El Paso, Texas, March 24, 2026 – El Paso Community College (EPCC), along with four-year partner, the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), kicked off Operation College Bound (OCB) 2026 at Chapin High School on Monday, March 23, 2026. The program is designed as an ‘enrollment road show’ to bring recruitment and student services departments to local high school campuses throughout Region 19 and showcase academic opportunities, helping them register for the summer and fall semester.
Operation College Bound features EPCC and UTEP staff from departments like Admissions, Financial Aid, Registration, Testing, New Student Orientation, First-Year Experience, Counseling, and Recruitment Services, among others, aimed at making the enrollment process and course information easy to obtain, setting students up for college success at the event. EPCC brings close to 60 staff members to assist the local students.
“OCB is our premier enrollment event, partnering with UTEP to bring every aspect of enrollment to the high school student,” EPCC Director of Recruitment Services Michael Talamantes said. “They can leave today with a full schedule of summer or fall semester classes. The best part is seeing the students when they check in at our enrollment hub, go station by station and really learn about the college.”
This is the first of 26 stops at high schools all over El Paso county. The OCB program began in 2018. Chapin High School senior Victoria Cuellar said EPCC’s Nursing Program is what attracted her to the College.
“There are a lot of opportunities at EPCC in different medical fields, and programs to help me in my future if I want to transfer or help me set up for my career,” Cuellar said. “Everybody is really open and helpful; it’s a welcoming experience.”
OCB culminates with Tejano Day, which is scheduled to take place at the Rio Grande campus on Saturday, May 9, 2026.
For more information on Operation College Bound, please visit: https://www.epcc.edu/Services/Recruitment
