Spartans Gather at San Jose City Hall for Alumni Reception
Photo by Brandon Chew
City Manager David Sykes with SJSU President Mary A. Papazian and San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo (Photo by Brandon Chew).
On Thursday, April 4, San Jose State alumni gathered at San Jose’s City Hall for an inaugural alumni reception for SJSU graduates who work for the city of San Jose. Organized by SJSU alumnus and City Manager David Sykes and the San Jose State Alumni Association, the event brought together Spartans to emphasize the strong partnership between the city and the university.
“This is a great way to network and get to know our Spartan neighbors,” said Sykes, ’91 BS, ’95 MS, Civil Engineering. “As I reflect back on my SJSU experience, I gained a very practical education there that made me extremely competitive in the work environment. I’ll always be personally grateful to the university for that education that’s helped me in my success.”
More than 600 city employees have degrees from San Jose State. These employees come from a variety of disciplines, including transportation, engineering, public administration and political science.
“You came here to the city of San Jose to embark on your careers in practical and meaningful ways,” said SJSU President Mary Papazian. “We all share a vision of what San Jose and the broader Silicon Valley region can be. We are all bearing witness to the continued transformation of both San Jose State and the city of San Jose. The relationship between the two grows stronger each day.”
The event took place in the rotunda at City Hall. The first 150 attendees received special pennants celebrating the partnership between the city and the university.