June 18, 2020 | Manny V. Martinez Alicia Fawcett ’11 describes earning her associate degree at Northwest Vista College as the confidence booster needed to help her find hope and excitement in the future. “I never imagined being someone capable of having a Master’s degree,” she said. “My associate degree gave me a strong foundation to build on as I furthered my education.” Alicia worked full-time for USAA while attending Vista, and later the University of Texas at San Antonio, where she earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Communication. With the support of her employer, she recalls the flexibility in classes at NVC as being unparalleled in helping her succeed and graduate. “I was primarily an online, evening, and weekend student working full time in the call center at USAA,” she recalled. From her own life experiences, Alicia is now committed to helping others through community support programs, mentorship activities and advocating for higher education. Her shared words of advice for current and future NVC students, “Be resilient. Stick with it. The dialogue you have with peers, the professors you learn from, and the knowledge you gain will help you hone your craft and make an impact in the world. It will be tough sometimes and you may not feel sure that it will be worth it, but it absolutely will be a game changer.” Alicia has worked at USAA in San Antonio for 13 years. She is married and enjoys spending time hiking, kayaking and volunteering with organizations such as Dress for Success and the VA Fisher House.
