A group of Austin Community College District (ACC) Honors Program students is headed to some of the nation’s most prestigious universities this fall, earning admission to Yale University, Cornell University, Columbia University, and Brown University.
This year’s cohort includes students who received full-ride and substantial financial aid packages, helping make their transfer dreams a reality.
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
The students’ success reflects the impact of ACC’s Honors Program and its partnership with Transfer Services through the annual “Two-Year to Top-Tier” event. Created to increase awareness of elite transfer opportunities, the initiative helps students navigate the application process, connect with ACC alums who have transferred to Ivy League institutions, and build confidence in pursuing highly selective institutions.
Among this year’s accomplishments, five ACC Honors students were invited to interview for Yale’s Eli Whitney Students Program, one of the nation’s most selective transfer pathways designed for community college and nontraditional students.
“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.”
The Honors Program continues to expand opportunities for students interested in research, leadership, scholarship competitions, and transfer pathways to top universities.
ACC’s “Two-Year to Top-Tier” initiative will return for next spring’s Transfer Week, helping the next generation of students explore transfer opportunities at highly selective colleges and universities nationwide.
For more information about the ACC Honors Program, visit austincc.edu/honors.
To get support in your transfer process, visit austincc.edu/transfer.
Tags: Honors Program, Ivy League, Transfer
Back to Top