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4 Houston Chronicle Custom Advertising Section Opportunity News Sunday February 7, 2021sanjac.eduWILLIAMS SELECTED AS REGION 24 REPRESENTATIVEFOR NJCAA STUDENT-ATHLETE COUNCILBy Melissa TrevizoSAN JACINTO COLLEGESan Jacinto College student-athleteJordan Williams has been selected to siton the inaugural National Junior CollegeAthletic Association (NJCAA) StudentAthlete Council (SAC).The council provides student-athleteswith tools for involvement in theassociation and aims to provide studentathletes from all 24 NJCAA regions theopportunity to engage and grow at thePhoto courtesy of George Noblesnational level while attending theirtwo-year institution.“Jordan is a young man who isvery personable and outgoing,” saidTom Arrington, San Jacinto Collegehead baseball coach. “I nominatedJordan for this position because hehas demonstrated professionalism,sportsmanship and determination,while also displaying values of loyalty,integrity and selfless devotion.”Williams, originally from Odessa,Fla., majors in computer science and isenrolled in the honors program at SanJacinto College.Members of SAC represent a widerange of community college sports,including volleyball, bowling, softball,golf, track and field, soccer, andbasketball. Williams, an outfielder forthe San Jacinto College Gators baseballteam, attended his first council meetingin November 2020 via Zoom.“At our first meeting it was madeclear that the NJCAA is interested inan open line of communication with allof the student-athletes,” Williams said.“We discussed mental health issues andany thoughts we had about the lives ofstudent-athletes.”The first meeting discussed the overallgoals of the council, an overview ofthe NJCAA governance structure, theimpact of SAC, the NJCAA StudentAthlete Welfare and Safety Council’sinvolvement, as well as what meetingswill look like moving forward.Looking ahead, SAC will hold fivemeetings this semester with severalpresenters and guest speakers. Meetingattendees will discuss current SACprograms across NJCAA regions, go overrelevant standings in the association,bring forward any concerns orquestions, and hear from leaders withinthe association.“I’m looking forward to learning moreabout the council and attending moremeetings,” Williams said. “It’s definitelyan honor to represent our region and allof the student-athletes.”JordanJordan WilliamsPhoto by Melissa Trevizo, San Jacinto CollegeFOUNDATION RAISES 1.3 MILLION FOR STUDENT NEEDSBy Andrea VasquezSAN JACINTO COLLEGEWith 2020 being one of the mostchallenging years for students, the SanJacinto College Foundation’s fundraisingefforts centered around student needsand raised approximately 1.3 milliontoward emergency funding and studentsuccess for the year.“We know that finances are oftenthe one barrier that keeps studentsfrom pursuing their dream of a highereducation credential, and because ofyour donations, our students are ableto stay on their path toward earningtheir certificate or degree,” said TomWatson, San Jacinto College Foundationboard chair. “When you give to theFoundation, you’re actually not onlygiving to the students’ success, you’realso giving to the community’s success.”One of the highlights of theFoundation’s 2020 efforts was thesuccess of its Gala with a Twist, whichraised 360,508. Due to the virtualgala concept, 100 percent of proceedsbenefitted emergency student needsfor tuition, books, food, clothing,transportation, child care, and more.The campus food markets, coat closets,and other on-campus student resourcesalso benefitted from the gala funds.In addition to the funds raised byPhoto courtesy of San Jacinto Collegethe Gala with a Twist, the Foundationalso approved 200,000 in emergencyfunding in March to assist studentswith 250 scholarships during theCOVID-19 crisis. Nearly 1,200 studentsreceived emergency aid.Rounding out the year was theFoundation’s Giving Tuesday campaign,which raised 8,640. Widely knownas a global day of giving back, GivingTuesday originally began in 2012 as thefirst Tuesday after Thanksgiving, withthe idea of encouraging people to dogood. Since then, it has grown into aglobal movement that inspires millionsof people to give, collaborate, andcelebrate generosity. Proceeds from theFoundation’s Giving Tuesday campaignwill benefit the Harris County Promiseprogram at San Jac. In partnershipwith Pasadena ISD and Good ReasonHouston, the Harris County Promiseprogram at San Jac provides up to threeyears of free tuition and additionalsupport to high school graduates fromDobie High School, Sam Rayburn HighSchool, and South Houston High Schoolwho take the Promise Pledge to becomePromise Scholars.“The San Jacinto College Foundationhelps our students by shouldering someof the financial burden that comes withpursuing higher education,” said SanJacinto College Chancellor Dr. BrendaHellyer. “Each year, our generousdonors change the course of so manystudents’ lives. While the scholarshipsand emergency funding they providemean less stress for our students,the support also motivates them topersevere. Thanks to you, our studentsare achieving their educational andcareer goals.”For more information on giving tothe San Jacinto College Foundation,visit sanjac.edu/foundation/giving.

