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ACC President Dr. Rodney Allbright climbs the rock wall during the annual Open House event on April 12
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Dear ACC Alumni, Supporters and Friends,
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ACC Remains Top 10 Percent Community College
Aspen Institute ranks college among the best for second straight year
 | | ACC students have posted signs on campus banners to spread the word about ACC's recent honor. Students are, from left top, Brady Hudson, Grant Stanton. From left bottom Angel Garcia, Eva Guerra and Nichole Rogers. |
The non-profit Aspen Institute once again recognized Alvin Community College as being among the top 10 percent of community colleges in the country.
ACC was placed in the top 10 percent among 1,008 community colleges in the United States. The Aspen Institute also ranked ACC in the top 10 percent in 2011.
"Alvin Community College's outstanding faculty and staff are the reason for the top 10 percent designation," ACC President Dr. Rodney Allbright said. "Their commitment to the students and community have long been noted."
The Aspen Institute is a non-profit organization that works to identify and replicate campus-wide practices that significantly improve college student outcomes.
The purpose of the Aspen Prize is to recognize community colleges with outstanding academic and workforce outcomes in both absolute performance and improvements over time. The institute selected Alvin Community College based on student success in retention and completion, performance improvement over time, and performance of underrepresented minorities and institutions in low-income service areas.
The data for the ranking was analyzed by policy experts, researchers, data analysts, and former college presidents with deep experience in community college performance and data.
ACC is now eligible for the $1 million Aspen Prize, which is awarded to the top community college in the country. The college will be judged on data that includes completion outcomes, labor market outcomes, learning outcomes and equity outcomes.
Learn more about the Aspen Institute and the Top 10 Percent rankings.
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| ACC Hosts Awards Day Ceremony
College departments, civic organizations recognize students and award scholarships
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ACC student Kassandre Floyd, of Alvin, received the President's Award from ACC President Dr. Rodney Allbright during Awards Day.
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More than 100 students received scholarships from Alvin Community College Departments and civic organizations during Awards Day at the Nolan Ryan Center on April 30.
ACC student Kassandre Floyd, of Alvin, received the President's Award for her academic achievements that include presentations of her History project on the Civil Rights Movement. Floyd also is an honors student and president of the the American Association of University Women.
The $900 Dean's Scholarship went to Carol Duym, of Missouri City. Duym is seeking an Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal and is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.
U.S. Air Force veteran Devonda Davis, of Pearland, received the $350 Dean F.J. Phillips Memorial Scholarship. She will graduate in the summer with an Associate Degree in Teaching.
Many other students were also given scholarships by ACC departments and organizations like Alvin Noon Lions Club, Alvin Kiwanis Club, American Association of University Women, Soroptimist International and the Chocolate Bayou Federal Credit Union. |
| ACC Opens Doors for Future Students at Open House
Hundreds show to learn more about ACC
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Students who won scholarships at Open House also include, from left Stacey Lancaster, of Alvin, Nisha Burleson of Alvin and Clarissa Vallecello, of Alvin.
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Scholarships also awarded at the annual Open House were given to from left, Shane Leftely, of Alvin, Christopher Dominguez, of Rosharon and Andrew Galvan of Alvin.
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Students and parents from area high schools arrived at the Nolan Ryan Center on April 12 to discover what Alvin Community College has to offer at the annual Open House event.
ACC faculty and staff hosted booths that showcased the college's many programs, clubs and more. Visitors were treated to live jazz music from ACC musicians, a rock-climbing wall, free food, games and more.
ACC instructors, students and staff promoted the school's various academic programs, clubs, student activities and student services. Instructors introduced and demonstrated the skills that are part of their programs. Financial aid and other department employees talked with students about available services.
There were drawings for six, $250 scholarships for students who currently attend or plan to attend ACC.
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ACC Students, Faculty and Staff Honored at President's Tea
Presidential scholars named while faculty and staff receive recognition and grants
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ACC Foundation Excellence Award winners announced during the Presidents Tea on May 1. Honorees from left are ACC Distance Education Director Dena Faust, History instructor Johanna Hume, College Store Manager Vicki Marvel and ACC Foundation President Jay Hawkins.
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Alvin Community College President Dr. Rodney Allbright recognized Presidential Scholars during the annual President's Tea on May 1. The ACC Foundation also announced the Excellence Awards and the Innovative Initiative grants.
Seventeen students received the Presidential Scholar distinction for completing a minimum of 45 semester hours with at least a 3.9 GPA. Additional requirements include 18 of those credits must be core curriculum and 12 semester hours must be completed in the past calendar year. Also, recipients can have no record of any academic dishonesty or disciplinary charges.
