NVC Students Earn Top Spot in 2025 iNaturalist Campus Nature Challenge Thanks to their dedication and keen observation skills, NVC students have come out on top in this year’s iNaturalist Campus Nature Challenge. iNaturalist is an online social network of individuals who share biodiversity information. The nonprofit organization helps people identify the plants and animals in their community while generating data for science and conservation. NVC Assistant Professor of Biology, Jose L. Egremy, enrolled more than 50 students in this project which took place April 25 through April 28. Participants were instructed to observe and record the nature around them, and NVC students were more than up for the challenge which consisted of two categories: the Campus Nature Challenge and the City Nature Challenge. In the Campus Nature Challenge, NVC beat other participating campuses in the San Antonio metro area by making 4,753 observations compared to 3,162 observations made by St. Mary’s University students, and 1,867 at Trinity University. “My students were stellar and superb ambassadors for San Antonio and absolutely represented our campus with impressive numbers of documented observations,” said Egremy. “One student contributed 701 observations with a total of 399 species, and another student uploaded 591 observations and recorded 281 species.” Observers from all over the world participated in the 2025 City Nature Challenge. While San Antonio finished second behind the city of La Paz in Bolivia, Egremy said that for three of the four days of the challenge, San Antonio was No.1 in the world. However, San Antonio did rank as the best city in America.

NVC Palmetto Center for the Arts Celebrates the Aesthetics of Water in Latest Exhibit “Water is change, water is movement, and water is healing.” That is the first line of the description for the current exhibit “Blue: Water as a Metaphor,” open through May 9 at the Northwest Vista College Palmetto Center for the Arts Gallery. Curator and artist Sabra Booth will be available for tours every Friday, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The exhibition showcases the diverse works of Booth and Sophie Sanders, transforming the Palmetto Gallery with Sanders' cyanotypes, paintings, and printmaking alongside Booth's sketches, paintings, and woodcut light installations. The exhibit is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday. Free parking is available in the NVC Lot 10, accessed at the Wiseman Blvd. campus entrance.

The first time Onesty Hamilton enrolled in San Antonio College’s First Responders Academy, she failed out of the program a month before graduation. She had been trying to complete the academy part-time, while still working as a correctional officer for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. It was her experience working with inmates at the prison that inspired her to seek out a new career in the first place. “You get a feel of how it is once they’re already in,” she said, “but I wanted to see what it was like before they get in.” Hamilton wondered what kind of interactions they had with law enforcement before they were incarcerated. “Can you make a difference and turn them on a different path?” she thought to herself. She sought out a program that could train her for a new role in law enforcement, and found the First Responders Academy. She signed up for the 9-month part-time program, and soon after found out about another opportunity: San Antonio’s Ready to Work financial assistance. She received a full scholarship. But when Hamilton failed her coursework, the situation became more complicated. She contacted her Ready to Work case manager, explaining that she wanted to try the program again, full-time, but needed continued financial support. There was money left over from her original scholarship, so Hamilton was able to receive the funds on the condition that she complete the course this time. Still, there were challenges. Hamilton realized she couldn’t balance full-time work—or, she discovered, even part-time work—alongside the full-time academy, and had to give up working so she could focus and make sure she passed.  This, of course, presented another financial obstacle. Even with the scholarship, and a supportive husband, who worked hard to make sure she was able to focus on her career journey, Hamilton said her bills were still piling up. Again, Hamilton turned to her Ready to Work case manager, who connected her to the resources she needed. Between Ready to Work and the Student Advocacy Center on campus, she received gas cards, as well as money for food and other bills. Hamilton credits these two programs with allowing her to stay focused in class, and receive the support she needed without having to rely on outside agencies. Fully immersed in the academy, Hamilton learned a wide range of things that she felt would enable her to keep her community safe. The highlight of the course for her was a crisis intervention training, where she learned to effectively communicate with someone during a high-stress situation.  All the while, Hamilton was applying to police departments where she might work after graduation, with the hope that one would sponsor and pay her during the academy. She applied to a few departments, but didn’t get any leads. “That’s not where I was destined to be,” she said. When the Alamo Colleges District Police Department recruited her, she decided to give it a shot and apply. She was impressed that, throughout the whole application process, they kept in touch with her frequently. She felt she wasn’t just another number to them. Hamilton graduated from the academy in December, and started her new role as an officer at the ACPD in January. She’s working toward her original goal of keeping people out of the prison system, but she recognizes it will be a long journey but realizes she "won’t be able to save everybody.”  In the meantime, she’s become involved in recruiting the next generation. “I just want to share my experience, share my story,” she said.  She’s also a strong advocate for taking advantage of the financial assistance available across the Alamo Colleges. “Use the resources. Don’t be too proud,” she said. Whether it was help with food, bills or even mental counseling, Hamilton said she would not have made it through the academy without the support from those resources and her family.

