Regent Michele Fortunato, Amarillo College

THREE!

Another memorable commencement as the graduates move their tassels on the count of 3. One…Two…

This is IT. Tomorrow is the last day to vote! I’d appreciate your 3 votes so we can keep AC on the right path. Thank you for all the well wishes and prayers. We Can Do This!

Election Eve and checking on the herd at Randall County Annex. Election season is good for hard working printing companies!

I like how our architects make AC’s buildings look beautiful day and night. This is a peaceful day for me—getting ready for AC’s State of the College celebration on Friday and Election Day on Saturday. If you haven’t voted early, plan your Saturday to include 3 VOTES for Michele Fortunato for the future of AC!

Thanks to LWV and Elevate Amarillo for hosting an excellent forum on Thursday. There was a great turnout, and we received thoughtful questions from the organizers. I can't stress enough how much this election means for the future of Amarillo College. Early voting begins April 24!

Amarillo League of Women Voters holds forums for city, school candidates LWV held two forums last week to help voters familiarize themselves with candidates for city council, mayor and school and college boards.

AC’s Innovation Outpost is creating great buzz in the national tech community, and construction isn’t even complete yet. It will feature a cafe—the first “Robotic Artisanal Food Hall” in the country. Glass walls will provide the perfect view to watch robots make your BBQ, grain bowl or salad, or prepare a delicious coffee drink with your image. This technology is more than a chance to show off Amarillo to your out of town friends because it will teach AC students software development, supply chain management, robotics, A.I., safety, intellectual property, entrepreneurship, etc. to use in the jobs of the present and the future🤖💙🤖Just one small example of the epic plans for the Innovation Outpost.

Meet Sydney Ward, the slugging center fielder for the Badgers. Sydney is a freshman from Albuquerque who is batting .407 with 17 home runs and 55 RBIs. He is an education major, but you can find him working at the front desk of the President’s office where he is quite a celebrity. I hear great things about having athletes on campus. They are good students and school spirit is soaring. GO BADGERS!

More parking at AC? YES! AC made a deal with the city to add much needed close parking by FirstBank Southwest Athletic Center. Gone is the small parking lot by the former Carter gym with its wonky exit to Jackson Street. This enlarged lot is also available for park visitors which makes it safer for families trying to navigate the fast traffic on Washington Street and narrow parking along Jackson. Now they have access to off street parking when the college isn’t as busy. A Win Win for AC and the city!

If you haven’t been on Washington Street lately, you may have missed the renovation of Carter Fitness into FirstBank Southwest Athletic Center. This is where our Badger athletes train, plus there will be an awesome workout gym for the public. Watch for a public Open House coming soon.