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ACC students participated in a mock grand jury at the Friendswood Municipal Court on Oct. 14. The mock grand jury involved students from the criminal justice, paralegal and court reporting programs at ACC addressing an actual case. Since 2007, attorney and ACC criminal justice instructor Joseph Gutheinz has been coordinating a mock grand jury each semester to give students an opportunity to gain valuable experience on a case that is unfolding in the media so they can go through the "various stages necessary to bring about a final resolution of the case." |
Dear ACC Alumni, Supporters and Friends,
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| TSTC Announces Plans to Expand Training Programs in Pearland
Advisory Board to be Created with PEDC to Identify Needs |  Texas State Technical College (TSTC) announced plans to expand training programs in partnership with ACC at the Pearland Center during an event on Oct. 19. ACC partnered with TSTC two years ago to help bring high quality, state-of-the-art technical training to residents, businesses and organizations in the Gulf Coast region. Since then, training in Industrial Electrical Technology and Programmable Logic Control Specialization has been available at the Pearland campus. TSTC administrators credited the success of classes in Pearland and ACC's partnership for making the expansion possible. To date, there have been 369 total enrollments in 46 courses offered by TSTC at the Pearland campus, which includes students who have taken more than one class. The TSTC programs at the Pearland Center are designed as a "fast track" to help train people for higher paying technical jobs in approximately 5 months. TSTC, which is the only state-supported technical college system in Texas, is considered a statewide leader for advanced training in many fields such as biotechnology, wireless communications, fuel cell technology, gaming and more. Established in 1965, the TSTC System has four colleges: TSTC Harlingen, TSTC Marshall, TSTC Waco and TSTC West Texas, with campuses in Abilene, Breckenridge, Brownwood, and Sweetwater. The partnership with ACC has allowed TSTC to begin servicing the southeastern portion of the state for the first time.TSTC Waco President Dr. Elton Stuckly is shown speaking to guests at the event.
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| TWC Commissioner Presents $1.3 Million Grant
Funds to be Used by CEWD to Train Over 640 Workers |  Texas Workforce Commission Commissioner Ronny Congleton (right photo, left) presented a ceremonial check for a $1.3 million grant to Alvin Community College on Oct. 20 that will be used by the Continuing Education Workforce Development Department to provide training for a petrochemical consortium involving four area companies. The 1-year TWC Skills Development Fund grant will be used to supply approximately 17,000 hours of advanced training to over 640 new and existing employees at TEAM Industrial, Ascend Performance Materials, LyondellBasell and Solvay Chemicals.
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| Dean Visits Mississippi College for SACS Review
Experience to Assist with ACC's Process | To give Alvin Community College an inside look at the new Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) reaffirmation of accreditation process, ACC Dean of Academic Programs Dr. Drew Nelson was recently invited to observe a visiting committee at Coahoma Community College near Clarksdale, Miss. To maintain accreditation, colleges are required to submit an application for "reaffirmation of accreditation" every 10 years. Originally, ACC's reaffirmation of accreditation application was due March 2010; however, the college needed all of last year to recover from Hurricane Ike and was given a year extension. This is the sixth time ACC has gone through the reaffirmation of accreditation process with SACS. Dr. Nelson's visit to Coahoma Community College allowed him to view that college's Quality Enhancement Plan and participate in the process. Following the on-site visit at ACC in the fall of 2011, the SACS Commission on Colleges will review the reports and then make a final decision in June 2012.
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| IT Programmer Releases First Book
Dentler Sought After for Knowledge of NHibernate |  ACC IT programmer/analyst Jason Dentler (right) just released his first book, the NHibernate 3.0 Cookbook. NHibernate is a unique free code library designed for data storage that continuously evolves with input from programmers throughout the world. According to Jason, many IT professionals use it instead of other well-known systems to develop their own programs for data storage needs. To maintain control of NHibernate, the code is monitored, maintained and modified by a board of developers from various countries, including Austria, Argentina, Turkey and the U. S. Dentler's book can be found on Amazon and directly from the publisher, Packt Publishing.
