The Alliance for College & Career Student Success (ACCSS) program was started with an $842,120 grant from Greater Texas Foundation a little over 2 years ago. The program is now working towards building sustainability beyond the 3-year gift that initiated the alliance. ACCSS partner schools currently include Flatonia, Schulenburg, Weimar, Columbus, and Fayetteville ISD’s. The program is housed at Blinn College – Schulenburg Campus. These partners collaborate to remove barriers that might impact whether or not a student could participate in dual credit courses while in high school. With the support of regional funders and community investors, increased student support is in place and transportation and the cost of fees and tuition should not be a barrier to students enrolling.
Recently, Stanzel Family Foundation, Inc. generously granted $30,000 to help build long term support of the ACCSS program! The primary objectives of the Stanzel Family Foundation, Inc. are to provide educational opportunities and to enhance the health and well-being of the residents of Schulenburg and Weimar communities. With 181 students currently enrolled in nursing and academic dual credit courses this Fall and more signing up for CTE courses such as welding and construction which will begin in October, support is needed from across the region to help sustain this amazing program that not only supports the youth of the region as they reach for postsecondary success, but also supports their families, their future employers, and the rural economy of the region as schools graduate more employable young adults. If you, your organization or company would like to join the effort, donations may be made at https://myaccss.net/donations/ through either Fayette Community Foundation or Blinn College Foundation
It is the mission of Alliance for College and Career Student Success in South Central Texas (ACCSS) to collaborate as a partnership with rural public-school districts and an institution of higher education to provide academic and career resources, guidance, and supports necessary for students to obtain post-secondary credits or workforce career credentials. The pathways they will have to choose from initially include: 42 Texas Core Curriculum, Allied Health/Nursing, Construction & Building Trades, Teaching, and Agri-Business. For more information, please contact Susie Shank, Director, at the Blinn College-Schulenburg Campus at 979-743-5239 or susie.shank@blinn.edu. More information may also be found at the ACCSS website, www.myaccss.net, or on their Facebook page @ACCSS5.
Pictured (L-R): Cheryl Hudec Pekar/SFF Executive Director, Sarah Lachelle Nickel/ACCSS Student Success Coach, Susie Shank/ACCSS Director, and Melanie Ramirez/SFF Program Director.
