By Kim Hilsenbeck.
Austin Community College (ACC) Hays celebrated its grand opening Thursday afternoon with a larger gathering in the southeast corner of the parking lot. It’s been a bit of a bumpy journey to get to this point, as several guest speakers alluded to during the ceremony.
Starting in 2009, a group of Hays County activists, including the late publisher Bob Barton, Jr., started a campaign to build a branch of ACC in Hays. The voters said yes in 2010, though the project was temporarily waylaid by a lawsuit by a local dentist.
But ACC broke ground in June 2012.
Congressman Lloyd Doggett told the audience, “ACC fulfills a vital role in our community to help people get prepared for the jobs that are out there.”
He said city and county officials can now tell prospective employers, “We will have the workforce you need. We’re a good place to locate your business.”
Texas State Rep. Jason Isaac echoed that sentiment, saying there are companies ready to move to Hays County right now if employers are guaranteed an educated workforce.
At right, James Burrows, 19, originally from Jersey City, New Jersey, is now living in Buda and attending ACC. He is studying Computer Science. At left, Uriah Ramos, 18, from Kyle, graduated from Lehman High School. He said ACC Hays was easily accessible to somebody without a lot of money. He wants to study chemical engineering. Sandra Diaz helped Ramos complete his financial aid forms. (Photos by Kim Hilsenbeck) At top, Above, Hays High School senior Roxana Solis, who is also an ACC student through dual credit classes, was a featured student speaker at the ACC Hays Campus grand opening ceremony last Thursday. (Photo by Jim Cullen) | |
Isaac, who served on both the Interim Select Committee and the Economic and Small Business Development Committee, said he met with manufacturing companies, asking them what were the hurdles to them coming to Hays County and bringing more jobs with them?
“I heard the same thing: workforce development,” he said. “This campus, here, in the third fastest growing county in the country is going to create greater economic opportunities and thus greater earnings for the families who live here.”
Roxana Solis, a Hays High School senior, was the featured speaker of the day. She is taking dual credit classes at ACC.
Solis addressed the crowd saying, “I’m very excited for the opportunity that has been given to us for this community here in Kyle, Buda. I’ve heard a lot of successful stories here from ACC graduates, you know, they talked to me about those hands-on learning stuff and it pumped me up, it gives me the energy to continue my education and finally getting the opportunity come here at ACC, attend classes and get to meet my teacher…it actually makes me feel very, very special. I’m really, really excited to continue my learning.
She said it can be hard to keep going, but credited ACC with helping students succeed.
“There are people who are willing to help you and encourage you to continue your education,” she said. “Education is the key to success and I want to be successful.”
