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

Recognized on the basis of the following:

Ambassador of Opportunity
Ambassador of Opportunity
Represents the spirit and mission of the District
Storyteller and Advocate
Storyteller & Advocate
Amplifies the impact of opportunity to inspire others
Community Connector
Community Connector
Builds bridges between the District and the community it serves
Active Participator
Active Participator
Leads through mentorship, guidance, and meaningful actions

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

 

 
Oscar Alvarado
Storyteller and Advocate

Oscar Alvarado

Local Mosaic Tile Artist and Concrete Sculptor

 
Carlos Alvarez
Community Connector

Carlos Alvarez

Honored Posthumously

Founder of the Gambrinus Co., Entrepreneur and Philanthropist

 
Hope Andrade
Ambassador of Opportunity

Hope Andrade

President and CEO of the Alamo Trust, Former Texas Secretary of State

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Phil Bakke
Ambassador of Opportunity

Phil Bakke

Former Alamo Colleges Foundation Board Member and San Antonio Developer

 
Jeannette Ball
Active Participator

Dr. Jeannette Ball

Southwest ISD Superintendent and Founding AlamoPROMISE Steering Committee Member

 
Harrison and Brittany Barnes
Ambassador of Opportunity

Brittany and Harrison Barnes

Philanthropist and San Antonio Spurs Forward 

 
Mike and Louise Beldon
Ambassador of Opportunity

Mike and Louise Beldon

Chairman Emeritus, Alamo Foundation Board Member and AlamoPROMISE Committee Members

 
Artemisia Bowden
Ambassador of Opportunity

Artemisia Bowden

Honored Posthumously

President Emeritus, Humanitarian, Educator and Founder of St. Philip's College, Sainted in the Episcopal Church

 

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Jennifer Cantu
Active Participator

Jennifer Cantu

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

 
The Castro Family
Community Connector

The Castro Family

Public Servants and Community Advocates

 
Mel Casas
Storyteller and Advocate

Mel Casas

Honored Posthumously

Former San Antonio College Professor, Local Artist and Activist

 
Ramiro Cavazos
Community Connector

Ramiro Cavazos

President and CEO of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

 
Charlie Cheever
Ambassador of Opportunity

The Charles Cheever Family

Honored Posthumously

Civic Leader, Founder of Project Quest and the Challenger Learning Center San Antonio and Chairman Emeritus of Broadway Bank

 
Henry Cisneros
Community Connector

Henry G. Cisneros

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

 
Cary Clack
Storyteller and Advocate

Cary Clack

San Antonio College Alumnus and Columnist at San Antonio Express-News

 
Jackie Claunch
Ambassador of Opportunity

Dr. Jacqueline Claunch

Founding President of Northwest Vista College

 
Eric Cooper
Active Participator

Eric Cooper

President and CEO, San Antonio Food Bank

 
Chris Corso
Storyteller and Advocate

Chris Corso

Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Joeris General Contractors and Former Alamo Colleges Foundation Board Member

   

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Cody Davenport
Community Connector

Cody Davenport

San Antonio College Alumnus, Executive Director and CEO of San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo

 
David Martin Davies
Storyteller and Advocate

David Martin Davies

San Antonio College Alumnus, Broadcast Journalist at Texas Public Radio

 
William C. Davis
Ambassador of Opportunity

The Dr. William C. Davis Family

Honored Posthumously

Professor Emeritus, Researcher, Inventor and Educator at St. Philip's College

 
Richard Delgado
Active Participator

Richard Delgado Jr.

Palo Alto College Alumnus, Senior Community Investor, Boeing Global Engagement and Alamo Colleges Foundation Board Member

 
Mayor Mary Dennis
Community Connector

Mayor Mary M. Dennis

Mayor of Live Oak

 
Tino & Millie Duran
Ambassador of Opportunity

Tino and Millie Duran

Honored Posthumously

San Antonio College Alumnus, La Prensa Publishers and Philanthropists

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Taylor Eighmy
Active Participator

Dr. Taylor Eighmy

Founding AlamoPROMISE Steering Committee Member and President of The University of Texas at San Antonio (UT San Antonio)

   

