(Jan. 14, 2019) -- As the UTSA family returns today for the start of spring semester classes, evidence of the 50th anniversary celebration will surround them online and off. Today marks the official reveal of a new 50th anniversary website and the special 50th anniversary issue of Sombrilla Magazine. The university’s Main and Downtown Campuses are also draped in new signage heralding the way for a special celebration.
For months a 50th anniversary committee of more than 30 faculty, staff and students from across the university, chaired by Marjie French, UTSA vice president for external relations and chief development officer, has worked to prepare for the yearlong celebration. Special 50th anniversary celebrations will take place at UTSA’s signature events throughout 2019 in addition to a unique birthday celebration on June 5, 2019, and a special alumni gala in September.
At the same time, the UTSA Office of University Communications and Marketing, a team of 25 professionals in storytelling, digital media, design, advertising, photography, videography, social media and media relations, has been working with the UTSA Libraries and others across campus to piece together the university’s history and develop resources for the community-wide celebration. Their work, which represents thousands of hours over six weeks, including more than 200 hours in the University Archives, is culminated in discoveries, historic photos and videos, a timeline, memories, personal stories and a commemorative magazine on the UTSA 50 website.
“The history of UTSA is so much richer than most people realize,” said Joe Izbrand, UTSA associate vice president for communications and marketing and chief communications officer. “There are a few storylines that have been told over and over again, but they’re really just the tip of the iceberg. From our team’s viewpoint as storytellers, it’s quite surprising that in the short 50-year span of the university so much interesting history threads through the UTSA story. When the community begins to explore the rich timeline we have produced, we believe they will be equally surprised.”
Sombrilla Magazine editor Michael Edwards added, “Over the past few months I’ve learned that history is a series of breadcrumbs. Because UTSA is so young, a lot of its past hasn’t been viewed in a broad, historical context.”
When the UCM team got to work, it began to look at individual moments and artifacts. For example, a misidentified item in the University Archives (the ceramic U-T-S-A letters in “The Story of UTSA in 50 Objects”) took on added dimension when UCM found a photograph that tied the letters to their actual place and time. Then a newspaper article serendipitously added more to the story. And ultimately, everything took the team downtown to Hemisfair Park to the building where the first UTSA president set up his office. They even found the holes on the building where the letters had once been screwed into place.
“It was a pretty exciting moment to pull all of that together and have the history become tangible,” said Edwards.
While in the archives, UCM learned that it truly was a group of remarkable people who had a dream about creating a public university in San Antonio back in the 1960s. Those leaders stayed focused and driven in their effort.
“Without them, the idea, which had been floated for more than a decade, would have continued to get reworked, watered down and ultimately again and again fall flat,” said Edwards.
Izbrand added, “You see that theme of individuals with focused determination resurface throughout UTSA’s history and in the legacy of its senior leadership. The history tells us that UTSA would not have made such enormous strides in such a short time without the laser-focused vision of its presidents.”
Throughout 2019, UTSA’s 50th anniversary website will be updated with fresh pieces of history. 'Runners and their friends are encouraged to regularly visit the website to view new timeline additions, meet other Roadrunners, learn about upcoming anniversary celebrations and watch historical videos.
UTSA students, faculty, staff and alumni are also encouraged to contribute to UTSA’s history by sending their stories, their photos and snaps of their memorabilia to 50years@utsa.edu and by sharing them on social media using the hashtag #UTSA50.
“A single story from one member of the UTSA community might not seem significant but when put together with a series of stories studied holistically, the university’s history comes to life and it’s impressive,” said French.
As UTSA draws closer to its official birthday on June 5, 2019, a number of special celebrations are planned. Check the 50th anniversary events calendar for more information.
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UTSA Today is produced by University Communications and Marketing, the official news source of The University of Texas at San Antonio. Send your feedback to news@utsa.edu. Keep up-to-date on UTSA news by visiting UTSA Today. Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.
This event will acknowledge graduating seniors from the McNair Scholars program at UTSA before inducting the new cohort of scholars into the program.
North Paseo Building (NPB 5.140), Main CampusAt this memorable celebration, UTSA graduates will be introduced one-by-one to cross the stage and accept their doctoral degrees.
Arts Building Recital Hall, Main CampusRoadrunner Walk is an event for graduating students to have a memorable walk on campus to celebrate an important milestone and their achievements. Graduates will walk along the Paseo while being celebrated by the UTSA community, friends, and family members.
Student Union Paseo, Main CampusCelebrate the accomplishments of College of Education and Human Development, College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Sciences and University College.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St.Celebrate the accomplishments of Alvarez College of Business, College of Liberal and Fine Arts and Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St.The University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .
The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.