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| Imthurn Nominated for Piper Professor Award
Honor Places Instructor in State Competition |  ACC Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) instructor Manuela Imthurn (right) was recently nominated by her peers to represent the college and compete with educators throughout Texas for the prestigious Piper Professor Award. The Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation, a non-profit organization orchestrated through the Texas Comptroller's Office, annually awards $5,000 to 10 professors throughout the state for their superior teaching at the college level. Participation in the Piper Professor Program is by invitation only. The annual selection process is facilitated by the ACC Academic Affairs Committee. Manuela, who began her career at ACC in 2004, earned a master's degree in nursing education and post master's work as a clinical nurse specialist in gerontological nursing at the University of Texas Health Science Center. She is currently working on a second master's degree in statistics which she plans to use for future research initiatives. Manuela is involved in the ACC Honors Program, Alvin Nursing Students Association and college's Quality Enhancement Plan Committee. To enhance her knowledge and experience in her career, she is a member of the National Gerontological Nursing Association, National Organization for Associate Degree Nursing and the Texas Community College Teachers Association.
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| NCMPR Honors Marketing Department with Awards | The National Council for Marketing and Public Relations for Region 4 recently awarded the ACC Marketing Department with three awards at its annual convention in Colorado on Oct. 5. ACC Marketing Specialists Cammy Guggisberg and Lizeth Sitta received a Gold Medallion in the Successful Recruitment and Marketing Program category for the college's student ambassador program which is sponsored by the ACC Foundation. ACC graphic artist Joyce McMillian received a Gold Medallion in the Computer-Generated Illustration category and a Silver Medallion in the Banner and Outdoor category for the banners on the main campus that use artwork by Texas Children's Cancer Center patients. Region 4 includes the states of Arkansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming.
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| Campus Veterans Host Event on Nov. 11
Sunrise Ceremony Kicks Off Dedication, Parade Events in Angleton | ACC will host a sunrise wreath dedication ceremony at the Memorial Wall on the main campus on Nov. 11 at 8 a.m.in honor of Veterans Day.Coffee and refreshments will follow in the Texas Room. The ACC Chapter of the Student Veterans of America will serve as host and invites all veterans and their families to attend this annual event. Following refreshments, the organization encourages attendance of the unveiling of the Ring of Honor at the Brazoria County Courthouse in Angleton at 9 a.m. followed later by the annual Veterans Day Parade.
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| Foundation Holding Raffle to Raise Funds to Benefit Students
Drawing to be Held at ACC Foundation Annual Christmas Gala on Dec. 7 | |
To help raise funds for student scholarships, community enrichment programs and staff development, the Alvin Community College Foundation is sponsoring a raffle, which includes a first prize of a $2,000 travel voucher, second prize Dell Latitude 2110 Laptop and third prize Nook 3G. The winner of the travel voucher will have the opportunity to choose the destination, mode of transportation and date through Dec. 31, 2011. The drawing will be held at the annual ACC Foundation Christmas Gala on Dec. 7 at the Nolan Ryan Center. Tickets are $10 each or 12 for $100. Ticket holders do not have to be present to win. Tickets are available on the main campus in office B200.
Enjoy another Christmas tradition at ACC by attending the annual Foundation Christmas Gala on Dec. 7, at 6 p.m., at the Nolan Ryan Center. There will be a wine reception, dinner, silent and live auction and musical entertainment. The event is held each year to raise funds for ACC Foundation scholarships and projects. For tickets and information, call (281) 756-3600.
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| Choir to Perform Annual Christmas Concert on Dec. 1
Event Held at First United Methodist Church of Alvin |  Spark the Christmas spirit with the angelic voices of the Alvin Community College choir during its annual Christmas Choral Concert at First United Methodist Church in Alvin on Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free and refreshments will follow. First United Methodist Church is located at 611 W. South Street. Call (281) 756-3587 to find out more.
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| Criminal Justice Department to Hold Appreciation Dinner for Officers, Cadets
Event Held in Recognition of LEA's 40th Anniversary | To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Alvin Community College Law Enforcement Academy, the Criminal Justice Advisory Board for ACC will host a Bi-County Law Enforcement Appreciation Dinner for area law enforcement officers and criminal justice officials on Nov. 11. All Brazoria County and Galveston County law enforcement officers, criminal justice officials and former cadets of the ACC Police Academy are invited. The event, which will be held in the ACC gym, will begin with a reception at 5 p.m., followed by dinner. For more information, call (281) 756-3781. An RSVP is requested, but not required.
