Top stories of 2020

While 2020 brought unique challenges, Temple college also celebrated many special moments and milestones during the year. Here are some of the college’s top stories from 2020.

December 28, 2020 |
Chemistry professor Philip Friedman is back in the classrooms where he started as a student.

Former student returns to teach chemistry

Ever since he can remember, Philip Friedman wanted to be a chemistry teacher. He got his first taste of college chemistry classes when he attended Temple College as a student in the Texas Bioscience Institute Middle College program. Today, Friedman is back at Temple College teaching students in the same program.

December 3, 2020 |Faculty, Student Success

Thirty-six students inducted into Phi Theta Kappa

Thirty-six Temple College students were inducted into the Lambda Theta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) during the fall 2020 semester.
December 1, 2020 |Student Success
Kaitlyn Martinez

Family story earns TBI student $1,000 scholarship from LULAC

TBI student Kaitlyn Martinez used her family’s story as the backdrop for her winning presentation in the 2020 LULAC Legacy Scholarship competition.
November 24, 2020 |

Nursing program receives $119,171 grant for additional simulation equipment

The Temple College Nursing program has received a $119,171 grant from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to purchase additional simulation equipment. The grant was awarded as part of an effort to help offset the impact of COVID-19 on workforce training.
November 2, 2020 |

TBI program receives $20,000 grant from Temple Health and Bioscience District

Temple College has received a $20,000 grant from the Temple Health and Bioscience District to support students participating in the Texas Bioscience Institute (TBI) Middle College program.
October 30, 2020 |

Temple College receives grant to help veterans transition into the workforce

Temple College has received a $188,548 grant from the Texas Workforce Commission to support a program designed to help veterans transition into the workforce.
October 9, 2020 |
Lydia Santibañez displays the national award she received from the Association of Community College Trustees.

Longtime Temple College trustee receives national trustee leadership award

Longtime Temple College Trustee Lydia Santibañez has received a distinguished and very competitive national award  ̶  the 2020 M. Dale Ensign Trustee Leadership Award from the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT).
October 6, 2020 |
Theresa Anthony (center) poses with other members of the Temple College PTK chapter after the chapter earned the award for Most Improved Chapter in Texas in 2020. Anthony served as president of the chapter in 2019-2020.

Honor society membership transforms student’s life

Leadership position in Phi Theta Kappa opens up a world of opportunities for Theresa Anthony – including a full scholarship to Texas A&M University-Central Texas
September 2, 2020 |Student Success

College announces honor lists for summer 2020

Temple College has announced its honor lists for summer 2020.
August 17, 2020 |
   Nancy Eaton, simulation coordinator for the Nursing program, stands with one of the new Advanced Patient Simulators the program was able to purchase with funding from the JET program.

College receives grant for nursing simulation equipment

Temple College has received a $115,726 Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) grant from the Texas Workforce Commission. The grant is being used to purchase simulation equipment for the college’s Nursing program.
August 6, 2020 |
Max Puls

Seventeen players earn NJCAA Academic Student-Athlete Awards for 2019-20

Seventeen Temple College players received Academic Student-Athlete Awards from the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) for the 2019-2020 academic year.
August 6, 2020 |
Emma Pope, a 2019 nursing graduate, shared this photo with her friends on Facebook after she learned she had COVID-19.

Nursing graduate shares experience with coronavirus

COVID-19 is real. And it is serious. That is the message that Emma Pope, a 2019 Temple College nursing graduate, is sharing with anyone who will listen.

July 30, 2020 |
Julia DeWitt works in the PTK garden on campus.

Criminal justice major receives PTK scholarship

Temple College student Julia DeWitt is one of 13 students statewide selected to receive 2020 Dr. Mary Hood STAR Scholarships awarded by the Texas Region of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.
July 22, 2020 |

Temple College announces plans for fall 2020 classes

Due to increased concerns with rising COVID-19 cases across the state, Temple College has announced it will be offering predominately online classes for the fall 2020 semester. There will be some exceptions in the health professions, career and technical education, and science disciplines.

