Dallas College Newsroom

Last month, Erika Ramirez graduated with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. As one of our seven commencement speakers, she shared more about juggling school with being a wife and mother and how Dallas College’s support has helped her continue her education. 

If you want to start a conversation with Liam Dewberry, pick your language. The 25-year-old, who graduated from Dallas College on May 16 with his associate degree, is fluent in five languages (English, Spanish, Japanese, Mandarin and Korean) and knows a bit of French, Norwegian, Russian and German.

On May 12, Dallas College celebrated its first graduating class of the new Bachelor of Science in Nursing program with a pinning ceremony featuring student speaker Nancy Kinuthia.

Read about Dallas College Student Rod Gordon and what inspired him to return to college.

Lilian Cordero Lopez describes her journey leading to Dallas College. She grew up in an underprivileged and violent area near Mexico City, yet she worked hard and got into a highly competitive high school. Throughout high school, her love for science grew through, at that time, she didn't believe she was smart enough to purse it. Lilian is pursuing her associate of computer science at Dallas College and hopes to inspire young girls to believe in themselves and pursue their goals.

Jzantil Hopkins-Swanson shares her Dallas College experience, reflecting on her journey from military service, hairstyling and parenthood to higher education. After first attending Dallas College as a dual credit student, she continued pursuing her academic goals and is now working toward a doctorate degree. Her dream is to open a trade school that equips students with valuable skills and provides the support and opportunities they need to succeed, regardless of their background.

Eighty Dallas College students, along with 14 advisors, traveled to the Texas Capitol in Austin on Feb. 3 to participate in Community College Day. With more than 900 students from across Texas attending, Dallas College had the largest delegation at the event. Students showcased the importance of community colleges and how decisions made directly affects students like them.

Osvaldo Rodriguez attended Dallas College so he could continue his education while supporting his mother during her battle with cancer. For him, his mother's recovery and his upcoming graduation as a first-generation college student have made his journey even more meaningful. Dallas College also helped him develop his passion for art and explore future career opportunities, including become an art educator.

Over a 40-year career, Dr. Christa Slejko could point to dozens of memorable moments and achievements. She has championship rings from North Lake’s athletics teams winning national titles. She smiles when she walks by the big horse statue on campus that was built by Dallas College faculty and welding students to celebrate the school’s 40th anniversary.

Art is a puzzle. That’s a phrase professor Tina Medina likes to share with her students, and she’s been helping them solve that puzzle since joining Dallas College as an art professor in 2006. After almost two decades of teaching students, it never gets old when she sees a student figure out a solution to the puzzle.

Lara Dodson-Tello remembers her dad telling her to find a recession-proof career. She never forgot that piece of advice even though she had to put her career aspirations on hold while she raised a young family. But, when she was ready to start college in 2008, she arrived at Dallas College’s El Centro Campus with a simple mindset: find a recession-proof career.

Dallas College professor and U.S. Army Captain Steven Drayton spent a combined 30 months overseas during two deployments to the Middle East. His most heroic efforts, though, occurred stateside during a routine visit to a barbershop in August 2022 in his hometown of Killeen. As we celebrate Veterans Day this month, Dallas College is proud to highlight veterans such as Drayton who continue to serve our community and country.

Dallas College ESOL students and professor Minjung Park wrote 1,000 encouragement cards for breast cancer patients during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The cards will be included in National Breast Cancer Foundation HOPE Kits sent across the country. The project helped students make a positive impact while strengthening their connection to the community.

Harrison Nguyen, a Dallas College student with autism, overcame family issues, depression and learning challenges to build confidence and succeed in college. Through support from Dallas College Accessibility Services and involvement in SkillsUSA, he developed leadership skills and helped lead an award-winning voter engagement project that encouraged more than 1,000 people to vote. Harrison hopes his story inspires others to embrace their differences to pursue their goals.

Dallas College alumna Maricsa Trejo turned her passion for baking into the award-winning La Casita Bakeshop after studying in the college's culinary program and taking a leap of faith to start her own business. Through perseverance and support from her family, she grew the bakery into one of the most recognized brunch destinations in North Texas, earning accolades such as a James Beard Award finalist nomination and a Food Network appearance.