Integral Program Provides “Exceptional Educational Experience,” Says CEO Aco Alvarez '98

Before he even arrived on campus, Aco (Aquilespablo) Alvarez `98 knew that he would major in the Integral Program of Liberal Arts. Aco learned about the program in a welcome call from a student who was studying in the Integral Program. After an hour-long conversation, Aco decided that would be his major as well. 

“The Integral Program was exceptional, one of the best educational experiences I’ve ever had, I loved every minute of it,” said Aco, adding that he used to joke that he would deliberately flunk his senior year in order to stay longer. “The Saint Mary’s Integral program is unique. I looked for similar graduate programs but couldn’t find any.” 

The Integral Program builds on the unique Collegiate Seminar program, which is the heart of Saint Mary's core curriculum and a highlight for first-year students. Using a cohort model of community learning, students in the Integral Program discuss the “Great Books,” major works of Western civilization in literature and philosophy, history and political theory, art and science. The curriculum is student-led, with faculty mentors coaching and challenging students as they ask questions and explore ideas in a supportive setting.

Aco appreciated the structure of the program, with every class set up as a seminar. “The program demanded an active level of participation that I loved and was looking for,” he said. “I didn’t want to be in a lecture. I wanted to be able to talk through ideas and turn questions around.” 

The Courage to Learn

Through his classes, Aco learned to be a critical and creative thinker, which has served him well as a small business owner of a recruiting firm. “In the working world, people want you to bring solutions and to solve problems. You have to be able to recognize what’s going on and put pieces together to look at problems from different angles and come up with solutions,” he said. “I also gained people and communication skills by actively interacting with my peers and professor.” His active listening skills have proved invaluable to his work as a recruiter. “I need to listen to people and understand what they really want, to ask them the right questions and guide them through the conversations. I developed those skills every day in the Integral Program.” 

Integral Program Professor Steven Cortright remembers Aco as remarkably kind and well-spoken. "Still, he was, I think, more than remarkable—he was truly admirable—for his courage," Cortrights says. "Perseverance in any difficult, intrinsically worthy task: that, as Plato's Socrates remarks, is courage.  Aco had it as a student, and one can hardly doubt that it plays a part both in his business success and in the grace with which he wears that success.”

As a CEO, Aco Alvarez says, he has to listen well and ask the right questions. I developed those skills every day in the Integral Program.” 

While at the College, Aco was also active in the Philosophy Club, MEChA (a national Chicano student group), and played intramural sports. He double majored in the Integral Program and Philosophy, with a minor in Spanish. Aco lived on campus all four years and was a resident advisor in North Claeys with Brother Mel. 

Living to Give

The first person in his family to attend college, Aco's mother and father both left elementary school to help support their families. Impressed by a presentation she heard from a guidance counselor, Aco’s mother had urged him to apply to Saint Mary’s. “I was magically accepted,” he said, noting that he also received financial aid to attend.

Alvarez: “From day one, my gifts have focused on strengthening and expanding the Integral Program.”

Now Aco generously supports the Integral Program both with his time and donations. He serves on the Integral Alumni Council, a volunteer group of alumni and professors who meet monthly to discuss strategies for supporting the program such as creating new endowment funds to help students in financial need and programs to recruit and market the Integral Program to prospective students. 

“I loved Saint Mary’s as a school, and the Integral Program keeps me connected to that experience. The Integral program is one of the premier programs at Saint Mary’s, and it benefits the College as well,” Aco said. “From day one, my gifts have focused on strengthening and expanding the Integral Program.”

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