History
Join us as we continue a history of achievement!
- 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.
- Artemisia Bowden, daughter of a former slave, joined the school as administrator and teacher.
- Miss Bowden served St. Philip’s College for 52 years. Under her leadership, the school grew from an industrial school for girls into a high school and later a junior college.
- During this period, the institution was known as Bowden's School.
- The school moved from La Villita to its present location.
- After several building additions, St. Philip's became a junior college for the black community of San Antonio and the area.
- 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.
- The school, retaining the St. Philip’s Junior College name, affiliated with San Antonio College and the San Antonio Independent School District, marking the end of the college’s era as a private institution.
- An elected district board of trustees, named the San Antonio Union Junior College District (now Alamo Community College District), assumed administration of the two colleges.
- St. Philip’s College began admitting white students, and San Antonio College began admitting black students.
- St. Philip's added the Southwest Campus, a hub for technical training programs and formerly part of Kelly Air Force Base, as an official campus. It had previously served as a district extension center.
- A multi-million-dollar capital expansion added major buildings; a state-of-the-art theater complex at the MLK campus; the Northeast Learning Center in 1996; and the Learning and Leadership Development Center in 1997 (in collaboration with the City of San Antonio).
- St. Philip's College celebrated its 100th anniversary with a series of events throughout the entire year.
- SPC began it's LVN to ADN mobility program.
- St. Philip's College re-established a relationship with St. Philip's Episcopal Church, the school's founding church.
- First Presidential Scholarship under the College's new leadership empowers students to serve others.
- The Welcome Center, Center for Health Professions, and Center for Learning Resources are now open to welcome students.
- Dr. William Conan Davis was on honored on Friday, October 19, 2012 with the naming of the Science Building dedicated in his honor for his many contributions.
- 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.
- The Reinstated LVN to RN Mobility Program at St. Philip's College is a one-year program consisting of three consecutive semesters utilizing online, face-to-face and lab/clinical experiences to meet the educational requirements for the students to become registered nurses.
- Guest attended two facility grand openings Wednesday, August 9, 2017 the college's Good Samaritan Veterans Outreach and Transition Center (GSVOTC) located at 202 Connelly Street is a repurposed building in partnership with the City of San Antonio and the newly renovated Turbon Student Center (TSC).
- 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.
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SPC at the State Capitol for Community College Day
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VIA Metro Honors Rosa Parks at SPC
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Lila Cockrell’s Book Signing
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Malcolm Baldrige Award Win
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Gertha Murphy’s 106th Birthday
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SPC THCA Building Topping Out
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Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Alpha Tau Omega Chapter Adopts SPC
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President’s Lecture Series The Three Doctors
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SPC Grab ‘N Go Safe Space Food Pantry Ribbon Cutting
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Clarence Windzell Norris Building Topping Out Ceremony
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SPC NAHB 2020 Student Award
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SPC Receives the Quality Texas Governor’s Award Next
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SPC Remote Learning Due to Covid-19 Pandemic
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SPC CTE Courses Meet Face-To-Face
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SPC Virtual Commencement Ceremony
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President Loston Named One Of The Ten Most Dominant HBCU Leaders of 2021
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SPC and Cyberbit Partner to Advance Cybersecurity Workforce Education and Training
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SPC Partners with SAISD to Expand P-TECH Programs in SA
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Health Information Technology Program Ranks Among the Top in the U.S.
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Dr. Temple Grandin to Discuss ‘Learning Differently’ in Virtual Presentation
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SPC’s Phi Theta Kappa Chapter Earns REACH Rewards Membership Recognition
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Four SPC Students Named to 2021 All-Texas Academic Team
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Dr. Adena Williams Loston Celebrating 14 Years at SPC
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St. Philip’s College Added to University Health Vaccine Sites
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SPC Awarded $20,000 from Home Depot® Retool Your School
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Dr. Loston Receives UNCF Excellence in Education Award
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SPC New THCA Building Completed
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Best Value Schools Names SPC Among 10 Best Culinary Schools in Texas
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SPC Newly Renovated Clarence Windzell Norris Building Completed
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SPC New Saint Artemisia Bowden Building Topping Out
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Nursing Students Complete Clinical Hours By Helping Administer Vaccines
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SPC Students Participate in NASA Summer Internship Program
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Vocational Nursing Program at CTTC New Braunfels Campus Ranks Fourth in Texas
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SPC VA Recognized by the Texas Veterans Commission
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SPC New Welding & Autobody Collision Building Topping Out
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SPC hosted the Cowboy Breakfast event in new Tourism, Hospitality and Culinary Arts building in person
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SPC hosted the Taste of Black Restaurant Week San Antonio event in new Tourism, Hospitality and Culinary Arts building in person
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Dr. Adena Williams Loston, SPC President celebrated 15th Anniversary
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Cybersecurity Program Earns Prestigious NSA Designation
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SPC National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) chapter inducted its first members
- SPC awarded a $75,000 grant from Lumina Foundation
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SPC honors the life of Dr. William C. Davis
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Health Information Technology Program was ranked #4 in the nation by Intelligent.com
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SPC's Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society Psi Kappa Chapter wins big at Texas Regional Convention
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SPC Students attend first-ever Texas HBCU Conference
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SPC touted by Business Journal for building talent pipelines in tech industry
- As part of the American Rescue Plan, SPC received $93.2 million in federal funds
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Dr. Adena Williams Loston Celebrating 15 Years at SPC
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SPC Culinary Arts student, Marcus Clark, has been awarded a unique internship in Napa Valley, California
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SPC hosted Legacy Day with multiple ribbon cutting ceremonies for several new buildings and dedications that coincided with Saint Artemisia Bowden Feast Day on August 18, 2022.
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U.S. Secretary of Labor visited St. Philip’s College Southwest Campus
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SPC Office of Veteran Affairs received the 2022 Veteran Education Excellence Recognition Award (VEERA) – Gold Level by the Texas Veterans Commission
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SPC began pursuing the Bachelor of Applied Technology (BAT) in Cybersecurity degree, pending approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
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SPC received donated Gulfstream G-159 Aircraft from Businessman, Mr. Dick Tipps
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Dr. Dietra Trent, Executive Director, White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity through Historically Black Colleges visited SPC
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SPC celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Southwest Campus on September 15 for the new Welding and Auto Collision Center
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Living In My Skin Portrait Collection by artist Lionel Sosa has a permanent home at SPC
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Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Dr. Stacey Dixon visited SPC
- 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.
- 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.