‘Rising star’ to be speaker at SFCC

San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro will be the keynote speaker for this year’s commencement ceremony at Santa Fe Community College, which will be held 5 p.m. May 22 in the William C. Witter Fitness Education Center on the campus, 6401 Richards Ave.

“We’re very pleased to have such a rising star inspire our graduates this year,” said SFCC President Ana M. “Cha” Guzmán, in a news release.

A 38-year-old San Antonio native, Castro is the youngest mayor of a Top 50 American city. First elected in 2009, he won re-election in 2011 with nearly 82 percent of the vote. Under his leadership, the city opened Café College, a one-stop center offering guidance on college admissions, financial aid and standardized test preparation.

In 2010, Castro was named to the World Economic Forum’s list of Young Global Leaders and Time magazine placed him on its “40 under 40” list of rising stars in American politics. He serves on the board of directors of the National League of Cities, is a member of the InterAmerican Dialogue and is an Aspen-Rodel Fellow.

The Student Government Association president, Alex Martinez, will give the student address.

The college will give priority in the fitness center parking lot to those who need disability access and provide a free shuttle bus service from outlying parking lots for other guests.