The University of Texas at San Antonio unveiled a bronze statue Friday in memory of Carlos Alvarez, one of the university’s most transformative philanthropic supporters.
The statue is the first to honor a donor across UT San Antonio’s campuses.
It was unveiled during a ceremony attended by members of the Alvarez family, university leadership, donors, Alvarez College of Business students and the campus community.
“This beautiful statue of Carlos Alvarez will stand forever as a testament to opportunity, generosity and the power of education to transform lives,” said President Taylor Eighmy. “It will say to all students who pass by now and forever that all things are possible.”
The life-size statue was created by renowned Laredo-based artist Armando Hinojosa, known for numerous major pieces of sculpture, including the Tejano Monument on the south lawn of the Texas State Capitol in Austin, unveiled in 2012.
“This beautiful statue of Carlos Alvarez will stand forever as a testament to opportunity, generosity and the power of education to transform lives.” — Taylor Eighmy
The Alvarez statue was funded by longtime UT San Antonio supporter Harvey Najim, a dedicated champion of student success. Like Alvarez, Najim has said that he believes deeply in the power of education to change lives.
The Malú and Carlos Alvarez family collaborated with Hinojosa throughout the design process, providing input to ensure the finished work honored Alvarez’s impact and legacy on the entire university community.
“Carlos Alvarez’s legacy continues to inspire all of us at UT San Antonio,” said Karl Miller-Lugo, senior vice president for Advancement and Alumni Engagement.
“He cared deeply for this university and especially for its students,” Miller-Lugo added. “His belief in opportunity through education has changed countless lives and continues to do so every day. We are also deeply grateful to Harvey Najim, whose generosity and shared commitment to student success ensure that Carlos’s impact will be remembered through this meaningful tribute.”
Through decades of generosity alongside his wife Malú Alvarez, Carlos Alvarez transformed UT San Antonio through landmark gifts that have advanced student success, faculty excellence, groundbreaking research and institutional growth.
The Alvarez family’s philanthropic impact includes the naming of the Carlos Alvarez College of Business, the establishment of endowed faculty positions, and support for key student success initiatives that have strengthened the university’s national profile.
Most recently, as the culminating gift of the Be Bold Campaign, the family established the Carlos Alvarez Distinguished Presidential Chair to support UT San Antonio’s highest level of leadership and ensure strong university governance.
