CTN E-news May, 2017

Dream Catchers- Newsletter

May 2017 - Volume 5, No.12

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.
-Henry David Thoreau-

30 Graduates Catch Their Dreams in Ceremonies Across TX

Over 20 Catch the Next Dream Catchers beat the odds this month earning associate's degrees in less than the
average 4.5 years, most in half that time.
Palo Alto College had four graduates; Houston CC and Lee College both had three; South Texas College had
11 graduates from three campuses; EPCC had 11 graduates for two semesters. The count does not include
transfer students, We had approximately 4 students transfer from ACC.,
Helping students reach their goals of transferring and earning a degree is a large part of Catch the Next's
mission. More than half of the graduates will continue to four year programs and one knows she wants to
pursue her PhD. Dream Catchers will be represented on campuses all across the state including TAMU-CC,
UTSA, TAMU-SA, UT Arlington, UTRGV, and Southern University in Houston. One transfer student
graduated from UTEP this spring.
Congratulations to all Dream Catchers, their instructors and their campuses!

PAC Graduates
Four Dream Catchers

and is transferring to UTSA. Four Dream Catchers graduated from
PAC on May 20. Mariel Villarreal will
be finishing the veterinary technician
program. Alexis Fabian is transferring to
TAMU– Corpus Christi. Yailet
Guadalupe Gomez, a computer support
specialist and also a STEM peer advisor,
will be transferring to TAMUSA in
spring 2018. Isai DeHoyos graduated
with a degree in Business Administration

Graduates: M. Villarreal, A. Fabian, Y. Gomez, and I. DeHoyos

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Houston Community College
Graduates Three from 2014

Cohort

LaTasha Johnson, Tosha Graves, and Amber
Contreras graduated from Houston Community
College on May 13th. All have been leaders on
campus and truly embodied the Dream Catchers
spirit. Johnson and Graves are transferring to Texas
Southern University in Houston, and Johnson
indicated that, inspired by mentors introduced
through DCP and at the Transfer Motivational
Conference, she intends to pursue her doctorate.
Graduates A. Contreras, T. Graves and L. Johnson

Three Dream Catchers Graduate from Lee College on May 13

Dream Catchers Jazmine
Rodriguez, Carmen Valencia,
and Reyna Gomez graduated
from Lee College on May 13.
Reyna started in Catch the
Next, but had to take time off
and returned enrolling in Lee's
Weekend College. Jazmine
will continue her education at
UT Arlington.

J. Rodriguez , V. Marron, and C.

Valencia Instructor

Marron and R. Gomez Three Graduate
Campus
from Pecan

Three Dream Catchers graduated
from STC-Pecan Campus. Rodrigo
Perez is headed to UT San Antonio
for a Bachelors in nutrition. David
Solis will pursue a career as an A/C
Technician, and Leo Lopez received
an associate in HVAC.

David Solis and Instructor Cerda

Rodrigo Perez, Jaguar, and Leo Lopez

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STARR Campus Graduates
Three Dream Catchers

South Texas College (Starr Campus)
Dream Catchers Program had a total of
three graduates this Spring 2017 semester.
Students successfully finished their
associates degrees and will continue on
their path to higher education. Clarissa
Rodriguez and Abraham Salinas both plan
to enter the educational field. Clarissa for
elementary and Abraham for middle
school. Anna Gracia plans to continue in
criminal justice.

Clarissa Rodriguez, Abraham Salinas, and Anna Gracia

Mid Valley Campus Graduates Five

Alyssa J. Garcia

Five Dream Catchers graduated from Mid Valley Campus at STC
College. Three have applied at UTRGV. David Palacios will pursue a
math major. Alyssa Jeanette Garcia and Sofia A. Rodriguez both
want careers in education - Alyssa in elementary and Sofia in
Spanish. Deyanira Santillan has applied at a car dealership to work in
their marketing department and Alejandro Cardona will continue at
STC for an second associate degree.

EPCC Graduates One Alumni from UTEP and 11 in 2016-2017

Gabriel Herrera

El Paso Community College had 11 students graduate
in 2016-2017. Melany De La Rosa Cangas, Alejandro
Armando Espinoza, Gabriel Herrera, Joshua Madrid,
David Palacios, and Sandra Porras earned AA degrees.
Sergio Medrano and Gabriel Alejandro Pacheco earned
AS degrees. Abigail Flores received an AAT degree.
Irvin Osvaldo Bastardo and James Pineda received
certificates. Also transfer student Marlene Monserrat
graduated from UTEP with a BS in finance.

