December 16, 2011 | SharkAdmin In this Issue: Message from Jackie NVC Recognized Nationally Wildcat Job Classifieds Alumni Profile: Arantxa Loizaga FANs Support the Arts Toys for Tots Drive NVC Starlette Pom Squad Wins Award 2012 Presidents Report Celebrate Vista Homecoming Calling all Wildcats Message from Jackie Hello NVC Alumni and Friends, All of us at Northwest Vista College wish both you and your family a joyous holiday season. In keeping with the NVC value of Joy, I invite you to participate in this Vista Values Challenge. We want to know your favorite Vista Value and Why. Visit the NVC Values page here, go to theFacebook.com/NVCAlumni page, then post your favorite Vista Value and Why by December 17. The first 50 to respond will receive a small gift from us. You can also send an email response to [email protected]. I’d also like to share the news that NVC was recently recognized as a Best Practice Institution for Leadership and Customer Focus by the 2012 Baldrige Award for Performance Excellence program. This honor is a result of the campus culture you as NVC Alumni have helped create. I hope you will join with us in celebrating what we have achieved together. You can read more here. As we reflect on the achievements and meaningful connections in our lives, I think of the remarkable stories and successes many of you have shared with us at NVC. I again wish you the best this holiday season and look forward to hearing about your favorite Vista Value. Jackie Claunch President NVC Nationally Recognized Northwest Vista College has recently been recognized by the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program (BPEP) as a Best Practice Institution for Leadership and Customer Focus. The college was recognized for best practice in leadership and customer focus. NVC is the only educational institution in the nation to earn this recognition. Managed by the U.S. Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Baldrige Award program promotes excellence in organizational performance, recognizes the achievements and results of U.S. organizations, and publicizes successful performance strategies. WIldcat Job Classifieds There’s a new online job search tool for Alumni of NVC. Wildcat Classifieds offers features such as a job search board, resume and cover letter templates, as well as an events calendar to let you know when potential employers will be at NVC. To use Wildcat Classifieds, register, upload your resume and start a search. Wildcat Classifieds is offered through the NVC Career and Transfer Services (CaTS). Visit the webpage at myinterfase.com/nvc/student or call 210-486-4126 for more information. Alumni Profile:Arantxa Loizaga NVC Class of 2007 (Courtesy Photo) Arantxa is currently the weekend anchor for Univision 41 and will be completing her Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from Our Lady of the Lake University this semester. She graduated from Northwest Vista College with an Associate of Arts degree in Communication in 2007. Share with us what you are doing now? My life revolves on school and work until I get my undergraduate degree. I do have hobbies such as Yoga, photography, video editing, camping, and going to the lake with my dogs. What stood out for you most at NVC? I loved NVC because the classes were small, the teachers were very personal, the tutoring labs are always available and the people that work there are very helpful, and overall, I felt welcomed and cared for. Who/What do you remember most about NVC? I remember my Accounting professor Ralph Mendez, who showed up the first day of class with cowboy boots, a big belt buckle and a hat saying: “How are y’all.” Being new in this country and fairly familiar with the English language I looked at my classmate sitting next to me and I asked –What did the professor say? It was really funny. He was such an outstanding professor. I keep him very close to my heart. I also hold dearly my Economics professor Mike Muñoz, John at the English tutor lab, my Forensics Anthropology professor Doug Ryan, and all the ladies in the cafeteria, they were very nice! What has your degree done for you? I was able to get the skills needed to work as a production assistant in my first technical job in San Antonio 7 years ago. How has your time at NVC influenced your personal and career? It reminded me that discipline, perseverance and hard work will take you to where you want to be. Do you have any advice for current NVC students? I graduated from NVC with a 4.0 GPA, coming directly from Mexico and without any college experience in the U.S. before. My English was really rusty and basic, but if I was able to do it, so can anybody else. Don’t focus on the hardship of the process, just enjoy it because at the end there is not only light but a tremendous satisfaction. Nobody said it was easy, but it surely is fascinating! So instead of talking about making a sacrifice, translate that sacrifice into effort, and you’ll see that graduating and having a college degree it’s worth every effort you make. FANs Support the Arts Interested in the Fine and Performing Arts? If so, consider joining the Friends of the Arts at NVC (FANs). Membership starts at $25 and benefits art programs, scholarships, guest artist visits and the NVC permanent art collection. Donations are tax-deductible and help NVC students transform their imagination into reality. Download and print the membership form here. See what art exhibits, performances and special events are coming to NVC at the Palmetto Center for the Arts Calendar here. Toys for Tots Drive at NVC The NVC Bookstore is accepting donations for its Toys for Tots drive until Friday, Dec. 14 at noon. This is a part of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation in San Antonio that collects new unwrapped toys across the city and distributes them to needy children. The NVC bookstore is located in the Cypress Campus Center. NVC Starlette Pom Squad Wins First Place Award Congratulations to the NVC Starlette Pom Squad. The team was awarded first place in the Jazz Dance Category at the American Cheer Power Holiday Competition held at the Joe Freeman Coliseum on December 9. President Report Goes Online “Imagining the Possibilities,” is the theme for the 2012 NVC President’s Report. This year’s report features various college achievements and challenges, as well as stories on current students and alumni who have achieved extraordinary possibilities. The annual publication can be read online here. If you’d like to receive a printed copy of this publication, please contact Renata Serafin by email at [email protected] or by phone at 210-486-4689. Celebrate Vista Homecoming 2012 Northwest Vista College’s Celebrate Vista! Homecoming 2012 weekend took place October 5 and 6. Below are a few pictures from the Mexican American Studies Golf Tournament, The Vista Dash for Dollars 5K Run/Walk and the NVC Family Fun Day. NVC Alum Jesse Salazar III, now a student at UT Austin, said via Facebook, “NVC pulled out all the stops to make sure kids had fun. Thanks again and I hope to see more events like this.” Read more about Jesse in the 2012 Presidents Report here The seventh annual Vista Dash for Dollars 5K run/walk supported a Kinesiology scholarship. There was an increase in alumni participation this year compared to last with more than one hundred individuals participating. The third annual Mexican American Studies Golf Tournament attracted 40 golfers. Several business partners including Las Palapas, Red Bull, Big’z Burger Joint and Dixon Golf helped support players. Proceeds from the event supported the endowment of a Mexican American Studies scholarship. NVC Family Fun Day invited Alumni, employees and the community to bring their children on campus. Air-bounces, face painting, the NVC Wildcat Mascot, craft tables, and much more greeted those attending. Several businesses and organizations helped support the event. Calling All Wildcats We are looking for Alumni stories and want to know how you’re doing. If you’d like to share your story with fellow Alumni, students or NVC faculty and staff, give us a call at 210-486-4688 or send your information via email to [email protected]. Connect at Facebook.com/NVCAlumni
