ST. PHILIP’S COLLEGE PRESIDENT DELIVERS KEYNOTE SPEECH FOR 2008 CITY SOUTH LEADERSHIP ACADEMY GRADUATION CEREMONY

Civic program helps business leaders forge stronger community ties and raise college scholarship funds

SAN ANTONIO (Dec. 8, 2008) --- St. Philip’s College President Dr. Adena Williams Loston delivered the keynote address during the South San Antonio Chamber of Commerce’s 2008 City South Leadership graduation ceremony.

The graduation ceremony was the pinnacle of a nine-month leadership program. During the leadership training classes called an Academy Class the participants studied the class theme of Converting Potential Into Progress as they studied the dynamics of South San Antonio. The class also committed to aiding the Chamber in building stronger ties with schools, neighborhoods and churches in its service area---which includes St. Philip’s College. Working together the Class also raised enough money to fund seven $1,000 civics-based scholarships for college-bound seniors from Southside San Antonio high schools.

In addition to funding scholarships through the Academy, the South San Antonio Chamber has provided leadership to the successful planning and development of Port San Antonio, an international economic generator where under Dr. Loston’s leadership St. Philip’s College is the leading provider of education.

The 2008 Academy participants learned that the Chamber’s future focus is threefold: 1) Accessibility to higher education; 2) Diversity in housing; and 3) Sustainable economic development. The graduation event at the Plaza Club included such guests as (from left) Cindy Taylor; Sichan Siv; Dr. Loston and Douglas Carter. Taylor is the South San Antonio Chamber of Commerce President. Siv is a former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and the author of Golden Bones. Carter is the South San Antonio Chamber of Commerce Chairman and Owner/Operator of the Express Employment Professionals Southside Branch. (Courtesy image)

Websites related to this story include:

1) St. Philip’s College; and 2) City South Leadership Academy .

About St. Philip’s: St. Philip’s College was founded in 1898 by Bishop James Steptoe Johnston of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church of the West Texas Diocese. Today, St. Philip’s is a multi-campus institution of the Alamo Community Colleges and serves a semester enrollment of nearly 10,000 credit and more than 5,000 continuing education students. St. Philip’s is a Historically Black College and Hispanic Serving Institution and is the only college in the nation that carries this dual designation. As “A Point of Pride in the Community,” St. Philip’s is among the oldest and most diverse community colleges in the United States.