Get ready for a day packed with excitement, laughter and unforgettable family fun at JC3 Arena Family Fun Day!! Bring the whole crew and experience non-stop fun with games and activities for all ages!
Chuck Wagon will be serving lunch
Location:
2200 W Gibson St. Jasper, TX 75951
Date and Time:
April 6, 2025
8:00 AM
You don’t want to miss out on a spectacular day of fun, laughter and memories! This is a day you won’t want to miss! See you there!
April 1 marks the start of Child Abuse Prevention Month and WEAR BLUE DAY! Show your support by wearing blue and joining us for a special Cheers with the Chamber event, hosted by CASA of the Pines, Harold’s House East Texas Alliance for Children, and the Family Crisis Center of East Texas.
Date and Time:
Tuesday, April 1, 2025
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Location:
Crown Colony Country Club
This is more than just a networking event, it’s a chance to stand together in support of children and families in our community. Come expand your connections, exchange ideas, and grow your business while making a meaningful impact.
Don’t forget your business cards & your BLUE!
HUTCHINSON, KS – They’re on to the Elite Eight.
The winning formula for the Angelina College Roadrunners all season long hasn’t been about one or two big-time scorers. It’s been about playing lock-down defense and patient offense while waiting to see which ‘Runner has the hot hand.
In Wednesday’s game against Jones College, there were several Roadrunners helping light up the scoreboard to take a 74-62 win in the NJCAA’s Division I National Championship Tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas.
AC’s Christian Jones led the team with 22 points, with 11 of those coming in the first half. Jones went 6-of-8 from three-point range.
And against a Jones team featuring a noticeable size advantage, AC big guys Daemon Ely and Jordan Mathews pounded their way down low to the tune of 20 points for Mathews (who converted all six of his free-throw attempts) and 17 for Ely. Chris Carpenter added 12 points, including a clutch three-pointer to halt a Bobcat charge late in the second half.
Jones College got 17 points from Dimp Pernell and 15 from Avery Thomas III.
The 12th-seeded Roadrunners led by as many as 17 points on their way to downing the No. 5 seed Bobcats, in large part by dominating the defensive boards: Jones College finished with just five second-chance points. AC also forced 17 Bobcat turnovers while holding Jones to 40 percent shooting from the field and 11 percent from three-point range.
Next up for the Roadrunners is No. 4 seed South Plains College, a team AC beat 68-60 back in November.
Game time in Hutchinson for Wednesday’s matchup is 5:30 p.m.
The email address for AC’s Sports Information Director is gstallard@angelina.edu.
LUFKIN, Texas—Texas Mutual Insurance Company has awarded a $100,000 grant to Angelina College to continue funding for a safety-based vocational program, which provides workplace safety courses for local employers, workers and the general public.
This is the 9th consecutive year that Texas Mutual has given a $100,000 grant to the college to sustain the Gulf Coast Safety Institute Center for Risk Management.
“Ongoing education and training play a vital role in ensuring workplace safety,” said Esther Campbell, Angelina College assistant vice president of academic affairs. “With Texas Mutual’s generous support, Angelina College continues to provide essential resources and training programs that equip local employers and workers with the knowledge to create safer work environments.”
During the 2023-2024 academic year, Angelina College saw a 5% increase in student enrollment and a 53% rise in contact hours for safety-related courses compared to the previous year. A total of 346 individuals participated in safety training programs, reflecting a growing demand for workplace safety education. In response, the college expanded its risk management and safety course offerings by introducing new topics to better equip local workers and employers with essential skills to prevent workplace hazards.
Over a 26-year period, Texas Mutual has awarded $14.1 million in safety education grants, and more than 61,000 students have attended free or discounted safety and health training offered at colleges across the state.
“Texas Mutual recognizes the essential contribution made by Texas community college partners in educating local workforces and helping to further our mission to build a stronger, safer Texas,” said Eric Bourquin, vice president of safety services at Texas Mutual. “For more than two decades, our dedication to these colleges and their communities has been demonstrated through grant funding. The ongoing education of Texas employees is something we are immensely proud to invest in and support.”
For more information about Angelina College’s Risk Management & Safety Institute, including a full list of courses, please visit angelina.edu. For more information on Texas Mutual and its work in the community, visit texasmutual.com.
