A dozen community college students will help advocate for policy solutions at the Texas Capitol

AUSTIN, Tex. – Twelve community college students from across Texas have been selected for the new Texas Community College Student Advisory Council.

The Student Advisory Council is organized and supported by Young Invincibles, The Education Trust in Texas, Every Texan, and Breakthrough Central Texas as a joint initiative of the Texas Postsecondary Advocates Coalition for Equity (TX PACE).

The members of the Student Advisory Council are:

  • Brendan Batchelder, Paris Junior College
  • Talia Christian, Alamo Colleges District – Northeast Lakeview College
  • Kristie Davis, Dallas College (alumna), University of Texas at Arlington (current)
  • Daisy Donjuan, Dallas College
  • Christian Elizondo, San Jacinto College
  • Angel Garcia Donjuan, Dallas College
  • Victoria Hoover, Tyler Junior College
  • Esther Ishimwe, Austin Community College
  • Cristina Navarro, El Paso Community College
  • Isabel Torres, Austin Community College
  • Kay Trent, Austin Community College
  • Nautika Trotty, Kilgore College

The student members of the Council include first-generation college students, armed forces veterans, student government leaders, and Texans of diverse races, ethnicities, ages, and backgrounds.

As part of a paid fellowship through early 2023, student members will be actively engaged in the work of the Texas Commission on Community College Finance and subsequent legislative activity.

Following passage of SB 1230 in 2021, the Texas Commission on Community College Finance was established to bring forward recommendations for consideration by the 88th Texas Legislature. While the Commission is not required to include a student member, its membership is encouraged to reflect the state’s geographic and ethnic diversity. The Commission is charged with seeking stakeholder input and “account for equity in student outcomes” in alignment with the state’s postsecondary goals.

“We call on Texas leaders to ensure that student perspectives are included in key planning and recommendation building,” said Elizabeth Kufour, the Southern Program Coordinator for Young Invincibles. “We are eager to learn from these students about the issues that concern them and the ideas they have for enhancing the experiences and outcomes of community college students across the state.”

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