SPC Receives NBA Foundation Grant

St. Philip’s College (SPC) has received a $200,000 grant from the NBA Foundation to launch the SPC/Spurs Partnership for Equitable Career Pathways, a workforce development initiative designed to serve 3,500 youth ages up to 24 through career readiness training, paid work experiences, and employer engagement opportunities.

The one-year initiative, funded through December, will focus on SPC students who are also AlamoPROMISE Scholars, helping connect participants to educational and workforce opportunities while building pathways from high school to college and careers.

The program aims to provide students with real-world experiences, mentorship opportunities, and professional networking connections that support long-term economic mobility.

“We’re incredibly excited to partner with the San Antonio Spurs and the NBA Foundation to expand equitable pathways for the students and families we serve by creating intentional opportunities for youth to develop college and career readiness skills, gain real-world experience, and build meaningful connections that support long-term success and a stronger future for our community,” said Nathaniel Martinez, Career Experience Team Lead.

The partnership will be jointly managed by Career Readiness and Experiential Learning Services and Student Life within the college’s Educational Support Services division. The model integrates career readiness workshops, paid field experiences, leadership development, service learning, and employer engagement into a coordinated framework.

Students will be engaged through a variety of activities, including New Student Convocation, Welcome Week, Enroll-A-Palooza events, student organizations, dual-credit partnerships, and academic pathways tied to high-demand industries.

College officials estimate that more than 1,000 participants will complete job-readiness training during the grant period, while approximately 1,500 students will earn certificates or credentials. The program also projects that 840 participants will graduate from college and secure employment opportunities as they progress through educational and workforce pathways.

Implementation will occur in three phases. The first phase focuses on infrastructure development, student recruitment pipelines, and data tracking systems. The second phase will launch paid student positions, workshops, employer site visits, and field experiences once grant funding is fully available. The final phase will focus on measuring outcomes, reporting results to the NBA Foundation, and identifying opportunities for long-term sustainability.