Temple College, City Leaders Celebrate 2025 Launch Temple Graduates
Temple College and community leaders celebrate students who recently graduated from the 2025 Launch Temple program.
Photo by Eric Eckert, Temple College
The newest class of Launch Temple entrepreneurs was honored Tuesday evening during a graduation celebration held in Temple College’s new Workforce and Visual Arts Building.
The seven graduates completed an intensive 10-week course that began in May, with classes held three hours each week. They learned everything from how to build a business plan and how to manage growth to financing, networking and marketing.
“Unlike traditional courses that use broad, one-size-fits-all content, Launch Temple focuses directly on doing business in Temple, Texas,” said James Skinner, Launch Temple instructor and Director of Adult Education and Literacy at Temple College. “We study our local economy, customer base, and supply chains. Participants walk away with strategies tailored to succeed right here.”
The program, which requires an application and screening process, is free to selected students and fully funded by Temple College. This year, the students used Gmetrix online training alongside face-to-face classes to earn the Certiport Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management Certificate.
The graduates and the businesses they are building include:
- Cindy Canty – Fine Art Photography & Arts; Fine Art Pet Portrait Artist
- Deonte Davis – Happy Daddy Hot Dogs
- Jamie Nance – Beltex Space Makers (home de-cluttering and haul-off service)
- Joshua Nance – Beltex Space Makers
- Aprile Snyder – Red White Blue CPR
- Bryan Villalobos – The Villa Golf Lounge
- Jessica Ybarbo – Hoops Academy 3X3 Basketball
During the celebration, the entrepreneurs took time to present their businesses to the crowd.
The graduates were welcomed by Dr. Christy Ponce, president of Temple College, who commended the cohort’s dedication and vision. And they heard from Nancy Glover, director of housing and community development for the City of Temple, who recognized the graduates’ and the program’s positive impacts on the city’s small business landscape.
Skinner said the program offers something most programs don’t: lifetime business consultancy.
“Once you complete the program, you’re not on your own. We stay with you,” he said. “Whether you need help registering your business, building a website or managing growth, our team is just a phone call away. You won’t just get a class—you’ll get a community behind you for life.”
The next cohort runs May 2026 through July 2026. Applicants can apply at https://launchtemple.com.
ABOUT TEMPLE COLLEGE
Temple College is “Your Community’s College,” a dynamic and growing community college that equips thousands of Central Texas students with the knowledge and skills for 21st-century success. Temple College, which has campuses in Temple, Hutto, Taylor and Rockdale, offers more than 80 degree and certificate programs to students who seek to earn credits for transfer, graduate with an associate degree or complete a certificate for fast entry into the workforce.
Founded in 1926, Temple College has enjoyed a reputation for academic excellence for 99 years. It is nationally recognized for its exceptional programs, from visual and performing arts to competitive athletics. The College has become one of the state’s premier institutions for healthcare providers’ education and training, advanced manufacturing, and workforce development programs. The faculty and staff are committed to providing exceptional quality instruction.