In this Issue:

Message from Dr. Ric Baser
Community: HalloVISTA – A Free Family Event at NVC
Integrity/Synergy: NVC Alumnae Give Back as Guest Speakers
Caring: Scholarships Matter: Emiliano Saldana, NVC Psychology Major
Learning: Test Your Vista Knowledge
Openness: NVC Veteran’s and Resource Center Opens
Diversity/Creativity: $2.5 Million in Grants to Support Math
and Arts at NVC
Joy: On Campus Events
Ways to Connect

Message from Dr. Ric Baser

Dr_Ric_Baser_NVC_180 Hello NVC Alumni and Friends,

This fall is an exciting time at Northwest Vista, as we celebrate several monumental milestones. For the first time, our enrollment has exceeded 17,000 students. This record-setting semester emphasizes the reputation NVC has built as being among the top colleges in San Antonio. Vista graduates reinforce this excellent reputation by becoming role models in business, entrepreneurship and most importantly, their own families.

This enrollment increase comes at the same time NVC is seeking the reaffirmation of our accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Receiving accreditation is important because it validates the quality of the programs offered through NVC and allows access to federal financial aid and grants for our students. Accreditation also ensures that credits earned at NVC can transfer to other regionally accredited colleges and universities.

Additionally, in honor of our 20-year anniversary this year, we are hosting a Halloween event called ‘HalloVISTA’ on Saturday, October 24, here on campus. All Vista Alumni are encouraged to bring family and friends for a free movie, fireworks and haunted house. Details are provided below in the newsletter along with other happenings and events.

Let me also invite you to consider joining the NVC Business Council or Friends of the Arts organizations. I encourage you to pay it forward by donating to the NVC scholarship fund and/or by becoming a Community Liaison. If you are interested, email [email protected] and let us know.

Dr. Ric Baser
President

5-INTEGRITY

NVC Alumnae Give Back as Guest Speakers

Two graduates of Northwest Vista recently served as guest speakers for events which support students in the areas of scholarships and job preparedness.

Kimberly Redgate, Class of 2013

Kimberly-Redgate-2015-NVC

NVC Alumna, Kimberly Redgate, Class of 2013, was guest speaker for the Celebration of Giving Breakfast held in September. The event, held annually, thanks NVC faculty and staff for having contributed to the annual Employee Giving Campaign, which supports student scholarships and community organizations such as theFund and the United Way through donations.

“From my experiences at NVC, to the impact of receiving a scholarship, to my career pathway, NVC has been a great place to begin my first steps as a college student,” Kimberly shared.

She went on to add that scholarships were pivotal in her earning an associate degree, and transferring to the University of Texas at San Antonio. Her goal is to one-day work at a college or university as the coordinator for a writing center or speech lab.

“I love being able to give back to the college that created so many opportunities for success for me.”

9-SYNERGY

Heather Wurtz, Class of 2011

HWurtz-NVC-Alumni-180x240
(courtesy photo)

NVC Alumna, Heather Wurtz, Class of 2011, who is Vice President of Knowledge Management and Information Solutions for Citi Group Financial Services, was invited to be a guest presenter as part of the NVC Digital Media Fall Speaker Series.

Program Coordinator, Viviane Marioneaux, says the program plans to bring several alumni to speak throughout the semester who will discuss job prep, industry trends and answer questions about their respective professions.

Heather shared with the audience how she herself got into the e-Learning field and how classes at NVC have helped her. She also shared tips and suggestions on what students can do now to prepare for a job search.

You can listen to an audio recording of Heather’s presentation at the NVC Digital Media Speaker Series here. Use the guest access option to listen.

NVC Veteran’s and Resource Center Opens

On September 9, Northwest Vista College, opened and dedicated the Veterans’ Lounge and Resource Center in Pecan Hall. The facilities have been dedicated in memory of Miguel R. Munoz Sr., a Vietnam veteran and Purple Heart recipient who taught at NVC for over a decade.

