June 16, 2016 | SharkAdmin “Upon first setting foot on campus during a tour for my oldest daughter’s freshman class field trip in the spring of 2009, I was mesmerized by the beautiful campus. I went home and told my husband I wanted to go back to college.” Dawn Thomas received her associate’s degree in teaching from NVC in May 2012. She’s currently at UTSA as an English major with a concentration in Creative Writing. She also plans to get her certification in Secondary Education. Dawn said while attending NVC what stood out for her most was the “breathtaking campus” and the opportunity to volunteer on campus. “As an (student) ambassador at NVC, I grew personally and professionally. I developed many friendships, but more importantly, I learned to step out of my comfort zone and give back to others as well as support and encourage others. Even though I have graduated and continued on in my intended path, I still keep that connection to Northwest Vista and I love that! My time as an ambassador will never leave me and I will cherish it forever.” When Dawn is not attending college, she’s a busy mom to four teenage daughters, is a Scentsy consultant and runs an outfitting/hunting business with her husband. She is also an avid volunteer both at her church and in her community. When reflecting on her time at NVC and receiving her associate degree, Dawn said, “As an older student who balances many plates at a time, it was important for me to see all of my hard work at NVC on that little piece of paper. It has spurred me forward and made me strive for success at UTSA. I have to always take into account that there are four young ladies that are constantly looking up to me to see what I am going to do and how I am going to handle something. By receiving my associate’s degree, I showed them that education is very important to me.” Dawn encourages other NVC students to cherish the moment. “Stop for a second and take a look around. Soak up everything that is happening around you and enjoy it. NVC is a beautiful campus with faculty and staff that go above and beyond to help all of their students. Take time to appreciate it.” Favorite Vista Value: Synergy