Champions of Opportunity

As part of the Alamo Colleges District’s 80th Anniversary, we are recognizing 80 Champions of Opportunity—individuals who have significantly advanced access to education, social mobility, workforce development, and community empowerment.

 

Chosen on the basis of the following:

40 Memories

Ambassador of Opportunity
Represents the spirit and mission of the District
40 Spotlights

Storyteller & Advocate
Opportunities from the District shaped their life or work
40 History

Community Connector
Encourages others to learn more, especially opportunities for students and families
40 History

Active Participator
Participates in legacy-building initiatives, such as student mentorship and advisory panels

Voices of Opportunity

 
Explore our Champions of Opportunity, organized alphabetically

A  B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 

A

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Oscar Alvarado
40th Anniversary Spotlight

Oscar Alvarado ***

Local Mosaic Tile Artist and Concrete Sculptor

 
Carlos Alvarez
40th Anniversary History

Carlos Alvarez

Entrepreneur and Philanthropist

 
Hope Andrade
Ambassador of Opportunity Icon

Hope Andrade ***

President and CEO of the Alamo Trust

 

Juan Armendariz

Dr. Juan Armendariz ***

Former Board Member and Director of the Alamo Colleges Foundation

   

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  Phil Bakke

Phil Bakke

Former Alamo Colleges Foundation Board Member and Esteemed San Antonio developer

  Jeannette Ball

Jeannette Ball, Ph.D.

Superintendent at Southwest ISD

 

Harrison and Brittany Barnes

Brittany and Harrison Barnes ***

Philathropist and San Antonio Spurs' Forward 

 

Mike and Louise Beldon

Mike & Louise Beldon

Alamo Foundation Board Member and AlamoPROMISE Committee Members

 

Artemisia Bowden

Artemisia Bowden ***

Humanitarian, Educator and Founder of St. Philip's College

 

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  Jennifer Cantu

Jennifer Cantu

Chair of the Ready to Work Advisory Board Employer Engagement Subcommittee and Market Executive of Bank of America

 

The Castro Family

The Castro Family ***

 

Mel Casas

Mel Casas

Former SAC Professor, Local Artist and Activist

 

Ramiro Cavazos

Ramiro Cavazos

President and Chief Executive Officer of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (SAHCC)

  Charlie Cheever

The Charles Cheever Family

Founder of Project Quest and the Challenger Learning Center San Antonio

  Henry Cisneros

Henry Cisneros

Former Mayor of San Antonio and U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

 

Cary Clack

Cary Clack

SAC Alum, San Antonio Express-News columnist and Editorial Board member

  Jackie Claunch

Jackie Claunch

Founding President of Northwest Vista College

  Eric Cooper

Eric Cooper

President & CEO, San Antonio Food Bank

  Chris Corso

Chris Corso

VP of Strategic Partnerships at The Business Journals

   

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  Cody Davenport

Cody Davenport

ED & CEO of SA Rodeo and a SAC Alum

 

David Martin Davies

David Martin Davies ***

Broadcast Journalist

 

William C. Davis

Dr. William C. Davis Family ***

Researcher, Food Chemist and Educator at St.Philip's College

  Richard Delgado

Richard Delgado

Community Investor at Boeing

  Mayor Mary Dennis

Mayor Mary Dennis

Mayor of Live Oak

 
 

Tino & Millie Duran

Tino & Millie Duran ***

La Presa Publisher and Philanthropist

   

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  Taylor Eighmy

Taylor Eighmy, PhD

President of the University of Texas at San Antonio

   

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  Hazel Feldman

Hazel Feldman

Graduated from Northeast Lakeview College at 99 Years Old

 

80 Champions Placeholder

Jose Flores and Dana Stanley Flores

SPC Alum

 

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80 Champions Placeholder

Rolando Gomez ***

St. Philip's College Alum, Film Producer and Screenwriter

  Henry B Gonzalez family

The Henry B. Gonzalez Family

First Hispanic in US Congress and Philanthropists

 

Greehey Bill & Louise

Louree & William Greehey 

Philanthropist and Founding CEO of Valero Energy

 

Dr. Ana "Cha" Guzman

Dr. Ana "Cha" Guzman ***

Chairperson at San Antonio Housing Authority

   

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  Hall Hammond

Hall Hammond

San Antonio Jeweler, Preservationist, and Philanthropist

  Harvey Hartenstine

Harvey Hartenstine

SAC Alum, CEO and President of Broadway Bank

  Dr. Maria Hernandez Ferrier

Dr. Maria Hernandez Ferrier ***

First President of Texas A&M University–San Antonio

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  Don Klein

Don Klein

Founder of Chesmar Homes and Philanthropist

  Deborah Knapp

Deborah Knapp

Emmy Award-Winning Journalist

 

