Amarillo College will host Dual Credit Days in Dumas and Hereford this month, inviting students and their families to learn more about dual credit opportunities.“There are so many questions students, and their families have about dual credit,” said Sandra De La Rosa, AC’s director of secondary partnerships and dual credit. “We want to help them navigate this excellent option for high school students by providing everything they need to enroll and take full advantage of the opportunity.” 

Dr. Fred Napp, an Amarillo College graduate and adjunct faculty member, will share some details about his career and sign copies of his book, Tales from the Ashes, at a book signing from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, July 17 at AC’s First Responders Academy at 3891 Plains Boulevard in Amarillo.Napp’s career began as a volunteer firefighter in high school. The book draws on his experiences growing up in Dumas and on his 30 years of experience in fire and arson investigations across Texas.

Two locally produced documentaries from Panhandle PBS have been selected to air across Texas after being chosen by a panel of PBS staff representing the 10 public television stations in the state.The selected films— “The Rain We Keep” and “Broken Bread: Examining Senior Food Insecurity in the Texas Panhandle”—were chosen from 15 submissions for broadcast. 

Amarillo College will administer physical ability testing for anyone seeking admission to the AC Fire Academy at 9 a.m. Saturday, July 26 and Saturday, Aug. 2 at the First Responders Academy (FRA) at Plains Boulevard. Passing the physical ability test, which consists of simulated fire-scene activities, is among the requirements for admission to the Fire Academy.

Cash prizes will be up for grabs once again at Chalk It Up, the summertime sidewalk art contest at Amarillo College that has attracted crazy-good creations every year since its inception in 2017. Online registration is now open for the popular annual event, which takes place Saturday, July 26 on AC’s Washington Street Campus.

Amarillo College will be one of few community colleges in Texas to earn alliance status with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), U.S. Department of Labor.AC President Jamelle J. Conner will formalize the alliance status at a signing set for 11 a.m. Thursday, June 26 at the Innovation Outpost at 1220 S. Polk Street in Amarillo. 

Culture, technology, and religion will be center stage during Amarillo College’s Chautauqua this fall. The Chautauqua series is a follow-up to AC’s Two Cultures series from last year.“There are so many questions in today’s world about being human as it relates to those around us and the technology we use,” said Dr. Robert Fulton, AC Chautauqua coordinator and associate professor of humanities. “This forum we started with last fall’s lecture series gave our community an ideal opportunity for learning and discussion, much like the original Chautauqua more than 100 years ago.”

The newest cadets, who have completed months of intensive training in preparation for careers in firefighting and emergency response, will graduate from Amarillo College’s Regional Fire Academy this weekend.The graduation ceremony will take place at noon Saturday, May 10 the AmTech Career Academy at 3601 Plains Blvd., in Amarillo. Family, friends, and community members are invited to join in celebrating the accomplishments of these future first responders.

Samantha Wilhelm knew Amarillo College would be a good place to start but only intended to stay a year. Two years later, Wilhelm earned her associate’s degree and will join Amarillo College’s Class of 2025 graduates at Commencement Friday, May 9 at the Amarillo Civic Center Coliseum."Since I was homeschooled, I thought the size and atmosphere at AC would make it a good place to start,” she said. “I have loved the environment here.”

Ester Perez can hardly wait to take her mother on the road with her as a traveling nuclear medicine technologist for those on their own cancer journey. Perez fought her own rare cancer in her 20’s and is now set to join Amarillo College’s Class of 2025 graduates Friday, May 9.Perez remembers scan days as some of the hardest in her experience and knows her work in nuclear medicine can make a difference.

High school students from throughout the Texas Panhandle are expected to converge on Amarillo College’s East Campus to showcase their work and compete for prizes at the Top of Texas Career & Technical Education Expo.The event is today (May 1) and Friday, May 2. The East Campus is located at 1502 B Ave (google maps AC East Campus Building V).  

High school students interested in a career in education or the liberal arts are set to attend Amarillo College’s Next Experience today(April 28) at Dutton Hall on AC’s Washington Street Campus. “Don’t miss out on this opportunity to jumpstart your teaching career,” said Rochelle Fouts, AC instructor of education. “We look forward to welcoming you to Amarillo College and helping you make the transition from high school to higher education.”

Amarillo College students and members of the Future Billionaires Club have created the first “Innovate U” event for AC students and employees to showcase their businesses set for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 23 at the Oeschger Family Mall at AC’s Washington Street campus. “We wanted to showcase our club by working with student and staff businesses,” said Christian Flores, a biology major and one of the event organizers. “There are so many talented students who work and/or have own their own business in addition to taking classes. Anyone is welcome to come check out these businesses.” 

Those who enjoy reading and watching romance will not want to miss the screening of the first episode of a new Netflix series “A Ransom Canyon” at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 22 at Amarillo College’s Innovation Outpost at 1220 S. Polk Street in Amarillo. Attendees will also have the chance to meet the author who inspired the series, Jodi Thomas. Thomas, a fifth generation Texan, began authoring novels as a teacher at Amarillo High School. Thomas's first novel, “Beneath the Texas Sky,” met with critical success. It won a Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award for Best Western Romance and was designated a National Press Women Novel of the Year. 

The Amarillo College Cyber Challenge 2025 is a one-day cyber security challenge set for Friday, April 25 at AC’s Innovation Outpost at 1220 S. Polk Street in Amarillo. The competition is hosted on the CyberQ platform and features team and solo Capture the Flag challenges suited for high school, college, and early career IT professionals. 

Education Credit Union earned the prestigious Diamond Award from the Marketing, PR & Development Council’s annual competition for marketing excellence for the ECU Badger $mart Branch Grand Opening last year on Amarillo College’s campus. The event was the fruition of a partnership committed to establishing a student-run ECU branch at the College. The full-service retail branch provides the same financial services to ECU members that all branches offer, but outside of a few management-level ECU team members, all other employees at the Badger $mart Branch are AC students. The Aug. 15 event included a DJ, pizza and sodas, branded giveaways and a ceremonial ribbon-cutting.

In celebration of their 45th anniversary, the Amarillo Master Chorale along with area vocalists and instrumentalists will stage G. F. Handel’s majestic "Messiah" at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 12 at the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts. “Throughout its history, the Amarillo Master Chorale has been pursuing ‘harmony and beauty in voice’ while exploring the fascinating territory between arts-entertainment and spiritual formation,” said Dr. Nathaniel Fryml, AC’s director of Choral Activities and artistic director of the Master Chorale. “Handel’s complete 'Messiah' felt like a perfect fit for our anniversary season because it sits boldly in that indefinable space and provides such wonderful opportunities for community engagement and partnership.” 

Designed to bring critical public safety disciplines together under a single roof, Amarillo College’s First Responders Academy is inviting the public to an open house from 4-5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 10. Amarillo College’s First Responders Academy, which opened in 2024, serves as an essential hub for Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement, and Fire Protection Technology training.

Amarillo College is pleased to announce that its Communications and Marketing Department parlayed its “Your Future is Bright” promotional campaign into significant recognition at the 40th Annual Education Advertising Awards.An elite national organization known for recognizing excellence in higher education advertising, the Education Advertising Awards (EduAwards) presented 10 total accolades to Amarillo College. Two of the laurels are at the highest Gold level and are directly related to the “Bright” campaign.

On a day widely associated with tricks, The Keep Us Live! series will continue in earnest with the accomplished pianist John Bayless at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 1. “He will bring his improvisational style to a variety of feel-good genres, from opera to Broadway shows, music from the movies, and even the Beatles,” said Dr. Bruce Lin, director of piano at AC.