Classes may be out for the summer, but there still was a bit of buzz on the San Jose State campus this week. Thirty-five students from around the Bay Area were taking part in the Mineta Summer Transportation Institute, a three-week program aimed at interesting them in a variety of jobs in the transportation sector.
Evergreen Valley High School student Charlotte Ho, right, pilots a drone during the Mineta Summer Transportation Institute at San Jose State University on Monday, July 18, 2022. They are also fun to use, she pointed out. Making sure the students are engaged is a key part of the program, which includes lectures on environmental science but also has hands-on activities and field trips. On Friday, the students went to the Central Valley to visit the high-speed rail construction site. Next on the agenda is a visit from the Mountain View-based Nuro — a startup company that will give students the opportunity to get a close-up of its autonomous vehicles.
Current General Manager Ben Taylor presented Wilson with a jersey emblazoned with the number 38 during the ceremony, representing the number of years that Wilson spent with the organization, starting as an intern in 1984. Wilson officially retired in December 2020, but he was finally honored for his service this season .
It’s true, too. Advertisers loved him, and fans may not have known his name, but they should have loved him, too. In addition to the team winning four California League championships and tying for a fifth while he was GM, Wilson also did a lot to spruce up the venue formerly known as Municipal Stadium. Wilson’s tenure saw improved food and beverage options, the beautification of the aging stadium with murals and patios and the addition of the beloved “Beer Batter.