Capital IDEA Blog

Published: 2024 Annual Report

April 25, 2025 Letter From Our Executive Director Jump to: 2024 Annual Report (PDF) Dear Friends, Supporters, and Partners, This March, at our annual Celebration of Achievements, we had the honor of recognizing over one hundred graduates—students who have persevered with dedication, passion, and purpose to achieve their dreams. These extraordinary individuals embarked on paths […]

Partner Spotlight: ACC—Workforce Champion Award

February 28, 2025 THE WORKFORCE CHAMPION AWARD For 25 years, Capital IDEA has forged strong partnerships across the public, private, and community sectors, collaborating to expand access to education and opportunities for our neighbors seeking good careers. At this year’s Celebration of Achievements, Capital IDEA bestowed the Workforce Champion Award to honor and celebrate an […]

Graduate Spotlight: Josie Rodriguez

February 28, 2025 THE AURORA ALWORTH SPIRIT AWARD The Aurora Alworth Spirit Award award recognizes a Capital IDEA graduate who embodies resilience, determination, and the spirit of opportunity—someone who has faced obstacles head-on and emerged stronger, ready to give back to their community. This year’s recipient, Josefina Rodriguez, is a shining example of that spirit.    […]

Graduate Spotlight: Victoria Jaimes

February 28, 2025 THE MARK-MELLIAR SMITH LEADERSHIP AWARD The Mark Melliar-Smith Leadership Award is given to individuals who exemplify integrity, inspire others, and create positive change in their communities. This year’s honoree, Victoria Jaimes, embodies these qualities and more. Her journey has been one of resilience, growth, and unwavering dedication. After overcoming personal challenges and […]

Expanded Income Eligibility for Travis County & City of Austin

Updated: October 22, 2024 BIG NEWS — Residents of Travis County and/or City of Austin have until September 2025 to qualify under our NEW income guidelines and secure their seats in our Career Expressway program. The Career Expressway offers full tuition assistance, textbooks, and more. Residents who apply and get accepted during this temporary extension […]

Graduate Spotlight: Sarai Anzaldo

[top] Sarai Anzaldo; Sarai with Career Navigators Lori and Sara. [bottom] Lori and Sarai at her pinning ceremony with her son and guest; Capital IDEA Board Chair Toni Swinton, 2024 Good Neighbor Jesse Navarrete, and Capital IDEA Executive Director Alyssia Palacios-Woods; Sarai with her son and Sara. August 25, 2024 Capital IDEA’s Whitlow Education Fund […]

Graduate Spotlight: Abraham Esqueda

[top left] Abraham is pictured with his wife, Emely, and Dr. Lowery-Hart, Chancellor of Austin Community College. [bottom left] Abraham with Alyssia Palacios-Woods, Executive Director of Capital IDEA. [bottom center] Abraham, Emely, and Dr. Lowery-Hart, pictured with Andy Davis, President and CEO, Ascension Texas; and Geronimo Rodrigues, Chief Advocacy Officer, Ascension Texas. July 10, 2024 […]

Published: 2023 Annual Report

April 30, 2024 Letter From Our Executive Director Jump to: Highlight: Ray Marshall Update | 2023 Annual Report PDF Dear Friends, Capital IDEA is proud to have helped more than 2,200 students complete their training and enter high-demand careers since opening our doors in 1998. Over this 25-year trajectory, we’ve evolved to meet the region’s […]

Free Tuition: Explore Your Options

Free College for Adults vs. Free Tuition for High School Grads Which is right for you? If you’ve heard the buzz and now you’re ready to learn more about FREE Tuition, then read on! We’ve compiled all the information you need in one place. Whether you’re a graduating high school student, a current college student, […]

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 […]

We provide expert, individualized guidance one-on-one.

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 College Assistance: Tuition, Books, & More

Frequently Asked Questions About College 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 assistance offered through our program. Who is eligible for […]

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, Ron Modesty, provides our […]

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 […]