Blog
OER Week 2026 Spotlight: Reagan Saffle
Reagan Saffle, Director of Learning Framework & Special Projects, is creating more equitable classrooms through OER—ensuring every student has access to course materials from day one, without the stress of added costs.
Why Community College Might Be the Smartest First Step After High School
Whether your goal is to jump into a career quickly or eventually earn a bachelor’s degree, community college offers a pathway designed around you.
Graduate Spotlight: Candy Duke Turns Determination into Achievement
After graduating high school, Candy planned to go to college. She had already earned several credits through dual credit courses, but life had other plans. Her family moved back to Texas, and Candy decided to work for a year to establish residency and avoid out-of-state tuition. One year turned into two, and she soon found herself thriving in the workforce. She began working in the business office at Arlington Memorial Hospital, gaining experience and discovering her strengths in administration.
Graduate Spotlight: Raul Barrera Builds a Future Through Hard Work
For Raul Barrera, graduating with his Associate’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Odessa College is more than a milestone, it’s the result of stepping out of his comfort zone and embracing new opportunities that shaped who he is today.
Graduate Spotlight: Aide Medina Pursues Success with Passion and Focus
From the moment she was diagnosed with vasculitis at just nine years old, a life-threatening disease that attacked her kidneys, Aide Medina’s life changed forever. What followed was a journey marked by extraordinary challenges: chemotherapy, seizures, a stroke, a coma, and eventually the need for two kidney transplants. She spent three years on dialysis before receiving her first kidney transplant at age 12. Ten years later, shortly after getting married, she faced another setback when that kidney failed, requiring a second transplant at age 22.