Pillar of Caring: Dr. Akshay Thusu

From an early age, Akshay Thusu, DDS, has been driven by a deep sense of compassion and a calling to serve. Raised in Mumbai, India, he was inspired by his parents' dedication to community through social advocacy and serving as dedicated volunteers supporting the Hindu and Indian community in San Antonio. After moving to Texas in 2003, Dr. Thusu's commitment to service grew alongside his education, as he graduated from Health Careers High School with distinction, earned a bachelor's degree magna cum laude from The University of Texas at San Antonio, and received his doctorate in dental surgery from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio School of Dentistry.

Throughout his career, Dr. Thusu has been a steadfast champion for underserved populations, providing free dental care to thousands of people across Texas through organizations like Texas Mission of Mercy (TMOM), Dentistry from the Heart, and various refugee clinics. He also advocates for policies that expand access to oral healthcare and has taken on leadership roles, including currently serving as chair of TMOM’s 2026 free San Antonio traveling dental clinic and on the Board of Directors for the San Antonio District Dental Society Foundation.

Beyond his clinical and advocacy work, Dr. Thusu is a passionate mentor, regularly speaking to students about careers in dentistry and welcoming undergraduates to shadow him. His commitment to excellence and service has been recognized through numerous accolades, including Mastership in the Academy of General Dentistry and Young Dentist of the Year awards from multiple organizations. Through every act of kindness and every life he touches, Dr. Akshay Thusu embodies the belief that caring for others is not just a profession, but a profound way of life.

Pillar of Citizenship: Kimberly Harle Solis

A proud native of San Antonio, Kimberly Harle Solis is a lifelong advocate for public service and education. A graduate of O’Connor High School, she was part of the first graduating classes at both her elementary school, Leon Springs Elementary School, and high school, where she helped shape the culture of both institutions. Her dedication to civic engagement started early; in eighth grade, she wrote the winning essay to name O'Connor High School after former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, a woman she admired for her leadership.

Kimberly went on to attend the University of Texas at Austin, earning bachelor’s degrees in advertising and history, along with an education certificate. She also holds certifications from the Universidad de Alicante in Spain and completed an executive leadership program at the Harvard Kennedy School.

Currently, Kimberly is the Chief Communications and External Affairs Officer for Endeavors, a national nonprofit that provides critical support to veterans, first responders, and individuals in crisis. With more than two decades of leadership experience, she has held key roles at H-E-B, Whataburger, and NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Her commitment to community extends to numerous leadership and advisory roles with organizations including the San Antonio Greater Chamber of Commerce, United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County, and Haven for Hope. In 2022, she was recognized as a "40 Under 40" by the San Antonio Business Journal for her professional and civic leadership. The values she learned as a student continue to guide her, and as of 2025, three generations of her family have attended Northside schools, a testament to her deep connection to the community. Kimberly Harle Solis exemplifies the very spirit of citizenship.

Pillar of Fairness: Amanda Gonzalez

As a lifelong San Antonian and a true product of Northside ISD, Amanda Gonzalez has always been a trailblazer. As a member of the inaugural class at Warren High School’s Construction Careers Academy (CCA), she quickly emerged as a leader, earning the program’s first MVP award and later being named Miss CCA. This early recognition of her character and work ethic set the stage for a career defined by leadership and a commitment to lifting others up.

Amanda earned her bachelor’s degree in construction science from Texas A&M University in 2017 and a master’s degree in business administration from The University of Texas at San Antonio in 2020. Her extensive education, coupled with four internships and a full-time career in the construction industry, gave her a well-rounded understanding of the field.

Joining SpawGlass Contractors in 2017, Amanda broke barriers as the company’s first female Superintendent II. In this role, she led large, multimillion-dollar projects while fostering fairness, respect, and inclusivity across diverse teams. Today, as a Project Manager, she continues to bring this balanced leadership approach, combining her technical expertise with a strong focus on teamwork and problem-solving.

Beyond her professional achievements, Amanda is dedicated to mentoring the next generation. As an active industry partner for CCA, she volunteers her time to mentor students, conduct interview training, and share lessons from the field. She is passionate about showing young people, especially women, that they can find a place in construction and thrive in it. Amanda’s unwavering belief is that success is about creating opportunities for others and leading in a way that makes everyone feel valued and respected.

Pillar of Learning: Dr. Shannon Van Zandt

A lifelong product of Northside ISD, Shannon Smith Van Zandt, Ph.D., began her journey with a love for learning that was nurtured at Boone Elementary School, Rudder Middle School, and Marshall High School. Inspired by her scientist parents, she cultivated a passion for science fairs, which would ultimately lead her to a distinguished career in academia. Graduating in the top ten of her class in high school, where she also served as student body president, Shannon’s intellectual curiosity and dependability were already apparent.

She pursued her education at Texas A&M University, where she earned a bachelor’s in Environmental Design and a master’s in urban planning. Shannon later earned a doctorate in city and regional planning from her Ph.D. in city and regional planning from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her commitment to learning and research has defined her career, leading her to return to Texas A&M as a professor in the College of Architecture.