As a high school student, Yarexy Hernandez discovered her passion for math, science, and criminology. Encouraged by her mother’s advice to “dream big,” Yarexy set her sights high and hoped to one day make a meaningful impact as a forensic pathologist for the FBI. Although her future was clear, she knew she’d need the right support to get there. That support came in the form of AlamoPROMISE, a program that covers 100% of tuition and fees for eligible students across the Alamo Colleges District. When Yarexy learned she qualified, it opened a door to a future she once thought was out of reach. Drawn to the welcoming environment and supportive faculty at Northwest Vista College (NVC), she enrolled in the Associate of Science in Biology program. Today, Yarexy maintains an impressive 3.5 GPA and considers NVC a second home. “AlamoPROMISE gave me the chance to take a bold step toward my future. Coming…to Northwest Vista College…was a big transition, but the support, environment, and opportunities made it possible. As a first-generation college student, this program helped me find a job on campus, build a community and gain the confidence to pursue my dreams of becoming a forensic pathologist for the FBI,” said Yarexy. Beyond academics, Yarexy enjoys giving back to her community by volunteering at the San Antonio Humane Society and is deeply passionate about health and wellness. She also works on campus with the Career Services team, a position made possible through AlamoPROMISE. She considers her experience with Career Services as one of the most impactful parts of her journey. “Their support, encouragement, and guidance have been life changing. They’ve helped me explore possibilities I’ve never imagined and have made me feel heard, seen, and supported every step of the way,” said Yarexy. Her outstanding academic achievements and commitment to excellence have not gone unnoticed. During the April 2025 Alamo Colleges District Board of Trustees meeting, Yarexy was named the AlamoPROMISE student of the month. When receiving her award, she credited NVC and the AlamoPROMISE program for helping her to achieve her dream. “Thank you for building pathways where none existed before and thank you for being the reason so many of us now have the confidence to chase our teams. This is just the beginning and thanks to your support, I step into the future with confidence and purpose,” said Yarexy. After graduation, Yarexy plans to transfer to Sam Houston State University to continue working towards her goal of becoming a forensic pathologist. With the support she’s received from NVC and AlamoPROMISE, she feels prepared to reach her goals.

