PAC wraps up 30 years with festivities

By Katelynn Garcia
Pulse Staff Reporter

Photo of President Dr. Mike Flores presenting recipient Steven Sanchez with his plaque
President Mike Flores gives Steven Sanchez, one of Palo Alto College’s 30 for 30, the top 30 alumni of the past 30 years, a framed award. Photo by Katelynn Garcia.

Palo Alto College prides itself on providing high-quality education to the South Side community. Since the first classes were offered in 1985, more than 100,000 individuals throughout San Antonio, Bexar County and the surrounding region have been educated here.

PAC celebrated its 30th anniversary with a combination of events throughout the 2015-2016 academic year. The celebration kicked off in February 2015 with the unearthing of a time capsule that a group of third grade students from Palo Alto Elementary buried on campus in 2005. Ten years later, many of those same third grade students entered Palo Alto College as freshmen.

photo of Communities Organized for Public Service C.O.P.S
Communities Organized for Public Service members celebrate the fruit of their labor. Photo by Katelynn Garcia.

The festivities continued during PACfest 2015, with a 30-year celebration fireworks show and ¡Celebración!, an annual fundraiser for the Palo Alto College Scholarship Fund.

Palo Alto College continued to honor its achievements with a 30-year capstone ceremony on April 28 at 5 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center. The event included faculty, staff and alumni as invited guests to celebrate the unveiling of the 30-year anniversary timeline, screening of the 30-year anniversary video, proclamation from Texas Senator Carlos I. Uresti and alumni recognition. At the capstone, PAC recognized 30 exceptional alumni who are achieving great successes in their professional and personal endeavors.

“This event is important as it highlights the achievements of former Palo Alto students and the college’s role in the realization of their goals,” said Leticia Inocencio, coordinator of Alumni and Scholarships. “It is also a way to emphasize how PAC has been an integral part of changing the educational landscape of San Antonio for the past 30 years.”

Palo Alto fulfilled the promise of providing higher education for the South Side community, an anchor institution and part of the community’s fabric for 30 years.

Sarah Losoya, a sophomore Art major, believes that Palo Alto College provides many resources that allow students to fulfill their educational and career goals.

“Professors here at PAC show dedication and support for each student…They strive for their students to be successful when going on into the real world,” Losoya said.

Jerry Arellano, director of Public Relations at PAC, said, “The goal is to ensure that we align educational pathways to the workforce, so that students who come to Palo Alto not only get the first-rate education they deserve, but that they are employable once they leave… We will continue to commit ourselves to not only putting students first, but ensuring the institution provides this access for many years to come.”

For more information on the celebrations for the 30th anniversary, visit the college’s Facebook page.