July 20, 2020 |
Michal Hawkins

College announces 2020 graduates

Seven hundred and thirty-nine students earned degrees and/or certificates from Temple College in 2020.
July 16, 2020 |
Kim George

English professor named 2020 Teacher of the Year

Kim George, an associate professor of English at Temple College, has been selected to receive the college’s 2020 Claudia and W.T. Barnhart Teacher of the Year Award.
July 14, 2020 |Faculty

College receives grant to help businesses adversely affected by COVID-19

The Temple College Business and Continuing Education Division has received a $50,000 Special Initiative COVID-19 grant from the Texas Workforce Commission.
July 10, 2020 |

Five new members join Temple College Foundation Board of Directors

Five new members have joined the Temple College Foundation Board of Directors.
June 10, 2020 |

College announces honor lists for spring 2020

Temple College has announced its honor lists for spring 2020.
June 3, 2020 |
Jackie Spann

Health professions programs announce 2020 award winners

The health professions programs at Temple College honored their top graduates in May with a variety of awards.
May 26, 2020 |Student Success

Faculty, staff members honored for outstanding work

Six Temple College faculty and staff members were selected to receive 2020 awards from the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD), an organization committed to promoting and celebrating excellence in teaching, learning and leadership at community and technical colleges.
May 21, 2020 |Faculty
Dr. Sara Harris Baker

Dr. Sara Harris Baker named new director of the Division of Fine Arts

Dr. Sara Harris Baker, an accomplished choral director, theatre director and music educator, has been named the new director of the Division of Fine Arts at Temple College.
May 20, 2020 |Music

Area high school students complete Texas Bioscience Institute program

Sixty-four area high school students have completed the Texas Bioscience Institute (TBI) Middle College program at Temple College this year. The students represent nine Central Texas high schools as well as home-schooled students.
May 14, 2020 |
Amber Taylor

Amber Taylor named new women’s basketball coach

Taylor replaces Kim Sebek, who retired in February after coaching the team for 22 seasons.
May 12, 2020 |
Leighton Ellison

Temple College helps aspiring teacher discover his love of learning

Partnership between Temple College and A&M-Central Texas provides a smooth pathway for students who want to become teachers

May 5, 2020 |
Dr. Susan Guzman-Trevino

Temple College administrator selected to participate in prestigious Aspen Presidential Fellowship for College Excellence

Dr. Susan Guzman-Trevino, vice president for academic affairs at Temple College, is one of 40 community college leaders from across the country selected for the 2020-21 class of the Aspen Rising Presidents Fellowship, a highly selective program for community college leaders.
May 1, 2020 |
PTK logo

Seventy-eight students inducted into PTK honor society

Seventy-eight Temple College students have been inducted this spring into the Lambda Theta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the international honor society for students in two-year colleges.
April 23, 2020 |Student Success

Trustees set tuition and fees for 2020-2021

Temple College Trustees have set the tuition and fees for the 2020-2021 academic year.
April 21, 2020 |
Clifton Ellis stands with former men’s basketball coach Kirby Johnson at Johnson’s last game in February 2020. Ellis played under Johnson from 1995-1997 and has been named to succeed him.

Former player named new men’s basketball coach

Longtime Temple College men’s basketball coach Kirby Johnson will be succeeded by a coach he helped develop.
April 20, 2020 |Student Success
Dr. Evelyn Waiwaiole

Dr. Evelyn Waiwaiole named Vice President of Development and Executive Director of the Temple College Foundation

Dr. Evelyn Waiwaiole has been named Vice President of Development for Temple College and Executive Director of the Temple College Foundation.
April 7, 2020 |

Nine Temple College players make NTJCAC Academic All-Conference Team for 2019-2020

Nine student-athletes from Temple College have been named to the North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference (NTJCAC) Academic All-Conference Team for 2019-2020.
March 30, 2020 |Student Success
Adelaide Colwell

New scholarship established for fine arts students

A new endowed scholarship has been set up to benefit students who are studying fine arts at Temple College.
March 23, 2020 |Music, Visual Arts
Students and faculty members who attended the 2020 Texas Academy of Science meeting pose for a group photo.

Biology students, faculty members present research at statewide meeting

Four Temple College students and two faculty members presented research at the 2020 Texas Academy of Science meeting in March.

March 18, 2020 |Student Success
Clara Solomon

Dual Credit program helps home-schooled student finish high school and a college degree by age 18

Eighteen-year-old Clara Solomon has already earned both her high school diploma and a college degree. And she did it all by herself – with a lot of support from her mother and Temple College.

January 29, 2020 |Music
Temple College students who have been selected to perform with 2020 All-State music ensembles include (l-r) Drew Schmidt (bass), Alondra Salazar (soprano), Idalia Medina (horn), Kennedy Hogan (clarinet) and Deon Byrd (euphonium). Not pictured is Hope Ash.

Six students selected to perform with 2020 All-State music ensembles

Six Temple College students have been selected to perform with All-State music ensembles in 2020.

January 28, 2020 |Music

College announces Fall 2019 Honor Lists

Temple College has announced its honor lists for fall 2019.
January 20, 2020 |