Meet a Roadrunner: Santa Claus '98 spreads Christmas cheer across the globe

(Dec. 21, 2016) -- Meet Santa Claus '98. This UTSA alum knows when you've been studying and when you're napping in JPL.

"I was delighted to see how many current students and alums at UTSA were on my nice list every year," Claus said. "So I started doing some research about the university. I was excited by what I found."

Claus had always pondered going back to school, but worried that at age 1,746 he might not fit in with the student population. He was happy to discover that UTSA's campus is diverse, welcoming and open to anyone seeking a top-tier education. He enrolled to earn his master's degree in mechanical engineering.

"The faculty was so incredibly helpful. I was very moved by the way the UTSA community works together to make sure everyone succeeds," he said. "Needless to say, I sleigh'd every one of my courses."

Claus graduated from UTSA in 1998 and has since used his degree to revolutionize his toy shop, which he calls the NPB (that's the North Pole Building). He still looks back on his time at UTSA fondly, and tries to visit at least once a year, though his schedule is often hectic.

"I thought visiting every house in the world in a single night would be hard, before I tried balancing my work as Father Christmas with my Ho-Ho-Homework!"

-- Joanna Carver and Mal Rodriguez

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Do you know a Roadrunner who is achieving great things? Email us at social@utsa.edu so that we may consider your suggestion for our next installment of Meet a Roadrunner.

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