ACD Documentary to Premiere on KLRN, Celebrating 80 Years of Transforming Lives through Education

The Alamo Colleges District will celebrate eight decades of expanding educational opportunity with the broadcast premiere of a new documentary, Building Futures, Breaking Barriers: The Alamo Colleges District Story, airing March 23 at 9 p.m. on KLRN.

Produced in partnership with KLRN and IMG Studio, the documentary highlights the history and impact of the Alamo Colleges District since its founding in 1945. Through personal stories and reflections from alumni and community leaders, the film captures how the district has helped generations of students build pathways to economic mobility while strengthening the San Antonio region’s workforce.

“At the Alamo Colleges District, our mission has always been rooted in creating opportunity,” said Dr. Mike Flores, Alamo Colleges District Chancellor. “For 80 years, our colleges have opened doors for students from every background, helping them gain the education, skills, and confidence to build better futures for themselves and their families. This documentary brings those stories to life.”

This documentary also reflects the community partnership that has helped bring these stories to a broader audience.

“The Alamo Colleges District has changed lives, and has been part of our KLRN community for decades,” said Shari St. Clair, KLRN Director, News and Production. We’re proud to tell the story of this honored institution and show our viewers how the Alamo Colleges have impacted San Antonio.”

The film features alumni and students whose journeys reflect the transformative power of community college education, including:

• Alexander Logan Longoria, a Northeast Lakeview College student who found renewed purpose through cybersecurity studies after a life-altering accident.
  
  
• Dr. Julien Mahler, a Northwest Vista College alumnus and emergency medicine specialist whose parents immigrated from Belize and credits his education for helping launch his medical career.
• Anevay Perez, a Palo Alto College student and AlamoPROMISE Scholar whose journey from homelessness to academic success reflects the impact of removing financial barriers to college.
  
  
• The Honorable Linda Harrison Lewis, a longtime San Antonio Municipal Court judge whose career spans nursing, law, and decades of public service.
  
  
• Dr. Thomas Uribe and Gloria Uribe, San Antonio College alumni whose lives of service, leadership, and family achievement began at SAC, where they first discovered the possibilities of higher education.

Their stories illustrate the district’s enduring commitment to access, student success, and community impact. Through archival footage, interviews, and personal reflections, the documentary traces the evolution of the Alamo Colleges District from a single college to a nationally recognized system of five colleges serving more than 90,000 students annually.

Building Futures, Breaking Barriers also highlights how the district continues to expand opportunity through initiatives such as workforce training programs and the AlamoPROMISE, which provides tuition-free college for eligible Bexar County high school graduates.

The documentary premiere is part of the Alamo Colleges District’s 80th anniversary celebration, marking a milestone year that honors the institution’s legacy while looking ahead to the next generation of students and leaders.

For more information about the Alamo Colleges District and its 80th anniversary celebration, visit alamo.edu/80

To watch the documentary’s trailer, click here.