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ACC Students Celebrate Culmination of First Year and Transfers

Austin CC's end of year "Celebracion" or Celebration was held on May 5th. The theme was Cinco de Mayo,
and not only was the culmination of the Dream Catchers first year of college celebrated, but also their culture
and roots. From the first cohort, Jerson Garcia will transfer to UT Arlington and Diana Tonche to Texas State.
Both will study Criminal Justice.

Austin CC Dream Catchers celebrate the end of the year. Dr. Virginia Fraire

Students wait for their names to be called. Students receive their stoles.

Dream Catchers and families enjoy the celebration.

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Palo Alto College Celebrates Fifth Anniversary of CTN

Acknowledging the fifth anniversary of CTN, students gathered to celebrate the end of Phase I and begin Phase
II of the program. Keynote speaker and former Dream Catcher from year two, Veronica Gonzalez, delivered
inspiring remarks. Ms. Gonzalez graduated with her Bachelor’s Degree from Texas A&M-San Antonio in Fall
2016. She began her speech by sharing she was a high school dropout and “felt invisible.” She stated, “I
earned my Bachelor’s Degree in three years. It was difficult, but my CTN professors kept me motivated.” She
added, “Stay involved with all the Dream Catcher activities they offer.” Ms. Gonzalez has been admitted to St.
Mary’s University School of Law for the Fall 2017 semester. The celebration continued in the classrooms as
students prepared for finals week. Each student was provided with a finals' goodie gift bag.

Dream Catchers display their goodie bags. A treat for the end of the year (Center) Speaker, V. Gonzalez

More goodie bags! Veronica Gonzalez with club officers and Catch the Next instructors.

Starr Campus Celebrates End of the Year

Starr County Campus Dream Catchers Program celebrated their end of semester celebration on May 9. Food
and beverages were provided for the students. Students were able to reflect on the different activities and events
in which they participated throughout the semester. Student Success Specialist, Cindy Yarely Marroquin,
received feedback and suggestions on future club activities as well.

Students enjoy
pizza after lunch
and breakfast in the
morning.

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Starr Students Participate in Student Leadership Academy Ceremony

Starr County Campus Dream Catchers Club participated in the 2017 Student Leadership Academy Ceremony
on Pecan Campus on May 3, where students were certified as Student Leaders. The Student Leadership
Academy fosters the personal growth of individuals and encourages and aids in the development of socially
responsible citizens and leaders. Students enhance their leadership and interpersonal skills through interactive
workshops and seminars that supplement their college education and further their personal and career goals.

Graduating from the Academy required that students
attend 10 workshops and complete a minimum of 30
volunteer hours. Each graduate received a certificate
and pin for completing the Academy.

Starr Campus participants in the Student Leadership
Academy are (Left to Right:) Adolfo Pecina, Eulogio
Torres, Marissa Loera, Alexandria Garza, Ms. Cindy Y.
Marroquin, Dr. Anna B. Alaniz, Robert Moran, Orlando
Garcia, Javier Garza Jr., Rosa Gonzalez-Pena, Ezequiel
Garza, and Dilia Salinas

Starr Students Receive Certificates for Volunteering in Community

Starr County Campus Dream Catchers Club celebrated with about 20 students who received certificates for
volunteering throughout the 2016-2017 academic year. The Volunteering Ceremony was a small celebration to
honor the hard work and dedication that these students applied during their busy semesters. Students
participated in various community volunteering events, which allowed them to connect with community
members. The volunteering also allowed for students to have a better connection amongst their peers.

Alexandria Garza-Historian San Juana DeLaCruz-Treasurer Dilia Salinas-Secretary Javier Garza Jr. – President

Group Tours Palo Alto College's SHARE Center

Dr. Chavez Brummell, Erin Doran (CTN Director of Research and Evaluation), and
Esmeralda Macias (South Texas College) visited Palo Alto College's Dream Catchers
program. After meeting with Dream Catcher students and faculty, they visited PAC's new
Student Health, Advocacy, Resource, and Engagement Center (SHARE Center), which
among other things, provides a food pantry and business clothing to the college's students.

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Starr Dream Catchers Club Sell Plates for Fundraiser

The Starr County Dream Catchers Club participated in their second 2017 spring semester fundraiser in April.
Students pre-sold brisket burger plate tickets. Students met at Pueblo ExpressMart in Roma to set-up by 9:00
AM and start the plate sale from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM. Antonio Alaniz, a community member, donated his time
to prepare the briskets. Dr. Anna B. Alaniz, Ms. Cindy Y. Marroquin, and students were all involved in
preparing the plates with cupcakes/cookies, chips, and preparation of the brisket burgers. Most of the orders

were ready to deliver by 10:00 AM. A number of
orders were picked up and some were delivered.
The club sold approximately 200 brisket burger
plates. The fundraiser proved to be very
successful, and the club raised a substantial
amount from this activity.

