MCC Adult Education and Literacy: Free classes to help adults develop job skills

By Olivia Evans

More and more jobs are requiring a technical certificate or a college degree. To meet the demands for a more skilled workforce, McLennan Community College offers a variety of classes and programs to help adults in the Waco community develop skills to match the jobs available in the area. These free classes served over 900 adult students in the 2019-20 academic year. MCC’s Adult Education and Literacy (AEL) program offers various pathways and classes including:

  • High School Equivalency (HSE) Preparation Classes (formerly GED) improve basic skills in preparation for the High School Equivalency Test.
  • English as a Second Language (ESL) Classes equip English language learners with the skills needed to advance in their careers and participate fully in their communities.
  • Transition Classes help students improve their workplace and/or college preparedness skills.
  • Career Pathway Classes provide college and workplace readiness in an in-demand career field.

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the AEL program has continued its commitment to help the Waco community achieve their educational and career goals by making swift changes to adjust to the new circumstances. “Within three weeks, our small staff completely switched to remote classes using the Zoom platform,” said AEL Instructor Margie De Laurell.

Currently, all 30 classes offered are held virtually. Despite these unprecedented times, the AEL staff is dedicated to ensuring that individuals in Waco, who are looking to advance themselves in their careers and education, are able to do so. Student success includes adjustments and additional learning not just from students but from instructors as well. “English-language learners and many of our instructors learned how to use their devices like never before! Digital literacy has always been part of the curriculum, but thanks to the pandemic, we all got a crash course,” said De Laurell.

AEL classes are free and open to anyone over the age of 18. There is no cost to community members other than time and dedication. All of the AEL students are extremely hardworking and exemplify the work ethic and positive mental outlook that is required to succeed under very challenging circumstances, including a global pandemic.

“As instructors, we are constantly inspired and motivated by our learners’ perseverance, courage, and resourcefulness,” said De Laurell.

For more information about registration AEL programs, call (254) 299-8777 or visit www.mclennan.edu/adult-education-programs/.


Olivia Evans is an intern in McLennan Community College’s Marketing and Communications office. She is a senior at Baylor University studying Public Relations and Corporate Communications. Olivia is a Houston, Texas native and plans to work in sports and entertainment digital marketing.

The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected]for more information.

Planning and Precautions enable MCC sports to resume practice in preparation for competition

By Garret Sulak

Campus was dotted with color as students, faculty, and staff returned to McLennan Community College for the first day of fall classes on Monday, Aug. 24. In accordance with rules set to protect everyone on campus, various colors of masks were on display and social distancing guidelines provided some extra breathing room while sitting in class or walking on campus.

MCC’s campus showed signs of life for the first time since March when classes and services moved online. The return to MCC’s campus has provided at least a slight sense of normalcy during this pandemic. Classes are being held on campus with precautions and athletes are allowed to practice while also taking special precautions.

Head men’s golf coach and history professor Vince Clark is adjusting to the new guidelines as he holds in-person classes and prepares his golf team to go on the road and compete this fall. Clark explained the masks are a “necessary nuisance” during lecture, but they have not prevented him from projecting his voice to the class. However, he said masks do prevent him from reading his students’ body language.

“After classes moved online and I started performing to an empty lecture hall in the spring and summer, I realized how much I enjoy my students’ company,” Clark said. “I really missed them, so I am glad to have them back with me in the room. I also learned that before the pandemic I relied upon reading faces.  Now all I can see are eyes above masks. I reckon I need to learn to read eyes.”

As a coach, Clark is also tasked with keeping his athletes safe while practice continues in preparation for events this fall. He explained that his team wears masks when entering the Cottonwood Creek or Bear Ridge golf courses for practice. Then they maintain social distance out on the course or on the range. The team is also able to isolate as seven of the nine players live in a duplex. Clark and his golf squad are ready to compete this fall and he is confident they can do so safely.

“We are grateful to our campus leadership for trusting us to go on the road to compete,” Clark said. “We have all already promised each other that we will take every appropriate precaution while traveling. This fall any of us can come down with the virus anytime and anywhere, but we are convinced that we can increase our chances for staying healthy by being smart and following the various guidelines. We are like a family under the same roof, which also makes the logistics of dealing with COVID easier.”

Allowing athletes and coaches back on campus to practice and eventually compete required extensive planning by MCC athletic director Shawn Trochim. She explained she spent about 8-12 hours per day from May until the first day of classes formulating a plan that included input from other athletic staff, athletic trainers, other athletic directors in the conference and the emergency operations team.

