SPC : History | Alamo Colleges

1898

James Steptoe Johnston, a bishop of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church of the West Texas Diocese, founded St. Philip’s Normal and Industrial School, a school designed to educate and train recently emancipated slaves.
Opening March 1, 1898, the school began as a weekend sewing class for six black girls, taught by Miss Alice G. Cowan, a missionary with the Episcopal Church.
During this period, the institution was known as Bowden's School.

1902

1917

1927

1931

During the Great Depression, the Episcopal Church was unable to continue financial support for the school it founded.
Bowden, the president of St. Philip’s College, fought to keep the school afloat. Considered the savior of St. Philip's College, she frequently used her own money to pay teachers and to keep the doors open.
In a fundraising effort, she traveled around the country with a quartet of singing students soliciting donations for the historically black college.

1942

1945

1955

1987

1990-1997

1998

2007

2008

2009

2012

2015

Nearly 50 years after her death, Artemisia Bowden, a teacher and administrator at St. Philip's College for more than a half-century, continues to garner plaudits. The latest is recognition by the Episcopal Church as a Holy Woman. The 78th General Convention of the Episcopal Church in Salt Lake City authorized adding Bowden's name to the liturgical calendar in "Holy Women, Holy Men: Celebrating the Saints." August 18 is her designated feast day.

2016

2017

2018

On March 1, 2018, St. Philip's College celebrated 120 years of pride in the community with a celebration at both Martin Luther King and Southwest Campuses.
On March 2, 2018, St. Philip’s College held it’s 10th Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament receiving donations from various donors participating in the golf tournament.
SPC announced on June 27, 2018, the college formally received the plaque commemorating their 2018 Texas Award for Performance Excellence from the Quality Texas Foundation
On November 15, 2018, U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross named the Alamo Colleges District a 2018 recipient of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.

2019

2020

2021

President Loston Named One Of The Ten Most Dominant HBCU Leaders of 2021
SPC and Cyberbit Partner to Advance Cybersecurity Workforce Education and Training
SPC Partners with SAISD to Expand P-TECH Programs in SA
Health Information Technology Program Ranks Among the Top in the U.S.
Dr. Temple Grandin to Discuss ‘Learning Differently’ in Virtual Presentation
SPC’s Phi Theta Kappa Chapter Earns REACH Rewards Membership Recognition
Four SPC Students Named to 2021 All-Texas Academic Team
Dr. Adena Williams Loston Celebrating 14 Years at SPC
St. Philip’s College Added to University Health Vaccine Sites
SPC Awarded $20,000 from Home Depot® Retool Your School
Dr. Loston Receives UNCF Excellence in Education Award
SPC New THCA Building Completed
Best Value Schools Names SPC Among 10 Best Culinary Schools in Texas
SPC Newly Renovated Clarence Windzell Norris Building Completed
SPC New Saint Artemisia Bowden Building Topping Out
Nursing Students Complete Clinical Hours By Helping Administer Vaccines
SPC Students Participate in NASA Summer Internship Program
Vocational Nursing Program at CTTC New Braunfels Campus Ranks Fourth in Texas
SPC VA Recognized by the Texas Veterans Commission
SPC New Welding & Autobody Collision Building Topping Out

2022

2023

Cowboy Breakfast Foundation awards scholarships to SPC Culinary Students.
SPC receives Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approval on a bachelor's degree in cybersecurity.
March 1, 2023, marks SPC's 125th anniversary.
March 1, 2023, marks Dr. Adena Williams Loston's 16th anniversary as SPC President
Visit San Antonio Hospitality presented SPC with a check at City Hall.
Former NBA Player for the SA Spurs, David Robinson, was the featured commencement speaker at our 148th Commencement Ceremony.
OCI Solar Power partners with SPC to launch the Solar Education and Workforce Initiative.
SPC's Dual Credit Programs, Early College High School, and Pathways in Technology for Early College High School were included among recipients at the Jet Grant presentation.
The National Coalition of 100 Black Women visit SPC.
Dr. Adena Williams Loston presented at Harvard University to the Institute for Educational Management (IEM) Program.
The Episcopal Diocese of West Texas has received an original painting honoring Saint Artemisia Bowden from Terry Gay Puckett.
President of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission of Colleges (SACSCOC), Dr. Belle Wheelan presented at SPC.
SPC received a scholarship donation from the Alamo Heights Optimist Club, Inc.
SPC Veterans Affairs received the 2023 VEERA Gold Award.
Dr. Adena Williams Loston was appointed, by President Joe Biden, as Commissioner for the Presidential Advisory Commission on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Black Americans.
SPC Occupational Therapy Assistant and Physical Therapy Assistant Programs celebrated 50 years.
SPC, The Alamo Colleges District Chancellor, and the Board of Trustees celebrated the accomplishments of the Eastside Education & Training Center.
On December 4, 2023, SPC was approved to offer its first Bachelor's degree, the Bachelor of Applied Technology Degree in Cybersecurity.

2024

SPC hosted the Martin Luther King, Jr. Remembrance event due to the cancellation of the city's MLK Day of Service and March.
SPC Culinary Students participated in the first San Antonio Rodeo's Cowboy Breakfast.
SPC presented during Black History Month a performance of Alive! At the Library event featuring SPC historical figures performed by SPC faculty, staff, and students.
Dr. Adena Williams Loston, SPC President, presented as a guest speaker at a Black History Month event for the FBI.
SPC hosted "A Fireside Chat with Michele Norris" event for Black History Month.
SPC celebrated its 125th anniversary close out with a Congressional Certificate of Recognition from U.S. Congressman Dr. Henry Cuellar.
SPC students and faculty visited Cameroon for Study Abroad.
SPC hosted Paris Exchange Students as part of our Culinary Arts Program.
SPC hosted a San Antonio LULAC Panel Discussion.
SPC hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the new H-E-B Black Box Theater at the Watson Fine Arts Center.
SPC hosted the 3rd Annual HBCU Conference
SPC hosted a Solar Eclipse Party.
SPC and The Alamo Colleges District celebrated Great Places to Work Certification.
SPC invited the National Sponsored Programs Administrators Alliance (NSPAA) of HBCUs, Inc. to the college.
SPC hosted ProStart Educators at our Tourism, Hospitality, and Culinary Arts building.
SPC honored Saint Artemisia Bowden Feast Day with three grand opening ceremonies for newly renovated buildings.
SPC provided a tour to members of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.

History

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