Alumni Network
The Breakthrough Alumni Network is a newly launched initiative with more than 470 Breakthrough Central Texas college graduates! It is an opportunity to connect or reconnect with other Alumni to continue to build meaningful relationships that can mutually benefit us and our community. All former Breakthrough Central Texas students who graduated from high school at least 6 years ago (regardless of post-secondary credential status) are eligible for membership.
Alumni Network’s Goals
Growing As A Professional
Professional Development Sessions
Networking With The Breakthrough Community
Lifting While We Climb
Engagement With Current Students
Giving Back Through Volunteer Opportunities
Building A Stronger Network
Governance
Connecting With Fellow Alumni
400 Breakthrough College Graduates
and Counting!
Alumni Co-Chairs
The Alumni Council Co-Chairs play an active role in helping to implement Breakthrough’s alumni relations program and annual strategic plan.
Jabrell Scott, Alumni Co-Chair
Jabrell joined Breakthrough the summer before 7th grade as a part of the 2015 Austin cohort, spending his Breakthrough summers at UT and his Breakthrough Saturdays at St. Stephens. He graduated from LBJ High School and went on to attend UTSA where he became an active leader with the Epsilon Sigma Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated, NAACP, and Men of Honor groups on campus. He also gave back as a Breakthrough AmeriCorp Summer Teaching Fellow and participated in the Breakthrough Internship Network. Jabrell graduated from UTSA with his Bachelor’s degree in Communications with a minor in Public Administration in December 2019. In May 2022, he earned his Master’s of Public Administration from the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley. Today, Jabrell works as an analyst for Ernst & Young and serves as the co-chair of Breakthrough Alumni Association’s inaugural steering committee.Javier Ramirez, Alumni Co-Chair
Javi is a native Austinite who earned his undergraduate degree in Economics with a minor in Business Administration from The University of Texas at Austin. He is an accomplished working professional and is a proud alumnus of Breakthrough Central Texas. He joined Breakthrough as a student in 2006 where he cherishes all of the great memories of participating in the Breakthrough summer programs. He currently serves as co-chair of the newly founded Breakthrough Alumni Network. His main mission is to continue to drive Breakthrough Alumni engagement, support, and give back to the Breakthrough Community. Staff Liaison
The Staff Liaison is responsible for managing the Breakthrough Alumni Network program and engaging the Alumni Council in order to achieve the network’s goals.
Karen Arredondo, Staff Liaison
Karen is a proud first-generation college graduate born and raised in Austin, Texas. She graduated from Texas State University – San Marcos, with a Bachelor’s in Mass Communications and a minor in Social Work. She is a Breakthrough Central Texas Alumna and the staff liaison for the Alumni Network. She is so glad to have the opportunity to give back to her community.Alumni Council
The Alumni Council Co-Chairs provide leadership of the Alumni Council in order to achieve Breakthrough Alumni Network goals.
Carlos Alpuche Caceres
Carlos graduated from St. Edward’s University in 2018 with a Bachelors of Science in Computer Science. Currently, Carlos is working at Horizon Bank Texas as a Senior IT Helpdesk Specialist and serves on the Breakthrough Alumni Network’s Council. He is also pursuing his Masters of Business Administration at St. Edward’s University and will graduate this December.
Gloria Perez
Gloria first joined Breakthrough in 2007 and graduated from St. Edward’s University in 2017. She has been actively involved in Breakthrough all 15 years, often sharing her story at fundraisers and other events. Gloria has experience in Corporate Accounting and Customer Success, currently working in Education Technology. She is now a part of Informed K12, a workflow automation solution helping K-12 districts digitize forms. By day she’s working with school districts as a project manager and at night she’s a baker building her baking business.Huy Nguyen
Huy is an Associate at Saothair Capital Partners. Prior to joining Saothair, Huy was an Investment Banking Associate at RBC Capital Markets in New York within the Industrial & Diversified Services coverage group, where he worked on mergers and acquisitions and capital raise transactions. Huy holds a B.A. degree in Economics from Middlebury College.
Jose Vara
Jose is a proud Austin native and a first-generation college graduate. He graduated from Southwestern University with a Bachelor of Arts in Business and double minored in Spanish and Exercise & Sports Studies. Jose currently works at Pro-Tect Roof Service, a small family business that his father started in 2003, as an Estimator and Project Manager. Jose is a Breakthrough alum and is excited to help grow Breakthrough’s Alumni Network.
Julian Castaneda
Julian Castañeda is a Breakthrough alumni that joined the program in 2009. Through Breakthrough, he graduated from St. Stephen’s Episcopal School in 2015 as a boarding student, and then graduated from Claremont McKenna College (Claremont, CA) in 2019 with a dual degree in Economics and Psychology. Julian is obsessed with the intersection of technology and brand-building. He currently works at Meta in Austin, TX as a Strategic Partner Manager empowering mid-market businesses through commerce products and strategy. In his free time, Julian enjoys competing in CrossFit competitions, traveling, and connecting with over 750 restaurants nationwide.
Karen Alpuche
Karen Alpuche is a proud alumnus of Breakthrough Austin and a graduate of Pomona College. She has experience in Venture Capital, Non-Profit/Social Enterprises, and most recently Consulting. She is now a part of Guild Education, an education, skilling, and mobility solution built to unlock opportunities for America’s workforce. Karen’s expertise in Breakthrough goes back many years prior. She joined as a sixth grader, and also served as a Summer Teaching Fellow in the inaugural year at the St. Andrew’s site. Her older brother and younger sister, Carlos and Emily Alpuche are both Breakthrough students, with their parents being very active and involved participants in the program as well.
Yasmine Smith
Yasmine Smith, Esq. is a born and raised Austinite with a B.A. in Criminal Justice from St. Edward’s University and a J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law. Yasmine is the managing partner and founder of Abundance Law, PLLC, which is dedicated to Wills & Estates, Business Entity, and Real Estate Law and Proudly Serves Clients throughout Central Texas. Additionally, Yasmine serves as the Director of Justice & Advocacy of The Austin Area Urban League. She actively engages, mobilizes, and supports our unhoused neighbors with policy matters that impact their quality of life in these roles. Additionally, Yasmine also serves as Community Engagement Specialist for the Mayor of Austin, Steve Adler, where she focuses on community relations, equity, and policy areas as delegated. Additionally, Yasmine serves as Trustee of St. Stephen’s Episcopal School and Chair for People United for Mobility Action (P.U.M.A). One of Yasmine’s greatest joys is giving back to her beloved hometown in mind, body, and soul in all that she does.Questions? Please contact Karen Arredondo our Communications and Community Engagement Coordinator at karen@breakthroughctx.org