(Left to Right:) Dr. Anna B. Alaniz, Ezequiel Garza,
Ricardo Garcia, Eulogio Torres, Ms. Cindy Y.
Marroquin, Juan Robles, Dilia Salinas, Javier Garza
Jr., Lesly Soto, and Robert Moran

EPCC Dream Catchers Tour the University of New Mexico

Ten students and three faculty members from EPCC
took a road trip to Albuquerque, NM where students
were given a tour of the University of New Mexico
(UNM) campus. Along the way, students were
exposed to different aspects of life in the Albuquerque
area, including a trip to the National Hispanic Cultural
Center and a visit to “Old Town” which dates back to
the 1700’s. The trip culminated with a tour of the
UNM campus where students were given information
on all the university has to offer.

EPCC Students Attend El Paso Chihuahuas Baseball Game

To help mark the end of the school year, several students from EPCC attended an El Paso Chihuahuas baseball
game for the second year in a row. Overall, the game served as an opportunity for students and faculty from the
2016-2017 cohort to spend time together outside of the classroom as well as emphasizing the idea of “familia”
as all involved were invited to bring friends and family. Helping to highlight the event was the addition of
several students from the 2015-2016 cohort who were also invited.

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From Language Development to Leadership: UNT Dallas Dream Catcher

Hired as Fall Writing Consultant

by Amanda Preston, UNTD English Adjunct & Professor of English, Eastfield College

Students don’t always know they are leadership material. Sometimes students don’t even know they’re ready to
take the next step, and that is where programs and educators like ours come into play. We change lives by
showing students their own potential. One of the essential qualities, then, that students discover through novel
learning experiences provided by our Dream Catcher program, is how and when to take informed, calculated
risks—to put a little trust in themselves.

That is exactly what got Zainab Hameed her first paid university gig. Starting
Fall 2017, she will be one of two undergraduate writing consultants at the UNT
Dallas Writing Center, a position she never thought she’d get.
“You know, I didn’t think I was responsible enough for this until I got the job,”
she humbly admits. “But taking on this is how I’m going to help my peers.”
Serving others is what she believes communications should do.
Zainab is one of the university’s founding Dream Catchers and a hard-working
double-major, an ambitious young woman with a big personality who will be a
sophomore next year.
“My friends would describe me as outgoing, definitely. I got to know everyone
on campus here in the first few weeks of school. I love meeting people and
socializing.”
Her gift for gab and love to help others is part of what has motivated her to join
student organizations like FRAND (Finding Right and Natural Destinations),
which raises money to help feral and stray animals around Dallas. She is also an
officer in the Student Communications Organization (SCO) that aims to keep
students on campus informed. This year, they hosted a Presidential Elections night to watch as votes rolled in.
Zainab sees becoming a writer as a kind of civic duty.
“I want to go into communications to explore what’s out there, get people’s attention. I want to teach people
what’s going on in the world rather than us being stuck in the little bubbles we all live in.” This is part of what
motivated her to submit an application to the Writing Center in the first place, even though she wasn’t sure she
was ready for the job.
“If I have to help grad students with their papers, I’ll use what I learned this year from one of the writing tutors
who worked with me on my papers. I really like how Jared helped me find problems in my own writing by
having me read them out loud.”
In her position as a writing consultant, she will have a chance to work one-on-one with other students through a
non-directive peer-review process. After a year in UNT Dallas’s first-year writing program and as a Dream
Catcher, Zainab is more confident in her ability to live up to the expectations of a writing-focused job; she
knows how the process works now.
“When you’re writing, you miss out on a lot of things because you're trying to speak your own thoughts, which
come out faster than your fingers can type on a keyboard. You’re just trying to catch those thoughts in words.
When you read it out loud though, you hear it sometimes for the first time, and for me, I want to fix it myself. It
helps to have someone go through that with you.”
This is how she plans to support other student writers on campus—sharing her own writing experiences.
Serving as a paid consultant also gives her the opportunity to be a peer mentor by putting back into the
community and her peers what UNT Dallas has offer her—the power of the written word. This appointment
ensures that she will receive even more exposure and intellectual return, she suggests. “I’ve always loved
writing, loved how it allows people to get their ideas out there.”