The 2012 Presidential Scholars are: Ian Ambrosius, of Alvin; Kevin Barnes, of Pearland; Michelle Barton, of Pearland; Helen Castillo, of Pearland; Teresa Cobb, of Friendswood; John Dowling, of Alvin; Michele Goodrum, of Alvin; Danielle Jones, of Pearland; Chirag Patel, of Pearland; Stephen Perry, of Bryan; Heather Sardelich, of Alvin; Cynthia Schaefer, of Pearland; Harpreet Singh, of Pearland; Isaac Tidwell, of Dickinson; Amanda Wallace, of Alvin; Melissa Wilburn, of Pearland and Cindi Young, of Santa Fe.
The ACC Foundation also issued the $1,000 Foundation Excellence Awards to ACC History instructor Johanna Hume, Distance Education Director Dena Faust and College Store Manager Vicki Marvel. The award recognizes excellence among the college's Technical, Clerical, Support and Maintenance employees, an administrative staff employee and a faculty member.
The ACC Foundation also announced the winners of the $1,000 Innovative Initiative Grants to Dena Faust for her project Reaching Further; ACC Psychology instructor Dr. Jean Raniseski for the Peer Educators Program; Anthropology adjunct instructor Carlos Orellana his project Origins of Innovation: The Lithic Revolution and Math and Sciences Chair Dwight Rhodes for Fresh Fruit for All. |
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ACC Board Discusses Involvement with Pearland ISD Campus
ACC may offer dual credit courses, technical training at Pearland ISD's proposed third high school
| The Alvin Community College Board of Regents talked about how the college would be affected by a proposal from Pearland ISD to build a third high school campus during the Regents' meeting on April 26.
Pearland ISD trustees voted 4-3 during an April 10 meeting to pursue the project. If finalized, the campus would be opened in the fall of 2013 with 300 to 400 students.
The plan still is in development. ACC officials are working with Pearland ISD officials to determine how dual credit classes would be offered at the third high school on Bailey Road, ACC Dean of Academic Programs Drew Nelson told regents.
It is possible that ACC could provide training for students who are interested in technical and workforce training.
"Those students who want technical training, work force training or dual credit...will probably come to this school full time," Nelson said. Regent Karlis Ercums said he is looking forward to the new campus to help future ACC students. "It's great I hope we can move forward and I hope things can really become fertile and grow," he said. The dual credit courses and the workforce training would meet a huge demand, Ercums said. Read more about the Board of Regents meeting. The next meeting is set for May 22. |
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ACC Finalizes Sale of Bonds
Sale will save area taxpayers $944,000 over the next 13 years.
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Approximately $8.9 million of Alvin Community College's bond debt was refinanced in a deal that would save area taxpayers almost $1 million.
The sale would cut bond payments by $81,000 a year for the first seven years and $62,700 a year for the next six years.
The ACC Board of Regents approved the bond sale during their meeting on January 26. The debt is part of the $19.9 million bond approved by voters in 2005 to fund the new Science/Health Science Building which was needed to support growing healthcare programs and overcrowded classrooms. The building opened for use in 2007.
Only $8.9 million of the outstanding $16 million was refinanced. Investors tend to seek bond issues with an aggregate value of less than $10 million due to certain tax code advantages. The tax code advantages made the deal more beneficial to refinance half of the outstanding debt total. Depending on market conditions, ACC may choose to refinance the remaining debt.
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ACC Student Government Elects 2012-13 Officers
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The recently elected SGA officers are, from left, vice president Brady Hudson, parliamentarian John Joe Comacho, president Sam Clark, secretary Hayden Faust, historian Miranda Mejstedt, and treasurer Joe LaFuente.
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The Alvin Community College Student Government Association recently named their officers for the 2012-13 academic year.
The SGA officers are president Sam Clark, of Alvin; vice president Brady Hudson, of Alvin; parliamentarian John Joe Comacho, of Alvin; secretary Hayden Faust, of Friendswood; historian Miranda Mejstedt, of Friendswood and treasurer Joe LaFuente, of Alvin.
The Student Government Association is the largest student-run organization at ACC and our members serve as the voice of the ACC student body. The members represent students to the ACC faculty, staff and administration.
In addition, these exceptional students also represent ACC on a state level through the Texas Junior College Student Government Association. |
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Congressman Visits ACC Pearland Center
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 | U.S. Rep. Pete Olson, R-Sugar Land, right talks with ACC Dean of Continuing Education, Dr. Patricia Hertenberger during a tour of ACC's Pearland Center on April 23.
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Congressman Pete Olson paid a visit to the Alvin Community College Pearland Center on April 23 to get a tour of the facility and talk about the future of technical and workforce development.
Olson told ACC and officials with Texas State Technical College that the state needs more technical training to fill the need for industry.
ACC and TSTC are offering the right type of education and skills to meet the demand, he said.
"It is very innovative," Olson said after his tour. "They can come here with a high school diploma and learn a good trade." Read more about Olson's visit to the Pearland Center. Visit the Continuing Education and Workforce Development website for information about technical training. |
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ACC Students Practice for an Emergency
Several ACC health care programs work together in Interprofessional Drill
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A LifeFlight medic talks to Alvin Community College students about how patients are treated while being flown to area hospitals during a drill on April 13 at the Science/Health Building. Several ACC programs participated in the drill.