About Texas Mutual Insurance Company
Austin-based Texas Mutual Insurance Company, a policyholder-owned company, is the state’s leading provider of workers’ compensation insurance. Texas Mutual provides coverage to 43 percent of the market, representing over 79,000 companies, many of which are small businesses. Since 1991, the company has provided a stable, competitively priced source of workers’ comp insurance for Texas employers. Helping employers prevent workplace accidents is an important part of Texas Mutual’s mission.
HUTCHINSON, KANSAS – For most teams, adjusting to a new environment – and different rims – would take some time for adjustment.
Angelina College’s Roadrunners needed a little such time – but not much.
Shrugging off a sluggish start in the game’s opening minutes, the Roadrunners bounced back with several big scoring sprees on their way to an 87-70 romp over South Georgia State College in Sunday’s NJCAA Division I National Championship Tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas.
AC’s Kyle Morgan and Kanaan Holder combined for 50 points, each finishing with 25 points. The two combined for 10 three pointers, with Christian Jones adding two more to finish with eight points. Daemon Ely just missed out on a double-double, scoring 12 points and pulling down nine rebounds. Chris Carpenter dished out seven assists and Jordan Mathews another five (to go with four blocked shots) in the win.
Morgan’s output was part of AC’s 30-12 edge in points off the bench.
South Georgia’s Justin McCarter led the Hawks with 20 points.
The ‘Runners used a 12-0 scoring run late in the first half to take a 51-29 lead at the break. Holder and Morgan both found their range from behind the three-point line to help boost a lead that would grow to as many as 24 points before game’s end.
Next up for the Roadrunners is a Sweet 16 matchup against the No. 5 seed Jones College. That game will tip off at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
The email address for AC’s Sports Information Director is gstallard@angelina.edu.
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Angelina College’s Office of Career and Transfer Connections has long been planning its biggest event of the year, and the date is drawing near.
On Thursday, April 10, the office will host a “What’s Next?” Spring Career Fair from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. inside the Angelina College Conference Center, where students and potential future employers will have the opportunity to interact while sharing ideas and dreams.
Alexandria Barney, Director of Career and Transfer Connections at AC, Barney states the event “provides a fantastic opportunity (for employers) to connect with talented students from Angelina College and area high schools who are eager to explore career paths, internships and employment opportunities within your industry.”
Employers in attendance will, according to Barney, have the unique ability to “engage with motivated job seekers, promote [your] company while recruiting talent, and strengthen [your] workforce pipeline while supporting higher education and career development.”
The fair is to all Angelina College and area high school students.AC students will receive resume review services and free professional headshots.
High school students will attend students will attend sessions on resume and interview skills, professionalism and customer service, and aptitude tests and goal setting, with information provided directly connecting the students’ interests with career pathways offered at AC. Students also will explore AC’s new free AI Career Advising Agent designed to help point students in the direction of their dreams.
All students can expect to visit with numerous employers from across East Texas, such as West Fraser – Angelina Lumber, Darling Ingredients, Georgia Pacific, City of Lufkin, Doggett Machinery, Pineywoods Home Health, Lufkin Police Department, Lufkin Gears, City of Nacogdoches and Texas Materials.
The day’s events will take place alongside additional opportunities, including the annual Angelina College Spring Picnic and graduation photo sessions provided by Kellie Gann Photography.
Angelina College’s Office of Career and Transfer Connections exists to help students find and follow their chosen pathways to professional success.
For further information, students, employers and educators are encouraged to contact Alexandria Barney at hbarney@angelina.edu.
For further information on this press release, contact Gary Stallard at gstallard@angelina.edu.
Hey, sports fans,
Once again, you’ll be getting a separate press release from me later tonight regarding our Roadrunner men’s basketball team. We’re in Hutchinson, Kansas for the NJCAA Division I National Tournament, and AC doesn’t tip off until 5:30 p.m. this evening against South Georgia State College. I’ll write and send from the facility to speed things up, and I’ll include game photos.
Another note: All the NJCAA Division I National Tournament games will air on ESPN+ except for the championship game, which will air on ESPNU.
It was certainly a hectic week, starting with last week’s “Watch Party” at which time the Roadrunners learned they’d earned the No. 12 seed in the national tournament. AC’s athletes spent the rest of the week running through some baseball and softball action.