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As a consultant, Zainab says she hopes to “learn how other people think and outline papers, how they get ideas
across. To me, it’s a win-win situation,” she says. “While I get to help them, they’ll also be helping me learn.”
Zainab is working towards a Bachelor’s in both Finance and Communications, having graduated last year from
Sam Houston High School in Arlington. She eagerly looks forward to a slew of new challenges this summer
and fall here at UNT Dallas

Eastfield College: A Dream Catching Expedition

by Catch the Next Intern Brandan Rodriguez

Our Dream Catchers classes are different from any ordinary English and Learning Framework experience. Our
learning community combines the two courses in order to explore similar concepts about human development,
unveiling our individual cryptic minds and getting further into the depths of language assignments.
For us, there are more interactions inside the classroom with students cooperatively endorsing one other and
offering help that finds shared strengths in one to compensate for weaknesses in another. That way, we are all
doing better together. Also, Professor Preston who teaches English, arranged a couple of munch-and-brunch
events to get to know us beyond the school walls. We didn’t just go to school; we became a family.
Our program provided personal mentors, financial budgeting programs, educational apps, service learning
engagement, a trip to the University of North Texas at Dallas, and a Noche de Familia (a Graduation promise
to complete, dinner and ceremony.) The program was a great motivator for us Dream Catchers who are taking
our first steps on this journey.
2017 Founding Dream Catcher Derrick Maduku explains, “One of the most important things that I learned as a
Dream Catcher is that if I run into difficulties, I know there is someone I can look to, and I have a wider variety
of resources. If there’s another Dream Catcher who is struggling, I would be more than willing to lend a hand.
Not to mention, I really enjoyed the Noche de Familia because it motivated me, highlighting the importance of
earning my degree and giving a glimpse into the sensation of walking the stage.”
Our common goal is to graduate in 2018 and transfer to a four-year university to gain a
Bachelor's, and some are headed for a further degree. We Dream Catchers are not just pursuing school, but feel
like we’re also investing in future career and personal development. Knowing that down the road there will be
barriers blocking our paths, we have gained more diligence and motivation to overcome any wall we come up
against.

EFC Dream Catchers (L-R) Eugene Gines, Derrick Maduku, Brandan Rodriguez, Jorge Ortega, Stephanie Lopez, Abigail Jenkins, and Adam Jones.

We Eastfield Dream Catchers are more enthusiastic than before and looking forward to collaborating with next
year’s students. Dream Catchers are not just given the title as if catching an imaginary dream. We know we are
committed to a real dream, which is now another step closer; eventually, that dream catches us.

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CTN's Summer Institute Begins June 5

Catch the Next's foundational institute will be held at the University of Texas in Austin beginning on Monday,
June 5 and ending on Friday, June 9. It is an intensive five-day workshop where participants are introduced to

Catch the Next’s Campaign for College Completion and the
Dream Catchers Program. In this experiential training,
participants gain an understanding not only of the mission,
model and outcomes of the program, but also come away with
insight into how a Dream Catcher's classroom differs from a
traditional class, and thus what makes the model so effective.
In addition to sessions led by CTN Fellows and staff, several
guests speakers are slated for the institute. These include
Kathy Zarate and Melissa Humphries from The Higher
Education College Board as well as Victor Saenz, Associate
Professor UT Austin and Margaretha Bischoff, Dean of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at STC. CTN Scholar
Mentors who will lead sessions include Laura Rendon, Amaury Nora, and Norma Cantu.
A reception will take place on Thursday night.

Dream Catchers 3rd Annual Transfer Motivational Conference
Set for June 9th and 10th

The Dream Catchers Transfer Motivational Conference, designed to motivate students to complete college, will
be held June 9 and 10 at UT Austin. The goal of the conference is to encourage students to transfer to a
university to complete a bachelors or advance degree. Another goal is to increase the educational attainment of

Latinos, African Americans, Native Americans, and first generation
students, given their low level of graduation rates.
Associate Professor at UT and keynote speaker, Victor Saenz's session is
titled "Biography Does Not Define You." Participants will also attend
sessions led by Mike Guinn, founder of Ft. Worth's National Poetry
Slams. Together they will work on crafting “slam poems” and explore the
ways writing can inform and transform their lives. They will also learn
tips for public speaking and why it is so important that they tell their
stories and lift their voices to be heard.
Along with sessions led by CTN staff, participants will hear from
students who have successfully completed their first two years of college
and will offer advice on how to make the most of program resources.
Friday evening students will showcase their slam poetry.

