“I never believed I could succeed in college—now I’m graduating with confidence, purpose, and a heart full of gratitude.” – Shea Trumeter, ACC Graduate

At 44, Shea Trumeter is celebrating something she once believed was out of reach: earning her Associate of Arts degree from Austin Community College District (ACC).

“I dropped out of high school as a teen, earned my diploma through a self-paced program, and spent years working full-time. I thought academia just wasn’t for me,” says Shea.

Everything changed when she found ACC.

“When I enrolled at ACC in spring 2023, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I just knew I needed to push past the mentality that I wasn’t capable,” says Shea. “I thought I would just keep my head down and go to school. I ended up forming meaningful connections. The people in my classes became guiding lights when things got tough.”

Now, she’s earning her Associate of Arts degree and preparing to transfer to a university to continue studying business and sociology, with a special focus on income inequality and economic justice.

“I want to help revolutionize how businesses treat their workers. I’m passionate about creating income equality and reducing the economic divide in this country.”

She gives special credit to ACC math tutors—Elizabeth, Brian, Sandra, Doan, and others—for their patience, encouragement, and ability to meet her where she was. “I cried, argued, and had a full-on ‘math-itude’ at times. But they never gave up on me. They sat with me, encouraged me, laughed with me—and their kindness helped me heal some deeply ingrained pain.”

Outside of academics, ACC supported Shea in equally powerful ways. With the help of child care scholarships and a supportive counselor, Amber Huffman, Shea could manage school while raising her four children.

“Without those childcare scholarships, I wouldn’t have been able to succeed,” she says. “Amber’s monthly check-ins were powerful. Just knowing someone was in my corner made a difference. That support gave me the chance to show up fully—for my education, for my family, and for myself.”

As she looks ahead to a bachelor’s degree and a career focused on economic equity, Shea is proud to be an advocate for the power of accessible education.

“ACC has changed my life, given me a newfound meaning and purpose and has helped me believe in myself. I’ve surpassed my own understanding of what I was capable of and have a newfound confidence.”

And while Shea’s academic future is bright, she’s also making history in her personal life—recently helping launch the first-ever National Women’s Underwater Torpedo Exhibition.

“I’m a proud mom, a partner, a student, and now, a college graduate. That’s something I never thought I’d say—but here I am.”

Know a 2025 grad like Shea? Drop a congrats in the comments and celebrate their journey at austincc.edu/commencement.  

Tags: Business, Congrats Grads!, sociology, Spring 2025 Commencement, Spring 2025 Graduation