Former SGA President reflects on his year guiding the UTSA student body

Andrew Hubbard highlights the progress at UTSA as we move forward.

(April 6, 2017) -- A year ago, I rose my right hand alongside my fellow student government officers and swore to represent and lead the students of UTSA as their student body president. Needless to say, a lot has happened since then. I'd like to walk you through some of the defining moments of the Student Government Association (SGA) and the UTSA student body.

The year started out with a statement of solidarity. In order to honor the lives of those lost in Orlando, Florida, I requested the lighting of our Monuments in rainbow colors. UTSA received many thanks, especially from members of the LGBTQ community, for working to create an inclusive and compassionate campus in that difficult time.

Over the last year, student government took an active role in the national elections. SGA collaborated with other departments and organizations on campus reaching more than 1,000 students who registered to vote in Bexar County, 11,000 individuals who voted early on campus, and more than 300 students who watched the election unfold during a watch party. I am proud to say that civic engagement was a high note last semester.

Once things with the election winded down, SGA began to focus all our energy on remembering those Roadrunners who have passed. The Roadrunner Memorial Garden is often considered one of SGA's defining projects of this year. While this might be true, it was much bigger than only SGA. Many staff, students, families, alumni and community members supported this project. This contributed to the project far surpassing the fundraising goal. The garden plans to open later this year.

Football was a huge highpoint this year as we became bowl eligible for the first time ever. All I can say to encapsulate my excitement on this is that all hands were on deck!

This semester, student government and the UTSA Office of Government Relations took more than 70 students, staff and alumni to the State Capitol. This is the largest number of students we have ever taken to tell our story to our legislatures. Our students were extremely effective in talking about special items and the impact that UTSA has on our statewide community.

I would be remised if I didn't mention what an honor it has been to work alongside Interim President Dr. Pedro Reyes as he has been instrumental in leading our university forward. I am incredibly grateful to him for coming to our campus on a moment's notice to share his leadership and experience as we move forward and await an announcement of a new university president from the UT Board of Regents.

Very soon, a new group of student leaders will take that same oath that my team and I took a year ago, and I can say with complete sincerity that I am incredibly excited for them. We as an institution are on a great trajectory and we have a bright future. I plan to be an active and supportive alum after I graduate this summer.

With that, it has been an honor to serve you, the UTSA community for one incredibly meaningful year of my life. Birds up, and Go 'Runners!

- Andrew Hubbard

-------------------------------

Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Events

Thursday, May 15, 6:00 p.m.

Doctoral Conferral Ceremony

Join the doctoral candidates for the Doctoral Conferreal Ceremony and celebrate their accomplishments.

Arts Building Recital Hall, Main Campus

Sunday, May 18, 10:00 a.m.

UTSA Commencement Ceremony One

Celebrate the graduates from the Carlos Alvarez College of Business, College of Education and Human Development, Margie and Bill Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design and University College.

Alamodome

Sunday, May 18, 5:30 p.m.

UTSA Commencement Ceremony Two

Celebrate the graduates from the College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Liberal and Fine Arts and College of Sciences.

Alamodome

Submit an Event

Spotlight

UTSA’s Mission

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.

UTSA’s Vision

To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.

UTSA’s Core Values

We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.

UTSA’S Destinations

UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .

Our Commitment to Inclusivity

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.