ACC 2026 Teaching & Leadership Excellence Awards Celebration Recap

Austin Community College (ACC) proudly celebrated the 2026 Teaching and Leadership Excellence Award recipients at this year’s Awards Celebration, an evening dedicated to honoring the exceptional contributions of faculty and staff across the College.

Held on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at the ACC Rio Grande Campus, the celebration brought together over 150 attendees, including colleagues, family members, and friends. The evening was filled with moments of recognition, reflection, and appreciation for the innovation, dedication, and impact of this year’s awardees.

A Night of Recognition and Community

Throughout the evening, ACC leadership and distinguished guests recognized award recipients whose work exemplifies excellence in teaching, leadership, and service. From inspiring remarks to heartfelt award presentations, the celebration highlighted the meaningful contributions that continue to shape student success and strengthen the ACC community.

“The entire night was inspiring. Each awardee brings so much value to the College, and seeing their colleagues and loved ones come together to celebrate them was incredible. Every person is so deserving of their award, and I’m glad we were able to honor them,” said Dr. Theresa Glenn, Dean of Faculty Development and Evaluation.

This year’s Awards Dinner was held on what would have been Queen Samantha Acker’s 60th birthday, making the evening especially meaningful. Her family joined the celebration as 10 ACC employees were recognized with the inaugural Queen Samantha Ackers College Values Awards.

This award honors the enduring legacy of Queen Samantha Ackers, a beloved member of the ACC community whose light, leadership, and laughter touched countless lives. She exemplified the College’s core values (Courage, Compassion, Joy, and Yes) in every interaction.

Event Highlights

• 27 awardees honored across multiple categories
• 150+ attendees joined in person
• Recognition of the Queen Samantha Ackers College Values Awards, Teaching Excellence Awards, and ACC Leaders of the Year
• Special remarks from the Chancellor, Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart, and the ACC Board of Trustees Vice Chair, Dr. Manny Gonzalez
• Emcee: Jenna Cullinane Hege
• Live music by the ACC String Duo

Explore Event Media

We invite all employees to revisit and share moments from the celebration:

Watch the full event recording here.

View awardee spotlight videos on YouTube.

Read and share congratulatory messages on Padlet.

Photos from the evening will be available in the coming weeks at austincc.edu/awardsdinner.

This celebration reflects ACC’s ongoing commitment to recognizing excellence and uplifting the work of those who make a lasting impact on our students and community. It’s our honor and privilege to recognize the faculty and staff selected for the Teaching and Leadership Excellence Awards each year.

Thank You to Our Community

Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this celebration a success, including the Awards Selection Committee, nominators, presenters, awardees, and the many colleagues, friends, and family members who joined us in honoring this year’s recipients. We extend special appreciation to the individuals and teams who helped bring the event to life: