January 7, 2011
For Chris Martinez (B.A. ’00), help is not just a four-letter word. It’s a way of life. Martinez learned early the significance of helping others. Even now, in his new role as president of the St. Mary’s University Alumni Association, he’s eager to get to work.
As a graduate of Central Catholic High School, Chris says, “It’s a Marianist high school, and service hours are mandatory, but I believe it’s important, so I always did more than I was supposed to.” He credits Brother Herbert Janson, S.M., as a key influence.
While a student at St. Mary’s, Chris was an officer in Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and was recognized as Highest Fraternal Greek for his achievements in education, community service and spiritual growth. He also was instrumental in coordinating an annual golf tournament in which students would hit the links with area business leaders, which often led to job offers after graduation; all this while serving in the Career Services Center as a college work-study. “Current students should know that the sky’s the limit, that there’s no cap on their potential or on what they can do,” Chris says. His hope is that many more St. Mary’s alumni will help spread that message and support current students in the same way he and countless others were supported as students.
“To get there,” Martinez says, “alumni involvement is critical.” And that’s a goal he’s set as Association president. “I believe as an alumnus, my role is to invest of my time, talent and treasure to ensure that current and future students have as good of an experience, or better, than I did. We can all do that by getting back in touch with our alma mater, reconnecting with one another, and supporting the programs and Marianist values that helped shape and mold us.”
In addition to being a husband and a dad, Chris is busy making things happen throughout San Antonio. He is a member of the Board of Trustees for Central Catholic High School and the City of San Antonio Zoning Commission, and co-chairs the commercialization committee of the St. Mary’s University Neighborhood Revitalization Task Force.
Chris says his motivation comes from the fact that help has to come from somewhere. “If it’s not from you or me, who is it going to be?”