Thirteen Amarillo College theatre students recently showcased their talent and dedication at the American College Theatre Festival last month in Abilene, earning multiple awards and national recognition while representing the College and its theatre program with distinction.Students competed in a variety of performance and technical theatre categories against peers from colleges and universities across the region.

Texas Mutual Insurance Company—the state’s leading provider of workers’ compensation insurance—will present a check for $100,000 grant at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 3 at the Innovation Outpost at 1220 S. Polk. With this Amarillo College continues to fund the college’s Safety and Environmental Technology Program, which provides workplace safety courses for community employers, employees and the general public.

Elizabeth A. Brown, a seasoned law enforcement executive with more than 24 years of progressive leadership experience, was sworn in as Chief of Police for the Amarillo College Police Department Feb. 24 at the AC Board of Regents meeting. Brown brings a distinguished record in public safety and the private sector, including service with the Amarillo Police Department where she was a Captain for 8 years. She earned a master of arts in communication from West Texas A & M University and is an Amarillo College Alumni. 

 Amarillo College Student Media brought home top honors once again this year at the Amarillo chapter of the American Advertising Federation’s 2026 Advertising Awards on Feb. 20.  “The Current,” AC’s student-produced magazine, won a Gold ADDY award and a Special Judges Award for its fall 2024 edition.

Amarillo College will welcome internationally renowned poet, storyteller, musician and playwright Joy Harjo for a public lecture at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 26 in the AC Concert Hall Theatre at AC’s Washington Street Campus, as part of the Creative Mind Lecture Series, sponsored by the Amarillo College Foundation.

Amarillo College will host its first-ever STEM and Business Career and Transfer Fair from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 25 in the Event Center at the new Student Life and Conference Center, on the Washington Street Campus.Designed as a combined career expo and transfer fair, the event has already attracted 15 university representatives from STEM and business programs and 15 employers from related industries, with additional participants registering daily. Several employers will be recruiting for internships and job opportunities, giving students a direct pathway from the classroom to careers.

Girls across the Texas Panhandle are gaining firsthand exposure to careers in science, technology, engineering and math through Girls Who Science, a monthly speaker series hosted by the Discovery Center that connects students with women working in STEM and other nontraditional fields.In January, Amarillo College Computer Information Systems (CIS) instructor Delane McUne spoke with participants about her educational and career journey and introduced students to technology concepts through hands-on learning. 

Area residents interested in hands-on, high-paying careers are invited to Amarillo College’s Machining the Future: A Career Built to Last, a free community event focused on machining and advanced manufacturing, set for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19 at the AmTech Career Academy at 3601 Plains Boulevard in Amarillo.

Amarillo College is pleased to announce that a total of 1,185 full-time students attained academic excellence worthy of inclusion on the Fall 2025 Dean’s List. To attain inclusion on the prestigious list, students must attend AC full time by completing 12 hours and earn a grade point average of 3.6 or higher.

Amarillo College will host a guitar master class with internationally acclaimed guitarist JIJI from 2–3:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15 at the Amarillo College Concert Hall. The event is part of a collaboration with the Amarillo Symphony and provides a unique educational opportunity for AC music students and the community.

Amarillo College has named Stephen Crandall, professor and former department chair of art, theatre, and dance at West Texas A&M University, as the Amarillo College Dean of Liberal Arts.Following a comprehensive interview process, the hiring committee—comprised of Dr. Frank Sobey, Becky Burton, Edie Carter, Dr. Chris Hudson, and Bob Austin—unanimously selected Crandall.

Amarillo College theatre students earned multiple recognitions from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival for their recent production of A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams.The production received honors across acting, design, stage management, and ensemble work, highlighting the depth of talent and collaboration among AC students.

Amarillo College’s Panhandle Regional Law Enforcement Academy is now accepting applications for the 133rd Basic Peace Officer Academy, which begins in April. Individuals seeking a career in law enforcement are encouraged to apply. Applicants must complete the full application process by Feb. 19, so those interested are urged to begin as soon as possible.

Amarillo College has been awarded $500,000 through the Texas Reskilling and Upskilling through Education (TRUE) Grant Program to expand short-term workforce training in high-demand business and technology fields.The competitive grant is part of a $9.9 million statewide investment announced by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to help public higher education institutions create, redesign, and expand industry-aligned training programs that can be completed in six months or less.

Amarillo College dual credit student Giovanna Miller, a senior at Amarillo High School, has achieved an extraordinary academic milestone: her research paper, “A Novel Case of Plasmacytosis in a Patient of Native American Ancestry,” has been accepted for publication in JAAD Case Reports, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

For adults who feel it may be too late to return to school, Jerrad Lorlovick’s journey proves that a second chance can change everything.At 35, with a family to support and a lifelong dream of becoming a meteorologist, Lorlovick found himself stuck after being scammed out of $400 by a fake online diploma program.

Amarillo College’s Communications and Marketing team has been nationally recognized with six honors from the 2025 Educational Digital Marketing Awards, celebrating excellence in digital strategy, storytelling, and student-focused communication.The team received three Gold Awards, one Silver Award, and two Bronze Awards for standout work that supports student engagement and institutional advancement.

What began as a hesitant return to the classroom has become a powerful testimony of perseverance, legacy, and hope. Alexia Layton, an Amarillo College Early Childhood Development student and single mother in her mid-30s, will serve as the student speaker for Amarillo College’s Fall 2025 Commencement Ceremony. She will be one of 1,161 AC summer and fall graduates eligible to receive diplomas on Friday, Dec. 19 at the Amarillo Civic Center.

Amarillo College students delivered standout performances at the Cyber Challenge 2.0 on Nov. 20, earning multiple top finishes in both team and individual competitions during the regional cybersecurity event hosted by the College’s Innovation Outpost.Powered by EC-Council’s Cyber Range, the competition brought together high school students, college students, and professionals for a full day of immersive, real-world cybersecurity scenarios. Participants competed in team-based “capture the flag” challenges in the morning, followed by individual competitions in the afternoon across Beginner, Intermediate, and Professional divisions.

Amarillo College in partnership with Window on a Wider World, will present a series of holiday concerts for pre-K through 6th grade students across the Texas Panhandle on Friday, Dec. 5 with performances at 9 a.m. 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. The concerts will take place in the intimate Amarillo College Concert Hall Theater designed by famed architect Edward Durrell Stone.