AC’s Moore County Campus Marks 25 Years of Changing Lives

A quarter century ago, Amarillo College and long-time Dumas residents planted a bold idea in the Texas Panhandle: that higher education should be within reach for every resident of Moore County. On Tuesday, Oct. 14, the community is invited to celebrate the 25th anniversary of that vision—the establishment of AC’s Moore County Campus.

The celebration will take place from 3 to 5:30 p.m. at the campus and will feature a panel discussion, the announcement of a new scholarship fund, student-led tours, and local food and drink offerings.

“It’s really about access,” said Jill Williams, dean of AC’s Moore County Campus. “For students in Dumas and nearby towns, driving to Amarillo just isn’t always feasible. The Moore County Campus opened doors—for young people, working parents, and career-changers alike.”

Since opening in 1999 in leased retail space, the Moore County Campus has grown into a cornerstone of opportunity and resilience in the northern Panhandle. Over the years, the campus has expanded to include workforce training in welding, industrial technology, and health sciences; launched dual-credit partnerships with local schools; and developed programs tailored to meet the needs of adult learners and first-generation students.

Jimmy Flores who earned his CDL and GED through the Moore County Campus, explained how important the campus has been to him. 

“I had never thought about driving professionally until I saw the CDL classes advertised,” Flores said. “Jill encouraged me to pursue my GED while training for my CDL, and now I’m working with a petroleum carrier. The campus really opened doors for me.”

Trenton Aikman is a 2023 graduate who completed his associate degree in instrument and electronics technology.

 “The Moore County Campus made it easier to learn because of the one-on-one attention,” Aikman said. “I felt recognized, not just another number. Thanks to the campus and programs like Quest, I could work full time while earning my degree and now work in the field I’ve always dreamed of.”

Key partnerships—including the Quest initiative with Dumas High School and the Better Futures program with JBS Cactus—continue to connect education directly with economic mobility. Long time Dumas educators Evelyn and the late Howard Bose contributed generous support for the Welding Technology Program while a generous $50,000 grant from the Brumley Foundation supports the Instrument Technology program. Both offerings support workforce training and enrollment growth at the Amarillo College Moore County Campus Career Technical Center. 

Graduates of the Moore County Campus now serve as teachers, healthcare workers, and business owners across the Panhandle. Many are the first in their families to attend college.

“Education changes everything,” Williams said. “It changes families. It changes economies. And for 25 years, that’s exactly what’s happened here.”

The Oct. 14 celebration will reflect on that legacy while looking to the future of higher education in Moore County. The entire community is welcome.