80 Champions Placeholder

Jamie and Travis Kowalski

Served as Event Chairs for the 2025 MOSAICO Gala — Helping Raise over $1.3 million for the AlamoPROMISE Scholarship Program

     

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  Cappy Lawton

Cappy Lawton

SAC Alum, Restaurateur and Entrepreneur

  Dr. Bruce Leslie

Dr. Bruce Leslie

Chancellor of the Alamo Colleges District ('06-'18)

 

J.O. Loftin

J.O. Loftin ***

President of St. Philip's College and San Antonio College ('49-'55)

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Jane Macon

Jane Macon ***

San Antonio's First Female City Attorney

  Janie Martinez Gonzalez

Janie Martinez Gonzalez

PAC Alum, Entrepreneur and Businesswoman

 

Romanita Matta-Barrera

Romanita Matta-Barrera ***

Chief Business Advancement Officer of Greater: SATX

 

Sonny Melendrez

Sonny Melendrez ***

Radio DJ and Motivational Speaker

  Tim Morrow

Tim Morrow

CEO of SA Zoo and SAC Alum

 

John "Mule" Miles

John "Mule" Miles ***

Legendary San Antonio Baseball Player and Tuskegee Airman

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  Harvey Najim

Harvey Najim

Businessman and Philanthropist

   

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Susan Oppenheimer

Susan Oppenheimer 

Philanthropist

 

Belle Ortiz

Belle Ortiz ***

Educator and Music Icon

 

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Joey Palacios

Joey Palacios ***

Engagement Producer at Texas Pulic Radio

 

80 Champions Placeholder

Dr. Marie Pannell Thurston ***

Author of St. Philip’s College: A Point of Pride on San Antonio’s Eastside

  Jim Perschbach

Jim Perschbach

President and CEO of Port San Antonio

 

Ed and Maria Prado

Judge Ed and Maria Prado

SAC Alumni, Founding President AMSA and Advocates for Education

   

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80 Champions Placeholder

Michael Quintanilla

Alamo Colleges District Community Advocate

   

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  Norma and Fernando Reyes

Norma and Fernando Reyes

SAC Alum and Philanthropist

  James Rindfuss

James Rindfuss

Longest Standing Board Member

 

80 Champions Placeholder

Fernando Rodriguez Jr. ***

  Dr. Kate Rogers

Dr. Kate Rogers

Vice President of Community Outreach and Engagement at the Charles Butt Charitable Foundation

 

80 Champions Placeholder

John Rogers Smith

  Liz Ruiz

Liz Ruiz

SAC Alum, KLRN TV News Anchor and KTSA Radio

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  Robert L. Santos

Robert L. Santos

Former US Census Bureau Director; San Antonio College Alum and trailblazing first Latino U.S. Census Bureau Director

 

MacKenzie Scott

MacKenzie Scott

Philanthropist

 

80 Champions Placeholder

Tom & Pat Semmes

Philanthropists

 

80 Champions Placeholder

Dr. Adelina Silva

More than 50 years of Service at the Alamo Colleges District

 

William R. Sinkin

William R. Sinkin ***

Entreprenuer and Activist

 

Lionel and Kathy Sosa

Lionel & Kathy Sosa

Local Artists

  Dr. Gene Sprague

Dr. Gene Sprague

Longest Standing Board Member of the Alamo Colleges District

 

James Steptoe Johnston

James Steptoe Johnston ***

Bishop of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church of the West Texas Diocese

 

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Martha TijerniaMartha Tijernia

Raised over $1M to Support Students

  Dr. Patsy Torres

Dr. Patsy Torres

SAC Alum and Celebrated Tejano Star

  Jesse Trevino

Jesse Trevino***

SAC Alum & Local Artist

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  Sen. Leticia Van De Putte

Leticia R. Van de Putte, RPh

Lifelong San Antonian and Former Texas State Senator

 

Jackie Van de WalleJackie Van de Walle

Former Alamo Colleges District Foundation Board Chair

 

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Marty Wender

Marty Wender

Strategic Partner in Establishing NVC Campus

 

Jerome Weynand

Jerome Weynand

President of San Antonio College and St. Philip’s College ('74-'81)

  Cappy Lawton

Dr. Adena Williams Loston

St. Philip's College President

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Roberto Zárate

Roberto Zárate

Longtime Alamo Colleges District Trustee

 

Robert Ziegler

Dr. Robert Zeigler

President Emeritus of San Antonio College