Mike Guinn

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Teaching and Learning for Student Success Webinars

Save the Date: Thursday, June 15th at 3:00pm (CST) for the June Teaching and Learning
for Student Success Monthly Webinar with Lydia French, Reviewing the CTN

Bibliographies & Strategies for Incorporating Culturally Relevant Materials into Classes

Because many faculty and staff are out at various times throughout the summer, the June and July webinars will
feature CTN staff providing overviews of the resources that CTN offers, especially for the new teams. Peer
mentors will return in August to kick off the new school year.
If you have not already registered for the webinar series, you may do so by following this link:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4371867515740868353
After registration, you will receive a confirmation email with further instrutions.
For those who have already registered for previous webinars, there is no cneed to register again. You will
receive reminder emails with your log-on information and instructions.
Did You Miss Any Fall Webinars? Subscribe to our channel and view the videos for all of the fall 2016
webinars here. Spanning the range of topics from financial literacy to the impact of consistent and sustained
professional development to a transfer students’ declaration of rights, the fall webinar series offers thought-
provoking, critical presentations for all Dream Catchers practitioners and supporters.
Have an Idea for a Webinar? If there is a topic you would like to know more about or there is a peer mentor
you would like to hear more from, please send your ideas and feedback to Lydia French at
[email protected].

May Webinar Presenters Share
Dream Catcher Experiences

The May webinar featured four Catch the Next alumni, who spoke about
their experiences with the Dream Catchers Program and provided ample
feedback and advice for faculty and staff as we all move forward into a new
academic year. Among the takeaways from their sage advice was a
recommendation to better support student transfer by learning where the
students intend to transfer by assigning a writing prompt that would enable
the student to do some research into the program and which could inform the
Dream Catchers team’s decisions on where to plan the university field trip.
The alumni also spoke eloquently about their experiences with writing and
how the literacy component of the Dream Catchers Program allowed them to
boost their confidence while also teaching skills necessary for future college
coursework.

(Top) Edward. Rodriguez, Veronica Gonzalez, and Juan Higa
(Bottom) Cynthia Pizana

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CTN Publishes Journal of Ideas and Pedagogy

Catch the Next is pleased to announce the online publication of the long-awaited Catch the Next Journal of
Ideas and Pedagogy. The inaugural issue features the work of scholar mentors, CTN practitioners, and newly-
published poets.
We are currently accepting submissions of theoretical, data-driven, and narrative scholarly articles, book
reviews, creative pieces, and interviews. See the Call for Papers and Submission Guidelines for more details;
please submit by September 1st, 2017 for consideration for the second issue.
Any questions regarding the journal can be submitted to Lydia French at [email protected].

Fall Institute: October 24-26, San Antonio Riverwalk

The Fall Institute is a two-day workshop convened in October that
focuses on strengthening the college teams and giving participants the
opportunity to troubleshoot issues they face at this stage in the program.
This institute takes place after site visits have occurred and is always
responsive to the needs of the current cohort. Sessions are offered to
address issues in retention, team dynamics, event coordination, advising
and mentor engagement among other topics.

Anna Alaniz Graduates
With PhD from TAMUK

The Starr County Pre-Dream Catcher students helped
celebrate Dr. Anna B. Alaniz’s accomplishment of
finishing her Doctoral in Education Leadership from
Texas A&M University – Kingsville.

(Left) Anna Alaniz celebrates with students.

Victoria Marron To Begin Ed. D. Program in June

Victoria Marron from Lee College will begin the Ed.D. program at the University of
St Thomas in Houston on June 2nd. She will attend for 9 weeks on Friday nights and
all day Saturdays throughout the summer. The longer semesters she will attend every
other Saturday with the rest online.
"The Ed.D. program is a three-year, part-time program that distinguishes itself
through the use of academic benchmarks that monitor student progress throughout the
duration of the program. Students engage in relevant and meaningful research directed
toward the creation of educational communities." (http://www.stthom.edu)

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STC's Esmeralda Macias Receives Excellence Award at NISOD

Esmeralda Macias, CTN Instructor from South Texas College, was selected as an
Excellence Awards recipient during NISOD’s annual conference. She was
recognized and honored during the Excellence Awards Dinner and Celebration,
Sunday, May 28, in Austin. NISOD Excellence Awards is a recognition of
individuals who were nominated by their colleges for stellar performance.
Esmeralda experienced the red carpet treatment as she arrived to receive her
medallion. The annual event brought together more than 1,200 individuals to
celebrate the extraordinary work of faculty, administrators, and staff whose service
to their students, colleagues, and community deserve special recognition.
During dinner, Esmeralda was asked to stand and have her medallion formally hung
around her neck.

