Aniya Ricks’ journey to success has been guided by ambition and determination to achieve her future goals.  A homeschool graduate from Liberty University Online Academy, Aniya is now studying Computer Science at Northeast Lakeview College (NLC), where she maintains a perfect 4.0 GPA. She dreams of using her skills to protect the nation from cyber threats and aspires to become an FBI agent specializing in computer science. Thanks to the support of the AlamoPROMISE program, a last-dollar scholarship that covers 100% of tuition and fees for eligible students, Aniya is on her way to making this dream a reality. “AlamoPROMISE has taken the financial strain of education off my family, allowing me to focus on my classes and my grades,” says Aniya. “This program has helped me and countless other students with their education.” With the burden of tuition removed, Aniya has been able to fully dedicate herself to her coursework and extracurricular activities. In addition to her studies, she is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and the National Society of Leadership and Success, where she continues to develop her leadership skills and expand her professional network. Outside the classroom, Aniya is passionate about giving back to the community and volunteers at several local non-profits. She also has a small bag-making business, enjoys martial arts, and takes care of her collection of twenty-two houseplants. When asked about her experience at NLC, Aniya speaks highly of the support she has received from faculty and staff. “I have been able to save money that I can use toward my transfer institution once I complete my work at NLC. I am grateful to the faculty and staff at NLC for their guidance and support, especially my advisors and professors who have helped me get to where I am today,” she says. “My experience at this campus has been outstanding.” After graduating from NLC, Aniya plans to transfer to a four-year university where she will pursue a degree in Cybersecurity with a minor in Psychology. For Aniya, AlamoPROMISE has been more than just financial support—it’s been the key to unlocking her future. Without the financial pressures of tuition, she has been able to focus on what truly matters: her education and future career goals.

San Antonio College (SAC) has been awarded the UPCEA Innovation in Alternative Credentials Award, a national honor recognizing higher education institutions that have developed successful, innovative credential programs with positive outcomes for students. Presented by the University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA), the award recognizes SAC’s commitment to new educational pathways that meet the evolving needs of today’s workforce through its marketable skills badges. Badges can be earned by completing a series of learning modules on topics including ethical decision-making, communication, or healthcare teamwork. Rosalind Ong, Interim Dean of Performance Excellence in the Office of Integrated Planning and Performance Excellence (IPPE), said that digital badges can help make learning inside and outside of the classroom visible to students, and increase self-efficacy and motivation supporting student success. “Alamo Colleges and SAC have put in extensive work to understand exactly what skills are in demand and to design our badges around those needs,” Ong said. “Digital badges, microcredentials, and alternative credentials are more than just a trend – they are an essential solution for people looking to rapidly gain new skills and strengthen their resumes.” The program’s success, evidenced by increased enrollment and high student satisfaction rates, aligns with SAC’s mission to deliver accessible, high-quality education and bridge the gap between academic achievement and career readiness. “It is an honor to be recognized on a national level for our commitment to innovative, career-focused education,” said Interim President Dr. Francisco Solis. “This award is a testament to our faculty and staff’s leadership and dedication to expanding access to skill-based education and student success.”

Alamo Colleges District Chancellor Dr. Mike Flores and other Hispanic-Serving Institution leaders joined President Joe Biden at the White House today to ceremoniously sign an order that advances support for HSIs.  HSIs are colleges, universities, or districts with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment. President Biden signed Executive Order (EO) 14124 during the event, establishing the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity Through HSIs.  President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris announced nearly $19 million in transformational investments to build research infrastructure at five HSIs in Florida, Illinois, Texas, and Puerto Rico. These efforts build on the Administration’s historic investment of over $16 billion in more than 500 HSIs across 30 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico that educate more than 4.7 million students annually. All the Alamo Colleges are Hispanic-Serving Institutions and St. Philip’s College is the nation’s only HSI and Historically Black College and University (HBCU).  For more information on the signing event, click here.

