Updated Nov. 15, 1:35 p.m.
Former Mr. and Ms. Texas A&M San Antonio, Yamell Valencia and Shelby Benzoni passed the reign over to William Manning and Cindy Silva at Fall Fest Oct. 10 on Main Campus.
“I wish everyone could have won, everybody deserved to be Mr. and Ms. Texas A&M-San Antonio,” Silva said.
This year was a record breaking voting year for Mr. and Ms. TAMUSA. “JagSync was utilized very well in this year’s campaign,” Kelsey Bratcher, student activities coordinator, said. “The candidates promoted the voting to students very well.”
Many students applied for the positions and four were chosen; candidates campaigned for weeks until the winners were crowned.
Manning and Silva represent a special tradition at A&M-San Antonio. In their official role, they represent the university and all students and alumni. Because of their duties, they are responsible for participating in a number of events throughout their reign, including the Battle of the Flowers Parade and Festival de Cascarones.
Like the majority of students on campus, Manning and Silva are first-generation, non-traditional students with families and jobs.
Although interviewed separately, both share a desire to encourage children, no matter where they come from, to embrace education and represent themselves in a way that will lead to success.
The university’s royalty share a diverse background and a slew of stories to tell about themselves.
Silva was born in Bellflower, California and moved to San Antonio when she was 10 years old. Her family moved back to California after her father fell ill in 2015 and Silva stayed behind to attend college.
“As a first-generation college student, it is very important to me and my family that I finish school,” Silva said.
She is getting ready for her senior year and is anticipating a strong finish. As a student, Silva perseveres and has proven that, even with work and school, it can be done.
“When they said my name, I took a deep breath,” Silva said. “It felt like it was the first breath that I had taken since I started campaigning.”
As a representative for her university, Silva hopes to attend all of the events that the university sponsors and wants them to be bigger than they ever have been.
“Last year I didn’t really know about any events that happened on campus. Now I hope to reach out to more students so that they will know about all these wonderful events,” Silva said.
Manning’s story
Manning was born in Washington D.C. and raised in East San Antonio. Manning is a 2007 graduate of Rick Hawkins High School and hopes to encourage kids from his neighborhood to further their education, not only through college, but throughout their lives.
“Where I’m from, college isn’t even a thought in some of the kids’ minds,” Manning said. “I want them to know that if they can visualize their success, it’ll happen.”
After receiving an academic scholarship to the University of Houston and attending for a semester, Manning took a leave of absence to be with his father when he fell ill and passed away. Shortly after, his mother passed away leaving him homeless.
“I lost my father, I lost my mom,” Manning said, “I was living out of my car and working two jobs.” He remembers walking into Wal-Mart every morning to wash up and get ready for his first job, and having an hour break for lunch before heading to his second job.
After working both jobs for nine months, he decided to go back to school and enrolled at San Antonio College which he paid for out of pocket. He was taken in by a family that instilled motivation and ambition, pushing him to finish school and transfer to a university.
Manning is father to an 8-year-old girl and pushes her to keep learning even beyond college. “There is always something more to learn,” he said.
Almost every student that comes in contact with Manning has an inside joke or just something to say to him. He works with the university’s recreational department where he meets and talks with different students throughout the day.
“I like to have a lot of friends, I talk with anybody and everybody,” Manning said. “I believe that you need to have all kinds of different friends. Expand your circle and embrace diversity.”
“I wasn’t surprised when my name was announced at Fall Fest,” Manning continued. “ I visualized myself up on that stage with the crown and sash, and it happened.”
In 2014, William was awarded the President’s Volunteer Service Award for his non-profit organization, King’s Care. He travelled to Washington D.C. with San Antonio College and was inspired by the different organizations that were helping the community. King’s Care was an after-school program that helped children with mentoring, sports clinics and fitness and nutrition.
Plans for ‘16-’17
“Cindy and I have talked quite a bit and have decided to try and do what we can for our community,” Manning said.
Mr. and Ms. are both are very excited and eager to start attending different events and to give back as soon as possible. Everything is brand new and both are still adjusting to their new reign and hectic schedules.
“In November, I would like to do something for the less fortunate for Thanksgiving,” Silva said. “In December, Will and I are hoping to get our hands on some university merchandise to give to children to encourage them to attend college.”
The students who carry the title throughout the year have a leadership opportunity and say they will represent the institution to the best of their ability.
“My voice and my position demands ears and attention,” Manning said. “My story isn’t that impressive, but it’s a story that needs to be told to reach some of these kids that are in a similar situation.”
