Austin Community College (ACC), Huston-Tillotson University (HTU), and E3 Alliance celebrated the more than 150 high school students who have committed to college with a pinning ceremony on December 12, at HTU. The ceremony is part of the Greater Austin Area My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) initiative, a program launched by the White House in 2014. It helps low-income, young men of color attend and graduate college. Nationwide, data show men of color are the least likely to persist in their education and achieve a college degree.

“This is an issue facing higher education across the nation. ACC wants to lead the way in better serving these young students,” says Dr. Richard Rhodes, ACC president/CEO. “We must work together to provide support and create pathways to success.”

The new MBK scholars are from Austin ISD’s LBJ and Crockett high schools, Elgin High School, and Pflugerville High School. Former U.S. Secretary of Education John E. King Jr. will serve as guest speaker at the pinning ceremony.

“This is a great step forward for our community and for each of these young men,” says Dr. Colette Pierce Burnette, Huston-Tillotson University president/CEO. “We will not only congratulate our new scholars but also inform the community of this important work.”

As part of the program, scholars will receive individualized guidance and support applying for college and preparing for post-secondary success.

MBK is one of dozens community programs supported by ACC’s Office of Student Services. For more information, contact Dr. Richard Armenta, Student Services associate vice president and dean at rarmenta@austincc.edu.