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Hazel Feldman
Ambassador of Opportunity

Hazel Feldman

Graduated from Northeast Lakeview College at 97 Years Old

 
Flores Family
Active Participator

Jose Flores and Dana Stanley Flores

St. Philip's College Alumnus and Endowed Scholarship Founders

 

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Louree & William Greehey
Active Participator

Louree and William Greehey

Philanthropist and Founding CEO of Valero Energy

 
Dr. Ana Cha Guzman
Ambassador of Opportunity

Dr. Ana "Cha" Guzman

Palo Alto College President Emeritus

 

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Hall Hammond
Ambassador of Opportunity

Hall Hammond

Honored Posthumously

San Antonio Jeweler, Preservationist, Philanthropist and Alamo Colleges Foundation Board Member Emeritus

 
Harvey Hartenstine
Community Connector

Harvey P. Hartenstine

San Antonio College Alumnus, CEO and President of Broadway Bank

 
Dr. Maria Hernandez Ferrier
Ambassador of Opportunity

Dr. Maria Hernandez Ferrier

First President of Texas A&M University–San Antonio and Former Alamo Colleges Foundation Board Member

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Ruth Jones McClendon
Community Connector

Ruth Jones McClendon

Honored Posthumously

Former State Representative and Public Servant

   

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Don Klein
Community Connector

Don Klein

Founder of Chesmar Homes and Philanthropist

 
Deborah Knapp
Storyteller and Advocate

Deborah Knapp

Emmy Award-Winning Journalist and Alamo Colleges Foundation Board Member and Treasurer

 
Jamie and Travis Kowalski
Ambassador of Opportunity

Jamie and Travis Kowalski

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

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Cappy Lawton
Community Connector

Cappy Lawton

San Antonio College Alumnus, Restaurateur and Entrepreneur

 
Dr. Bruce Leslie
Ambassador of Opportunity

Dr. Bruce Leslie

Chancellor Emeritus

 
J.O. Loftin
Ambassador of Opportunity

J.O. Loftin

Honored Posthumously

Founding President of San Antonio Union Junior College District

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Jane Macon
Community Connector

Jane Macon

San Antonio's First Female City Attorney and Philanthropist

 
Janie Martinez Gonzalez
Community Connector

Janie Martinez Gonzalez

Palo Alto College Alumna, Founder and CEO of Webhead and Former Alamo Colleges Foundation Board Member

 
Romanita Matta-Barrera
Active Participator

Romanita Matta-Barrera

Chief Impact Officer at greater:SATX and AlamoPROMISE Steering Committee Member

 
Dr. Byron McClenney
Storyteller and Advocate

Dr. Byron McClenney

Honored Posthumously

Former President of the Alamo Community College District/Chancellor

 
Sonny Melendrez
Storyteller and Advocate

Sonny Melendrez

San Antonio College Alumnus, Radio DJ and Motivational Speaker

 
John Mule Miles
Ambassador of Opportunity

John "Mule" Miles

Honored Posthumously

St. Philip's College Alumnus, Legendary Baseball Player and Tuskegee Airman

 
Tim Morrow
Community Connector

Tim Morrow

San Antonio College Alumnus, CEO of San Antonio Zoo

   

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Harvey Najim
Ambassador of Opportunity

Harvey E. Najim

Businessman and Philanthropist

 
Nirenbergs
Ambassador of Opportunity

Ron Nirenberg and Erika Prosper

Former Mayor of San Antonio and Former First Lady of San Antonio, Senior Director of Customer Insights at H-E-B 

 

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Susan Oppenheimer
Ambassador of Opportunity

Susan Oppenheimer 

Honored Posthumously

Philanthropist and Former Alamo Colleges District Trustee

 
Belle Ortiz
Ambassador of Opportunity

Belle Ortiz

Honored Posthumously

San Antonio College Alumna, Educator and the “Godmother of Mariachi”

 

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Joey Palacios
Storyteller and Advocate

Joey Palacios

San Antonio College Alumnus and Broadcast Journalist at Texas Public Radio

 
Jim Perschbach
Active Participator

Jim Perschbach

President and CEO of Port San Antonio, Former Alamo Academies Board of Directors Chairman and Inaugural Member of the Advisory Committee to SAC Scobee Education Center

