College and Career Readiness Blog

Brewing Success: Adult Education, Opportunity, and Coffee at ACC
Alamance Community College’s OtterCup Training Grounds has been brewing student success in meaningful ways. What began as part of a special grant initiative grew into a student-led coffee cart and eventually evolved into a comprehensive Integrated Education and Training (IET) program through the College and Career Readiness department.
The program combines foundational education, workforce training through partnerships with local coffee shops and the newly established OtterCup Training Grounds, and transition-to-employment opportunities with Elon University through the Acorn Coffee Shop and dining services. Students have also earned the industry-recognized ServSafe credential and will work toward the Guest Service Gold credential this summer.
OtterCup Training Grounds has provided students with more than valuable work experience. It has become a welcoming space where community agencies meet weekly with students to help address barriers to success, while also serving as a gathering place for celebrations and community events such as “Lattes for Literacy,” held during Adult Education Advocacy Month in April.
This month, the OtterCup team and two student representatives showcased the program at NC Community College Day in Raleigh, taking the program on the road to highlight student success, College and Career Readiness initiatives, IET programs, the Access to Achievement initiative, adult education advocacy through Coalition on Adult Basic Education, and, of course, coffee.
The collective impact of these efforts has created a ripple effect, bringing greater recognition to the important work College and Career Readiness programs are doing across North Carolina. Most importantly, it has increased visibility for adult learners and highlighted the many forms of student success, workforce readiness, and the transformative power of adult education nationwide.