Planning continues for the second annual Boots & Bats Gala supporting student scholarships. Invitations are going out this month.

In July, Texas State Senator Kirk Watson and Dr. Aileen Bumphus accepted nominations to serve as co-chairs of the 2019 gala. Watson is a former mayor of Austin and was elected to the Texas Senate in 2006, where he sits on the committees overseeing Education, Finance, and Higher Education. He also was elected to be the Senate's President Pro Tempore for the 86th Legislature this year. Dr. Bumphus serves as executive director of the University of Texas at Austin's Longhorn Center for Academic Excellence Gateway Scholars Program.

As co-chairs, Watson and Bumphus will work to raise awareness of the annual event. The gala, hosted in partnership with renowned Southwest artist Amado Pena's Art Has Art Foundation, features live music, a live and silent auction, and a cocktail reception with hors d'oeuvres designed and prepared by ACC Culinary Arts students.

Every dollar raised directly benefits ACC students and AHH recipients. The inaugural gala, held in November 2018, raised $160,000 for students scholarships at ACC and AHH.

For more information about the 2019 gala, and to buy tickets, visit austincc.edu/bootsandbats.