 
Judge Ed and Maria Prado
Ambassador of Opportunity

Judge Ed and Maria Prado

San Antonio College Alumnus, Former U.S. Ambassador to Argentina, Founding President AMSA and Advocates for Education

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Quintanilla Michael
Ambassador of Opportunity

Michael Quintanilla

Journalist and Community Advocate

   

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Norma and Fernando Reyes
Ambassador of Opportunity

Norma and Fernando Reyes

San Antonio College Alumnus, Philanthropist and Alamo Colleges Foundation Board Member

 
James Rindfuss
Ambassador of Opportunity

James Rindfuss

Honored Posthumously

Longstanding Alamo Colleges District Trustee

 
Fernando Rodriguez Jr.
Ambassador of Opportunity

Fernando Rodriguez Jr.

 
Sonia Rodriguez
Ambassador of Opportunity

Sonia Rodriguez

Project Quest Vice President and Collaborative Initiatives Consulting COPS/METRO Representative

 
Dr. Kate Rogers
Active Participator

Dr. Kate Rogers

Founding AlamoPROMISE Steering Committee Member, Alamo Colleges Foundation Board Member and Community Leader

 
Liz Ruiz
Storyteller and Advocate

Elizabeth Ruiz

San Antonio College Alumna, TV and Radio Journalist

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Judge Peter and Raquel Sakai
Community Connector

Judge Peter and Raquel “Rachel” Sakai

Bexar County Judge and Community Advocates

 
Robert L. Santos
Community Connector

Robert L. Santos

San Antonio College Alumnus, Former U.S. Census Bureau Director

 
MacKenzie Scott
Ambassador of Opportunity

MacKenzie Scott

Philanthropist

 
The Semmes Foundation
Ambassador of Opportunity

Tom and Pat Semmes

On behalf of the Semmes Foundation

 
Dr. Adelina Silva
Active Participator

Dr. Adelina Silva

Vice Chancellor Emeritus for Student Success

 
William R. Sinkin
Ambassador of Opportunity

William R. Sinkin

Honored Posthumously

Entrepreneur and Activist

 
Lionel and Kathy Sosa
Storyteller and Advocate

Lionel and Kathy Sosa

Local Artists and Advertising and Marketing Executive

 
Dr. Gene Sprague
Ambassador of Opportunity

Dr. Gene Sprague

Longest serving Alamo Colleges District Trustee

 
James Steptoe Johnston
Ambassador of Opportunity

James Steptoe Johnston

Honored Posthumously

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

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Martha Tijernia
Storyteller and Advocate

Martha Tijerina

Founder of the Fabulous GED Brunch, Raised over $1 million to support students and Trailblazing Journalist

 
Dr. Patsy Torres
Storyteller and Advocate

Dr. Patsy Torres

San Antonio College Alumna and Celebrated Tejano Star

 
Jesse Trevino
Storyteller and Advocate

Jesse Treviño

Honored Posthumously

San Antonio College Alumnus and Local Artist

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Sen. Leticia Van De Putte
Community Connector

Leticia R. Van de Putte

Lifelong San Antonian and Former Texas State Senator

 
Jackie Van de Walle
Ambassador of Opportunity

Jackie Van De Walle

Alamo Colleges Foundation Board Chair Emeritus

 

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Marty Wender
Ambassador of Opportunity

Marty Wender

Strategic Partner in Establishing Northwest Vista College Campus

 
Jerome Weynand
Ambassador of Opportunity

Dr. Jerome F. Weynand

Honored Posthumously

Former President of San Antonio College and St. Philip’s College

 
Adena Loston
Active Participator

Dr. Adena Williams Loston

St. Philip's College President

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Roberto Zárate
Ambassador of Opportunity

Roberto Zárate

Honored Posthumously

Longstanding Alamo Colleges District Trustee and Former Alamo Colleges Foundation Board Member

 
Robert Ziegler
Ambassador of Opportunity

Dr. Robert Zeigler

President Emeritus of San Antonio College

 
Share Your Story
Share Your Story