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ACC Salutes Graduates Friday, May 11; Veterans to Receive Special Honor
“It feels good to be recognized and honored for my hard work,” says Castillo, an Army veteran who has deployed to Iraq and served stateside.
Graduates celebrate at the 2011 ceremony.
This May’s commencement is the first in which ACC will pay special tribute to veterans. They will receive medals in appreciation of their service and stand for acknowledgment during the ceremony.
“Veterans and service members have done so much for this country, and we owe them our gratitude,” says Dr. Richard Rhodes, ACC president/CEO. “I am so proud of our veterans and all ACC graduates, and we look forward to celebrating with them and their families.”
The ceremony, which begins at 6 p.m. at the Frank Erwin Center (1701 Red River St.), will honor 1,377 summer and fall graduates as well as 1,508 candidates for spring graduation. Applications for spring graduation increased 36 percent in just one year. | Read profiles of graduates David Weaver, Melissa Triece, Lauren Dominguez, and George Washington.
“Graduation is such an important milestone in higher education,” says Dr. Rhodes. “This is the culmination of students’ hard work, dedication, and sacrifice.”
- Graduates pack the Erwin Center in 2011.
The graduation speakers are Drs. John and Suanne Roueche, who have focused their careers on increasing access to higher education and enhancing student success. Dr. John Roueche is the director of the Community College Leadership Program (CCLP) at the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Suanne Roueche is editor of publications and past director of the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) and senior lecturer in the Department of Educational Administration.
“The Roueches are true friends of community colleges and ACC in particular,” says Dr. Rhodes. “I’m so glad our graduates will get to hear their words of wisdom.”
For Henry Castillo, it will be an especially meaningful night.
“My dad started at ACC many years ago and had to stop when I was born,” he says. “I wanted to continue what he started and be the first of my family to go to college and earn a degree.”
Graduates and guests are invited to a post-ceremony reception at the Erwin Center. For more details on the graduation ceremony, visit the Admissions and Records webpage or email graduati@austincc.edu.
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3 Responses to “ACC Salutes Graduates Friday, May 11; Veterans to Receive Special Honor”
Dr. Richard Rhodes, ACC president/CEO, shares his thoughts on issues important to the college community.
It is great we honor our veterans as they graduate tonight, but let’s not forget our current students who are still serving. Johnny Buck, should be walking tonight, but can’t since he was recalled and instead of finishing his last classes and graduating tonight is instead serving his country in the middle east, let us all keep him in our hearts, and let us honor him when he does walk this stage.
ACC is remarkable..
it is great to honor the Veterans…as a fellow Vet would like to say Thanks to all who Serve..and thanks to ACC for recognizing this service!
I think it’s a wonderful thing that ACC is doing for the veterans. It’s nice to see them being recognized for their service to our country! Bravo ACC!