The Austin Community College District Board of Trustees has approved street names for the Highland development. The names pay tribute to the college’s heritage and individuals who guided its growth.
Names were submitted by the ACC History Project Committee, the Highland Campus Advisory Committee, and trustees. The names will not be official until accepted by the City of Austin.
The names and their connection to ACC are:
Highland Campus Drive: This street will provide the campus’s official address and is named in recognition of the new ACC campus.
Hage Drive: M.K. Hage Jr. (1925-2007) was a founding trustee of ACC. During his board tenure, he served as both president and vice president. Hage’s work left a lasting impact on students and educators.
Jacob Fontaine Lane: Rev. Jacob Fontaine (1808-1898) played a key role in developing what is now the Highland area. His leadership in the St. John Baptist Association benefited the African-American community in Central Texas. Highland Campus sits on the original site of the St. John’s Orphan Home.
Stephen Kinslow Way: Dr. Kinslow spent 34 years with ACC, retiring as president/CEO in 2011. He led the college through historic growth and change and initiated the Highland project.
Thomas Hatfield Way: Dr. Hatfield was ACC’s founding president. His leadership set ACC on course to become the institution it is today.
Wilhelmina Delco Drive: Delco was a founding trustee for the college, serving as board secretary. She continued to emphasize the importance of education during her 20-plus years as a Texas legislator.
Will Davis Drive: Davis served as ACC’s founding board president. The Austin attorney maintained his commitment to teaching and learning as a member of the State Board of Education.
St. John’s Encampment Commons
St. John’s Encampment grounds.
Trustees also approved the name for a 2.6-acre green space within the development. The St. John’s Encampment Commons will be a public area and include a permanent marker describing the Highland community’s history. Encampment refers to the era when hotels and restaurants would not accommodate African-Americans attending St. John Baptist Association’s annual conferences. Attendees often camped out on the association’s land and took part in picnics, games, exhibits, and educational activities.
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By Bill Woodhull June 8, 2015 - 7:31 pm
I think you should name one after Gilmore Williams. One of the driving forces behind the Austin Model Project, the predecessor to ACC