Capital IDEA Blog

Graduate Spotlight: Kat Flatley

DECEMBER 5, 2023 Katherine Flatley, a resilient and empowered individual, proudly holds the title of a two-time graduate of both Capital IDEA and Austin Community College. Her healthcare career began when she completed the Licensed Vocational Nursing program in 2003 and the Registered Nursing program in 2006. Determined to continue her education, Kat went on […]

Published: 2022 Annual Report

August 9, 2023 Letter From Our Executive Director | 2022 Annual Report Dear Friends, I am incredibly honored to have joined the dedicated and passionate team at Capital IDEA on July 1, 2022. And six weeks in, I had the joy of attending my first graduation ceremonies in August 2022. It was wonderful to celebrate […]

How To Find A Career You Love

By Jeff Sanchez | MAY 2, 2023 Are you tired of feeling lost and unfulfilled in your career? You’re in the right place! Figuring out how to find a career you love may seem daunting, but with the right tools and mindset, it can be a fulfilling and rewarding experience. Below are the top three […]

Expanded Service Area To Caldwell County

April 18, 2023 | Updated: October 1, 2023 BIG NEWS — As of April 2023, Capital IDEA’s Career Expressway program is expanding its service area to include Caldwell County. Residents of Caldwell who apply and get accepted into the Career Expressway program before the new extended deadline of September 30th, 2024 will be eligible for […]

2019 Capital IDEA Registered Nurse graduates, nursing schools near me

How Do I Choose the Best Nursing School Near Me?

By Jeff Sanchez | APRIL 14, 2023 If you’ve ever Googled ‘nursing schools near me,’ and you live in Central Texas, chances are your search came back with a lengthy list of options. Trying to narrow that list down to the right one for you can be difficult, but if you’re searching for ‘nursing schools […]

3 Great Ways To Pay For College Without Going Into Debt

By Jeff Sanchez | MARCH 28, 2023 One of the many reasons people put off going to college is the fear of student debt. But getting a degree doesn’t have to put you in debt if you know some alternative ways to pay for college, like scholarships, grants, and work-study programs. At Capital IDEA, we […]

get your associate degree for free with Capital IDEA

Get An Associate Degree, Debt Free

By Jeff Sanchez | MARCH 21, 2023 Spring is the perfect time of year to start planning for college, but if you’re concerned about the cost of tuition and student loans, you’re not alone. The rising cost of college education in recent years has made it difficult for many individuals to get the education they […]

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About Career Navigators

Frequently Asked Questions About Career Navigators Career navigators are a key part of the wraparound support offered to all Capital IDEA students in our Career Expressway program. Their number one priority is to help you succeed in college. Who will my career navigator be? As soon as you’re accepted into the Career Expressway program, you’ll […]

About Financial Assistance: Tuition, Books, & More

Frequently Asked Questions About Financial Assistance As a student in the Career Expressway program at Capital IDEA, your college education is fully funded by our generous supporters. Are you wondering what this means for you? Continue reading for answers to some frequently asked questions about the financial assistance offered through our program. Who is eligible […]

Three mothers, all Capital IDEA students, smile with their young children ages zero to nine.

About Childcare Assistance

Frequently Asked Questions About Childcare Assistance Parents who want to earn a degree and move into a great career need extra help to make that happen. For that reason, Capital IDEA has a dedicated team member to help our Career Expressway students access or set up childcare assistance. Below are answers to questions parents frequently […]

Career placement services help Career Expressway graduates get hired.

About Career Placement

Frequently Asked Questions About Career Placement Services Graduation is an important milestone, but it’s not the finish line for Career Expressway students. We provide career placement services to help you transition from student to professional. We’re with you from start to HIRED! Who provides career placement services? Our Senior Employer Coordinator is Ron Modesty. Ron […]

Consuelo Castillo smiles in a collage of pictures. She's happy in her job and proud to show off her family

Graduate Spotlight: An Unstoppable Mom & Community Leader

By Jeff Sanchez | MARCH 2, 2023 From an early age, Connie Castillo felt the odds stacking against her. She had her first child when she was 15 years old, and the naysayers made their opinions known — the best future she could hope for was finding someone who would take care of her. “I […]

Shahida smiles in graduation photos, sharing her meaningful moment with her daughters and Capital IDEA staff.

Graduate Spotlight: I Started My Own Life

By Jeff Sanchez | MARCH 2, 2022 Walking into the Capital IDEA office for the first time in 4 years was a blast from the past for Shahida Ferdous. The memories of sitting on the couch in the reception area, walking down the hall into the testing room where she took her vocational assessment, and […]

Austin Community College supports Capital IDEA's mission by providing office space and staff support.

Partner Spotlight: Austin Community College District

By Jeff Sanchez | JANUARY 11, 2023 Partnerships are crucial to Capital IDEA’s success. From donors to employers to education providers, our success and the success of our students depends on the quality of our partnerships. One key partnership that has been in place since Capital IDEA’s founding is with Central Texas’s largest education and […]

Yasmin smiles in a collage of pictures. She's in her graduation cap, squeezing her son, and so proud to have her new job.

Graduate Spotlight: Her Tech Dreams Came True

By Jeff Sanchez | DECEMBER 7, 2022 “Without my degree, I would not have been able to do any of this.” Growing up in Cuba, Yasmin Sosa was taught that earning a degree was the best way to ensure a good financial future for herself. From an early age, her grandfather, Juvier, saw that Yasmin […]

Debra poses in a photo with her daughters. She's incredibly proud.

Graduate Spotlight: Something Bigger Than Herself

By Jeff Sanchez | OCTOBER 26, 2022 “I did this for my daughters. I started this journey to take care of them.” When Dr. Debra Utpadel was asked what she was most proud of, she did not hesitate to mention her daughters, “The best thing to come out of all this is that I have […]

Map of expanded career choices shows four counties: Williamson, Travis, Hays, and Bastrop. Residents from all counties can choose from three career field options: healthcare, tech, or trades.

Expanded Career List for Hays and Bastrop

UPDATED: September 19, 2022 BIG NEWS — Extension approved! In January 2022, we announced we had expanded the list of career opportunities available to applicants from Hays and Bastrop counties. This expansion was set to expire at the end of September 2022, but has now been extended a full year! The new expiration is September […]

Alicia and her family smile in a collage of pictures. Her three sons bring joy to her face.

Graduate Spotlight: From Aspiring To Accomplished

This is a transcript of the speech given by Alicia at the 2022 Whitlow Ice Cream Social Event | SEPTEMBER 14, 2022 Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Alicia Rodriguez. A few years ago, I was one of the featured families in the Austin American Statesman’s Season for Caring campaign. At the time, they called […]

Rebecca smiles in a collage of pictures with her family and in her scrubs. She is a dedicated mother, wife, and nurse.

Graduate Spotlight: Finding Her Way Back

By Jeff Sanchez | AUGUST 29, 2022 When Rebecca Meneses’ life got off track, her road back was anything but easy. “Being a single mom without any formal education was so challenging.” She was lost and needed to find her way back, if not for herself, to provide for her son and the big family […]

The Topfer Family Foundation supports people in the local community.

Partner Spotlight: Topfer Family Foundation

By Jeff Sanchez | AUGUST 5, 2022 When the Topfer family set out to start a foundation, they had two goals in mind—to help their neighbors and leave a legacy of giving for their family. “The family has a heart for people, and they genuinely care about the health and well-being of Austin,” said Melanie […]