Women’s volleyball at Mesa College is on a spike. In the spring, the Olympians won the state beach volleyball title after winning the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference title for a fourth straight year.
Psychology major Emerald Moreno is inspired by a passion for understanding and interpreting others, along with a deep faith that psychology is her calling. She plans to transfer to a university to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology, minor in Spanish, and continue exploring a future in law.
After a major surgery and months of recovery, Tracey Kushner faced a decision that would reshape her future. In 2024, she returned to San Diego Mesa College determined to finish the degree she had started years earlier.
SAN DIEGO, Calif. — San Diego Mesa College proudly celebrated the achievements of the Class of 2026 during its annual Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 29, 2026, honoring 1,958 graduates who earned more than 2,017 academic degrees and 414 certificates. A total of 727 graduates participated in the ceremony, joined by family, friends, faculty, staff, and community supporters.
December 3, 2020
San Diego, CA. — It is with great sadness and deep regret that San Diego Mesa College announces the passing of one of the greatest long jumpers in history, Arnie Robinson, at the age of 72. Arnie Paul Robinson, Jr. had a nearly life-long connection to Mesa College as a student, a coach and a Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient. He lived in San Diego and began his track career as a stand-out athlete at Morse High School. In 1967, he enrolled at Mesa College, where he set school records in the long jump, high jump, and triple jump for track and field.
After graduation from Mesa, Arnie earned a scholarship to SDSU, where he won the 1970 NCAA long jump champion title. The following year he won his first USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships title, qualifying him for the 1971 Pan American Games, where he won the Gold Medal. In 1972 he again won the USA Championships, and in 1975, Robinson went on to win four straight USA Outdoor Championships. In the Pan Am Games, he won the silver medal. In 1976, he took gold at the Olympics, and in 1977, at the first ever World Cup meet in Düsseldorf, Germany, he again took home gold.
In 1982, he began coaching at Mesa College and served as a Professor in Health and
Exercise Science until his retirement. His 1998 women’s team won the California Community
College State Championship. Robinson retired from coaching and teaching in 2010,
after 23 years as the Head Track and Field Coach at Mesa College. In 2013, Mesa College
honored the Olympian Long Jumper by naming their premier high school and college invitational
meet, “The Arnie Robinson Invitational”.
During his 25 years as head coach at Mesa, Coach Robinson’s teams won 15 conference
championships, 10 regional championships appearances, and two state championship appearances
with one state title. He also coached six state champion student-athletes, with one
competing in the Olympic trials and another, Felix Sanchez, winning a gold medal in
Athens for the 400-meter hurdles. Robinson also served as USATF San Diego-Imperial
Youth Track and Field Chair for a number of years and mentored thousands of youth
athletes over the years.
Arnie Robinson was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2000, the San Diego Breitbard Hall of Fame in 1984 and the CCCAA Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2007. Arnie was a true "Mesa Olympian"; an amazing coach, role model and student advocate.
Tags: Arnie Robinson, Arnie Robinson Invitational, Alumni, Athletics
Jennifer Nichols Kearns
Director of Communications
[email protected]
(619) 388-2759
Women’s volleyball at Mesa College is on a spike. In the spring, the Olympians won the state beach volleyball title after winning the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference title for a fourth straight year.
The San Diego Mesa College Athletic Program has cemented its place as one of the nation’s premier two-year college athletic programs, finishing second in the 2024–2025 Ron Case Cup standings. The award, one of the highest honors in two-year college athletics, recognizes excellence in championship competition across all sports.
San Diego –On Monday, July 22 to Thursday, July 25, 2024, the San Diego Mesa College Softball program and Nike’s US Sports Camp program will host a half day and day camp for local girls, ages 6-14, at all levels of experience with Softball. Campers will learn the skills required to successfully play at a competitive level and maximize their potential as players.