The center is designed to provide veterans a place to find resources and relax. It also welcomes service animals by offering dog beds, water bowls and dog treats.

Together with programs such as Vet2Vet, which connects NVC veteran faculty and staff with students, the opening of the Veteran’s Lounge and Resource Center is a part of NVC commitment to support this increasing population of students.

2-COMMUNITY

HalloVISTA – A Free Family Event at NVC

Make plans to visit the NVC campus on the evening of Oct. 24 for Vista’s first free Halloween event, HalloVISTA.

The movie “Ghostbusters” will play at sunset near Lago Vista lake and will be followed by a fireworks show.

Family-friendly games, music and two haunted houses, one for the kids and one for the brave, will start at 4pm.

Free hot dogs and other goodies will be available to kids 12 and under while supplies last.
Food trucks will also be on site.

More information on the HalloVISTA Facebook event page at or the NVC website.

Scholarships Matter: Emiliano Saldana, NVC Psychology Major

“This scholarship will enable me to move forward towards what I plan to do with my psychology degree. Receiving this scholarship was an awesome experience for me since I have never won anything and have been constantly bombarded with negativity for the past 17 years.”

At the age of 19, Emiliano was incarcerated for a charge of aggravated assault. Since his release, he has passionately pursued a personal goal of helping young people with a tendency towards criminal behavior. He says he has learned by observation that some people make bad choices in life. By looking through the lens of psychology, he says he sees that most of these people learn these choices through their life experiences and outside influences.

“I think that a psychology degree will be an awesome tool to help some of these young misguided youths transform their lives and avoid the life I chose. With this scholarship, you have helped propel me forward in achieving this goal.”

Emilio plans to obtain his associate degree at NVC, then transfer to the University of Texas at San Antonio to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

“Thank you for giving me the positive psychological reinforcement needed to achieve what I am trying to do,” added Emiliano, who received the NVC Psychology Department Scholarship for the fall of 2014.

If you would like to help students such as Emiliano, please consider making a gift or pledge to NVC scholarships. Learn about ways to give the Northwest Vista College Donation Webpage.

On Campus: A List of Upcoming Events

Hispanic Heritage Month

Fresh 5K – Walk/Run
Saturday, November 21, 2015, 9:00 AM

Run or walk at the picturesque Northwest Vista College campus.
Proceeds benefit scholarships for NVC students.

Registration fee is $20 by Oct. 15.
Registration increases to $30 After Oct. 15.

Participants get a T-shirt and bag.

Dressing in your favorite ’90s attire is highly-encouraged.
Awards will be given for fastest runners in different age categories.

Contact NVC Rec Sports at [email protected] or 210-486-4612 for registration information.

4-DIVERSITY

$2.5 Million in Grants Will Support Math and Arts Programs at NVC

Project Math Paths

Northwest Vista College recently received news that it has been awarded a $2.4 million Individual Title V Grant for Hispanic-Serving Institutions from the U.S. Department of Education. This five-year grant is for “Project Math Paths,” and is designed to improve NVC’s three-year graduation rate and math completion.

“Math can be a major obstacle to student success, persistence and completion,” said Mary Zocchi, Ph.D., NVC’s math optimization facilitator and organizer. “We’re going to overcome this barrier by welcoming, advising, placing, and accelerating students through the math core and eliminating developmental math hours.”

3-CREATIVITY

ArtWave SA

Northwest Vista College was also recently awarded a $10,000 grant, by the National Endowment for the Arts, to support ArtWave SA.
The proposed program will engage 60 aspiring middle and high school visual artists, ages 12-18, by providing opportunities for them to receive instruction and exhibit their art in a college environment.

ArtWave SA will take place in March 2016, and includes a weekend lecture and workshop series provided by area artists, Vincent Valadez and Alex Rubio. The program will conclude with a public exhibit displaying the works of participating students.

7-LEARNING