Join us Saturday, March 28 for an evening that’s all about great food and even better company. We’re hosting a Cajun Night Great Gathering in North-Central Austin, featuring a spread of Cajun-inspired favorite and hurricane cocktails. Whether you’re here for the spicy flavors or just the good conversation, we’d love to see you there!
Hop on over to the store to get your ticket: https://pflasa.org/store/mardi-gras-party/
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
7-8pm
In her 15 years as a college counselor at LASA, Jamie Kocian learned almost everything there is to know about the college admissions process for high-achieving students. In her 24+ years in the college admissions/college counseling field, she now has decided opinions on leveling up (in a genuine way) nearly every piece of the application puzzle and helping students discover more about themselves in the process.
Jamie will touch on all manner of topics, including the college list, standardized testing, essays, recommendation letters, interviews, and scholarships. Join us for some stories (some interesting, some just stories), a little chat on “Where did all the hobbies go?”, and reflections on lessons learned, feeling confident, and cutting through all the noise.
Get your tickets at the PFLASA Store: https://pflasa.org/store/how-to-level-up-every-piece-of-the-college-application-puzzle-2-25-26/
Thursday, February 12, 2026
6-7pm
Attendees will gain a clear understanding of strategic ways to turn interests into impact for top-tier colleges.
Also they will learn how admissions offices review applications, what activities and profiles stand out, how to approach SAT/ACT planning, and how to optimize opportunities for scholarships and financial aid.
Tickets available at PFLASA Store: https://pflasa.org/store/the-admissions-x-factor-unlocking-the-power-of-passion-projects-2-12-26/
Each year the Raptor Library has to conduct an inventory of all the physical items which requires scanning the barcode on every book. Can you help with this fairly mind-numbing task? If so, please check out the SignUp Genius and give of an hour or so of your time. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040845A8A722AAFA7-62127203-raptor
The LASA archery team’s annual Score and Soar fundraiser is underway! With the generous support of friends, families, and businesses, we are able to:
Please consider a donation of any amount to support our 75+ LASA archers. You can make a one-time contribution or sponsor an archer and donate money based on their score at an upcoming tournament. No amount is too little — every dollar counts.
Your support is vital to maintenance and growth of our archery program; thank you!
At the last PFLASA meeting, there was a discussion about student stress and anxiety, especially since returning from winter break. While anxiety is often not a pleasant emotion, it is most certainly a normal emotion which serves a purpose. Here are some resources that can help us support our teens to learn life skills to manage their anxiety. Remember, anxiety itself is normal and anxiety disorders are treatable.
1. Does Anxiety Serve a Purpose?
2. Tons of Free Resources for Executive Functioning Ideas
3. Managing the Anxiety Waves and Addressing Anxiety in Yourself and Your Student (both presentations)
On January 23, 2026, Augustus McCormack and Ibrahim Abdulazeez successfully organized a blanket and emergency supply drive as part of their FBLA Community Service Project. The drive was aimed at supporting individuals experiencing homelessness in our local community, especially during colder weather. Through donations and community support, they raised $300, which was used to purchase blankets and essential emergency supplies that were distributed directly to those in need. This project shows the impact of student-led service initiatives and reflects LASA’s mission of leadership, service, and community involvement.
We hope you will consider volunteering at the 2026 Project Graduation all night lock-in at the East YMCA on June 1-2. We are asking for adult volunteers across all grade levels to help by volunteering for a shift (or all night) during the event. It is a fun event and the volunteers have a great time!
Location: East Communities YMCA
Starts: Monday, June 1, 2025 at 10pm
Ends: Tuesday, June 2, 2025 at 5:30am
Sign up now!
Feel free to reach out with any questions/comments at projectgraduation@pflasa.org.
We will set up a couple of Zoom calls closer to, to explain the flow of the night and our needs.
Thank you for your kind consideration!
Manue Reynolds and Maya Gamble
2026 Project Graduation Co-Chairs
Wednesday, February 4th
7-8pm
Colleges are very interested in what students are choosing to do outside of the classroom, and for LASA students, summer is the ideal time to dig into your serious activities. They are looking for meaningful work, which can show up in different ways (i.e. internships, pre-college academic programs, shadowing, etc.) Colleges are looking at community impact, intellectual curiosity, and what matters to a student (and how they are choosing to address that). We’ll talk about how to think creatively about where to look for opportunities, the timeline, potential application process, and how students can set themselves apart with their activities.
Thursday, January 22nd
6:30-7:30pm
Research shows that understanding the college admissions process early helps students build the confidence and skills they will need by the time they apply to colleges during their Senior year. Families often have questions about when to start and how to support their student without adding pressure if they start earlier in high school.
Yvonne Espinoza, CEP, is a national college counseling leader with more than twenty years of experience and has over a decade of experience supporting LASA students and families. In this session, she will walk families through the steps they can take in 9th and 10th grade to help students learn more about themselves and align coursework and activities with their personal interests and college goals.
The event will end with a Q&A for the audience to ask questions directly.
Tickets available at pflasa.org/store