Joe Morales was a member of KIPP Austin's first class of 5^th graders in 2002 and matriculated to Texas Lutheran University in August.  Joe is the first member of his family to attend college. We checked in with him as he finishes up his first semester as a college freshman.

 

Is college life different than you expected?

It is definitely very different. I remember asking teachers and KIPP alumni what college was like, and now I know why it's hard to explain.  I like it, though. 

 

What do you enjoy most about Texas Lutheran University?

I like the small classes and the sense of community.  Like at KIPP, students and teachers interact all of the time. I see students not only learning from teachers and each other, but the teachers also learning from and interacting with the students as well.

 

What is your favorite class and why?

My favorite class is C++ programming.  I like learning computer programming languages and the way the computer functions and reserved words can be combined to break apart a large, complex function into smaller and more direct functions.  I want to design software. I also really like my professor Dr. Hijazi. He is, in his own words, "a totally cool dude".

 

Did KIPP Austin prepare you well for the rigors of college classes?  If so, how?

One thing I'd have to say is the sentence writing.  My composition class is challenging and was definitely something I was able to catch on to quickly because of all the writing we did at KIPP. KIPP also taught me to ask questions and seek help from classmates or teachers. In college you really have to be proactive that way.  

 

What advice do you have for KIPPsters preparing for college?

Stay on top of your grades and take time to understand the things you learn in the classroom. You would be surprised what you will revisit in college. Questions are the fundamentals of not only learning in the classroom, but in life - don't be afraid to ask. Also, be creative! Creativity is what every college looks for in their students. Read books, make art, play an instrument, anything that gets your mind flowing with ideas - and stick with it.

KIPP Austin has been featured in the news several times over the past few months.  In case you missed them, check out the stories below!

Austin American-Statesman
"Charter School District is Expanding it's Reach"

KVUE News
Austin School System Highlighed on Oprah Show

West Austin News
"The Chance of a Lifetime"

Carl Stolle's dedication to our students is evident and he is a major influence for many of them. Carl says he supports KIPP Austin because "every ounce of energy and every dollar given to the schools is repaid a thousand fold with the knowledge that you are helping a deserving young man or woman achieve their dream of going to college. Honestly, it doesn't get any better than that."

We are fortunate to have Carl in our KIPP Austin family. Not only does he support our schools financially, he also volunteers as our varsity boys basketball coach.  With Carl and his wife Elizabeth's help, our basketball teams are playing in a newly renovated gym.  With a regulation court, we can now host games. And a home crowd makes all the difference as Carl recently experienced firsthand. "When we won our first game the stands emptied onto the court and you would have thought we just won the NCAA championship. It was a night I will never forget."

Carl was introduced to KIPP Austin four years ago by our longtime supporter Eric Harslem whom Carl had worked with at Dell. Carl says he was hooked after the first visit. "I worked on the annual employee giving campaign at Dell and was looking for an organization where I could get directly involved. I was looking for someplace where I could make an impact through volunteer work as well as feel confident that Elizabeth's and my financial support would help achieve measurable and substantial results."

"It has been very gratifying to watch the boys mature, improve, and in some cases develop the love for the sport that I have found so satisfying in my life. I think basketball helps to reinforce the life lessons they learn at KIPP Austin - that success in life starts with hard work, and that how you behave and carry yourself is critical to becoming a productive citizen. I'm proud of the fact that the boys did not get discouraged our first two years when we did not win a single game. It's fun to see how excited they are now that we have a winning record."  

Without generous supporters like Carl we would not be able to fulfill our mission. 

Thank you Carl!  Go Cardinals (see "Upcoming Events" to find out when you can cheer the team on)!

On Friday, November 5th, a team of enthusiastic employees from ProspX dedicated an afternoon to rejuvenating the outside of our high school, KIPP Austin Collegiate.  The volunteers created walkways and gave the garden a facelift so students could plant vegetables. 

Just this week, a group from Trustwave spent a day at our elementary school, KIPP Austin Comunidad, painting murals.  One mural embodied the schools values of courage, tenacity, honor, quality, and community, while another displayed KIPP Austin's mission in both English and Spanish.  



We want to give both teams a big thank you for all their hard to create at better learning environment for our students.  Your continued dedication to our KIPP Austin is much appreciated!