MCC Highlander Alumni Association Presents Awards

Nov. 14, 2024

The McLennan Community College Foundation’s Highlander Alumni & Friends Association recently presented two prestigious awards to alumni of McLennan Community College: The Distinguished Alumni and Distinguished Leader awards.

Luis Jauregui is the recipient of the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award. When Luis arrived in Waco from Mexico City he knew very little English. His main reason for moving to Waco was to improve his English and return home. Luis’ English improved at MCC, where he was successful in his studies. He then transferred to Pan American University in Edinburg and later to Texas A&M University. Luis graduated from Texas A&M in Environmental Design and with a Master’s of Architecture. He then founded Jauregui Architecture, Interiors, and Construction, which has grown into a multi-million-dollar company. Luis is a long-standing member of the American Institute of Architects; a founding member of the Custom Residential Architects Network Knowledge Community and the Austin Local CRAN Committee; and 2017 President of Austin AIA where he continues to serve in a leadership role. His journey is a powerful reminder of what is possible.

Antonianett Garcia, born and raised in Waco, is a mother of six children and a first-generation college student who began her journey at Christian Women’s Job Corps during the recent pandemic. She received her GED in November 2020 and then enrolled in the Social Work program at MCC in the fall of 2021. While at MCC, Antonianett maintained a 4.0 GPA and graduated with highest honors in May 2024. During her time at MCC, she was part of many student organizations including TRIO SSS as a student leader and the Phi-Theta-Kappa honor society. Antonianett also was also a student worker in TRIO, helping students acclimate to college life. She received an Excellence in Social Work award as well as many scholarships that contributed to her advancing in her educational goals. She volunteers as a policy council member for EOAC, where her role is to help implement policies that advance educational goals for children within McLennan County. Because of her hard work and dedication as a student at MCC, she received many scholarships to be able to attend the college of her dreams – Baylor University. Upon graduating in the spring of 2026 with her Bachelor of Social Work degree, Antonianett plans to work with incarcerated adolescents to help rehabilitate them so that they can live productive and successful lives into adulthood. Antonianett is an all-around incredible person, and is the epitome of McLennan’s drive to build future leaders.