Celebrate with us!

A message from the Chancellor

For 50 years, San Jacinto College has been serving the citizens and communities of East Harris County. In the fall of 2011 the College community will celebrate the remarkable journey that has brought us to where we are today – a leader in educational excellence in our region. Our anniversary theme, “Reaching for Tomorrow,” embodies everything we stand for here at San Jacinto College. We empower our students to achieve their goals and explore new opportunities as they reach for their own personal tomorrow.

In 1960, voters approved the creation of the East Harris County Union Junior College, and our college was born. We first opened our doors on Sept. 18, 1961, with an initial enrollment of 700 students that soon grew to 876. Look how far we’ve come in 50 years! Today, we serve more than 29,000 students in over 140 disciplines, and we continue to grow every year.

As we celebrate 50 years of achievement, we recognize that the faces at our College have changed, our campuses themselves have transformed, and even our name has undergone a transformation. But our passion for helping students succeed has never wavered. Although so much has changed, we have not lost our foundation vision of helping students in East Harris County to achieve their dreams, passions, and goals. We also recognize and thank the many individuals who, for 50 years, have dedicated their time, money, and energy into making San Jacinto College the strong institution that it is today.

Our yearlong celebration will begin with San Jacinto College Day on Monday, Sept. 19. I invite you to get involved and join us in the many activities we have planned throughout the year. I also encourage you to share your San Jac story. Since our founding, San Jacinto College has been a pillar in our community, and we look forward to sharing our 50^th anniversary celebration with you.

Here’s to another 50 years and more of serving our communities.

Brenda Hellyer, Ed.D.

Chancellor