For over 20 years, Dr. Van Zandt has taught and led at Texas A&M, holding various leadership roles and currently directing the university’s Center for Housing & Urban Development. Her research focuses on the impact of natural disasters on low-income communities, and her expertise has led to invitations to the White House and the Texas Legislature.

Beyond her academic work, she is a dedicated advocate for affordable housing, supporting the REACH Project and serving as board president of Texas Housers. Yet, despite her many accomplishments, her greatest joy comes from mentoring students. Through teaching and mentorship, Dr. Van Zandt ensures that the spirit of curiosity and compassion continues to thrive, shaping the next generation of planners and leaders.

Pillar of Respect: Melissa Vela-Williamson

Melissa Vela-Williamson, a San Antonio native, is a distinguished public relations strategist whose career is defined by her unwavering commitment to respect and empowerment. Her journey began in Southwest ISD before her family’s move to Northside ISD, where she attended Cody Elementary, Pease Middle School, and Jay High School. It was at Pease Middle School that the support of a key English teacher, Miss Ash, transformed her academic trajectory, inspiring her to seek out challenges and excel, including the challenge of enrolling in all honors courses while at Jay High School. This pivotal experience taught her the importance of never underestimating a student's potential and the need to make everyone feel valued.

As the first in her family to attend and graduate from a university, Melissa forged her own path, earning degrees from St. Mary’s University and The University of Texas at San Antonio. In a field she felt drawn to for its purpose, she quickly became a trusted and respected advisor to brands and journalists. She faced and overcame challenges, including bullying she experienced as a youth, with a resilient mindset and a focus on self-driven growth.

Now, as the chief communication architect of her firm, MVW Communications, Melissa is an internationally recognized, accredited, and award-winning leader. Through her professional work, her books, and her national public relations industry column, she works to connect diverse audiences to resources and opportunities. Her success is rooted in her lived experience and her belief that every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. She uses her platform to educate, equip, and empower others, ensuring that everyone she works with feels seen, heard, and valued.

Pillar of Responsibility: Dr. Darnell Smith

A dedicated San Antonio native, Dr. Darnell J. Smith is a distinguished product of the Northside ISD (NISD). His academic and athletic journey began at Adams Hill Elementary School, continued through Rayburn Middle School and Stacey High School on Lackland Air Force Base, and culminated at Taft High School. Throughout his formative years, he embraced the core values of responsibility: discipline, hard work, accountability, and purpose—principles that have guided his leadership and service.

At Taft High School, Dr. Smith was a standout student-athlete in football and basketball. As an All-District linebacker, he helped lead the school’s football team, the Raiders, to a runner-up finish in the 2001 Texas Class 5A State Championship, one of the most successful seasons in school history. He earned a football scholarship to Oklahoma State University, where he was a four-year member of the university’s football team, the Cowboys. As a student-athlete, he excelled on the field and in the classroom, earning multiple academic honors, including Academic All-Big 12 and Academic All-American.

After his playing career ended, Dr. Smith transitioned into athletics administration, serving in leadership roles with the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee and various universities. In 2020, he returned to his hometown as the inaugural athletics director at Texas A&M University–San Antonio, where he launched the university's first-ever intercollegiate athletics program. His work has earned widespread recognition, including being named Athletics Director of the Year in 2023-24 and being selected as a San Antonio Business Journal "40 Under 40" honoree.

In May 2025, Dr. Smith earned a doctorate in Adult and Higher Education, further solidifying his commitment to learning and leadership. He continues to serve his community and advance college athletics, demonstrating that true leadership is about building champions in every aspect of life.

Pillar of Trustworthiness: Kris Trejo

A native of San Antonio, Kris Trejo has dedicated his entire 27-year career to the Northside ISD, a testament to his deep-seated dedication and unwavering commitment to the school district. His journey began just days after graduating from Holmes High School in 1997, when he took on a summer job in the district's textbook warehouse. From this humble start, he rose through eight different roles across various departments.

In 1997, Trejo began his career moving heavy boxes of textbooks from campus basements to the district’s warehouse and was quickly promoted to technician. Over the next decade, Kris’s commitment took him from the textbook warehouse to the purchasing department, and, in 2015, to technology services, where he served as a project manager. His ability to see both the technical details and the bigger picture quickly set him apart. By 2017, he was promoted to Director of Technology Acquisitions and Project Management, in 2019, he advanced to Executive Director of Technology Services, and ultimately, he became Assistant Superintendent for Technology Services in 2024. 

Kris’s remarkable professional journey is made even more impressive by his steadfast dedication to continuous education. Kris pursued his college education while working full-time by taking evening and weekend classes, earning a bachelor’s degree from the University of the Incarnate Word and a master's in educational leadership from Tarleton State University. All of this was done while consistently maintaining active and influential memberships in prominent state and national organizations, including Texas Educational Technology Leaders (TETL), the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN), and the Texas Association of School Business Leaders (TASBO). 

His commitment to continuous learning and professional growth further solidifies his standing as a dependable and knowledgeable leader. He is also a long-time mentor at the Northside School of Innovation, Technology, & Entrepreneurship (NSITE) and was inducted into its Mentor Hall of Fame in 2024, a testament to the trust he has built with the next generation. For Kris, his family remains his greatest accomplishment, and he considers his wife and three children to be his deepest source of inspiration and support.