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Students from Alvin Community College health care departments had to work together to practice saving lives during the spring Interprofessional Drill on April 13.
The drill takes place twice a year and includes students in Emergency Medical Technology, Associate Degree Nursing, Respiratory Care and Sonography programs.
The departments work together to learn how to deal with different medical emergencies such as overdoses, gunshot victims and seizures.
Watch a video of the students checking on patients, communicating with each other and working in a crowded emergency room.
Read more to learn more details about the Interprofessional Drill. |
ACC Softball Girls Season Ends; Baseball Starts Region XIV Tournament on May 12
Baseball tournament winner advances to NJCAA National Championship |
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Top: ACC softball player Cortne White makes a throw during a game against Lamar College.
Bottom: ACC pitcher Luis Villareal fires a pitch against Navarro College. |
The Alvin Community College Lady Dolphins were eliminated from the National Junior College Athletic Association Region XIV Tournament on May 5.
The team went 1-2 in the tournament, beating Navarro College 6-2 on May 3. They lost the following day to Blinn College 4-0. They were eliminated by Texarkana College in an eight-inning game 7-6.
The Lady Dolphins finished the 2012 season with a 24-20 record.
The Dolphins are set to throw their first pitch in the NJCAA Region XIV tournament on Saturday, May 12 at the Northeast Texas Community College in Mount Pleasant.
The baseball team currently has a 28-24-2 record. The last game of the regular season was a loss against Blinn College on May 5.
The winner of the Region XIV Tournament will advance to the NJCAA National Championship series which starts May 26 at Sam Suplizio in Grand Junction Colorado.
For more information about the softball or baseball team, visit the team's website.
To get up to the minute scores for the baseball team next week, visit the site gamechanger.io. |
| ACC Teaching Kids to Rock
Summer camp to offer finer points of rock music
| The Alvin Community College Music Department will teach area students the fundamentals of rock music during the Rock and Roll Camp on June 11-14.
The camp is open to students in grades 7th through 12th. The camp will help students learn how to play classic rock music on guitar, bass and drums. They also will get to know classic rock songs, instrumental techniques and rehearsal methods.
Students also will get to experience what it's like to record music in a sound booth.
ACC instructors John Calderon, Tim Salter and Shane Gormly will teach at the camp. All three are professional musicians.
The camp will end with a rock concert performed by the students at 7 p.m. on June 14.
Registration is $150 and is open to any student. Those who register before May 31 will get a $25 discount. Visit the online registration website for more information or call 281-756-3588. |
| Calendar of Events |
May 10: ADN Pinning Ceremony, 7 p.m., ACC Gym May 12: Board of Regents Election
May 15: Commencement, 8 p.m., ACC Gym
May 22: Board of Regents meeting, 7 p.m. Nolan Ryan Center
May 22: Dual Credit Orientation, 6 p.m., Dawson High School
May 23: GED Graduation, 7 p.m. ACC Gym
May 24: Police Academy Graduation, 7 p.m., ACC Gym
May 24: New Student Orientation, 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m., Texas Room
May 28: Campus Closed for Memorial Day
June 4 - August 2: Kids College
June 5: Dual Credit Orientation, 2 p.m. Manvel High School
June 9: ACC Summer Pottery Workshops, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., H-103
June 11-12: Blood Drive, 1:30 p.m., Texas Room
June 11-14: ACC Rock and Roll Camp, 9 a.m. 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
June 11 - July 18: Jewelry Workshop
June 13-14: ACC Summer Pottery Workshop, 1:00 p.m - 3:00 p.m., H-103
June 14: New Student Orientation, 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m., Texas Room
June 18-21: Summer Children's Theater Festival, 10 a.m., ACC Theater
June 19: Dual Credit Orientation, 9 a.m., Pearland High School
June 21: New Student Orientation. 6 p.m. - 9 p.m., Texas Room
June 27-28: ACC Summer Pottery Workshops, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., H-103
June 28: Board of Regents meeting, 7 p.m. Nolan Ryan Center
July 4: Campus Closed for Fourth of July
July 11-12: ACC Summer Pottery Workshop, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., H-103
July 17: Dual Credit Orientation, 9 a.m., Alvin High School
July 23-26: Summer Children's Theater Festival, 10 a.m., ACC Theater
July 25-26: ACC Summer Pottery Workshop, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., H-103
July 26: Board of Regents meeting, 7 p.m. Nolan Ryan Center
July 28: ACC Summer Pottery Workshop, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., H-103
August 2: Dual Credit Orientation, 6 p.m., ACC Student Center
August 8-9: ACC Summer Potter Workshop, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00pm, H-103
August 23: Board of Regents meeting, 7 p.m. Nolan Ryan Center
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 | | Welcome to ACC
from the President
Dr. Rodney Allbright
| | It is our mission to serve the community by providing excellent educational opportunities for people of all ages, events and activities for the whole family, venues for other public and private events and a way to foster economic prosperity. |
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