As part of the plan to hold practices, athletes are screened each day prior to practice to ensure they do not have a fever and are showing no symptoms of the virus. The plan also includes measures to take if an athlete tests positive. In this case, athletes and teams can quarantine in their duplex. In addition, to the use of masks and social distancing, bottles were purchased for each athlete to eliminate the use of shared-use water coolers.

When all sports resume competition in the spring, Trochim believes one of the main drawbacks will be that athletes might not be able to go support the other teams on campus. However, she believes the pandemic has taught everyone how to better adjust to changing situations.

“The pandemic teaches us to be fluid and accommodating all of the time,” Trochim explained. “The leadership team is committed to athletics here at McLennan and as with everything this could change. I, as the leader of the athletic department, have to be prepared to make tough decisions.”

Just like the opening of campus, the return of sports signals a return to some sort of normalcy. With precautions in place, MCC is committed to returning to the court or field so athletes have the chance to compete.

“Competition is a big part of the games we play,” Clark said. “Competition is what our athletes, who are gifted with great talent, train to do. Life will feel more normal for athletes, coaches, families, and fans when we get back to competing in sports.” 


Garret Sulak is an athletics marketing graduate assistant at McLennan Community College. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University, where he interned for two years with LSU athletic communications. He enjoys playing golf, fishing, hunting, and attending sport events. He is an avid fan of the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers. He is currently a graduate student at Baylor pursuing a master’s degree in sport management.​

The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.

Why MCC should be an option for education this fall

By Phillip Ericksen

The future looks uncertain for many amid the pandemic – especially the high school graduates of 2020. Questions remain about course formats, housing situations, and the campus life that makes all colleges educational and social hubs. 

Fortunately, community colleges are uniquely suited for these times. In a recent column for the website Community College Daily, the president of Rockland Community College, in Suffern, N.Y., said community colleges are “the best strategic choice for fall enrollment.”

“Community colleges not only offer a quality, affordable education close to home, they will actually be the best strategic option in the fall for many families — and not just those with limited resources as a result of the current economic conditions,” Dr. Michael A. Baston writes. 

Many of these reasons are applicable to McLennan Community College, right here in Waco. 

  1. A quality education is guaranteed at MCC this fall. Faculty and staff plan on safely accommodating students on campus and online while maintaining educational standards: faculty members who are experts in their fields, courses that prepare students for the workforce or to transfer to four-year colleges, and organizations where students can learn and meet with their peers. 
  2. MCC is proud of affordable tuition rates that will keep student debt to a minimum. The many benefits students enjoy at MCC include free access to the campus counseling center, fitness center, tutoring services, and much more. 
  3. Staying close to home is a benefit for those looking to be near their jobs and families. Advisors direct students to the best course options, which include online courses, 8-week courses, and more. 

Find out how MCC can be a great fit for you or someone in your family. Fill out a Request for Information form, or if you’d like to have a virtual Zoom meeting with a recruiter, email the Highlander Central office at [email protected].


Phillip Ericksen is marketing and communications specialist at McLennan Community College. For about four years, he was a journalist at the Waco Tribune-Herald covering higher education and local government. He enjoys following the news, reading books and drinking coffee. As a San Antonio native, he is an avid fan of Mexican food and the Spurs basketball team. He holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Baylor University.  He can be reached at [email protected].

The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.

Despite difficult times – Lots of great memories from Spring 2020 at MCC!

By Phillip Ericksen

Life has been tough lately. We stay in our residences as much as possible, all while trying to help our neighbors in need, health professionals on the front lines, local businesses that need our support, and those who simply need our friendship.

At McLennan Community College, a major transition was underway in March as courses were moved online. We are extremely proud of students, faculty, and staff who have made this possible.

In these difficult times, it might be nice to remember some of the success stories MCC has seen recently, from special events we celebrated, to honors we’ve received. We hope to resume these special moments once it is safe to do so.

Jan. 22 – At the start of each semester, the Vendor Fair attracts organizations from around McLennan County to visit campus, set up booths, and meet our students. The connections made at Vendor Fair expose students to on- and off-campus resources and organizations that assist students.

Feb. 20 – Grammy Award-winning music producer SymbolycOne returned to MCC – his alma mater – to discuss his craft with students. He received an Associate of Applied Science degree in Audio Engineering in 1997, and is now one of the top music producers in the industry, working with legends such as Madonna, Gladys Knight, Beyonce, Kanye West, and many more.