The Alamo Colleges District has been selected to participate in the Minding College Minds Learning Community, a statewide initiative launched by the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute in partnership with the Texas Success Center at the Texas Association of Community Colleges.  This first-of-its-kind initiative aims to support the mental health needs of over 225,000 community college students across Texas, including the 77,000 students attending the Alamo Colleges District. “Mental health and well-being are essential to student success, and we are proud to partner with the Meadows Institute and Texas Success Center on this vital initiative,” said Alamo Colleges District Chancellor Dr. Mike Flores. “By developing and implementing innovative mental health support systems, we will strengthen our capacity to foster environments where every student can thrive.” This statewide learning community leverages the Meadows Institute’s Minding College Minds Framework for Postsecondary Mental Health, developed to address the increasing demand for student mental health support on higher education campuses. While studies have shown that postsecondary mental health and well-being play a substantial role in student success and persistence in higher education, it has historically been challenging for community colleges to implement mental health support for students without a comprehensive guiding framework. By aligning mental health and student success initiatives, the Alamo Colleges District is committed to developing a tailored action plan to improve student mental health and, in turn, boost student success across its colleges. “The Minding College Minds Learning Community helps community colleges address important gaps in their mental health services for students. By providing a comprehensive framework, technical assistance, and curated opportunities for peer learning, member colleges will walk away prepared to build robust systems supporting campuswide mental health and wellbeing,” said Michelle Harper, the executive director of the Center for Child and Family Wellness at the Meadows Institute. “Our communities are strengthened when higher education institutions are equipped to foster environments where every student can thrive.” The Alamo Colleges District is one of 13 institutions chosen to participate in this inaugural learning community, which includes urban, rural, and suburban colleges from across the state.  In addition to the Alamo Colleges District, other participating members of the first-ever Minding Minds Learning Community include: Central Texas College Dallas College Del Mar College Grayson College Kilgore College Laredo College North Central Texas College Northeast Texas Community College Paris Junior College San Jacinto College Trinity Valley Community College Victoria College

Education and policy nonprofit Generation Hope awarded San Antonio College with the prestigious FamilyU Seal of Approval. This honor highlights SAC's dedication to supporting student parents and fostering a family-friendly campus environment. The FamilyU Seal is a national certification awarded to higher education institutions and nonprofits that demonstrate exemplary, measurable efforts in supporting parenting students, said Lina Scott, scholarship coordinator at SAC. “Receiving it is a testament to SAC's ongoing efforts to create an inclusive, supportive campus for student parents.” SAC’s efforts include a range of programs and services aimed at supporting non-traditional students, including dedicated parent parking, flexible class schedules, and access to on-campus childcare. The college also offers targeted academic advising, counseling services, and student-parent organizations that provide critical resources and a sense of community. The certification was announced on Wednesday at the start of a parenting-101 class being held in the library, where members of the campus student parent support group gathered to celebrate National Student Parent Month and learn skills that will help them succeed in the home and at school. Diana Ornela said that the weekly student parent support groups at SAC have helped her feel like she’s “not alone” as she navigates the stress of juggling school, children, and other obligations. “It gives me a sense of relief that I am not the only one struggling as I work to better myself,” she said.  Scott said that investing in innovative programs helped parenting students not only succeed in their educational pursuits but also build pathways to economic mobility and brighter futures for their families. “Our resources for student parents address helping them overcome hurdles that could keep them from achieving their goal.” Rosario Sanchez said that she has relied on SAC’s student parent support group leaders to help her access resources in times of need, including food, diaper, and clothing assistance. “They have been providing so much for my whole family,” Sanchez said. “I feel supported at SAC because I know I  have someone I can go to and feel seen and heard. Now I try to get them involved [in the support group] because it’s really helpful to even just get together at the KidSpot [in the library] and feel like we have a community.” SAC is one of six awardees to receive the FamilyU Seal, which included two nonprofit organizations and four higher education institutions. The first cohort of institutions awarded was in 2023, with Alamo Colleges District’s Palo Alto College among the recipients. “We are so proud of the work we do at SAC, and we are proud to celebrate it,” Scott said. For more information on SAC's family-friendly initiatives, visit https://www.alamo.edu/sac/experience-sac/current-students/student-parents  