Catch the Next Presents Four Sessions at NISOD

Catch the Next instructors and staff along with students presented four sessions at NISOD International
Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence in Austin on May 27-30.
NISOD, National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development, is a "membership organization committed
to promoting and celebrating excellence in teaching, learning, and
leadership at community and technical colleges." (https://www.nisod.org/)
Yolanda Reyna, Assistant Professor/Lead, Learning Framework and
Student Development and Daniel Rodriguez, Professor, Learning
Framework from Palo Alto College "Catch The Next—Dream Catchers
(based on the Puente Project)" which addressed the low rates of academic
achievement among underserved first-time-in college students by
increasing the number of students who receive degrees and transfer to
four-year universities. Students are placed in cohorts and enrolled in
linked Integrated Reading and Writing and Learning Framework classes.
This presentation introduced participants to the program and its notable
history.
Erin Doran, Visiting Assistant Professor from Iowa State University, Erin
Doran's session covered using a Latino studies-based curriculum, Dream
Catchers, based on the award-winning Puente Project, which provides a
holistic approach to teaching, advising, and mentoring at-risk college
students. The program currently operates at 14 sites throughout Texas and consistently demonstrates that
students who place into developmental education can reach college readiness at the end of their first year at
higher rates than non-participants.
Lydia French, English Faculty at Houston Community College, addressed peer review. Although a staple of the
writing process across disciplines, peer review is difficult to teach as a meaningful practice. This session offered
strategies for building from a basic peer review practice developed by practitioners of the California Puente
Project—which grounds peer review and revision in a collaborative approach to writing—to a publication-
oriented peer review practice that uses the strategies of discipline-specific journals, leading to recognition of the
relevance of the writing process.
Students Jorge Segovia, Rodrigo Aguayo, and Jose Del Real Viramontes from The University of Texas at
Austin presented "Transfer Challenges for Community College Student Initiatives: The Puente Project."The

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session addressed the large number of Latinos who choose to attend community colleges as an entry point into
higher education with the intent of transferring; however, few end up doing so. The Puente Project addresses the
issue of transferability for Latino students. Discussed were the transfer literature, the Puente Project, and its
effectiveness in increasing the number of transferring Latino community college students.

Castillo Publishes "Metaphors: the Pan Dulce of Life"

Dr. Ralph Castillo has published an article in the San Antonio Express News that discusses metaphors as "those
hidden little zingers that pop up in our conversations" and "sweeten our perspectives." The link for the article:
http://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/commentary/article/Metaphors-are-the-pan-dulce-of-life-1115991

ALASS October Institute Session Addresses Educational Equity

Some in philanthropy and higher education are striving to link the concept of equity
and education to chart their strategic directions. These representatives from some of
the most significant supporters of higher education today will address educational
equity, the role of philanthropy and the opportunities for colleges, universities and
communities at this critical time in our country.
Speakers Include:
Daniel Greenstein, Director of Education, Postsecondary Success in the United States
Program, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Debra Humphreys, Vice President of Stakeholder Engagement, Lumina Foundation
William F.L. Moses, Managing Director, Kresge Foundation’s Education Program
Moderator: Sarita Brown, President, Excelencia in Education
Download 2017 ALASS Institute Preliminary Agenda (control + click)

NCCHC Symposium Serves as Bridge to Administrative Positions

Access to learning opportunities for all has been a cornerstone of the community college
mission since the colleges were created more than a century ago. For Latino students,
access to higher education creates the opportunity to participate fully in the American
dream.
Access to professional development opportunities, like the NCCHC Fellows Program and
Leadership Symposium, are bridges to administrative leadership positions.
The Board of Directors of the National Community College Hispanic Council invites you
to participate in the 22nd Annual NCCHC “Latino Leadership in Community Colleges:
Follow Your North Star” Leadership Symposium scheduled for September 21-23 at The
Four Seasons Hotel, Miami, FL.

Webinar Focuses on Improving Transfer Outcomes

Drawing on National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) data tracking an entering community college cohort, this webinar will
offer a national perspective on institutional and statewide effectiveness in helping students to transfer and earn bachelor's
degrees. Results show large variation in institutional performance, even among similar types of institutions. The Transfer
Playbook, published in May 2016, documents the practices of pairs of two- and four-year institutions identified nationally

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(using NSC data) as very successful in helping students to transfer and earn bachelor's degrees. Based on visits to more
than a dozen of these highly-effective institutions, findings from the Transfer Playbook will be unpacked.

