On Aug. 4, the Austin Community College South Austin campus courtyard became a fiesta with a mariachi band and piñatas to celebrate the school’s 10th anniversary.

ACC President and CEO Richard Rhodes said the campus would not exist without the vision of the board of trustees and the persistence from community members to build the campus.

“When we think about [the] South Austin campus, we’re talking about access, excellence, and success for students, our population and our community,” Rhodes said.

ACC trustee Guadalupe Sosa said she recalled gathering neighbors to attend a neighborhood association meeting to gauge interest in a new campus in the area. About 40 neighbors attended that meeting, telling the ACC representative they wanted a campus at 1820 W. Stassney Lane, which was a former grocery store, she said.

“When this campus was built, we opened the door to higher education for thousands, Sosa said.

According to ACC student data, enrollment at the South Austin campus has grown from 2,252 students in fall 2006 to 3,084 in fall 2015.