Jose Arredondo’s journey to becoming a respected multimedia journalist at Spectrum News is a testament to the transformative power of education and resilience. A San Antonio native, Arredondo grew up in the city’s West Side, one of the most economically disadvantaged areas in Texas. His upbringing, shaped by community and struggle, has profoundly influenced the way he approaches storytelling, especially in giving a voice to marginalized communities.  Arredondo’s connection to San Antonio College began through the Urban Journalism Workshop (UJW), a program that sparked his interest in the field of journalism. “It challenged me in ways I never expected,” he shared. Although initially focused on sports journalism, the workshop pushed him to explore stories outside of his comfort zone. One story, about human trafficking, not only broadened his perspective but also motivated him to pursue higher education at SAC. Despite facing challenges early in his college years, Arredondo persisted. "I didn’t take everything seriously at first,” he admitted. “But SAC taught me a valuable lesson: it doesn’t matter where you are in your academic journey, you need to take it seriously.” After struggling with early classes, including remedial courses and a rough first year, Arredondo honed his study habits and learned how to effectively manage his time. By his second year, he was deeply involved in The Ranger newspaper (now the Sundial), covering both sports and student government, and developing the writing skills that would serve him throughout his career.  “The professors at SAC really pushed me to think critically and work hard,” Arredondo said, pointing to mentors like Tricia Buchhorn, Irene Abrego, and Dr. Edmund Lo, who helped shape his journalistic journey. His time at SAC allowed him to develop the skills necessary for the next step in his career: a role at the San Antonio Express-News. “I learned so much about journalism at SAC—it was like being in the trenches,” he recalled. His hard work led to multiple first-place awards from the Society of Professional Journalists and the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association.  At the San Antonio Express-News, he covered everything from high school sports to hyper-local community stories. His dedication to his craft paid off when he landed a full-time role at Spectrum News in 2019. As a multimedia journalist, his focus on public policy and equity brings attention to issues that matter to the communities he cares about most.  Arredondo’s work has earned him multiple awards, including an Emmy in 2022 and an Edward R. Murrow Award in 2023, but it’s the impact of his stories that truly resonates with him. He is committed to telling the stories that often go untold, particularly those from underrepresented communities. “When I cover stories, I want people to see their own experiences reflected in the news,” Arredondo explained. “I want to make sure that people know that their stories matter.”  Despite his success, Arredondo remains grounded and committed to giving back to his community. When he’s not reporting, you can find him volunteering at his childhood community center or teaching photography to low-income youth. “I want to show the next generation that it’s possible to succeed, no matter where you come from,” he said. His efforts to inspire and mentor youth are part of his ongoing commitment to improving his community.  Arredondo’s story is one of perseverance, growth, and a deep sense of responsibility to his roots. His message to current SAC students is simple but powerful: “Run your own race. It doesn’t matter how long it takes as long as you finish. SAC gave me the tools I needed to succeed, and it made this dream job possible and affordable. Don’t be afraid to start here—it’s the foundation for everything that comes next.”  For Arredondo, his journey from the West Side of San Antonio to becoming an award-winning journalist is proof that with determination and the right support, anything is possible. San Antonio College didn’t just provide him with an education—it gave him the platform to chase his dreams and, in turn, to inspire others to do the same.  - SAC - 

April marks an exciting month for music events at Northwest Vista College, showcasing various programs including the talent of student singers who recently participated in the spring auditions of the prestigious South Texas Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. Ten NVC singers, guided by NVC’s Associate Professor Dr. Minkyung Lee, traveled to Texas State University in San Marcos to compete in the auditions on April 5. Dr. Lee said the NVC singers stood out among more than 300 competitors. “NVC student singers demonstrated remarkable skills and an inspiring commitment to excellence,” she added Their preparation included impressive scores by Delayna Gonzales, Tony Estrada, Elena Duran, and Olga Reyes, reflecting the depth of their dedication. Two NVC students, Mia Corvera Ocampo and Michaela Alvarado, achieved finalist status in the Lower College Musical Theatre Division. NVC students placed as finalists and semi-finalists as follows: Michaela Alvarado: 2nd place in Lower College Musical Theater Women Mia Corvera Ocampo: 3rd place in Lower College Musical Theater Women Reveka Ranzas: Semi-Finalist in Lower College Musical Theater Women Christian Williams: Semi-Finalist in Upper College Musical Theatre Men Andrea Islas: Semi-Finalist in the Adult Musical Theatre Jess Martinez: Semi-Finalist in the Adult Musical Theatre Throughout the preparation process for these performances, Dr. Eunjoo Fierro devoted significant time to rehearsals, score analysis, and sharing valuable insights with NVC student singers to help them shine on stage. “We are deeply grateful to our supporters, including our fantastic Fine and Performing Arts & Kinesiology Chair Rachael Bower and our music faculty Daniel Smith and Dr. Jihee Han, who provided invaluable support to the singers,” said Dr. Lee. “These accomplishments reflect the exceptional talent nurtured at NVC.”