Weekly (sort of) Newsletter

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Transfer Services Panel with an All-Star Honors Cast 

Transfer Services hosted their boot camp last week, and last Tuesday they held a student panel with six students, five of whom were accepted to UT and one who is currently in the process of putting together transfer applications. Because five of the participants are active Honors Program students (Shea Trumeter, Walt Beck, Paulina Mendoza, Ashley Raumaker, and Tianna "T" Allen), they naturally talked about the program at different points throughout the discussion. But what is really stunning is how much they talked about the program; Transfer Services Director Renee Esparza jokes near the end that the panel is not actually a paid advertisement for the Honors Program. Here is the link to the recording (you'll need to register to view it). 

Simply put, if you'd like tips on transferring to UT and how being an active member of the Honors Program can help strengthen your application, the recording is an excellent resource. 

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UT LBJ Public Service Weekend

If you've been on our social media platforms recently (IG; LinkedIn), you would have seen our Public Service Weekend Scholars featured: Aimee Bozoudes, Raghad Alhussein, Jonathan ("Jonny") Burke, Tianna ("T") Allen, Meggie Huggins, and Paulina Mendoza. Over the course of three days (July 18-20) at the UT LBJ School of Public Affairs, these six students explored public service careers, learning about topics in the field of public policy through academic research and policy training. Out of 50 students chosen nationwide to participate, ours were the only community college students...and they rocked! Meggie Huggins won an award for participation, Paulina Medoza's team won the Best Overall Proposal award for their project on criminal justice, and Jonny conducted a round of LBJ-focused trivia. 

If you'd like to learn more about this special opportunity, Aimee Bozoudes will be doing a takeover of the ACC district's social media on July 29th (tomorrow!), spotlighting her experiences during the weekend. There is also a formal newsroom piece here. We will be sending six more students next summer, and--as we did last fall--we will likely be co-hosting a policy immersion day with the LBJ School. We'll keep you posted.  

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Summer Scholars Program at the Chautauqua Institution

While we've been sweltering in Austin, students Parker Garcia, Mia Mesta, and Natalie Jimenez have been living their best life in upstate New York at the Chautauqua Institution as part of the Summer Scholars Program. You can read ACC's feature on Parker here; I'm told that Mia and Natalie will also have their turn in the spotlight, so keep your eyes on the ACC district social media platforms. 

Parker notes, "My time as a Chautauqua Summer Scholar was truly life changing. I went into the program not fully knowing what to expect, but left with a renewed sense of purpose, new knowledge, lasting friendships, and meaningful connections. It was a full week of feeding the mind, body (lots of walking!), and soul. I had the chance to engage with professionals thriving in the exact career I hope to pursue, and I attended powerful cultural dialogues and performances. Coming back, I feel more confident in my ability to network and continue growing my social capital. The experiences I had at Chautauqua will always hold a special place in my heart and I can’t wait to go back."

Since  2022, the Honors Program has sent 13 students to this program, an experience that has shaped their lives--and influenced their transfer journeys--well beyond the one week of enrichment in July.   

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Fall Registration/Advising

Currently, the registration request form is open for the Fall. Here are the courses available for the Fall. We are offering new courses in Biology, Philosophy, English, Spanish, and Economics. 

Are all the classes full? Nope, not yet! Even if a class is currently full, we generally see a lot of movement between now and when school begins. Plans change, students have to prioritize different courses, etc. 

If you'd like some help planning your schedule, our dedicated Honors advisor Jana McCarthy (jana.mccarthy@austincc.edu) would love to talk with you. This is your opportunity to speak with an ACC Master Advising Specialist about your Honors course planning, transfer goals, and more. Feel free to set up an appointment here. (If you don't see a time that works for you, or if you'd like to speak with her sooner, she recommends emailing her.) 

Full course list 

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Paid Research Opportunity for SBS and Education Majors: Deadline 8/31

Texas State University has received funding from the National Science Foundation to provide paid opportunities for students to participate in undergraduate research in Human Development and Family Sciences (OUR HDFS). From Texas State: 

We are now recruiting students for the 2025-2026 academic year, with applications due August 31st. The OUR HDFS fellowship will provide visiting students a financial stipend ($5,625 plus meals and travel reimbursement) as well as support and guidance for engaging in research and learning about graduate school. Eligible students should be majoring in HDFS or related fields (e.g., psychology, education, sociology), can travel to Texas State University campus on Fridays throughout the academic year, and have a GPA of 3.0 or above. More information about the program can be found on the OUR HDFS Website.

For the 2024-2025 academic year, we had five Honors Program students participate in this program: Psychology majors Coral Brundige, Isabel Castillo-Rosatti, Renita Edward, Malka Negret, and Morgan Gaither. ACC profiled Morgan in a news item.  

If you apply for this position and are accepted, please let me know: athomas2@austincc.edu 

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Paid Writing Internship Opportunity

Would you like to help firefighters and get paid? Read on:

My name is Michael Joseph, and I'm a firefighter with the Westlake Fire Department here in Austin. I'm reaching out to see if you might help me connect with students who would be interested in a unique paid internship opportunity.

I'm the founder of ExamiFire, an online test prep company that helps firefighters prepare for their written civil service exams. We're a fast-growing ed-tech startup that launched in April 2025 and already serves hundreds of paying subscribers across the country.

The Position: We're seeking a part-time content writer to collaborate on creating multiple choice test questions for civil service exams—think SAT/ACT style questions rather than technical firefighting content. No firefighting knowledge or background is required, as we provide all reference materials and writing templates. The role involves working with our content to brainstorm topics, review feedback, and plan question batches.

What We Offer: • $30-35 per hour compensation • Flexible, low-hour commitment that easily fits around classes or other commitments • One weekly in-person meeting at a flexible location in Austin (all additional hours can be remote) • Ground-floor role in a growing startup where their work will appear on a live platform used by real learners nationwide

This opportunity would be perfect for students who enjoy writing, have strong communication skills, and want practical experience in the ed-tech industry while maintaining their academic schedule.

If any students are interested in this opportunity, please have them reach out to examifire@gmail.com _______________

 First Gen Fellowship

Are you a full-time first generation college student experiencing financial hardship? Consider applying for the First Gen Fellowship, which awards $1000 grants directly to students. Applications open on August 15th.   

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