Feb. 26 – Texas Higher Education Commissioner Harrison Keller visited campus for important discussions with MCC leadership. They spoke about the future of education and innovation in Texas, and how community colleges play a role in educating our state.

Enjoying the annual “Hearts in the Arts Theatre Gala.

Feb. 27 – The 18th Annual Hearts in the Arts Theatre Gala hosted by the MCC Foundation was highlighted by a student production of “Chicago” at the Ball Performing Arts Center. Many community leaders attended this special event, which benefits student scholarship funds and expands access to higher education in McLennan County.

April 2 – MCC donates emergency supplies and loans equipment to local health care professionals treating patients of COVID-19. Four ventilators, 10 hospital beds, and boxes of masks, gloves, and gowns were delivered to hospitals and clinics as the College supported these essential leaders on the front lines.

April 23 – The Waco Independent School District presented MCC with a Rise Award for Outstanding Community Partners. Partnerships in dual-credit courses, faculty-staff collaborations, and special events were highlighted as President Johnette McKown accepted the award on behalf of the College.

For the entire Spring semester, MCC has encouraged students to participate in the 2020 Census, stay safe through social distancing, and register for summer and fall courses. We are proud to play this role in our community.


Phillip Ericksen is the marketing and communications specialist at McLennan Community College. For about four years, he was a journalist at the Waco Tribune-Herald covering higher education and local government. He enjoys following the news, reading books and drinking coffee. As a San Antonio native, he is an avid fan of Mexican food and the Spurs basketball team. He holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Baylor University.  He can be reached at [email protected].

The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.


 [CK1]

Classes, Food Pantry, Success Coaches and more still available for MCC students

By Phillip Ericksen

The spread of the COVID-19 virus into a pandemic has caused mass disruption to the world, and McLennan Community College is responding.

Here are a few of the major changes MCC has made to protect the well-being of students and keep them on their academic journeys.

  • Spring Break was extended for students for the week of March 16-20.
  • All courses are being conducted online for the remainder of the Spring 2020 semester.
  • All resources that students would normally access on campus are now available in an online format.

These difficult decisions have been made with a top focus on students’ health and academic progress. While this semester is not ending according to the original plans, MCC is adapting to these circumstances behind the work of students, faculty, and staff.

For example, students may access free groceries from Paulanne’s Pantry through a curbside pickup system.

Success Coaches, which work directly with MCC students to help connect them with resources, are also still working and accepting new students.

All faculty and staff members are working to keep students on their academic paths. Most employees are working from home, in accordance with social distancing guidance. Professors have restructured courses into an online format, with many using the video conferencing software, Zoom. Bonnie Sneed, director of choirs at MCC, recorded a video of one of her classes onto the Sing at MCC Facebook page. Her students are remaining optimistic and encourage new students to enroll at MCC.

Students in need of WiFi access may go to Parking Lot E in front of the Highlands gym on campus between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. for free access. Users must remain in their cars or at least six feet away from other individuals. Campus Police are patrolling the area and are available by phone any time of the day or night at 254-299-8911. 

The City of Waco has also announced free WiFi opportunities in the parking lots of the Waco Convention Center and the four library branches.

MCC officials once again remind the entire Waco community to frequently wash their hands and practice social distancing. Preventing the spread of COVID-19 is of vital importance for the United States and the entire world. Implementing basic health and safety tips is the best way to stop the spread.

For all campus updates, visit www.mclennan.edu/covid. This site contains campus messages from President Johnette McKown, student resource updates, tips for online courses, and much more.


Phillip Ericksen is the marketing and communications specialist at McLennan Community College. For about four years, he was a journalist at the Waco Tribune-Herald covering higher education and local government. He enjoys following the news, reading books and drinking coffee. As a San Antonio native, he is an avid fan of Mexican food and the Spurs basketball team. He holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Baylor University.  He can be reached at [email protected].

The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.

Never Stop Learning

By Kristi Pereira

When the staff from McLennan Community College’s Continuing Education Department left for Spring Break, none of us imagined the adjustments and decisions to which we would return due to COVID-19. I would venture to say most of our community can relate. As more news and facts were released about the virus, we made daily, sometimes hourly shifts with classes and trainings offered through Community Programs, Corporate Training, Health & Human Services, and the Highlander Ranch.

