SAC Recognizes Employees During Service Awards Ceremony

On a drizzly morning, San Antonio College faculty and staff packed into the Victory Center foyer to show their support and appreciation to colleagues who reached particular milestones for their work at the college.

SAC President Dr. Robert Vela honored employees at the annual Service Awards Ceremony who had been working for 15, 25, 40 and, in two instances, more than 50 years.

“We could not do this without you,” said Vela, addressing both the honorees and the crowd. “Each and every one of you, with your educator heart and your brainpower, help us transform our community.”

In recognizing the personal milestones of SAC employees, Vela said it is not too often to have one person who celebrates a golden anniversary and it is downright rare to have two employees who have served for 50 years or more.

This year SAC celebrated the careers of Stanley McCloy, professor of psychology, who started in September 1968, and Walker Hunt, professor of mathematics, who started way back in September of 1966.

When asked about the biggest change he has seen in his years at SAC, McCloy pointed to technology. “The greatest evolution in education that I have ever seen was distant learning – online learning has become paramount. It’s a very significant shift in the way students receive education instead of a face-to-face class.”

He added that he has no plans to shut down.” I’m glad to be here. I have no plans for retirement as long as I have the ability to serve the students and the faculty.”

Hunt has been interested in mathematics since he was a young boy. He recalled a rainy day when he and his father were on the front porch. His father spun a toy top in front of him and told him that, when he went to school, the young Hunt would have to learn mathematics because math ‘makes the world go around.’

Hunt said he has taught the fall and spring semesters and at least one summer session the entire time he has been as SAC, except for one summer in 2011, when his mother passed away.

Hunt said the biggest change he has noticed in his years at SAC, the age of the students. When he started, he said, most students were just out of high school.  “Now you have people looking at starting second or third careers and we have an older student body. And people are attending part-time due to a job or family,” he said.

Asked about what keeps him teaching as SAC, Hunt said “we have an excellent faculty and staff.” He added that he was especially grateful to the staff. “I appreciate the people who take care of grounds and buildings because without them I couldn’t do my job.”

Other Service Award honorees were:

 –SAC–