Several Austin Community College District (ACC) Honors Program students are transferring to some of the nation’s most selective universities this fall, including Yale, Cornell, Columbia, and Brown.

This year’s students earned admission to top-tier institutions across the country, with many receiving significant financial aid and scholarship packages to help make their next step affordable.

Fall 2026 Top-Tier University Transfers

  • Angel Sanchez, Mechanical Engineering — Accepted to Yale University
  • Sarah Hutcher, Engineering — Accepted to Yale University 
  • Parker Garcia, Government — Accepted to Cornell University
  • Sam Peltier, Business Administration — Accepted to Columbia University School of General Studies
  • Tristan Helm, General Studies — Accepted to Brown University 
  • Malka Negret, Psychology — Accepted to Yale University 

“What we’ve found among students is a kind of self-limiting mindset that often prevents them from taking the big swings, even though they are comparable with any student in the nation,” says Dr. Anne-Marie Thomas, associate dean of the Honors Program. “Dr. Renee Esparza and I have made it our mission to counter that mindset and show students that they have earned their places at some of the finest institutions in the world.”

“When students hear directly from their peers, it can completely change how they see their own future,” says Dr. Renee Esparza, executive dean of Transfer Services. “The students who have shared their stories are helping others realize that prestigious universities are within reach. They are inspiring more ACC students to think bigger, explore opportunities beyond Central Texas, and pursue goals they may not have thought possible.”

Through the annual Two-Year to Top-Tier initiative co-hosted by ACC’s Transfer Services and the Honors Program, students receive support exploring transfer options, connecting with ACC alums who have transferred to Ivy League institutions, navigating applications, and preparing for competitive admissions processes.

Interested in learning more? The Two-Year to Top-Tier event returns next spring, giving students a chance to connect with representatives from selective colleges and universities and learn what it takes to transfer successfully.

For more information about the ACC Honors Program, visit austincc.edu/honors. 

To get support in your transfer process, visit austincc.edu/transfer.