Ascender at Viva la Vida
On Saturday, October 26, students, faculty, staff, friends, and family of Ascender joined the citywide Viva la Vida fest parade, celebrating Día de Los Muertos. This festivity was organized by Mexic-Arte and the City of Austin and for the first time ACC was represented in the parade with a group of 60 students, two vintage cars and RB the ACC mascot. Students walked the parade, wearing masks and makeup for Día de Los Muertos they also had the opportunity to participate in several related activities and visit booths from different organizations. Families and students had learned about this prehispanic celebration with origins in Mexico in a fun and festive environment.

2019 Boots & Bats Gala 
The 2019 Boots and Bats Gala raised about $300,000 for student scholarships, nearly doubling the amount raised last year at the inaugural event. More than 500 ACC supporters and 100 volunteers attended the event. Attendees enjoyed music by the Sunset Valley Sentimental Family Band, hors d'oeuvres was designed and prepared by ACC Culinary Arts students, and many attendees took home one-of-a-kind artwork from national, local, and student artists. The silent auction will reopen on Monday, November 18, for another opportunity to support student success through scholarships. View photos from the event here. 

ACC Fest 2019
More than 1,200 current and future student attended ACC Fest 2019 on Saturday, November 9, at the Highland Campus, Building 4000, to explore programs and get a hands-on career exploration experience. Attendees were provided an interactive experience with programs from all 10 areas of study, student organizations, career and transfer services, and student performances.

ACC Champions for Seedling
ACC is launching a mentoring program with Seedling — a non-profit organization dedicated to school-based mentoring. The "ACC Champions for Seedling" program connects employees with the approximately 8,000 Central Texas public school students who are facing the challenges of parental incarceration. Research shows that Seedling mentees are able to improve in school attendance, disciplinary outcomes, and grade promotion. Learn how you can participate through the Office of Human Resources, Benefits. 

ACC Nursing voted Best of the Best — again!
For the second year in a row, ACC Nursing was voted the Best of the Best Nursing Program in the Austin American-Statesman poll. ACC Nursing ranked ahead of Texas State University and the University of Texas at Austin. Read more here.

2019 Golf Scramble fundraiser
A cold front couldn't stop more than 100 ACC supporters from hitting the golf course for the 14th Annual ACC Scramble. The event raised nearly $29,000 for the ACC Student Emergency Fund, which has distributed more than $215,000 to more than 300 students facing crises that might otherwise derail their education. An endowment has also been established and to date stands at $160,000. View photos from the event here.

ACC honors those who served at various Veterans Day events
ACC held several events to honor current and former military members for Veterans Day on Monday, November 11. Elgin Campus hosted a Veterans Day Celebration and Luncheon with guest speakers Eduardo Hidrago, John Quagliani, and Charles Swain. Awards of appreciation were presented to Dr. Louella H. Tate, Sylvia Galvan Gonzalez, and BethAnn Warwick. Approximately 70 ACC veteran students and community members attended the event. A Veterans Breakfast and Veterans Reception were held at Highland Campus Veterans Resource Center and Round Rock Campus Veterans Study Room, respectively, where veterans mingled and made connections with other ACC veterans and Veterans Affairs staff.

Student Life Annual Report
ACC's Office of Student Life has released their 2018-19 annual report. The office served 27,469 students during the academic year, an 11 percent increase from the year before. Read more here.

Office of Energy & Sustainability tours Texas Disposal Systems
ACC's Office of Energy & Sustainability hosted a tour of Texas Disposal Systems, ACC's landfill and recycling hauler. The tour was attended by 14 students, faculty, and staff that participate on their campus' Green Team. The group boarded a school bus to drive around TDS's campus and get in-depth information on their recycling, landfill, composting, concrete recycling, and exotic game ranch facilities. To join your campus Green Team and hop on the next tour, visit austincc.edu/greenteam.