Sunday February 7, 2021 Opportunity News Houston Chronicle Custom Advertising Section 5sanjac.eduSAN JACINTO COLLEGE DANCEHOSTS DRIVE-IN CONCERTBy Melissa TrevizoSAN JACINTO COLLEGEThe San Jacinto College DanceProgram hosts a concert each semesterto highlight the choreographyof students enrolled in its danceperformance class. This year, due toCOVID-19, the concert was movedoutdoors to feature its first drive-inconcert, 2Dimension.“Patrons were able to drive up, stayinside their cars, and play the soundthrough their car speakers, just likea regular drive-in movie,” said JamieWilliams, dance program coordinator.“This was a great opportunity toget creative and showcase ourstudent choreographers.”The original course, danceperformance, was transformed this yearto dance and technology. Students hadto direct, choreograph, and film theirPhoto by Melissa Trevizo, San Jacinto Collegeassignments throughout the semester,culminating in their final projects,which were projected on screen for thedrive-in audience.“The students essentially learned allthe skills they needed to create theirown dance films,” said Williams. “Theylearned improvisation and choreography,how to film movement, how to edit theirfootage, create their own films, and casteach other in their works.”The concert featured works by fivestudent choreographers, includingAnna-Maria Gutierrez.“I know the circumstances weren’tideal, but I’m so glad we were able tolearn the filming and editing skills thissemester,” said Gutierrez. “I will be ableto take that with me and produce myown dance films in the future.”Though the concert was free, to keepthe crowd size manageable and meetwith COVID-19 restrictions, patrons hadto pre-register and fill out San JacintoCollege’s pre-screening form beforeentering the campus. At the event,movie-goers were greeted by dance andtheatre students to check in and getdirections for parking to remainsocially distanced.“Even though everyone was insidetheir cars, we made sure to spaceeveryone out just in case someoneneeded to step outside,” said Williams.“COVID-19 has made this event andthe entire semester challenging, butI’m glad we were able to make theconcert happen.”Photo by Melissa Trevizo, San Jacinto CollegePhoto by Melissa Trevizo, San Jacinto CollegeAnna-Maria Gutierrez checks in a patron for the San Jacinto College Dance Program's drive-inconcert, 2Dimension.S AN J AC HAP P ENIN GSDATE EVENTTIMESITEFeb. 8FAFSA Days and Nights workshop10 a.m.-12 p.m. & 2-4 p.m.Online; Email finaid@sjcd.edu for Zoom linkFeb. 9CPD Texans Recovering Together: Self-Care12-1 p.m.Online: Register at community.engagement@sjcd.eduFeb. 10CPD Career Info Session: Advanced Manufacturing2-3 p.m.Online: Register at community.engagement@sjcd.eduFeb. 11College Community Day InserviceCollege closedAll campuses and online classesFeb. 15FAFSA Days and Nights workshop10 a.m.-12 p.m. & 2-4 p.m.Online; Email finaid@sjcd.edu for Zoom linkFeb. 16CPD Conversational Spanish12-1 p.m.Online: Register at community.engagement@sjcd.eduFeb. 18CPD Your Health Matters: Understand and Prevent Cancer12-1 p.m.Online: Register at community.engagement@sjcd.eduFeb. 19Maritime Information Session10 a.m.Online; Register at trationFeb. 22FAFSA Days and Nights workshop10 a.m.-12 p.m. & 2-4 p.m.Online; Email finaid@sjcd.edu for Zoom linkFeb. 23-25Health Science ExpoVariousOnline; Register at sanjac.edu/hcexpoAll times and event schedules listed are subject to change. For more information, visit sanjac.edu.

