This regular feature recognizes the achievements, activities, and accolades of Austin Community College District (ACC) faculty and staff. To submit news or suggestions, see the contact information below.

The March 2023 Provost’s 3Cs Shining Star Award reception was held at South Austin Campus. The following recipients were celebrated: 

  • Mariusz (Marcus) Kajdas, Instructional AV Installation manager
  • Belinda Peña, Financial Aid and Veterans Outreach associate director
  • Natasha Randolph, Professional Nursing assistant department chair
  • Dr. Marian Moore, Instructional designer
  • Sonya Rendon-Rangel, Elgin Campus coordinator
  • Geneva Monroe, Student Life regional coordinator

ACC’s Dental Hygiene Program received approval from the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) for a temporary increase in enrollment from 18 to 26 students for the class entering fall 2023. The additional eight students are funded through a special program with Capital IDEA to provide dental hygiene education to students of diverse backgrounds. The Commission adopted a resolution approving the program’s request and maintaining the program’s accreditation status of “approval without reporting requirements.” 

ACC adjunct faculty Brian Donohoe performed live on Austin City Limits with Adrian Quesada (of the Black Pumas and Grupo Fantasma) and his international “Boleros Psicodelicos” project. In addition to performing with the band, Donohoe also arranged and orchestrated all the woodwind, brass, and string parts. Austin PBS Passport members can watch it here for free. 

PBS’ Roadtrip Nation rolled through Austin last year and stopped to speak with Dr. Laura Marmolejo, ACC associate dean of Advanced Manufacturing Programs. Roadtrip Nation hosts and aspiring semiconductor engineers sat down with Dr. Marmolejo to ask her about her career in the first episode called “Chip In,” which is now featured on the Roadtrip Nation website.

Ted Hadzi-Antich, ACC Government associate professor, was featured on the Academic Minute for his Great Questions work. The Academic Minute airs on 70 stations throughout the U.S. and Canada. Listen to the segment here. 

Four ACC students are semifinalists for the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. The highly competitive national scholarship provides transfer students with up to $55,000 a year to complete their bachelor’s degrees. 

Out of more than 1,700 applicants, 459 students were named semifinalists, including four ACC students:

  • Benjamin Baker
  • Yashavene Sin Li
  • Isaiah Smith
  • Amber Traylor

Learn more here.

Do you know a student, faculty, or staff member who has accomplished something notable outside the classroom or in their community? We want to hear about them. Contact Victoria Garza Gonzalez, ACC internal communications coordinator, at [email protected].