Here’s a quick rundown of the week’s events, along with what’s coming up next:
Roadrunner Basketball Gets Sendoff to “Hutch”
The ‘Runners certainly drew attention all season, finishing the year with a No. 12 ranking and the nation’s No. 1 defensive unit. After Sunday’s watch party, all that remained was hitting the road.
Fans showed up on Thursday to send off the guys in style.
Angelina College hosted a “Sendoff” Thursday afternoon outside Shands Gymnasium, and the crowd featured students, faculty and staff alike. AC Board of Trustees member Joey Garza spoke, as did head coach J.J. Montgomery and Roadrunners Chris Carpenter and Kyle Morgan.
The team then boarded the bus to Kansas and received a police escort out of town.
Saturday in Wichita, AC president Dr. Michael Simon continued his tradition of taking Roadrunner and Lady Roadrunner national tourney participants out to dinner.
Should the ‘Runners handle South Georgia State College Sunday evening, the team will face No. 5 seed Jones College at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
Again, all NJCAA National Championship Tournament games will air on ESPN+ except for the final, which will air on ESPNU.
Lady Roadrunner Softball Splits Conference Games
The Lady Roadrunners opened the week with a pair of tough losses at Blinn College, falling to the Lady Bucs 7-3 and 11-2 in Brenham.
AC’s ladies bounced back with a Saturday sweep in Beeville, taking both ends of the doubleheader against Coastal Bend Community College. Pitcher Madison Johnson threw a complete-game three-hitter, allowing just one unearned run. Elizabeth Craig drove in two of AC’s runs, while River Hulsey plated another one.
In the nightcap, Jessi Sumpter also tossed a gem in the circle, going the distance while allowing just one earned run.
Hulsey, Izzy Allen and Katherine Page each picked up a pair of RBI, while Craig, Emily Zunker, Emma Flayol and Kiersten Bradshaw also drove in runs.
Earlier, the Lady ‘Runners got the opportunity to meet with some of their fans, as a group of youngsters showed up for a meet-and-greet (complete with autograph signings) with their favorite players.
The Lady Roadrunners (12-22, 5-3) held onto their second-place position in the Region XIV South Zone standings. AC this coming week will host first-place Galveston College in a Wednesday doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. at the Larry Phillips Family Sports Complex on the AC campus.
The Lady ‘Runners will close out the week with a doubleheader Saturday in Houston against San Jacinto College. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
AC Softball’s Davila Breaks Record for Stolen Bases
Saturday at Coastal Bend Community College, Lady Roadrunner Riley Davila broke the single-season stolen-base record set by – Riley Davila.
Davila established the single-season mark with 35 swipes in 2024. The sophomore stole one base in the opener, a 3-1 Lady Roadrunner win; then pilfered another one in the 12-3 win in the nightcap.
For her career, Davila now has 72 career stolen bases, and with at least 18 more games on the schedule – not counting future tournament games – the number is sure to climb nearly as fast as Riley runs.
AC Baseball Take Three of Four on the Week
Have yourself a day, Billy Theroux.
The freshman from St. Thomas High School in Houston blew up the scoresheets in Tuesday’s 18-4 AC win over Dallas College-Brookhaven. Theroux homered twice – including a grand slam – and finished with eight RBI in the game. Teammate Diesel Gonzalez also homered to drive in a pair of runs, and Ashton Wagner finished with three more RBI. Sean Bazmore, Cole Standley, and Ryan Lewis also drove in runs for the ‘Runners. Pitcher Ethan Jezierski threw seven strong innings in a starting role, striking out seven and leaving without walking a single hitter. Austin Gaskins closed out the game with a scoreless sixth inning.
AC took the nightcap in a much closer contest, beating the Bears 8-7 on Lewis’ sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth. Bazmore and Tine Hampshire drove in a pair of runs each, and Lewis and Mark Henderson each picked up an RBI.
Saturday against TCS Post Grad, AC opened the twin bill with a 15-5 win in six innings. Connor Ficarra tripled and drove in four runs, Standley tripled and drove in three runs and Theroux added three RBI with a hit in two at-bats. Cooper Molnes and Ryan Beaty drove in runs in the win.
AC dropped the nightcap by a 12-4 final.