6 Houston Chronicle Custom Advertising Section Opportunity News Sunday February 7, 2021sanjac.eduTHIS MONTH IN SOCIAL MEDIA213547sanjac.edu 281-998-6150An Equal Opportunity Institution6812345678Graduate Alba shared this photo as shecelebrated her last San Jac class.Graduate Sarah gave thanks for her newdegree with this Facebook post.Kirksey Architecture posted thisbehind-the-scenes photo of the newmass timber building.INEOS manager Stacy attended anaward event on Central Campus honoringworkforce leaders.Combination welding student Sharonuploaded this selfie from her first semesterin the program.Student Nurse Association member Alexashared her holiday food drive donations forlocal seniors.Baseball dad Mike repped his son’s almamaters with this branded cornhole set.San Jacinto College Emergency Managementgave this shoutout to our on-campusCOVID heroes.

Sunday February 7, 2021 Opportunity News Houston Chronicle Custom Advertising Section 7sanjac.eduRhys GRiffin: The liTTle idea ThaT couldBy Courtney MorrisSAN JACINTO COLLEGEWhen Rhys Griffin was inintermediate school, he had a dream.Walking through Barnes & Noble, hespied a book cover with a little greentrain named Tucker plowing througha blizzard.When Griffin woke up, he grabbedhis idea journal.“I wrote the idea down, drew thecharacter, and saved it so I could put itto future use,” he said.Fourteen years later, the San JacintoCollege alumnus has brought the littleengine to life in his children’s storybook“Tucker and the Christmas Train.”One-track mindTrains have fascinated Griffin hisentire life. Long after his peers hadmoved on to other interests, he stillenjoyed watching “Thomasand Friends.”“I wanted to learn more about trains,see how they worked,” he said. “Myinterest grew from there.”Griffin also connects the fascinationto his being on the autism spectrumand having attention deficit disorder.Growing up, he struggled making friendsand daydreamed during classes.“It was very hard for me to be socialas a kid,” he said. “My interest inThomas — it stuck with me longer thanit would have with most kids.”Griffin faced his share of bullies inschool, so it’s no surprise he turnedto his idea journal. He often recordedideas, from movie and book plots tovideo games. Even before college, hedreamed of filmmaking and voice acting.“One thing I loved as a kid was tellingstories,” he said. “I personally thinkfilm is the best way to do that. Watchinga story on the big screen is anamazing experience.”Ticket to new destinationsAs Griffin entered his teen years, hisinterests moved beyond trains.In 2012, he enrolled at San JacintoCollege for a general studies degree.With his interests expanding to“Transformers,” “Supernatural,” and“Sons of Anarchy,” he found more todiscuss with new peers.“People were a lot more mature,laid-back, cool,” he said. “I was able totalk to people about more things. It justbecame an easier experience for me onceI reached college.”Elective video courses strengthenedhis dream of a filmmaking career. Afterearning his associate degree at San Jac,Griffin completed a bachelor’s degreein communication.Today he builds his portfolio throughcontract work and voiceovers forSpectrum Fusion Media, a team of adultswith autism who provide creative mediafor corporations like Johnson & Johnson.Locomotive comes to lifeIn 2019, Tucker reentered the picture.Griffin decided to spin a tale for guestsat an upcoming Spectrum FusionChristmas party.Remembering Tucker, he finallypenned the story about the little enginepulling Christmas cargo through ablizzard. At the party, he sat down witha poster-sized sketch of the train andshared the story for the first time.“The people loved it so much thatthey wanted it to become a book,”he said.Inspired, Griffin worked withSpectrum Fusion founder Heidi Hamand editors to revise the story forchildren. He laughs that he had to scaleback on his train expertise.“I had to make it more accessible —not so much train fan knowledge,”he said.Ham connected him to New Yorkillustrator Liz Pritchard, who is also onthe autism spectrum. They emailed her arough drawing of Tucker for inspiration,and within minutes, she had emailedback a sketch that is now the book’scover image.By November 2020, Griffin had allPritchard’s illustrations in hand andsent the formatted pages to aself-publishing company.Danger on the railsAlthough Tucker draws inspirationfrom Thomas the Train, “The PolarExpress,” and “The Little EngineThat Could,” he could representGriffin himself.Tucker dreams of hauling largerailway cars filled with holiday supplieslike yule logs and hot cocoa to the NorthPole. When the little steam engine getsa chance to pull the cars through ablizzard, he must overcome his fearof crashing.“Something that people on the autismspectrum have is fear of failure,” Griffinsaid. “In the book, another train crashes.Tucker witnesses that and thinks, ‘Oh,no! What’s going to happen to me if I gothrough a blizzard?’”Griffin relates this to his own fear offire. As a boy, he hurt his finger aftersticking it in a candle flame.“Working with Spectrum Fusion, Iwas able to learn how to handle fires,how to light candles safely,” he said.“I’m still working on my own fears.”Full steam aheadPublished in December 2020,“Tucker and the Christmas Train”sold as a hardcover on the SpectrumFusion website.“It feels like I accomplishedsomething really big,” Griffin said. “It’soverwhelming but exciting — the factthat something you made is being sharedaround town and other places, too.”He has also completed a secondchildren’s book, “The Hungry Lady andthe Bear,” coming out in early 2021.But Griffin has bigger dreams: directingfilms. Like “The Little Engine ThatCould,” he steams ahead with the motto,“I think I can.”“Even if people criticize you, don’t letthat get you down,” he said. “Use that asmotivation. Prove the naysayers wrongand listen to your supporters.”Photo courtesy of Rhys GriffinRhys Griffin thanks illustrator Liz Pritchard and Spectrum Fusion for helping him share his craftwith the world.

