Changing lives: San Jac rises to the challenge

Rise. This word can mean many things — from moving upward and coming into being to exerting yourself to meet a challenge.

At San Jacinto College, it also describes what happens every day here. The College helps students rise above challenges to pursue a better future for themselves and their families.

At San Jac, an in-district high school graduate can earn a degree debt-free. A single mother can take online classes that fit around her kids and job. And a 75-year-old can pursue leisure learning for personal growth. Whatever their age or stage, students start here to create the future they want.

In her 2024 State of the College address, Chancellor Dr. Brenda Hellyer focused on RISE — the Resilience, Innovation, Support, and Excellence that define this institution.

“At San Jacinto College, we rise to meet the needs of our students and community so that our region remains economically strong and our students are prepared for their next steps after graduation,” Hellyer said during her presentation. “Our impact is seen and felt throughout this institution, our local communities, the region, and the state.”

Read about some of the ways San Jac creates a brighter, stronger community:

Resilience

Challenger Game: In March 2024, the San Jac Ravens baseball team hosted the fourth annual Challenger game day at the North Campus. As part of the national Little League Challenger Program, the local Challenger Division allows children and youth with physical and mental challenges to enjoy baseball.

Alumnus Success: While enrolling at San Jac might have been a small step for some, it was a giant leap for Kevin Rodriguez in 2014. In several classes, he scraped by without textbooks, unable to afford them. Juggling work, family, and full-time classes felt like an “uphill battle.” The turning point came after he received several San Jacinto College Foundation scholarships.

In January 2024, Rodriguez joined San Jac’s new biomanufacturing technology program as an instructor. Once a struggling student, now he trains students to manufacture life-saving therapies and drugs.

Innovation

Pandora Spectrometer: San Jac is leaping into global climate analysis after becoming a NASA-approved site for the Pandora Spectrometer. Housed on the South Campus Science and Allied Health Building roof, this autonomous device allows students to research and help calibrate NASA's satellite data. Pandora uses spectroscopy to study ultraviolet and visible wavelengths of light and measures total column profiles of trace gases in the atmosphere.

Lunar Landing: In February 2024, San Jac students and alumni made history by working on Odysseus, the first commercial spacecraft to land on the moon Feb. 22. Intuitive Machines’ IM-1 lunar lander is also the first U.S.-built craft to touch down on the moon since NASA's final Apollo mission in 1972. San Jac’s EDGE Center and Intuitive Machines partner to give students the skills and experience to stand out in today's job market.

Support

See to Succeed: Each spring, San Jac’s eye care technology and nursing students team with eye care professionals to provide Pasadena Independent School District students with free eye screenings, exams, and glasses fittings during the weeklong See to Succeed event. In 2024, more than 1,300 K-12 students participated, with 97% receiving glasses.

Veteran Resources: San Jac honors veterans and shares helpful resources during its annual Veteran and Military Affiliate Resource Fair open to the community each November. The half-day fair includes a veteran scholarship presentation, booths, workshops, lunch, an industry panel, and more.

Excellence

Maritime Center of Excellence: Equipping students for seafaring success, the Maritime Campus earned the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration’s 2024 Center of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education. San Jac is the only Texas institution designated among 50 maritime training locations across 17 states and Guam. 

Aspen Prize Finalist: San Jac numbers among 10 finalists competing for the 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence to be awarded this April. The $1 million award is the nation's signature recognition of community colleges with high student success, strong support, and equitable outcomes. San Jac has placed as a top 10 finalist in each of Aspen’s last five award cycles.

Learn more about San Jac's community impact