ALUMNI NOTES
What We’ve Learned And now south Austin, particularly close to campus, has seen a radical change [toward trendiness] since the early 1970s.
Distinguished Alumnus Award: Joaquin “Kinny” G. Cigarroa III ’74 When Kinny Cigarroa graduated from St. Edward’s with a degree in History, he wasn’t sure what to do next. A mentor in Laredo referred him to the president of the Laredo National Bank, and the next day, Cigarroa went to work counting bills and wrapping coins in the bank vault. By 1985, he’d become a vice president at the bank, and by 1992, he was the COO. Today he is director and executive vice president of Texas Community Bank. For the past three years, he has hosted presidential receptions for alumni and prospective students, helping spread the word about St. Edward’s to a new generation in Laredo. My dad went to St. Edward’s in the early 1940s. Austin in the early 1970s was a bit more of a rebel town than when my dad went
Brother William Dunn, CSC, was a great guy. In my first class at St. Edward’s in 1971, he went through the syllabus and then assigned reading to be discussed at the next class meeting. I showed up to class next time and sat in the back. He lectured for maybe 15 minutes and then started calling on students. My luck was that he picked me first, and I hadn’t read a thing. After about 40 seconds he asked to see me after class. When that time came, he said, “Look, young man, you’ve got to be prepared and responsible for your actions. You’ve got to be accountable.” So from that point forward I’d read up for all of my classes, and I was ready. That experience was a valuable lesson learned. I think the quality of life in Laredo is the best in the United States. The people here are very hardworking, industrious and friendly. There’s no violence on this side of the border. When I was growing up here, both Laredo and Nuevo Laredo, on the Mexico side, were a lot smaller. But we viewed them as one city that was separated by a narrow river. We would spend a lot of time in Nuevo Laredo, and the kids from Nuevo Laredo would spend a lot of time over here. We’d cross the bridge two or three times a day. About 10 years ago that changed, and Nuevo Laredo became a very violent city. It’s getting much better now with the change in the Mexican presidency about a year and a half ago. We see businesses in Nuevo Laredo that closed three or four years ago are now reopening. The pace is slow, but we sense that things are improving every day.
Three distinguished graduates who received alumni association awards this year share their wisdom with us. Interviewed by Robyn Ross I play in a bridge group. Unfortunately, there are fewer and fewer bridge players nowadays, but it’s a great game. It can be rough-and-tumble, too. You’re very cordial, you sip coffee and tea, and you engage in niceties all around. Once you deal the cards, however, friendship is cast aside, and each person is for him or herself!
Alumni Achievement Award: Matt Abbott ’03 Matt Abbott is the CEO of Wayside Schools, a college prep public charter school district in Austin serving pre-K to 11th-grade students (12th grade will be added in 2015). With a background in business, public policy and teaching, he was tapped to lead Wayside’s expansion from 240 students on one campus to 2,500 on multiple campuses. So far, the schools have expanded to serve 1,100 students while maintaining their signature academic quality and parental involvement.
BIRTHS To Georgeanne Spaulding ’01 and Lt. Col. Ryan Fayrweather, a son, Vincent James, on June 25, 2013
32
To Jessica Attie ’04 and Peter Stafford ’04, a daughter, Stella Rose, on Aug. 7, 2013
To Alicia Robertson MSOLE ’06 and Travis Robertson, a daughter, Lilian Rose, on March 8, 2013
To Jennifer Hollas McGee ’07 and Michael McGee ’07, a son, Michael Adam, on June 24, 2013
ST. EDWARD’S UNIVERSITY
7310 SEU.indd 32
5/15/14 6:46 AM