The Vocational Nursing (LVN) program at Amarillo College will celebrate 75 years of preparing compassionate, highly skilled nurses during its Spring 2026 pinning ceremonies on May 14.The milestone will be honored as part of a dual ceremony recognizing both Vocational Nursing (VN) and Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) graduates at The Church at Quail Creek. The VN pinning ceremony is scheduled for 2 p.m., followed by the ADN ceremony at 6 p.m. A reception for LVN graduates, alumni and community partners will follow the evening ceremony in the Fellowship Hall at the same location. Guests are asked to RSVP to the ceremony in advance.

Panhandle PBS is pleased to announce that Matt Franklin has joined the station as Station Manager, effective May 1. A senior public media leader with over 20 years of experience, Franklin brings an extensive background in nonprofit broadcast operations, content strategy, and organizational performance to the Texas Panhandle. 

The 7 p.m. ceremony will feature student commencement speaker Mallory Moore, the first student-athlete in Amarillo College history to be selected for the honor.Moore, a Badger cross country runner who competed at the national level both years she attended Amarillo College, said she was surprised and humbled to be chosen.

Amarillo College has selected Racheal Garcia, a graduate of its Licensed Vocational Nursing (LVN) program, as the student commencement speaker for the 3 p.m. graduation ceremony Friday, May 15.Garcia, a nontraditional student who returned to college while raising her granddaughters and supporting her family through illness, will address fellow graduates with a message centered on perseverance, purpose and the value of hard work.

Amarillo College will honor the achievements of its GED graduates during a commencement ceremony at 6 p.m. Friday, May 8 in the Student Life and Conference Center on the Washington Street campus. More than 40 students are expected to walk the stage, marking a major milestone in their educational journeys. 

Amarillo College’s Communications and Marketing has earned national recognition in the Collegiate Advertising Awards program, receiving a bronze, two golds, and three silver awards across multiple categories in competition with peer institutions in the 5,001–10,000 student group.The College earned two Gold Awards for the Kids’ College Summer Course Guide and the Creative Mind Lecture Series: Bob Dylan. It also received three Silver Awards for Teaching for Transformation Magazine, the Keep Us Live invitation campaign, and the {Grow / Secure / Drive / Protect / Build} Your Future TV/PSA video series. Additionally, the College was recognized with a Bronze Award for its {Grow / Secure / Drive / Protect / Build} Your Future billboard series.

Amarillo College invites the community to experience the intensity and teamwork of real-world firefighting during a special Night Live Burn Training event on Thursday, April 30 at the First Responders Academy. Open to the public, this rare, after-dark training offers a front-row seat to watch fire academy cadets in action as they battle controlled live fires.

Amarillo College students delivered an outstanding performance at the annual Pantex Innovation Challenge, earning top team finishes, multiple MVP honors, and advancing to the next round of competition.Held March 26–27 at Amarillo College’s Innovation Outpost campus, the event brought together some of the region’s brightest emerging talent to tackle complex, real-world challenges.

Amarillo College will host “Heart & Mind: Discover Your Path in Teaching and the Liberal Arts,” an engaging showcase designed to help high school students explore future careers in education and liberal arts fields.The event will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, April 27 in Dutton Hall on the Washington Street Campus.

Amarillo College Theatre will present Spring Awakening, book and lyrics by Steven Sater and music by Duncan Sheik, the winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical.Spring Awakening set for May 1-10 is a powerful and electrifying rock musical that explores the turbulent journey from adolescence to adulthood, blending themes of morality, sexuality, and self-discovery.

The University of Texas Permian Basin and Amarillo College will sign an agreement to establish a new partnership at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 16 in the second-floor lobby of the College Union Building on AC’s Washington Street Campus.UTPB President Dr. Sandra Woodley and Amarillo College President Dr. Jamelle Conner will attend the event to sign the agreement, which is designed to make it easier than ever for Amarillo College students to continue their academic journey and complete their four-year degree as a Falcon.

The Amarillo Public Library, Amarillo Genealogical Society, and Panhandle PBS will host “Finding Your Roots: A Genealogy Open House” from 4:30–6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 30 at the Downtown Library.This free, come-and-go event invites community members to explore the Downtown Library’s extensive genealogical resources while enjoying selected Season 12 episodes of the PBS series Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

Amarillo College will host a regional Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) grant check presentation at 10 a.m. Thursday, April 30 in the Student Life & Conference Center on the Washington Street Campus.Texas Workforce Commission Commissioner Representing the Public Brent Connett will present the grants, which are designed to support career and technical education programs and expand opportunities for students to gain workforce-ready skills.

Amarillo College will recognize longtime biology professor Dr. Robert Bauman with the distinguished title of Professor Emeritus during a reception from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Monday, April 20 in the upstairs lobby of the College Union Building on the Washington Street Campus.The honor of Professor Emeritus is reserved for faculty who have demonstrated exceptional service, leadership, and commitment to teaching throughout their careers. Bauman, who taught at Amarillo College for more than three decades, is widely known for his dedication to student success and his ability to make complex scientific concepts accessible to learners of all backgrounds.

Amarillo College is inviting community members to join an upcoming strategic planning forum and help shape the institution’s future.The event will take place from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 16 in the Student Life & Conference Center on the Washington Street Campus.Led by Amarillo College President Dr. Jamelle Conner, the forum is designed to be an open, welcoming space where attendees can share ideas, offer input, and engage in meaningful conversations about the college’s direction and priorities.

When Salvador Gonzalez told his father he had earned a scholarship that could pay for his entire associate degree, the moment was emotional. His father, who completed only the third grade while growing up in Mexico, was moved to tears.Just months earlier, Gonzalez had moved from Houston to Bovina, unsure what to expect in a new town and a new school.

The Future Billionaires Club at Amarillo College is hosting its second annual business expo, Innovate U!, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 8 at the Oeschger Family Mall on the AC Washington Street campus.Designed to spotlight entrepreneurship across campus, Innovate U! gives Amarillo College students and employees the chance to showcase their businesses or business ideas, connect with fellow entrepreneurs, and build valuable professional relationships.

Amarillo College Student Media earned 36 awards at the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association (TIPA) convention, held March 19–21 in Denton, continuing a strong tradition of excellence in collegiate journalism.In total, AC Student Media received two Overall Excellence awards, 13 first-place awards, nine second-place awards, nine third-place awards and five honorable mentions.

Panhandle PBS will mark April as Senior Hunger Awareness Month with a month-long focus on programming, digital content, and community engagement centered on its original series, “Broken Bread: Examining Senior Food Insecurity in the Texas Panhandle.”The multi-part series explores the causes, regional disparities, and wide-ranging impacts of food insecurity among older adults across the Texas Panhandle. Through personal stories, expert insights, and local solutions, “Broken Bread” aims to raise awareness while encouraging meaningful community action.

High school students from across the region got a head start on their careers thanks to a partnership between Amarillo College and Amarillo Independent School District that brought the 2026 SkillsUSA District 3 contests to Amarillo for the first time.The competitions, held Feb. 12-13, gave students the opportunity to showcase technical skills in trade and industrial programs and qualify for the state-level contests in Corpus Christi next month, with the chance to advance to the national competition in Atlanta this summer.