What I've Learned: Vivian Butler

Like many Austin Community College students, Vivian Butler attended the college as a stepping stone in her college career before transferring to Texas State University in spring 2009.

Butler graduated with a Bachelors degree from Texas State University on Dec. 4 with a major in psychology and a minor in forensic psychology after attending ACC from Fall 2007 through Fall 2008.

What I've Learned: Raquel Mendez

After graduating in 2004, Raquel Mendez began taking classes at Austin Community College as a way to figure out what she wanted to do in her life.

"I started taking classes at ACC in September of 2004, the semester after I graduated high school," Mendez said. "I really didn't want to go to school, because I had no idea what I wanted to ‘be when I grow up,' but my mom told me that if I didn't go to school I'd have to move out."

Mendez spent her time at ACC trying out a multitude of majors.

What I've Learned: Brad Burnett

University of Texas (UT) student Brad Burnett wasn't always cut out to be a college student. As a high school drop out with a 1.3 GPA who eventually graduated in 2003, Burnett attended Austin Community College from Fall 2007 to Spring 2009 to give himself a fresh start and a better shot at getting into a university.

"What I took away most from ACC were the skills I learned," Burnett said. "ACC made me a college student. There is absolutely no way I would have been ready for UT had it not been for ACC."

What I've Learned: Josephine Icaro

Initially unsure of what to do with her English degree, Josephine Icaro has found her calling in education and pursuing her passion as an English II and III teacher at Hyde Park Baptist High School.

What I've Learned: Tje Austin

Perhaps you remember Tje Austin from NBC's hit show, "The Voice." If the name doesn't ring a bell, the unforgettable afro and million-dollar smile may. Tje Austin, who's name is pronounced "Tye," has resided in Austin for the past ten years, deeming it home. "I never thought about making music a career until I moved to Austin, Texas," he said.

What I've Learned: Sarah Neve

Sarah Neve

Sarah Neve, who is the current Managing Editor at UWeekly Austin, began her career at Austin Community College like most-- saving money and, more importantly, gaining experience.

What I've Learned: Dianna Dean

Dianna Dean graduated from Lyndon B. Johnson High School in 1978. As a single mother, she knew that she wanted to continue her education to support herself and her family. Dean started her education at ACC in 1978 and graduated from the Licensed Vocational Nurse [LVN] program two years later. Full story

What i've Learned: Scott Romero

As a survivor of Hurricane Katrina, Scott Romero knew he had something to live for. He obtained a healthy cultural background from New Orleans and a strong business background from his family, and he currently lives his dream as the sole owner of Soul of the Boot Entertainment, an Austin-based independent entertainment firm, thanks in part to ACC. Full story

What I've Learned: Ty Tyner

Ty Tyner was the guy in his high school class doodling in his notebook instead of taking notes. Now he gets paid to be a graphic designer and a comic book colorist. Tyner currently works on EPIC comic about a teenager who gets superpowers. However, once he's around girls, he loses his cool and his superpowers. Full story

What I've Learned: Tracy Bach

Tracy Bach has traveled around the world visiting places such as Switzerland, Spain, Germany and Costa Rica. Her family created a website called Kai Ohana to document their voyages of a circumnavigation while sailing on a boat of the same name. To create the website and to prepare for the trip, she took classes at Austin Community College in 2004 and 2005 focusing on classes in design, multimedia, and languages. Full story

What I've Learned: Travis Schneider

When Travis Schneider moved from Pasadena to Austin in 1990, he believed attending Austin Community College was an affordable way for him to get a head start on his education. His head start ultimately led him down a path where he now finds creative ways to raise money to fight cancer.

What I've Learned: Amber Elliott

Amber Elliott transitioned from a young girl growing up in Houston to a woman living in Manhattan, working for Vogue magazine. After a year of taking classes at Texas A&M University, Elliott transferred to ACC so she could start studying journalism, and wound up writing for the Accent newspaper. After ACC, Elliott went on to get her bachelor's degree in journalism at Texas State University. From there, her determination to succeed inspired her to travel 1,787 miles to pursue her dream job in New York City, where she is today.

What I've Learned: Jacqueline Sinkes

Jacqueline Sinkes was once a single mother living in a shelter. Now she is registered nurse at a state supported living center. She attended ACC from the summer of 2006 to December of 2009 when she earned an Associate Degree of Applied Science in Nursing. She plans on obtaining a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin.

What I've Learned: Shih-Yu Hwang

Shih-Yu Hwang is an Austin Community College professor in the Commercial music management Department and a master's degree candidate at Texas State University in music and composition. He entered ACC just after high school and stayed in the college for three and a half years. He transferred to the University of North Texas, where he received his Bachelor of Arts. After his graduation, he was invited to teach at ACC and started his master's program at Texas State University. He intends to keep teaching and help to improve ACC's music department.

What I've Learned: Brandi Grissom

Brandi Grissom is an award-winning journalist who currently works for the Texas Tribune, an online, non-profit news organization. Grissom has also worked for the El Paso Times, the Alliance Times-Herald, the Taylor Daily Press, the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung, the Associated Press and the UT Daily Texan. Before she did all that, Grissom attended ACC from 1999 to 2001 and was the managing editor of the Accent.

What I've Learned: Arturo Jaimes

Arturo Jaimes is an Assistant Professor of Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology at ACC. Jaimes also owns his own air conditioning company, and is two-time graduate of ACC.

What I've Learned: Steven Powers

Steven Powers is a 20 year old philosophy major at Southwestern University.

From 2008 to 2010 Powers attended Austin Community College. This fall Powers was awarded a Score scholarship, a full ride that is awarded to a serious, upper-level philosophy student by the philosophy department at Southwestern University. Powers is the first transfer student to ever be awarded the scholarship.

What I’ve Learned: Henry King

Henry King, age 30, began his taking classes at Austin Community College in the fall of 1998. He studied in the Automotive department at the Riverside campus, and in the midst of going to school he started a small automotive repair business that he has steadily cultivated. King graduated in May of 2003 with a degree in Applied Science Automotive Technology and he continues to remain the sole proprietor of his company, Hulk Automotive, and is an assistant professor of the same degree that he pursued at ACC Riverside campus.