SPC Family Wins Big at 2018 Fatherhood Jubilee

THE PATHWAY OF SUCCESSFUL FATHERHOOD, CELEBRATED WITHIN THE FAMILY: FOUR ST. PHILIP'S COLLEGE STUDENTS ELEVATE ONE OF THEIR OWN TO THE ULTIMATE AWARD AT SAN ANTONIO'S PREMIER FATHER'S DAY SEASON-INSPIRED AWARDS DINNER, THE 2018 FATHERHOOD JUBILEE

One San Antonio family of 10 found a unique Father's Day gift for their hard working college student dad this year. With assistance from four St. Philip's College students in this family, a fifth St. Philip's college student who is also a family member earned the ultimate award at San Antonio's premier Father's Day season-inspired awards dinner---the 2018 Fatherhood Jubilee.

The 2018 award recipient is St. Philip's College associate in liberal arts pathway student Walter E. Perry, Sr., transitioning from student status to alumni status this month. Four of the nominators for the award are Perry's family members: spouse Alicia Perry, a business operator and second-year St. Philip's College student of sociology who is also a new student success specialist on the college's admissions and records office team, and Tre'Von Chaney, Jaden White and Amirah Perry. Cheney is a high school junior and White and Perry both high school sophomores pursuing the associate in liberal arts pathway at the St. Philip's College Early College High School with San Antonio Independent School District, located on the St. Philip's College campus where all five members of the Perry family study at 1801 Martin Luther King Drive in the City's Denver Heights neighborhood. 

The jubilee awards are a moment for San Antonio to celebrate the success of fathers---of all ethnicities---making a difference in their families and communities, and the college also hosted this popular event in both 2016 and 2017. Nomination for a fatherhood award is traditionally regarded as a great Father's Day present for both the married and single fathers who are awarded. The series is a part of an initiative by the professional development organization 100 Black Men of San Antonio, Inc. to strengthen families by honoring those males who are heads of their diverse households. The awards dinner celebrates the journeys of all exceptional fathers. Guests hear the stories of finalists in a bevy of fatherhood categories. 

But often the stories of such family members as the Perry family at St. Philip's College are as enlightening as the stories of the fathers of the households. 

For 2018, the college achieved a first when one of the jubilee award recipients was an outstanding student who was nominated by both their children and their spouse---a spouse who is both an employee at the college and a current student projected to graduate in December. While the award nominees are informed in advance, they find out the results when their names are announced at the jubilee, resulting in one of life's well-deserved, albeit suspenseful Father's Day surprises for both recipient and nominators.

A bevy of news reports on Perry focus on him in his capacity as a rising entrepreneur scaling up and diversifying his successful mission of giving back by innovatively educating youth on the basic principles of business hygiene, etiquette and fashion. Perry graduated from St. Philip's College May 11, and is concurrently studying in the undergraduate business program at Texas A&M-San Antonio while working at the Census Bureau. But receiving an award for giving back to society as a father---one of the greatest responsibilities---is a notable first for an up-and-coming San Antonian who is well-regarded---and formally nominated by almost half of his family. It's also a look into the many meanings of fatherhood celebrated nationwide during the month of June.

Alicia Perry was the head nominator for this Perry family project.

"The highest honor," Perry recalled with a modest smile. "Resources are limited in this area. Options are few. We are both from challenging family circumstances and we had to work together to have a unified family where our children are taught that success comes with hard work. When this award came on my radar, and I knew how tremendously my husband had stepped up to allow so many of us to all go to college together at once, I had to tell somebody," Perry explained. "What they have seen of him, combined with his nominations… the highest honor," said Perry.

For details on partnering with or supporting the Fatherhood Jubilee project, contact the 100 Black Men of San Antonio, Inc. team through its web page. To partner with or support the Suit Up mission, communicate with Perry through his organization's Facebook page. To read more about Perry's project, visit  The Awesome Foundation web page, and the Eastside Promise web page. For more on the program, view the June 8 KENS Eyewitness News 4:30 a.m. and 10 p.m. reports by photojournalist Alan Cosla.

CAPTION : An image from largest-ever St. Philip's College commencement ceremony May 11 in Freeman Coliseum is a reminder of how one San Antonio family of 10 found a unique Father's Day gift for their hard working college student dad this year. With assistance from four St. Philip's College students in this family, a fifth St. Philip's college student who is also a family member earned the ultimate award at San Antonio's premier Father's Day season-inspired awards dinner---the 2018 Fatherhood Jubilee. The award recipient is the 2018 college alumnus pictured when he was a student last month: Walter E. Perry, Sr. (SPC image by Julysa Sosa)