8 Houston Chronicle Custom Advertising Section Opportunity News Sunday February 7, 2021sanjac.eduYOUR GOALS. YOUR COLLEGE.VISION & MISSIONVision — San Jacinto College will advance thesocial and economic mobility of all membersof our community. We will be known forour excellence in teaching and learning, ourintentional student-centered support, and ourcommitment to every student. We will be thepreferred workforce and economic developmentpartner in the region and a champion forlifelong learning. San Jacinto College will inspirestudents to explore opportunities, define theireducational and career paths, and achieve theirgoals and dreams.Mission — San Jacinto College is focused onstudent success, academic progress, universitytransfer, and employment. We are committed toopportunities that enrich the quality of life inthe communities we serve.NORTH CAMPUSSUPPORT STUDENTSUCCESS5800 Uvalde Rd., Houston, TX 77049CENTRAL CAMPUS8060 Spencer Hwy., Pasadena, TX 77505SOUTH CAMPUS13735 Beamer Rd., Houston, TX 77089MARITIME CAMPUS3700 Old Hwy. 146, La Porte, TX 77571GENERATION PARK CAMPUS13455 Lockwood Rd., Houston, TX 77044ONLINEsanjac.eduJOIN SAN JACINTO COLLEGEIN ACHIEVING EXCELLENCE INHIGHER EDUCATION.FIND YOUR NEXT CAREER ATWWW.SANJAC.EDU 281-998-6150Connect with us onAn Equal Opportunity InstitutionCOMMUNITYIMPACTA gift to the San Jacinto College Foundationtransforms lives, enriches our community, andprovides tomorrow’s community leaders. Formore than 20 years, the Foundation has helpedthousands of students reach their goals. Ourformer students and graduates have filled vitalroles in hospitals, classrooms, executive offices,manufacturing plants, and laboratories acrossour region and beyond. They have also won theWorld Series and NBA championships, starredin major motion pictures, and created majortheatrical productions. Help our students todaywith the gift of education. Contact the SanJacinto College Foundation at 281-998-6104 orvisit sanjac.edu/foundation.Surrounded by monuments of history, evolvingindustries, maritime enterprises of today,and the space age of tomorrow, San JacintoCollege has served the citizens of East HarrisCounty, Texas, since 1961. San Jacinto Collegeis among the top 10 community colleges in thenation as designated by the Aspen Institutefor Community College Excellence and wasnamed an Achieving the Dream Leader Collegeof Distinction in 2020. The College servesapproximately 45,000 credit and non-creditstudents annually and offers more than200 degrees and certificates across eight majorareas of study that put students on a path totransfer to four-year institutions or enter theworkforce. San Jacinto College’s impact onthe region totals 1.3 billion in added income,which supports 13,044 jobs. The College isfiscally sound, holding bond ratings of AA andAa2 by Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s.

SAN JACINTO COLLEGE Interested in a health care career? San Jacinto College can help you get there. The College will hold a free virtual health care expo Feb. 23-25 via Zoom. The three-day event will showcase almost 20 San Jac health science programs that can connect you to a rewarding career in an essential field. To attend, register by Friday .