The Joe Barnhart Scholarship Program

While many students are enjoying sleeping in during summer break, these amazing young people chose to wake up early and give back to their community!

This morning, several ACJ students volunteered at the Coastal Bend Food Bank distribution at ACJ, helping serve local families with kindness, compassion, and a willingness to work. Their dedication to helping others is a wonderful reminder that making a difference doesn’t take a break during the summer.

We are incredibly proud of these students for giving their time and energy to support our community. Thank you for leading by example and showing what it means to serve others. Your hard work and positive attitudes did not go unnoticed!

Our final hurrah with the Barnhart Student Ambassadors was one for the books. ❤️ We enjoyed a special dinner together at Sammy’s as we celebrated this amazing group of students and all they have accomplished this year.

One of our favorite traditions continued as each ambassador received a copy of Dr. Seuss’ Oh, the Places You’ll Go! — a tradition that began over 15 years ago when Mrs. Duffy was director of the program. Each member of the JBSP team wrote personal words of encouragement and well wishes inside the books for our students.

To make the evening even more special, each student took turns reading a page from the book out loud. It was such a meaningful moment listening to their voices as they prepare to begin this next chapter of their lives.

Our hope is that they will take these books with them as they begin their college journeys and always remember how proud we are of them. No matter where life takes them, they will always have a special place in the hearts of the JBSP family. ❤️

P.S. A huge thank you to Sammy’s for the delicious burgers and wings and for always taking such great care of us

A huge thank you to mentor Manny Sanchez for an amazing first year as part of our Barnhart Mentor Program! Manny has done a wonderful job mentoring his students, Eric Regalado and Fabian Brako, and recently surprised them with gifts. It’s always special to see the connections our mentors build with their mentees, and students absolutely love those thoughtful gestures!

We are so grateful for all of our mentors and the time, encouragement, and support they pour into our students. Thank you, Manny, for making a difference! 🧡

The Class of 2026 continues to make us proud! 🎓✨

A.C. Jones High School seniors have earned an incredible $6,405,677 in scholarships and grants, the largest amount earned in ACJ history! Congratulations to our students on their hard work, dedication, and bright futures ahead. The Joe Barnhart Scholarship Program is honored to celebrate this amazing accomplishment! 🧡🤍

🎓✨ Barnhart Signing Day 2026 ✨🎓

Today, we celebrated the incredible Class of 2026 as they officially signed for their future plans after high school! Whether heading to a college or university, trade school, the military, or directly into the workforce, we are so proud of each and every senior for taking the next step toward their future.

The Marion Horton Gym was filled with excitement, pride, family, friends, and unforgettable memories as our seniors signed their certificates surrounded by those who have supported them along the way. It was truly a special day for our students, families, and community.

A special thank you to our guest speaker, Avery Silvas, A.C. Jones High School Class of 2022 graduate and recent graduate of The University of Texas at Austin, for sharing her story and encouraging words with our seniors today. Avery reminded our students that hard work, determination, and believing in yourself can open so many doors.

Congratulations to all of our seniors! Your Barnhart family is proud of you and excited to watch you continue to succeed. Once a Trojan, always a Trojan! 🧡🤍

🎓✨ ACJ Signing Day 2026 ✨🎓

The Joe Barnhart Scholarship Program and A.C. Jones High School invite the community to attend our upcoming Signing Day celebration on Tuesday, May 26th at 12:00 p.m. in the Marion Horton Gym. 🧡

This special event will recognize ALL graduating seniors and celebrate their plans after high school — whether they are headed to a college or university, trade school, the military, or directly into the workforce.

Parents are welcome to come decorate their student’s table beginning at 7:30 a.m. Students will be seated with others attending the same college/university, entering the same military branch, or joining the workforce.

Please note:• Backdrops will NOT be allowed so that everyone has a clear view of the ceremony.• Everyone is invited to attend and celebrate the Class of 2026!

If you plan to attend Signing Day, please register by clicking on the QR code on the flyer.

🏆 Congratulations to ACJ Senior Daniel Hinojosa! 🏆

We are incredibly proud to announce that Daniel Hinojosa was named First Runner-Up in the Buc Days Leadership Program! 🎉

As part of this outstanding achievement, Daniel will receive a $5,000 scholarship from the Buc Days Leadership Program, along with a matching scholarship from Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi.

Daniel plans to attend TAMU-CC, where he will major in Communications with a minor in Journalism. His dream is to become a sports commentator, and we know his passion, talent, and dedication will take him far.

Congratulations, Daniel! We are so proud of all your accomplishments and cannot wait to see what your future holds! 🐾🧡🤍

Cougar Trek at Coastal Bend College! 🎓

A.C. Jones High School seniors were given the opportunity to participate in this amazing event and take the next step toward their future. By the end of the day, students will leave with their fall class schedule in hand and be one step closer to beginning their college journey! 💙📚

We love adding more names to the list!🎉

We are proud to share the current list of awardees, which will continue to be updated as additional names are confirmed.

Invitation letters will be going out today!

Laela Arispe
Josef Brionez
Landin Cruz
Julianna DeLaRosa
Leighton Flores
Trevor Fox
Tony Gamez
Caylee Garcia
Mia I. Garcia
Nallely Garnica
Arianna Gonzalez
Seth Gutierrez
Sam Ingram
Julie Jones
Abigail Martinez
Ava Mendez
Peyton Mulvaney
Victoria Pena
Aiden Perez
Luke Roznovsky
Emily Villarreal
Shiloh Villarreal
Devin Williamson

Stay tuned for more announcements!