It was a Celebración! More than 300 people joined the 9th Annual Celebración ceremony on May 2. The event was held at ACC Highland in the Austin PBS Black Box studio. 70 Ascender Catch the Next students were recognized for completing their program.
Speakers included Luis Patiño, CEO of PBS, and Celia Israel, former Texas Representative. Graduates were treated to dance performance by Leander Elementary School Ballet Folklórico and a musical performance by Xunaxhii, a graduating senior from Leander High School.
ACC Board of Trustee Secretary Dr. Manny Gonzalez and Manager of ASCENDER Alejandra Polcik presented all the students with their graduation stoles. ASCENDER coordinator Diana Gorostieta Martinez gave special recognition to outstanding students, advisors, professors, and mentors.
Ascender is a student support organization created to help improve the educational outcomes of Latino and underserved student populations throughout the state.
For more information, visit austincc.edu/ascender.