College adds December ceremony

“This is great news on a couple of fronts,” says Dr. Richard Rhodes, ACC president/CEO. “We saw considerable enrollment increases during the recession, and those students are now graduating with new skills and getting into the workforce. In addition, we’ve worked hard to increase awareness of the importance of graduation. These numbers reflect those efforts.”

This fall marks ACC’s first December commencement ceremony, with hundreds of graduates expected to celebrate their achievement at the Frank Erwin Center Friday, Dec. 14 (6 p.m., 1701 Red River St.). More than 1,200 ACC students applied to graduate this semester – a 30 percent increase over last fall.

One of this fall’s graduates is Miguel Espitia, a veteran and father who is the first in his family to go to college.

“This shows that with determination and perseverance, you can accomplish anything,” says Espitia, whose family will watch him cross the stage during the commencement ceremony. “I’m proud to set an example for my kids and prove that it can be done.”

Espitia and other graduating veterans will receive special recognition during the ceremony. The commencement speakers will be the Hon. Wilhelmina Delco, a founding trustee of ACC, and Dr. Exalton Delco Jr., who previously served as the college’s vice president of academic affairs.