Conference: National Scholarship Providers Association (NSPA) Webinar
Date and Time: June 07, 2017 12:00–1:00 PM
Location: Online

To register for the webinar, visit https://scholarshipproviders.site-
ym.com/events/register.aspx?id=961105&itemid=51b84fb7-1715-4462-b7bb-cd39b03b2eeb

Washington and the Future of the U.S.-Mexico Border Panel June 8

How is the U.S.-Mexico relationship changing under President Donald Trump? What will the impact be on
the border region?
Americas Quarterly magazine, the Americas Society/Council of the Americas, the El Paso Community
Foundation and the U.S.-Mexico Border Philanthropy Partnership have joined forces to present a panel
discussion about these questions and more at 5 p.m. Thursday, June 8 in the Foundation Room, 333 N.
Oregon. A reception will follow the discussion.
Registration is from 4:30-5 p.m. that day.
A panel of experts will debate the future of the bilateral relationship and how it will affect trade, immigration,
and the millions of people who live along the border.
Confirmed speakers are:
• Jon Barela, CEO, The Borderplex Alliance
• Alfredo Corchado, award-winning journalist, author, and Mexico bureau chief of the Dallas Morning News
• Alejandra de la Vega, head of the Innovation and Economic Development Department, State of Chihuahua
• Veronica Escobar, El Paso County Judge
• Brian Winter, Editor-in-chief, Americas Quarterly; vice president of policy, Americas Society/Council of the
Americas (moderator)
* Additional speakers to be confirmed.
Registration: Prior registration is required. The event is complimentary for all registrants. Registration is
available from 4:30-5 p.m. June 8 at the Foundation Room, or click here.
Event Information: Beckie Bintrim, [email protected], (212) 277-8372

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THECB Hosts Professional Development Conference in Austin

Are you interested in learning more about college access and success across Texas? Then be sure to join us on
June 29, 2017, in Austin, for the annual P-16 Statewide Professional Development Conference hosted by the
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Division of College Readiness and Success. This event is intended
to bridge secondary and postsecondary education and support the THECB's goals of the 60x30TX strategic plan.
High school counselors, admissions advisors from two-year and four-year institutions, and other educators
interested in learning more about college access and success across Texas are invited to attend.
This event is eligible for CPE credit through the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

The conference will be held at the DoubleTree Hotel, 6505 IH-35 North, Austin, Texas 78752.

Opening Keynote

Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart
President, Amarillo College
The "No Excuses" philosophy of Amarillo College, the college's Advocacy and Resource Center, and the
interconnectedness of programs, services, and policies that support students through to completion epitomize
the kind of campus culture that makes a student-ready college. Dr. Lowery-Hart will share this vision and how
it is realized on campus through intentional policy and practice.

Plenary Keynote
Dr. Ben Castleman
Assistant Professor of Education and Public Policy, University of Virginia
Dr. Castelman's research focuses on policies to improve college access and success for low-income students. He
will share what has been discovered from this work, addressing innovative strategies to deliver high-quality
information about the college-going process to low-income students and their families and to ease the process of
students and families getting professional support when they need assistance.

Closing Session
Office of External Relations, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
60x30TX and Updates from the 85th Texas Legislative Session

Nursing Innovation Grant Program Requests Applications

The Division of Academic Quality and Workforce is pleased to announce a Request for Applications (RFA) for
the Nursing Innovation Grant Program (NIGP), Building Simulation and Skills Lab Capacity.
The grant competition solicits applications that propose to develop simulation and skills labs to expand
capacity of nursing programs that prepare students for initial licensure as registered nurses (RN). Proposed
projects shift clinical hours from traditional patient care situations to simulation activities, while enhancing
students’ clinical competencies and faculty proficiency in simulation instruction.
The RFA is available on the THECB website, http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/NIGPApp. Application deadline for
the NIGP competition is July 20, 2017, 5:00 p.m. CDT.
THECB anticipates announcing grant awards by November 15, 2017. The Grant Period will begin on or about
January 1, 2018, and conclude on December 31, 2019.
Please refer to the RFA for information regarding applicant eligibility, maximum number of submissions per
applicant, and maximum award amount. Questions about the grant competition should be emailed to the NIGP
program contact, Fu-An Lin, Program Director, at [email protected].