It would have been easy to default to frustration, but instead, like the rest of the faculty, staff, and administration, we chose to see this as an opportunity for growth and creativity. And while we have had to postpone and even cancel some classes, we have not halted our services to the community.

Community Programs continues to offer classes, but virtually, such as an online breadmaking class that was held this past weekend, Photoshop for Artistic Expression, Hand Lettering, and Pizza Making to name a few. Other instructors have come forward, and are in the process of developing and proposing online content for our community as well.  

Corporate Training has utilized an online format called Ed2Go as an alternative to face to face courses. They redirected any course that had an equivalent to Ed2Go, and created virtual courses where there was not. In fact, there are a number of courses and topic areas available on the Continuing Education Ed2Go page that anyone in the community can access. The page can be found at https://www.ed2go.com/mccandyou/ Furthermore, Health & Human Services has also transitioned both Nurse Aide and Medication Aide training to an online format and simulation lab training.

We want to commend all of you who have taken on the challenge of pivoting to virtual offerings for your students, clients, and customers. I think we’ve all learned a thing or two about technology and what it has to offer over the past few weeks. We hope you are able to find an opportunity during what might be a slower time to learn a new skill, or take advantage of some personal or professional development opportunities through McLennan Community College Continuing Education. In turn you will not only personally benefit, but you will be supporting local instructors, entrepreneurs, and business owners who provide Continuing Education courses for us. For those interested in participating in a Continuing Education class, you may register online at cereg.mclennan.edu, or give us a call at 254-299-8888.

MCC Continuing Education remains committed to our personal mission to engage, enrich, and educate our community. Overall, we encourage you to do the same, and never stop learning.


Kristi Pereira is the Coordinator of Community Programs for McLennan Community College Continuing Education. She and her husband, Hermann and two children have called Waco home for the past 13 years. Kristi loves Waco, reading, being outdoors, and spending quality time with family and friends.

The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.

A Conversation with the Support and Empowerment Program at MCC

By NiCosha Nelms 

Letitia Monsey, interim coordinator of the Support and Empowerment Program at McLennan Community College and associate director of the Completion Center, answered some questions about the program and the purpose it serves for students.

The interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

Tell us about the Support and Empowerment Program. 

This program began in 1979 as a community service of the Junior League of Waco, Inc. The focus was on serving single parent and displaced homemaker students at MCC. As of Fall 2019, the program has expanded to serve a broader population of students in need. Our purpose is to provide them with social, academic, and financial support so that they can do well as a student.

The idea is to support the student holistically, not just as a student but as a person, so that they may be successful in their family life or any relationships they may have. We want them to grow as a person outside of their academic experience. 

What are the services and the resources the program offers?

We provide them with a success coach, workshops every semester that are offered on a variety of topics, funds for childcare or transportation, crisis intervention, financial benefit, and much more. 

How can students participate?

The application is posted each semester on our website, and it’s due a month before the enrolling semester starts. Students have to apply, and we thoroughly review if the applicants are under one of nine different populations. They have to be in a workforce degree plan, be enrolled in at least nine hours of credit towards that degree plan (six hours face-to-face or on campus) and have maintained 2.0 cumulative GPA.

What are some of the responses you have received from the program? 

Our students are drawn to the program because of the financial benefit, but they sing the praises of the program because of the support they received from their coaches. They find peers to connect with that share similar goals and help them to see they are not alone and are fighting the same battles they are fighting.

Tell us one thing you would want your students to take from this whole experience.

I would hope, the ability to ask for help. I believe everyone has a hard time giving that advice instead of taking it. I think that is the trick to being a successful college student, is learning to ask for help. I assume most of the students in the program have essentially done everything alone or without any type of help, so they pride themselves in that independence. There is always somebody who has been where you have been, and if you learn to confide in someone, they can help you get plugged into the right resources. 

Visit www.mclennan.edu/support-and-empowerment or call the Completion Center at 254-299-8226 for more information about the program and services. 


NiCosha Nelms is a Marketing and Communications Intern at McLennan Community College. She is a senior at Baylor University studying Journalism, Public Relations and New Media with a minor in Business. She hopes to work in sports or entertainment. She is from Teague, Texas and likes creating YouTube videos.

he Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.

Best-selling Author Stephen Harrigan to Visit McLennan Community College for Conversation and Book-Signing

Press release – McLennan Community College is proud to host best-selling author Stephen Harrigan for a wideranging conversation about the vast history of Texas. 