Today, the Alamo Colleges District and YMCA of Greater San Antonio announced the start of a strategic partnership to help close the gap between achieving a higher education and removing barriers to childcare access faced by student parents and working families. While new YMCA on-campus day camp options have begun this summer across the Alamo Colleges, the two institutions continue exploring opportunities for partnership expansion. Across the Alamo Colleges, approximately one out of every five students are student parents, and affordable access to childcare can be a significant barrier. “We are proud to begin this partnership with the YMCA to enhance the support we offer our student parents who may be balancing a family and pursuing their educational and career goals,” said Dr. Mike Flores, Alamo Colleges District Chancellor. “We know this partnership may make all the difference for students, and we are looking forward to seeing how we can scale these efforts across the Alamo Colleges.” For families with young children, access to affordable, high-quality early care has economic and social benefits for children and their families, their communities, and the overall economy. Desaree Machuca, a Y summer day camp parent, said the partnership has helped her family. Machuca is a mother of six children, and the Y has become a big part of their lives that whenever her children see someone in a YMCA T-shirt or name tag, they go up to them for a greeting or for a fist bump. “They innately assume that YMCA people are their people. And I love that. It’s priceless to trust that my kids are safe and having fun while I am working. Knowing where they are and what they’re doing is a huge relief and doing things they enjoy. Thank you to the Alamo Colleges leadership team and the YMCA for providing my kids a fun and safe place this summer,” said Machuca. “The YMCA is dedicated to supporting families and removing barriers to education. Together with Alamo Colleges District, the YMCA is providing quality childcare options on campus. We are empowering student parents to pursue their educational and career goals confidently,” said Louis Lopez, CEO and President at the YMCA of Greater San Antonio. Northeast Lakeview College and Northwest Vista College students, faculty, and staff have a unique opportunity to enroll their children in YMCA Summer Day Camp for the first time this summer, while St. Philip's College is offering YMCA Summer Swim. Y Summer Day Camp is designed with the needs of busy parents in mind and is open to youth ages 5-13. The program runs weekly, from the early hours of 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., through August 2. Field trips include visits to the Witte Museum, movie theater, and more. The Y Summer Day Camp will be closed on July 4 and 5. Non-YMCA members pay $175 weekly, but YMCA members receive a 10% discount. For more information, visit ymcasatx.org/programs/camps/summer-day-camps or contact the Y Solution Center at (210) 924-2277 or registrations@ymcasatx.org. Registration is open and ongoing at the Northeast Lakeview College campus. Join the waitlist for Northwest Vista College summer day camp at alamo.edu/nvc/experience-nvc/campus-life/summer-programs/ To register for St. Philip's College swim classes, visit https://www.alamo.edu/spc/experience-spc/campus-life/youth-programs/Kids-academy/#ymca

