Alamo Colleges District Celebrates 80 Years of Creating Opportunity at Kickoff Event

With more than 200 students, faculty, staff, and community members gathered at ACCESS, the Alamo Colleges District officially kicked off its 80th anniversary celebration today, marking eight decades of creating opportunity. 

The kickoff event was hosted by longtime Alamo Colleges District supporter and Alamo Colleges Foundation Treasurer Deborah Knapp, who welcomed attendees.

The morning celebration featured remarks from Board Chair Dr. Clint Kingsbery, Chancellor Dr. Mike Flores, Student Trustee Josiah Rodriguez, and his mother, Roxann Pena – both students at San Antonio College – and State Senator José Menéndez, who presented an official proclamation from the Texas Senate in recognition of the Alamo Colleges District’s 80-year legacy.

In his remarks, Board Chair Kingsbery spoke to the heart of the Alamo College’s mission, reflecting on the lives touched by its work. “For eight decades, the Alamo Colleges have been a pathway to opportunity – a place where first-generation students become graduates, where student parents return to school, and where learners of every age and background discover what’s possible,” he said. “As trustees, we’re proud to support this mission and continue advancing our moonshot of ending poverty through education and training.”

Dr. Flores followed with a powerful tribute to the students and families who define the impact of the Alamo Colleges District. He shared stories of graduates like Abram Tenorio, a St. Philip’s College alum now pursuing engineering at the University of Texas at San Antonio, thanks to the AlamoPROMISE program, and Anevay Perez, a first-generation student who overcame homelessness and is now working toward her bachelor’s degree and launching her own business.

“Stories like these are reminders that our work is about more than degrees; it’s about transformation,” said Dr. Flores. “Across our five colleges, we’re removing barriers and building bridges to opportunity. Our programs – AlamoPROMISE, AlamoBOOKS+, AlamoADVISE, and our workforce-focused offerings – are making a tangible impact. And we’re seeing that impact in the numbers. Our poverty rate in Bexar County is declining faster than the state and national averages, and our enrollment is growing at nearly double the rate of regional population growth.”

Dr. Flores also announced a new partnership with Texas Public Radio to launch the “Share Your Story” campaign, a community initiative to collect personal reflections and memories from current students, alumni, employees, and partners. The campaign invites the community to contribute to the Alamo Colleges District’s living history.

Student Trustee Josiah Rodriguez, a San Antonio College student studying public administration, also spoke at the event and reflected on his journey from growing up in public housing to serving as the voice for more than 88,000 learners across the Alamo Colleges District.

“My journey didn’t begin with a clear path or a plan. After high school, I started working to support my family,” said Rodriguez. “But I never forgot a childhood field trip to the Scobee Planetarium at SAC. I remember hearing the words: ‘You can reach for the stars.’ Back then, I thought it meant becoming an astronaut. But now I know it means believing in yourself—even when the odds are against you.”

More about the Alamo Colleges District

What began as the San Antonio Union Junior College District in 1945 has evolved into the Alamo Colleges District, a nationally recognized network of five colleges that serve nearly 88,000 learners each year. 

With over 125 years of history at St. Philip’s College, 100 years at San Antonio College, 40 years of care and corazón at Palo Alto College, 30 years at Northwest Vista College, and more than 15 years at Northeast Lakeview College, each college reflects a unique chapter in a shared legacy of service to the communities we proudly serve.Looking ahead, the Alamo Colleges District remains committed to its mission and transforming lives across generations. To join the celebration and share your own Alamo Colleges District story, visit alamo.edu/80