Process Technology received a new training unit for the department on July 28. The unit was purchased with a $339,000 grant from the Texas Comptroller's Office.

Alvin Community College Board of Regents voted to conduct two public hearings on the 2014-15 fiscal year rate during their meeting on July 31.

The proposed tax rate for 2014-15 will be 20.4 cents per $100 of property value which is an increase from the 19.9 cents tax rate this year.

The $27.23 million pending budget is a 5 percent increase from the $25.89 million budget in this year. The budget includes three faculty positions, three full time staff positions, five part time staff positions, funding for a master facilities plan and some facilities improvements. Debt payments in 2014-2015 for the Science/Health Science Building bonds will be $1.56 million.

The board voted 6-3 to approve the tentative budget which will be finalized on August 28. Regents Cheryl Knape, Jody Droege, 'Bel Sanchez, Bart DeWitt, Karlis Ercums and Doyle Swindell voted for the budget and tax rate proposals. Regents Mac Barrow, Pete Nash and Mike Pyburn voted against the budget proposal.

ACC is projected to receive about $7.38 million from state appropriations, $7.04 million in tuition and fees along with $12.97 million in property tax revenue.

The board will have two public hearings on the tax proposal on August 11 and 14. Both meetings are at 7 p.m. at the Nolan Ryan Center.

The tax rate will be adopted at the meeting on August 28.

Read the full story about the Regents meeting. 

The jazz band, Kelly Dean Group, is set to close out the Alvin Live Summer Concert Series on August 14 at 7 p.m.

The Kelly Dean Group is a local jazz band who has performed with other popular artists such as Ray Charles, Kenny Rogers, Frankie Valli as well as with other jazz artists including Terence Blanchard, Charlie Haden, Mike Smith and many more.

Band members include:  Kelly Dean, John Calderon, Gilbert Sedeņo, Felix Luna and Vernon Daniels.

Kelly Dean performed the first Alvin Live concert at the K-219 studio in 2011.

Since 2011 the ACC Live series has used the studio setting for its productions on 89.7 FM, KACC-TV and cable access channel 16. The studio can seat 65 guests. When it's not used for public and private events, ACC students work in K-219 to gain experience in television and radio broadcasting.

Ticket prices for Kelly Dean are $40 and $250 for a reserved table of four. Refunds are not available.

Appetizers and drinks will be provided.

Visit the Alvin Live website to purchase tickets. Also check out the Alvin Live Facebook page for updates. 

Polysomnography student Ahmed Khawaka, right, shows Drs. Ahmer Faruki, left, and Priyanka Pathania, second from left, how to perform a sleep study on fellow student Stephen Fletcher on July 7.

Physicians from the Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Texas College of Medicine received instruction from ACC sleep medicine students regarding polysomnography procedures.

The polysomnography students helped teach the doctors about using the equipment, software and procedures for the sleep studies.

Polysomnography graduates help with diagnosis and treatment of conditions like narcolepsy, sleep apnea and insomnia.

ACC is home to the first polysomnography degree program in Texas and one of 16 throughout the United States.

For more information, call 281-756-5655 or visit the department website. 

World War II veteran Elmer Lee shares his experiences about serving in the Pacific while ACC Court Reporting student Amy Quincey takes down his comments on July 19.

Fourteen veterans visited ACC on July 19 to work with court reporting students for the Library of Congress Veterans History Project, which documents the experiences of veterans.

World War II veteran Elmer Lee, 88, of Alvin, talked about his time in the U.S. Navy piloting boats. He would often help land the boats loaded with men and equipment during the fight against the Japanese.

Lee was also sent to Japan after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

"Our ship took off as fast as we could go," he said. "They were congregating us for the invasion of Japan."

Each veteran worked with an interviewer and a court reporter who transcribed the veterans' stories verbatim.

ACC Upward Bound named Troy Jackson as the 2014 Graduate of the Year during the annual awards dinner on July 29. From left: Upward Bound director Regan Metoyer, Eason, advisor Sharmeal Archie and assistant Tobie Matusek.

Upward Bound seeks to motivate low-income and/or potential first-generation college students and help them develop the skills they need to complete secondary education and succeed at the postsecondary educational institution of their choice. The purpose of the program is to build confidence and self-esteem, while providing the necessary tools and guidance to foster academic success.

Read the full story which includes the list of all winners. 

For more information call 281-756-3849 or visit the Upward Bound website.

Alvin Community Band Director David Griffith conducts the band during its 20th Independence Day concert on July 4.

The Independence Day concert marked their 20th year of performing for college and community events.

While there are many community bands in the region, few have been able to maintain their strength through the years like the Alvin Community Band, said director David Griffith.

"They're really wonderful people and we just love to play concert music," he said. "It's a testament to the people who are in it."

In addition to playing on campus, the band plays for local organizations and area events including Alvin Home for the Holidays.