The Alvin Independent School District hosted an open house for an art exhibit featuring the works of elementary and junior high students at the Alvin Community College Gallery on Feb. 17.

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Susan Baker, wife of former Secretary of State James Baker and author of Passing It On - An Autobiography with Spirit, will be the guest speaker at the annual ACC Foundation Author's Luncheon on April 5, at 11:30 a.m., at the Nolan Ryan Center. Baker is a founding member of the National Alliance to End Homelessness and has served on the boards of Families for the Homeless, Neighborhood Centers, Inc., Houston Food Bank and the Enterprise Foundation, an organization dedicated to creating low-income housing. She was also an instrumental member of a bipartisan parents' group that persuaded the music industry to voluntarily issue warning labels for lyrics. In addition to highlighting the challenges Baker purposely tackled to help others, Passing It On is also a reflective narrative of facing unplanned personal challenges that demonstrate what can be accomplished through faith. Prior to the luncheon, Baker will be available to sign copies of her book. Proceeds from book sales and the event will be used toward ACC student scholarships, staff development and community enrichment programs. Tickets are $40 each and a reserved table for eight is $400. For more information, call (281) 756-3600. 

ACC Student Activities will host a blood drive at the main campus on March 22-23 from 9:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. ACC blood drive donors will receive a free T-shirt and have the opportunity to enroll in the Blood Center's Commit for Life program.  Commit for Life encourages people to donate regularly to save lives and earn different levels of service. For more information, call (281) 756-3686. For frequently asked questions about donating blood, visit www.giveblood.org.

The ACC Criminal Justice Department is offering new unarmed and armed private security guard and personal protection officer training beginning in April. This progressive training program meets the requirements for certification through the Texas Department of Public Safety Private Security Bureau. All courses are held at the ACC Pearland Center, 2319 N. Grand Blvd., except for the firearms portion of level 3 which will be held at the main campus's indoor firearms facility. Each level of training requires passing a written exam to receive certification. The level 2 course will be held on April 1, followed by level 3 April 18-21 and level 4 May 17-19. For more information, visit ACC's website at www.alvincollege.edu and click Continuing Ed and Career Training or call ACC Law Enforcement Training Coordinator Ronny Phillips at (281) 756-3774. To register for classes, call the ACC Continuing Education Workforce Development Department at (281) 756-3787.

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The ACC Phi Theta Kappa Mu Upsilon Chapter is hosting a diaper and formula drive through March 25. Baby items, including diapers (all sizes), formula (for all ages) and baby wipes, can be dropped off at collection boxes located in each main building. All collected items will be donated to the Women's Center of Brazoria County. PTK is the international honor society of two-year colleges. For more information, contact ACC PTK President Karen Leder at (832) 878-6649.

To help people prepare for the Texas Education Agency's GED high school equivalency exams, ACC is offering newly designed courses beginning in April. Students will have a choice to participate in courses at the main campus or Pearland Center that target specific needs, such as writing or math, or courses that cover all five subjects tested by the state. For people interested in developing their writing skills, a six-week course entitled "All Writing GED Preparation" will be offered at the main campus Mondays and Wednesdays, 6 to 9 p.m., beginning on April 11. The same course will be offered for four weeks at the Pearland Center Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6 to 9 p.m., beginning on April 12. For people interested in gaining more math skills, a six-week course entitled "All Math GED Preparation" will be offered at the main campus Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6 to 9 p.m., beginning on April 12. The same course will be offered for four weeks at the Pearland Center Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to noon, beginning on April 12. Registration for the courses at the main campus can be completed on March 21 at 6 p.m. or March 25 at 9 a.m. in Building A, Room 222. The process takes approximately 2 hours for orientation and testing. Due to grant funding for the courses at the main campus, the cost is only $50 and a textbook is furnished. Registration for the courses at the Pearland Center is ongoing at the Pearland Center or main campus in Building H, Room 103. The cost for these courses in Pearland is $57 for in-district residents and $77 for out-of-district and students are required to purchase a textbook and calculator (for math class). Courses which cover all five subject areas for the GED exams begin in May. Students under 18 require additional paperwork.