A Professor's Legacy Lives On Through Student Achievement

October 19, 2026 - 18:00

As he reflects on a teaching career that spanned more than two decades at South Texas College, Professor Emeritus Gilberto Reyes said some of the most meaningful moments came when students discovered they could succeed in careers they once believed were out of reach.

Reyes spent years guiding students through challenging coursework and watching them grow into professionals. For him, the reward was never about awards or recognition. It was about seeing former students thrive in fields they had once considered impossible to enter.

He recalled how many students arrived with doubts about their abilities, often carrying the weight of being the first in their families to attend college. Over time, those doubts gave way to confidence as they mastered material and found their footing.

Reyes said the legacy of a teacher is not measured in years served but in the lives changed. Former students now working in health care, engineering, and education credit him with pushing them past self-imposed limits.

Even in retirement, Reyes stays connected to the college community and follows the progress of those he mentored. He believes their success carries his work forward, long after his last day in the classroom.