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Achieving the Dream Offers Programs to Help Students with Financial Skills

The #comm_colleges in our #WSSN Initiative are building programs to help students gain financial skills and
stability #highered

https://t.co/aVEsZAKCKE
(https://twitter.com/AchieveTheDream/status/851780834927554560?s=09)

Dream Catchers-Professional Development Opportunities

The following professional development opportunities highlight Dream Catcher grant and funding opportunities, conference
opportunities, and information for theory, research and practice. I encourage you to forward any information that would provide
wonderful opportunities to our team or students by emailing me at [email protected].
Thank You,
Stacy Ybarra Evans
Catch The Next

Date Activity Staff Opportunities
5/23/2017 Call for
Applications Activity Description
Call for Applications: Apply Now for Our MSI Aspiring Leaders Forum and Mentorship Program

http://www2.gse.upenn.edu/cmsi/content/call-applications-apply-now-our-msi-aspiring-leaders-
forum-and-mentorship-program

5/23/2017 Call for NISOD – Innovative Abstracts

Publishing Article https://www.nisod.org/publications/innovation-abstracts/

5/23/2017 Webinars NISOD Faculty Webinars
5/23/2017 Conference Sign up here --https://shop.nisod.org/webinar-series/

2017 TACUSPA Fall Annual Conference
October 1 -3, 2017 – Dallas, Texas
Call for proposals in June http://www.tacuspa.net/Conference
Deadline for Scholarship and Fellowship June 2, 2017
http://www.tacuspa.net/Scholarships-and-Fellowships

5/23/2017 Fellowship College Board Professional Fellowship Program
https://student.collegeboard.org/fellowship-program?excmpid=SM48-ED-CB-tw
Deadline: June 16, 2017

5/23/2017 Journal Entries Front Porch Journals
5/23/2017 Grants Accepts book reviews, Flash fiction, short stories, poetry and creative nonfiction
5/23/2017 Research Rolling Deadlines
http://frontporchjournal.com/submissions/
Federal Research Grants
http://mobile.edweek.org/c.jsp?cid=25920011&item=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.edweek.org%2Fv1%2F
blog%2F65%2F%3Fuuid%3D65330&cmp=soc-edit-tw
Special Collection: Diversity in Literacy Research

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5/23/2017 Call for Papers http://journals.sagepub.com/page/lrx/collections/diversity-literacy-
5/23/2017 research?utm_source=SAGE_social&hootPostID=f78478c435f7b3095e1387bd156b7dd7
5/23/2017 Helpful Article “Multicultural Education: Using our past to build our future”
Deadline August 1, 2017
5/23/2017 Helpful http://ijme-journal.org/index.php/ijme/pages/view/SpecialIssue2018
Webinar and The Keys to Effective Literacy Education
5/23/2017 Article http://www.mheducation.com/blog/announcements/K-12-us-literacy-quiz.html#
5/23/2017 Even One Semester-Full-time Enrollment and Student Success
Club http://www.ccsse.org/center/
Engagement
Student Opportunities
Team Building Games for Club Meetings
http://wheniwork.com/blog/smb/people-management/team-building-
games/?utm_campaign=Social%20Media%20Updates&utm_content=44986608&utm_medium=so
cial&utm_source=twitter&sf=zxwyppg

Scholarships HACU Scholarship Deadline May
Twitter http://www.hacu.net/hacu/default.asp
The list of must follow higher education twitter feeds
http://www.theedadvocate.org/the-edvocates-list-of-20-must-follow-higher-education-twitter-
feeds/?utm_source=ReviveOldPost&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ReviveOldPost

_______________________________________________

Catch the Next Program Partners

_______________________________________________

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Catch the Next Colleges Trained on Puente
Model.

________________________________________________

About Our Newsletter

A publication by Catch the Next Inc., for its Dream Catchers. Submissions are
welcomed. Please send all information to: Dr. Maria Chavez, Editor in Chief. Debra
McBeath, Editor.
Submissions: [email protected]
Or: [email protected]
Contributors: Student Intern: Brandan Barrera (Eastfield); Stacy Ybarra, Dolores Zapata and Dan Rodriguez,
Palo Alto College; Cindy Marroquin, Angelica Cerda, and Esmeralda Macias, South Texas College; Allegra
Villarreal, CTN, ACC; Lydia French, CTN; Robin Simmons, El Paso Community College; Alejandra
Martinez, ACC; Amanda Preston, Eastfield; Erin Doran, CTN; Victoria Marron, Lee College; Aida Camez
ACC.

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“The opinions expressed in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Greater Texas
Foundation, or any director , officer or employee thereof.”

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