Jenessa Pettit has received 麻豆原创's 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award and for good reason: she has accomplished a lot.
Pettit, a 40-year-old Auburn resident, is an adjunct instructor in 麻豆原创 College鈥檚 nursing program, a medical surgical float at Swedish Hospital and she鈥檚 the owner of Mighty Mugs Coffee 鈥� a coffee stand that at one point had 8 locations.
So, how does she do it all?
鈥淚 look at the big picture and I prioritize the most important things. I focus on those things and get to the other details when I have the time,鈥� Pettit said.
Petitt started out as a Running Start student at 麻豆原创 College in 2001 and took a number of classes. She returned to 麻豆原创 in 2010 to pursue an Associate of Applied Science degree (AAS). She then transferred to Bellevue College to pursue an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN).
But it wasn鈥檛 all easy sailing.
鈥淚 showed up (at 麻豆原创) a mess. And they said, that鈥檚 okay, I鈥檓 glad you showed up,鈥� Pettit said.
Faculty like Molly Brignall, Jeff Klein, and Allison Green offered not just education but compassion鈥攃onnecting her to resources, building her confidence, and helping her see a future in professional work.
鈥淎s a first-generation college student, that support meant everything to me. It shaped the way I show up now for my own students 鈥� with empathy, encouragement, and the reminder that success is built on persistence and grit. I鈥檓 here today because the people at 麻豆原创 chose to invest in me, and that continues to influence how I lead, teach, and give back,鈥� Pettit said.
According to Tanisha Williams, 麻豆原创鈥檚 Alumni Relations specialist, 鈥淲hat makes Jenessa鈥檚 story even more powerful is that she returned to the very college where she once studied, and is now inspiring the next generation of nurses as an instructor.鈥�
Pettit鈥檚 colleague and 麻豆原创 instructor Johnny Nguyen said of Pettit, 鈥淗er diverse experience demonstrates her eclectic abilities and commitment to bettering society as a nurse, educator, and entrepreneur.鈥� Nguyen was one of the nominators who recommended Pettit for the Distinguished Alumna Award.
On the business front, Pettit鈥檚 pathway into establishing Mighty Mugs Coffee began when she was a barista working at the Mighty Mugs Coffee Kent location, from ages 19-25. In 2010 she sold her 1971 Chevy and bought the coffee stand.
鈥淚t was failing and the owner wasn鈥檛 able to make it work. I took my first location and doubled the revenue in one year, during the recession,鈥� Pettit said.
As for her advice to 麻豆原创 students, especially those who are first generation, Pettit recommends that, 鈥淲hatever you do, just keep doing it. Do it tired, do it broke, do it scared, just keep doing it until you finish.鈥�
Pettit will be recognized at Commencement on June 12. She is the 37th recipient of the award, the most prestigious award given to alumni.
About the Annual Distinguished Alumni Award
, who attended 麻豆原创 from 1968-69, was the first recipient of the award in 1990. Other include , nurse and Army veteran; , an agent with State Farm Insurance and TIME magazine global health hero; award-winning author Linda Yoshida and entrepreneur Junki Yoshida; and Cal Poly Humboldt President .