Sept. 18 is AVID Day
Today is national AVID Day, so it’s the perfect time to highlight the impact AVID makes for students in Arlington ISD.
One great example is Elizabeth Hyden, who graduated from Bowie High School back in June. She recently started her freshman year at Tarleton State University with scholarships and college credits that she earned while still in high school. But that’s not all she took to Tartelton. She also took the skills, confidence, and resilience she gained through Arlington ISD’s Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program.
In high school, Hyden served as student ambassador at AVID Summer Institute two years ago and represented Bowie as an AVID ambassador for three years. She was enrolled in an Education and Training program at the Arlington ISD Dan Dipert Career and Technical Center (CTC), served as an athletic trainer, and played softball at Bowie.
She did all of this while navigating multiple hospital stays related to cystic fibrosis and underwent two knee surgeries.
Despite her health challenges, Hyden earned a full-ride scholarship to Tarleton, along with additional scholarships that are covering all of her freshman year expenses, including housing.
“The AVID program provided me with the structure that I needed to be successful,” Hyden said. “AVID helped me learn the study habits that I still use to this day. These educators create a culture like no other, fostering connections and success throughout not only our program, but our entire school.”
AVID provides students with classes that build academic skills, college and career knowledge, and student agency. It also offers opportunities to earn credits through free summer school, participate in college visits, and develop leadership skills through team-building activities.
“Through the AVID classes, they learn valuable life skills, such as organization, time management, goal setting, self-advocacy, and critical thinking,” said Laura Rhodes, Arlington ISD AVID specialist. “Ultimately, AVID prepares students to be successful in whichever path they choose after high school, whether that is college, career training, military service, or entering the workforce.”
As Hyden begins this new chapter in Stephenville, she plans to major in elementary education and eventually earn a master’s degree in education administration with the goal of becoming a principal.
“I am so grateful for my experiences in Arlington ISD and at Bowie High School,” Hyden said. “They have truly fostered my love of learning and growth. It’s because of incredible teachers in Arlington ISD that I am able to live out my dream of becoming an educator.”
For students like Hyden, AVID is more than a college-readiness program. It’s a foundation for pursuing dreams, equipping students with the skills needed to achieve life goals well beyond high school.
Interested in AVID? Contact your campus AVID coordinator to learn more about the application process.