry-point into higher education with a department that had fantastic faculty. It was also affordable, allowing me to complete my associates degree debt-free.” He spoke about what he enjoyed about the campus community saying, “I appreciated my professors allowing me to be on-call for crisis intervention services in McLennan County through the Waco PD Victim Services program while in class. They understood that when I got a call, I would need to respond. They not only allowed this but encouraged it!,” Kaedon said.
Kaedon’s advice for current students is to fully engage in all the opportunities that MCC provides, prioritize an active lifestyle, and embrace criticism. Kaedon said, “If someone talks you down or if life throws you stones, accept it as a challenge and confront it with everything you have—you only have one life.” Kaedon spoke briefly about how he was prepared for the next step in his educational journey, “MCC prepared me for TCU by showing me I can accomplish educational goals and objectives.”
Today Kaedon is enrolled at Texas Christian University, where he is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice. “I plan to enter into my long-term career with the heart to serve others, either in law enforcement, emergency medicine, or victim services,” Kaedon said.