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.