Second-year student Zora Williams is using her voice to bring more mental health and nutrition programming to San Diego Mesa College. Williams was elected president of the college’s Associated Students (AS) for the 2024-2025 academic year and serves as the college’s student representative on the San Diego Community College District Board of Trustees.
Sometimes, you hear a story that makes you want to know more. Kevin Gonzalez has such a story. The last time this story was updated, San Diego Mesa College student Kevin Gonzalez was a 15 year-old heading off to Massachusetts to complete his high school education. In the ensuing years, he has travelled to the other side of the world, built houses, but remained in close contact with his Mesa College professors and connections he made while on campus.
The San Diego Community College District has appointed four new student trustees for the upcoming academic year. Dalia Ramirez (San Diego City College), Zora Williams (San Diego Mesa College), Hailey Hua (San Diego Miramar College), and Haydee Zuniga (San Diego College of Continuing Education), will be sworn in during the June 20 SDCCD Board of Trustees meeting.
May 17, 2018
Each year at the STAR (STudent Athlete Recognition) Awards Ceremony, a special award is reserved for a student-athlete who embodies the Olympian experience by demonstrating scholastic and athletic excellence, leadership, community involvement, inspiration, and team spirit. Samantha Schmidt, a sophomore and swimmer at Mesa College, was awarded the 2018 Super Star Award for her dedication to - and passion for - her academics and sports lifestyle.
Schmidt has had many accomplishments during her seasons with the Mesa swim team and her participation on the 2017 state team. She’s broken Mesa College’s all-time records in the 200 Freestyle Relay, 400 Freestyle Relay, and 800 Freestyle Relay; she holds multiple metals for 1st and 2nd place and is recognized as an All-American Athlete. Lastly, and also a major athletic achievement, she won the Waterman Pentathlon - beating out 68 other competitors.
In addition to being an athletic super star, she is a super star in the classroom and the community. While maintaining an impressive 4.0 grade point average through the Fall 2017 season, she has also spent her time volunteering through the YMCA Raintree Ranch Camp, and participating in the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and Pacific South Coast Walk for MS as a Team Leader where she raised $4,170 in donations. Her team received the Gold Level Top Fundraising Team award for their commitment and enthusiastic support of the cause.
“Samantha is of the best athletes we have ever had,” stated Head Coach of Women’s
Swimming and Diving Jim Fegan. 
“Sam is a true competitor who loves to race. Her versatility has helped the team remain
undefeated in two dual meet seasons and achieve our highest finishes at the State
meet. She has worked hard both in and out of the pool and deserves all the accolades.
I’m extremely proud of her efforts and know there is more success ahead.”
When she isn’t qualifying for CCCAA State Championships or volunteering to organize pit stops at the 3 Day Walk for MS, she’s teaching community youth swim lessons at the YMCA. She’s very passionate about living a healthy lifestyle and helping others to do the same – she is currently working towards her Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology as a Pre-Physical Therapy major.
For more information on the Mesa Swim and Diving Team, visit the Athletics page. If you’d like to learn more about kinesiology educational opportunities, please visit the Exercise Science Program page.
Tags: Waterman Pentathlon, YMCA, CCCAA State Championships, Kinesiology, Physical Therapy, Athletics, Exercise Science, All-American Athlete, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Swimming, Swimming & Dive
Jennifer Nichols Kearns
Director of Communications
jnkearns@sdccd.edu
(619) 388-2759
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.
San Diego - On Sunday, September 18, 2022, San Diego Mesa College Athletic Trainer, Yuki Matsuzawa, along with two students and a coach, helped save the life of a 66 year old athlete, who collapsed on field after his event during the annual Senior Games Track Meet held on campus at Merrill Douglas Stadium.
San Diego, CA – In Fall of 2022, San Diego Mesa College will offer California's first ever community college-based Health and Wellness Coaching Certificate Program with approval by the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC). The National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coaching exam is the gold standard certification in health and wellness coaching and is offered by the Board of Medical Examiners.