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| Theatre to Present Christmas Production
Three Holiday Favorite Tales Performed | Enjoy some favorite holiday tales at the main campus theatre on Dec 4-5 and Dec. 9-11. The Alvin Community College Drama Department will perform a collection of three Christmas classics, including "An Implausible Clause," The Gift of the Magi," and "The Littlest Angel." Performances on Dec. 4 and Dec. 9-11 will be at 8 p.m. and Dec. 5 at 2:30 p.m. For more information or to reserve tickets, call the ACC Theatre Box Office at (281) 756-3606.
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| Campus Officers Hold Self-defense Class for Women
Event Sponsored by Student Activities in Recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month |  ACC Officers Joey Breaux (right photo, left to right) and Olivia Martinez held a self-defense workshop for women on the main campus on Oct. 25. The event was sponsored by ACC Student Activities in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The two officers are certified instructors and offer credit and continuing education classes. They are also available for workshops at other locations. For more information, call (281) 756-3700.
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| Shimpo of America Pottery Workshop Held at ACC
Event will Feature Guest Demonstrations | The Ceramic Store of Houston and Alvin Community College Art Department will co-host a Shimpo of America workshop featuring artists Yosuke Koizumi and Karen Wise on Nov. 15 at the ACC main campus from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Participants will be able to experience pottery wheel throwing demonstrations and learn about glazes and how they work, carve balsa foam to use as clay stamps, and wheel and hand building techniques. The cost to attend the workshop is $15 and includes materials and lunch. Attendance is limited to the first 30 people who register. Participants of the workshop will also have the opportunity to make bowls for Empty Bowls Houston and meet Craig Dunn Clark who works closely with the charity. He will offer guidelines and advice on donating bowls for the Empty Bowls Houston event, which is March 19, 2011. Proceeds from the event benefit the Houston Food Bank. For more information and to register, contact ACC Art Department Visual Arts Coordinator Cherie Richey at (281) 756-3605.
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| ANSA Hosts Costume Contest at Fall Festival
Two-year-old Wins Grand Prize |  Rowdy Knight, 2, of Manvel, "takes a drive" around the floor after finding out he won the overall grand prize in the costume contest at the 35th Annual Fall Festival & Carnival at Alvin Community College on Oct. 30. The costume contest is hosted by the Alvin Nursing Student Association (ANSA) each year. He is also shown with his mother, Tamra (kneeling, left).
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| ACC Hosts Annual Food and Toy Drive
Help Area Families this Christmas by Donating Non-perishable Food, New Toys | For approximately 25 years, Alvin Community College, ACC Student Activities, and the ACC Church of Christ Student Fellowship have been sponsoring "ACC CAN Feed the Hungry" to help provide sacks of food just before Christmas for families who have unfortunate circumstances. This year, the food distribution and the Breakfast with Santa will take place on Saturday, Dec. 11 from 9 to 11 a.m. ACC Student Activities will sponsor a toy drive, "Toys Thru Us," in conjunction with this service project, Nov. 15 through Dec. 9. Non-perishable food items can be dropped off at the ACC main campus through Dec. 11. Collection baskets are located in most of the buildings. New toys can be dropped off at boxes throughout the campus and in Building E after Nov. 15. For more information, call (281) 756-3693 or (281) 756-3686.
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| Calendar of Events |
November 1: Registration for Spring 2011 Semester Begins
November 2: University Day, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Building E
November 2: Orthopedic Tech Program Info Session, 6 p.m., Room H112
November 4: Annual Fall Fitness Fair, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Building S November 11: Veterans Day Sunrise Ceremony, 8 a.m., Memorial Wall
November 11: Law Enforcement Appreciation Dinner, 5 p.m., Gym
November 13: Annual Fall Poetry Workshop, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., S105
November 16-17: Blood Drive, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Texas Room
November 18: ACC Board of Regents Meeting, 7 p.m., Nolan Ryan Center
November 24-26: ACC Closed for Thanksgiving December 1: ACC Choir Christmas Concert, 7:30 p.m., First United Methodist of Alvin December 4-5, 9-11: ACC Theatre Christmas Show, Various Times, ACC Theatre December 7: ACC Foundation Annual Christmas Gala, 6 p.m., Nolan Ryan Center December 12: ACC Wind Ensemble, Community Band Christmas Concert, 4 p.m., ACC Theatre December 15 through January 3, 2011: ACC Closed for Winter Break |
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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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