The Roadrunners (16-16, 4-8) resume conference play with a three-game series against Navarro College starting with a single, nine-inning game starting at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Poland Stadium on the AC campus. The series wraps up Saturday in Corsicana with a twin bill set for a 1 p.m. start.
Lady Roadrunner Basketball Hosting Tryout Camp in April
AC’s Lady Roadrunners just wrapped up a season in which the team qualified for the conference tournament in head coach Randy McKelvey’s first season at the helm, and they’re looking to reload for the future.
The Lady ‘Runners will host a tryout camp for prospective players from 2-5 p.m. on Saturday, April 5 at Shands Gymnasium. Cost is $40 per player.
Here’s the link for registration and other information:
For more information, contact Randy McKelvey at rmckelvey@angelina.edu.
AC’s Camp Roadrunner Sessions Set for Summer 2025
Over the past few years, Camp Roadrunner has become a “gotta do” event for youngsters throughout East Texas, with the recreational and youth sports camps drawing bigger crowds every summer.
To view the available sports camps and locate the links for registration, visit https://www.angelina.edu/camproadrunner/ and look for each specific sport.
Following are the dates for each Youth Sports Camp:
Baseball: June 2-5
Soccer: June 9-12; July 7-10
Basketball: June 9-12
Softball: June 9-12
Live Streaming Reminder:
All AC Athletics regular-season home games will be live streamed on TSBN Sports (a free streaming service for fans), with most of the conference road games also available for streaming. (This does not include baseball and softball fall games, as those are not considered official games.)
Once TSBN posts its schedules, AC fans simply need to visit the AC Athletics web site, look at the scrolling schedule in the middle of the page and click the blue “Video” link.
TSBN also offers an app great for smart phones, devices and smart TVs. (You’ve GOT to see those matches and games on the big screen.)
Reminder II: Admission to ALL Angelina College Athletics sporting events is free, as is the TSBN live streaming. Any other links offering streaming are scams.
Reminder III: For the most current schedule updates (especially for potential weather issues) visit the official Angelina College Athletics website (angelinaathletics.com). Fans can also receive updates on the AC Athletics Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), and Instagram pages.
Upcoming schedules:
POSSIBLE TUESDAY, MARCH 25 GAME:
Roadrunner Basketball vs. Jones College, NJCAA Division I Men’s Championship Tournament Round 2, 5:30 p.m. in Hutchinson, KS. (Broadcast on ESPN+)
Wednesday, March 26:
Lady Roadrunner Softball vs. Galveston College, doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. at the Larry Phillips Family Sports Complex on the AC campus.
Roadrunner Baseball vs. Navarro College, single, nine-inning game starting at 2 p.m. at Poland Stadium on the AC campus.
Saturday, March 29, 2025:
Roadrunner Baseball at Navarro College, doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. in Corsicana, TX.
Lady Roadrunner Softball at San Jacinto College, doubleheader starting at 2 p.m. in Houston, TX.
For any other information, contact Sports Information Director Gary Stallard at gstallard@angelina.edu.
We’ll see you at the games.
Gary Stallard
Email: gstallard@angelina.edu.
Phone: (936) 465-4614
Spring is bringing something special to Morris Frank Park this year. The 22nd Annual Easter EGGstravaganza is set to welcome families for a morning of fun and memories. Presented by Pilgrim’s Pride and supported by Iglesia La Viña and City Church, this event has become a true highlight of the season.
With 10,000 eggs spread across the park, children ages 0-12 will have plenty of excitement to look forward to. The event is carefully planned to ensure every child has a chance to join in the fun, with hunting areas designed for different age groups. Younger children will find eggs in easy-to-reach spots, while older kids can enjoy a bit more of a challenge.
Families can expect more than just an egg hunt. Vendors will be on-site, offering additional entertainment and food options. A free photo booth provides a chance to capture the morning’s best moments, and giveaways add an extra touch of excitement to the day.
Lufkin Parks & Recreation continues its tradition of bringing families together with this free event. The Easter Bunny will be on hand for photos, and children can explore, play, and create memories with friends and family.
This is more than just an egg hunt – it’s a chance for our community to come together and celebrate the joy of spring. Every egg found is a moment of excitement, every smile a reminder of why we love these shared experiences.
Mark your calendars for April 19, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Morris Frank Park. For more information, contact Visit Lufkin for details about this family-friendly event.
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