About 200 children representing 25 area schools recently attended the ACC Summer Youth Academy, held at the Riverside and Eastview Campuses for fourth- through seventh-grade. Helping make the academy possible were the following sponsors: Applied Materials, AMD, Spansion, Wells Fargo, and the Texas Regional Collaborative for Excellence in Science Education. In addition, Del Valle ISD provided bus service for pickup, drop-off, and field trips. In addition to the sponsors, thanks go to the following staff and faculty for their contributions to the academy’s success:

1. Albert Perez, mentor/youth coordinator
2. Benné Rockett, assistant youth coordinator
3. Karmin de la Fuente, administrative assistant II
4. Ian Alba, group leader
5. Mary Lou Swart, specialist II
6. Dr. Richard Armenta, associate vice president of student success
7. Dr. Tyra Duncan-Hall, youth program consultant
8. Dr. Donetta Goodall, vice president of academic transfer, general, and developmental education

The Texas Department of Public Safety has asked Criminal Justice Department Chair GW Hildebrand to work on a task force investigating the June 8 fire at the historic Texas Governor’s Mansion. He has already been instrumental in setting up the case profile for the incident and is leading the way in assisting with the investigation. 

Anthropology Department faculty and students are completing their studies in Mexico and Peru as part of the annual summer study abroad offered at ACC.

1. Ten students, accompanied by Adjunct Professors Carol Hayman and Karen Bell, Ph.D., are enrolled in Cultural Anthropology (ANTH 2351) and Academic Cooperative in Anthropology (ANTH 2389). They are also taking a course in Spanish and Peruvian Culture being taught by Peruvian faculty. The trip includes visits to museums and archaeological sites in and around Lima.
2. Professor Clint Davis, Adjunct Associate Professor David Brown, Ph.D., and Adjunct Professor Mary Chipley, Ph.D., are teaching 10 students in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. These students are enrolled in Archaeological Field Methods (ANTH 2373) taught by Dr. Brown and the Academic Cooperative in Anthropology being taught by Dr. Chipley. The students are getting hands-on experience with Meso-American culture and the field methods used by archaeologists today.

Pam Sutton, assistant to the president/board, was named winner of the Austin Ladies International Poker Series Championship and will compete in the grand championship scheduled for July 13 in Las Vegas.

The Cypress Creek Campus was named a 2008 Project of Distinction by the Education Design Showcase. It will be featured in the June issue of School Planning & Management/College Planning & Management as well as on the EducationDesignShowcase.com site.