Harrigan, the author of ten books of both fiction and nonfiction, will sign copies of his latest book, “Big Wonderful Thing: A History of Texas,” which will be available for purchase. 

He will also answer audience questions after a public conversation event with Dr. Richard Driver, an associate professor of history of MCC. 

The free event is set for 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 26 at the Conference Center at MCC. It is hosted by the McLennan Honors College, a program for MCC students taking specialized course work, exposing themselves to new educational opportunities, and participating in individual mentoring. Students in the program must apply and undergo an interview process for acceptance. 

MCC President Dr. Johnette McKown and Honors College Advisor Dr. John Spano will welcome guests and introduce the speaker. Free coffee and water will be available. 

“Big Wonderful Thing” has brought rave reviews for Harrigan. In a review for The Wall Street Journal, Willard Spiegelman noted that the book is “brimming with sass, intelligence, trenchant analysis, literary acumen and juicy details. . . It is popular history at its best.” And Michael Schaub, in his review for NPR, wrote that “It’s hard to think of another writer with as much Lone Star credibility as Stephen Harrigan. . . Harrigan, essentially, is to Texas literature what Willie Nelson is to Texas music.” 

He is a longtime writer for Texas Monthly, and his articles and essays have appeared in a wide range of other publications as well, including The Atlantic, Outside, The New York Times Book Review, The Wall Street Journal, Conde Nast Traveler, Audubon, Travel Holiday, Life, American History, National Geographic and Slate. He was a finalist for the 2015 National Magazine Awards for his commentary on film and television for Texas Monthly. “Off Course”, a piece for Texas Monthly about a trek Harrigan made to the mountain summit where his father died in a plane crash before he was born, won the Edwin “Bud” Shrake Award from the Texas Institute of Letters in 2016 for best work of journalism.

Harrigan is also the author of “The Eye of the Mammoth,” a book of essays which includes an examination of mammoth remains in Waco. 

Among the many movies Harrigan has written for television are HBO’s award-winning “The Last of His Tribe,” starring Jon Voight and Graham Greene, and “King of Texas,” a western retelling of Shakespeare’s King Lear for TNT, which starred Patrick Stewart, Marcia Gay Harden, and Roy Scheider. His most recent television production was “The Colt,” an adaptation of a short story by the Nobel-prize winning author Mikhail Sholokhov, which aired on The Hallmark Channel.

Event Details

What: Best-selling author Stephen Harrigan at McLennan Community College When: Thursday, March 26 at 7 p.m. Where: Conference Center at MCC. Inside the Community Services Center on campus, at 4601 N. 19th St. Waco, TX 76708

Tickets: Free tickets are available at: www.mcchonors.eventbrite.com. Tickets, which may be printed or downloaded on the Eventbrite app, must be presented at the door. Those without tickets will be admitted 5-10 minutes before the event starts. 

Parking: Free parking is within walking distance of the event. Lots N, Q, P, and S are closest. Check out a campus map here. 

This event is a gun-free zone, and MCC is a smoke-free, tobacco-free, and vape-free campus. 

Media Contact: Lisa Elliott, Director of Marketing and Communications.  254-299-8640 [email protected]  

Continuing Education at McLennan Community College plays a special role in Waco

By Phillip Ericksen

The program is committed to the idea that a community benefits from learning experiences. Its mission, posted on its website, puts it best:

“It is our mission to provide educational opportunities and lifelong learning experiences to enhance, promote, and develop a higher quality of life for our community. Continuing Education boasts an impressive group of instructors, who are professionals in their fields, and a wide array of course offerings that include community programs, corporate training, and health and human services.”

The slate of courses offered to the public this spring includes some classic offerings alongside a few exciting, new classes.

Have you ever wanted to bake bread, or upgrade your homemade pizza night? Or how about learn yoga workouts, or improve your short game on the golf course? Now is the time to do so.

If you’re looking to work your way up in the business world, courses in human resource management or essential programs like Microsoft Office and the Adobe Creative Cloud can boost your skillset and make your resume stand out.

The Continuing Education staff has also highlighted a few new courses this spring.

  • The Truth About Race: This course, in partnership with the Community Race Relations Coalition, will explore the origins of racism and prejudice, how people learn racism, and how to effect change.
  • Networking for Professionals: This course on networking etiquette for professionals and business owners will teach you how to make the most of any networking event.
  • A Taste of West Africa: This new culinary course will introduce food enthusiasts to West African traditions and techniques that influence Southern recipes through spice blending and sauce making.

Another exciting offering within Continuing Education is MCC Kids College, which offers camps this summer, June through August. Camps fall under the categories of Music & Dance, Sports, Lifelong Learning, and more.

For example, new STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) courses for kids will be offered through a partnership with Maker’s Edge Makerspace, a community workshop and studio on Austin Avenue. These courses will give students hands-on experience with building new things and learning in the process.

And at the end of February, Continuing Education is partnering with an organization called Making Awesome Things Happen for an entrepreneurship course aimed for middle school students. The Saturday course will teach financial literacy and the processes of starting a business, from creating a budget to selling a product.

The course concludes with a mini-business plan and a “Shark Tank”-style pitch.

The Continuing Education program tends to mainly attract retired people with a little extra time on their hands, but instructors still see different ages across the board. All are encouraged to visit www.mccandyou.com to find the right courses based on their interests and schedules. Those interested can also call the office at 254-299-8888 or email [email protected].


Phillip Ericksen is the marketing and communications specialist at McLennan Community College. For about four years, he was a journalist at the Waco Tribune-Herald covering higher education and local government. He enjoys following the news, reading books and drinking coffee. As a San Antonio native, he is an avid fan of Mexican food and the Spurs basketball team. He holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Baylor University.  He can be reached at [email protected].

The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.

Q&A with the MCC Cosmetology Department

By Stacy Burger

Laura Hays, program director of the Cosmetology Department at McLennan Community College, answered our questions about this department and this exciting career path.

This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity. 

Tell us about the MCC Cosmetology Department generally.

The MCC Cosmetology Department began in the late 1970s. The department is a training facility which teaches all aspects of the industry, including all hair-related skills, manicuring, pedicuring, skin care and business-related skills. Our students schedule is Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and currently takes about 16 months to complete.  

We also offer an Esthetician Program which is a specialty course that teaches only the skin care aspect.   

In addition, we serve the community through our full-service MCC Salon and Spa.

What services does the Cosmetology department offer?

We offer facials, waxing, lash and brow tinting, haircuts, manicures, pedicures, haircuts, clipper cutting, hairstyling, perms, relaxers, braiding, hair color, highlighting, etc.

We teach a diversity of hair textures and styling to our students, which enables them to be skillful with all types of hair.

The program offers two specialized certifications. Can you explain what those are?

The Cosmetology certification allows a person to practice and perform all aspects of the industry.

The Esthetician certification allows a person to only practice and perform skin care related skills and waxing services. I am currently the program director of cosmetology, but I also teach the esthetician program as well.

Both programs have a state examination upon successful completion of the courses, which include a written and practical exam. Those who pass are issued a license by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. I am happy to share that for many years we have had a 100% pass rate!

What does the application and admissions process look like? 

A prospective student is asked to come by the Cosmetology Department, located at 4601 North 19th Street in the Community Service Center, Building B, to fill out an application. We like this personal approach to be able to answer questions and give the person a tour of the facility.

A reading assessment is required due because of the requirement for passing the state written examination. We choose our students by this score. If a candidate scores lower than the minimum score, we offer a reading support class through MCC’s Adult Education and Learning Department at no charge to the candidate. Upon successful completion of this class, and if space is available, the candidate may enroll. If space is not available in the current enrollment, the candidate is guaranteed a place in the next enrollment. This has proven to be a hugely successful practice for all candidates to be able to enroll with the support for success.

Once accepted in the Cosmetology Program, the students will follow the College procedures for admittance.

We receive over 100 applications every semester!

What have customers said about the salon and spa at MCC?

We are told we are the best kept secret in Waco!

Tell us about one thing you try to focus on with your students in the department.   

This is an easy one to answer: professionalism! There is a lot of great talent that unfortunately doesn’t get utilized due to a lack of professionalism. A percentage of a student’s grade is based on professionalism.

Appearance, grammar, customer service, communication, cell phone etiquette, etc. are all areas of importance to our instruction.                              

Visit www.mclennan.edu/cosmetology for more information about the program and salon services.


Stacy Burger is a Marketing and Communications Intern at McLennan Community College. She is a senior at Baylor University studying Marketing & Public Relations and hopes to work in sports or entertainment. As a Colorado native, she enjoys all things outdoors.

The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email a[email protected]for more information.