Several local business and government officials attended the Community Advisory Committee's initial meeting on September 18 to provide insight about how the college can further the interests of the community. Pictured from left, State Rep. Ed Thompson, community member C.R. Cooper, Manvel Mayor Delores Martin, Pearland Mayor Tom Reid, ACC President Dr. Christal M. Albrecht, Alvin Mayor Paul Horn and County Commissioner Matt Sebesta.

Alvin city officials discussed its master plan for economic development with the Board of Regents during a meeting on September 25.

The plan includes developing a partnership with ACC to help produce an educated and skilled workforce for businesses in the city and surrounding area.

"There is an opportunity for community colleges to step up and play a larger role in economic development," said Tom Stellman, a consultant from TIP Strategies Inc. "The number one issue in the Greater Houston region right now for employers is finding the skill sets."

Part of the master plan includes the city working with ACC to expand its facilities and programs for the industrial technology field to help satisfy the demand for workers over the next three to five years.

Grayson Church, of Alvin takes a ride in a toy car during the last year's annual ACC Fall Festival

The event will include games, arts and crafts and food booths sponsored by local businesses, campus clubs and organizations.

The ACC Softball team will again host the 5K Zombie Blood Run during the Festival. Runners can sign up now on the ACC Marketplace. Check in and registration is at 4:30 p.m. and the race begins at 5:30 p.m. Registration is $25 and includes a free t-shirt. For more information e-mail racantu@alvincollege.edu. 

The Fall Festival will also feature a costume contest, hosted by the Alvin Nursing Student Association. The contest is open to kids of all ages. Prizes will be awarded in numerous age categories and one for best overall.

Originally created to provide an alternative to trick or treating on Halloween, the ACC Fall Festival has become the college's largest event of the year. It is estimated that over 7,000 kids and family members attend each year.

Vendor booths are still available for the festival. The  cost for each booth ranges from $40 to $60. 

Registration for the second fall mini-semester is now open and will close October 16. Classes will begin on October 20. Visit the ACC website to see what classes are available.

The 3-week holiday mini-semester registration opens on November 10 and closes December 15. All of the Holiday mini classes are online and will run from December 18 to January 7. Several courses are available including Composition I or II; Government; History; Math; Fitness & Wellness and many more.

Students try to work together and make a tower out of spaghetti, string, tape and a marshmallow during the Student Leadership Conference on September 13.

"Your personal leadership skills have a net positive impact if you are able to achieve your dreams in your life," he said.

More than 100 students attended the seventh annual conference, which was hosted by the Office of Student Activities.

The conference is designed to help students learn leadership skills that they can use in their classes and with the clubs and organizations they volunteer.

"I learned how to be a leader by being a student leader," Stoll said. "I got involved with student groups at an early age, almost entirely on accident, and getting exposed to the opportunities that student leadership presents opened a whole new world to me and changed my life immensely."

Pediatric Echocardiography students learn about sonography technology in class in this ACC file photo.

Participants at the Symposium will learn about pediatric sonography scans including identifying anatomy, physiology, possible congenital defects and treatment options.

Seminar attendees will get an opportunity to improve their skills while practicing hands-on scanning techniques with guidance from qualified sonographers who have experience in the field of fetal, pediatric and adult congenital heart disease.

ACC faculty members would like to see the Symposium help instructors develop their abilities in order to assist sonographers in preparation for the congenital echocardiography specialty registry examinations.

In January the ACC Pediatric Echocardiography program became the first in Texas and among the first in the country to receive accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. The first class of Pediatric Echocardiography students graduated in Spring 2013.

Seating for the Symposium is limited to 80 participants and breakfast and lunch will be provided both days of the event.

Cost to attend is $225 for both days and $125 for one day. The price will increase by $25 if a person registers on the day of the event.

The Symposium will be held at the Science & Allied Health Building, 3110 Mustang Road in Alvin.

Participants can register online at the ACC Marketplace or call 281-756-5606.

The 2014 fall Sudent Ambassadors are, top, from left: Jeanae Jackson and Grace Windsor. Bottom, from left: Madison Goss, Zachary Davis, Ashley Mello, Ashlyn Turner, Michelle Manuel, Reagan Huber, Brittany SanMiguel, Saydi Wollney and Erik Hollen.

ACC Ambassadors are an important element in attracting students and promoting the college's mission. During the fall semester ambassadors will help provide information to potential students about ACC services, help create marketing strategies, conduct campus tours, work community events and volunteer for College and Foundation events.

Ambassadors receive a $600 scholarship for their 40-hour commitment.

"It's a great way for the students to learn leadership and public speaking skills," ACC student recruiter Liz Sitta said. "Throughout the program, they learn that our middle name is 'Community' therefore we believe in being the liaison between the community and the college."

The new ambassadors for the fall semester are Brittany San Miguel, of Alvin; Jeanae Jackson, of Texas City and Madison Goss, of Alvin.

EMT student Kyle McLeod, right, performs a blood sugar test on Erik Bjelke, of Houston, during the Fall Fitness Fair on last year.

Several of the college's healthcare students will showcase their programs with demonstrations, informational booths and more. There will be free cardiovascular scans, heart scans, massage demonstrations and other activities.

Flu shots also will be available for $20.

Some of the programs that will be on-hand at the fair include Nursing, Respiratory Care, Emergency Medical Technology, Diagnostic Cardiovascular Sonography and many more.

The event will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Fitness Fair is free and open to the public. For more information or to rent a booth call 281-756-5610 or register online. 

President Dr. Christal M. Albrecht, front right, and ACC Teacher Association President John Matula, left, discuss the upcoming legislative session with students on September 17.

Students, faculty and staff filled the Texas Room to discuss local government issues as well as the upcoming Texas legislative session in January.

President Dr. Christal M. Albrecht said the outlook for state appropriations next year is positive.

"Folks at the university and the community college level are optimistic," according to lobbyists, Albrecht said.

Much of the state funding, which accounts for roughly a third of college revenue, is now based on a percentage of student completion at the college, said ACC Teachers Association President John Matula.

While KACC 89.7 FM is known throughout Southeast Texas as the best source for classic rock music, the station will soon begin a weekly show highlighting the programs, students and faculty at ACC.

Starting on September 18, KACC will air its first installment of ACCents.

"The show will run each week on the air at KACC on Thursdays at 7:30 a.m.," said station manager and ACC instructor Mark Moss.

Each episode will run approximately 15 minutes.

Moss said he wanted to start ACCents as a way of showcasing what the college has to offer for students and the community.