The Alamo Colleges District (ACD) and Texas A&M University-San Antonio (TAMU-SA) today announced an expanded transfer agreement that will allow eligible students to start at any of the five Alamo Colleges and seamlessly transfer to TAMU-SA to complete a four-year degree while having educational costs covered at both institutions. The Promise-to-Promise partnership will also allow for automatic admission from ACD to TAMU-SA. AlamoPROMISE is a program that provides tuition-free college education at one of the five Alamo Colleges to 20 school districts and partners, including 73 San Antonio-area high schools and programs, as well as private, charter, and home schools in Bexar County. TAMU-SA’s Jaguar Promise program is a transformational initiative that provides free tuition, fees, and a $300 book stipend per semester for eligible first-year and transfer students.   “The Promise-to-Promise partnership between ACD and TAMU-SA is a testament to our shared commitment to making higher education accessible for all students," said Dr. Mike Flores, Alamo Colleges District Chancellor. "By providing more seamless transfer pathways and covering educational costs at both institutions, we are removing financial barriers and opening doors for our students to achieve their academic and career goals." The expanded transfer agreement between ACD and TAMU-SA builds upon an agreement signed in Fall 2019 that established a formal transfer partnership between the two institutions. The Promise-to-Promise partnership is just one component of a strategy developed by ACD and TAMU-SA to provide students with a more seamless transfer pathway between the two institutions. Other seamless transfer tracks include:  Jag Path Program: For first-year students applying to TAMU-SA who may not qualify for direct admission. Students who accept the Jag Path Program offer are dually accepted to ACD for the fall term without completing an application to ACD. Jag Bound for ACD students: ACD students who apply during the fall or spring term, have yet to attend another college/university, express their intention to transfer to TAMU-SA by the end of their first term at ACD, and enroll in 60 semester credit hours.  Seamless Three Tier Transfer Program: For high school students from identified ISDs who complete dual enrollment with ACD, earn an Associate of Arts in Teaching or an Associate of Arts/Associate of Science, and are admitted to TAMU-SA to finish their Bachelor's Degree in Education, Child Development, or another agreed-upon track. Alamo Colleges transfer student Aubri Lalinde will be among the first eligible students admitted to TAMUSA under the newest Promise-to-Promise program. She is a first-generation college student who recently graduated from Palo Alto College with an Associate of Arts in Business Administration.  Lalinde said she was thrilled when she learned about Promise-to-Promise, as a way to further her education and help her and her son form a better future. “Texas A&M University-San Antonio and our great partners in the Alamo Colleges share a mission of service to students and to our community. The Promise-to-Promise partnership is a product of our mutual commitment to opening as many pathways and points of entry for students as possible to put their academic goals within reach,” said Texas A&M University-San Antonio President Salvador Hector Ochoa. “A&M-San Antonio is a place where access meets opportunity and with the Promise-to-Promise, we’re removing financial and procedural barriers to access so that these students, who come to us so well prepared by our colleagues in the Alamo Colleges, can pursue the educational opportunities that a four-year university has to offer them.” About 75% of Alamo Colleges students transfer to four-year universities to complete their degrees. During academic year 2023, 2,007 students transferred from the Alamo Colleges and enrolled at TAMUSA. Over the past five years, approximately 83% of the students who transferred to TAMU-SA were affiliated with Alamo Colleges.  The new Promise-to-Promise partnership strengthens the collaborative student support system across the partnering institutions. It will ultimately help thousands of students save money and reduce the time it takes to complete a bachelor’s degree. This partnership is the second such expanded partnership for the Alamo Colleges. In 2022, ACD established a similar partnership with the University of Texas at San Antonio’s Bold Promise Program. For more information, visit alamo.edu/tamusa.

AlamoPROMISE Student of the Month - May 2024, NVC Student, Jennifer Toledo Jennifer Toledo has always had big plans for her future and dreamed of attending college. At just 14, while living in Mexico, she told her parents that all she wanted for her 15th birthday was to move to the United States so that she would have more opportunities to attend school. Four years ago, without knowing English and without her family, Jennifer moved to San Antonio, TX. During her senior year of high school, she learned about AlamoPROMISE, a last-dollar scholarship that covers 100 percent of tuition and fees for graduating seniors from partner high schools. Excited about the opportunity to pursue her dreams of higher education without the financial strain, Jennifer enrolled at Northwest Vista College (NVC) and began studying Teaching. The support provided by AlamoPROMISE has been instrumental in making Jennifer’s dreams of becoming a first-generation college student a reality. “AlamoPROMISE has relieved a significant burden and made it possible for me to achieve my educational goals without undue financial stress. This support has not only lightened my burden but has also reaffirmed my belief in the power of community and collective investment in education,” said Jennifer.  Jennifer has attended NVC for the past two years and considers the campus a second home. In addition to her studies, she has embraced student life and is an active member of the President’s Student Advisory Council and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. In October 2023, NVC staff chose Jennifer as one of only two students invited to attend the Chicago Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) conference. She is also a student employee at NVC’s Student Success. In May 2024, the Alamo Colleges District (ACD) Board of Trustees recognized her hard work and commitment to her goals and awarded her AlamoPROMISE Student of the Month. “I’m proud of what I have done here at Northwest Vista…I refuse to let language limitations define my path,” said Jennifer. “My academic achievement is a testimony to the power of resilience and an immense belief in one’s ability to succeed no matter what challenges one faces.” In Summer 2024, Jennifer will complete her last semester at NVC and earn an Associate of Arts in Teaching. After graduation, she plans to transfer to the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), where she will pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Bilingual Education as well as a Master's and Ph.D. in Culture, Literacy, and Language. Her ultimate goal is to return to ACD as an employee so that she can help future students in their journey to achieving higher education.

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