About the Show
CTC This Week brings you a quick roundup of events, activities, important dates, and opportunities happening across the Central Texas College campus.
Join Desiree Bates from KNCT 91.3 FM and Elissa Faaloua from the Mayborn Science Theater every Saturday as they help you figure out what’s happening at CTC—and what you might want to put on your calendar.
Listen to the latest Episode
Events Mentioned in This Episode
Campus events and opportunities featured in the November 7, 2026, episode of CTC This Week, covering November 7–14.
Monday, November 9
Veterans Day Matinee Celebration
Mayborn Science Theater
The Mayborn honors veterans with an afternoon of patriotic shows:
- 12:30 p.m. — Spirit of America
- 1:30 p.m. — Laser Freedom
- 2:30 p.m. — Laser Spirit
Admission is free for veterans with a military ID. Regular matinee admission is $5 per person, per show.
Find show information at starsatnight.org.
Tuesday, November 10
Lunch Patio: Best of American Regional Cuisine, Part One
Noon–1:30 p.m.
Roy J. Smith Student Center, across from the Anderson Campus Center
Enjoy a student-led dining experience from CTC’s Culinary Arts and Hospitality program. Walk-ins are welcome, and no reservations are required. Check the Patio Café schedule for menu updates.
Wednesday, November 11
Veterans Day Campus Closure
Central Texas College will be closed in observance of Veterans Day. The Mayborn Science Theater will also be closed, with no Wednesday matinees.
Thank you to our veterans for your service and your continued contributions to our campus and community.
Thursday, November 12
Lunch Patio: Best of American Regional Cuisine, Part One
Noon–1:30 p.m.
Roy J. Smith Student Center
Another opportunity to enjoy this week’s American Regional Cuisine menu. Walk-ins are welcome; no reservations are required.
Apache Blues: Welcome Home — Documentary Screening
1–4 p.m.
Mayborn Science Theater
This documentary shares firsthand accounts from Vietnam veterans who served with Apache Troop, First Squadron, Ninth Cavalry, First Cavalry Division.
The event includes a live panel discussion with the filmmakers following the screening and on-site exhibits from the National Mounted Warrior Museum.
Admission is free; please reserve your seat. Find the registration link in the Facebook event description for “CTC Veterans Week: Apache Blues Welcome Home Movie and Meeting with Producers and Actors.”
Friday, November 13
CTC Jazz Ensemble and Guitar Studio Fall Concert
11 a.m.
Mayborn Science Theater
Enjoy an hour of jazz and guitar music performed by CTC students, including a special tribute to veterans during CTC’s Salute to Veterans Week.
Admission is free. Veterans, military families, students, employees, and community members are invited.
Saturday, November 14
Eagle Pickleball Tournament
Begins at 9 a.m.
Physical Education Center, Building 545
Find a partner for this doubles tournament featuring women’s, men’s, and mixed teams.
Entry: $40 per team. Proceeds benefit CTC’s Kinesiology Scholarship Fund.
Use the registration information and signup QR code on the event flyer. For questions, contact Miguel Ricci at 254-526-1495 or mricci@ctcd.edu.
Ongoing Campus Opportunities
Spring 2027 Registration Is Open
Start planning your next semester at Central Texas College. Visit ctcd.edu for spring registration information and class options.
Massage Therapy Student Internship
Appointments through November 19
CTC’s Licensed Massage Therapy students are offering internship appointments. Check the program’s MassageBook page for current availability, services, and booking details. Your participation helps students complete their educational requirements.
Mayborn Saturday Shows
The November Saturday lineup begins at 11 a.m. Visit starsatnight.org for the complete schedule, show descriptions, and ticket information.
Thank You for Supporting KNCT
Your contributions help keep Simply Beautiful Music and community programs like CTC This Week on the air.
The Mayborn’s Schedule
Meet Elissa Faaloua & Desiree Bates
Long before we shared a microphone, Elissa and I met as graphic design students at Central Texas College. We barely knew each other then and rarely spoke. I was shy and usually kept to my corner of the classroom. That changed when an internship brought me to the Mayborn Science Theater, where Elissa was already working.
We quickly became friends, and Elissa later recommended me for a position at the Mayborn. There, I designed graphics and assisted with planetarium shows. Today, I serve as KNCT’s News and Public Affairs Operator. A formal title for what I jokingly call “professional button pushing.” Along with operating the soundboard for programs such as Sunday Gathering, I manage KNCT’s social media presence.
Elissa brings years of Mayborn history to the microphone. She has been there long enough to remember film projectors, dark rooms, and climbing ladders to prepare a show. A wife, mother of three, longtime dog mom, crystal enthusiast, and natural people person, Elissa has a gift for making everyone feel welcome and remembered.
We are friends, former coworkers, occasional gym partners, and part of each other’s support system. That friendship is precisely why I asked Elissa to join me for CTC This Week.
Our guiding philosophy is simple: “Smile—they can hear it.” After all, it is always better to sound a little corny than a lot boring.
More from the CTC Campus: Eagle Talk
Get to know the people, programs, and opportunities that make Central Texas College special. Hosted by Mariceli Santiago, Director of Student Services, Eagle Talk features conversations with CTC faculty and staff about their departments, campus initiatives, student resources, and upcoming events.