FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE San Antonio - Northwest Vista College (NVC) is proud to announce its 30th anniversary, marking three decades of serving the San Antonio community with accessible, high-quality education and fostering student success. This milestone year is further elevated by the college's distinguished recognition as a finalist for the prestigious Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence by the Aspen Institute for the second consecutive year. This places NVC in the top 1% of community colleges in the United States. This achievement recognizes community colleges for significant and rapid improvement in student success, certificate and degree completion, transfer, and degree attainment. It is awarded every two years. There are more than 1,000 community colleges in the U.S., impacting 12 million students. "Reaching our 30th anniversary while once again being recognized as an Aspen Prize finalist is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our faculty, staff, students, and community partners," said Dr. Amy Bosley, President of Northwest Vista College. "For three decades, NVC has been a cornerstone of opportunity in San Antonio, and this continued national recognition validates our commitment to student success." The Alamo Colleges District has a legacy of being recognized by the Aspen Institute. For the fourth consecutive time, Northwest Vista College was invited to compete at the national level for this prestigious award. San Antonio College earned the coveted Aspen Prize in 2021, while Palo Alto College was awarded a Rising Star in the 2019 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. “As Northwest Vista College marks its 30th anniversary, the entire Alamo Colleges District family celebrates this remarkable achievement that places NVC among the top 1% of community colleges nationwide,” said Alamo Colleges District Chancellor Dr. Mike Flores. “This recognition reflects the extraordinary talent of our faculty and staff, the success of our students, and our shared commitment to putting students first. It’s a powerful affirmation of the transformative role community colleges play in building brighter futures and another milestone in our moonshot to end poverty through education and training.” An expert data panel guided the Aspen Institute in crafting a formula assessing key areas such as retention, completion, and equity. Based on that formula, 150 top community colleges were invited to apply. A selection committee reviewed the submitted applications and chose 20 semifinalists, followed by the announcement of the Top 10 finalists. Adding to this momentous period for the college, NVC will celebrate another significant achievement on May 22nd, as over 2,000 students graduate at the Alamodome. "Over the past 30 years, Northwest Vista College has focused on creating opportunities for success and we are most proud of the individual and collective achievements of our students, whose journeys inspire us daily,” said Dr. Bosley. “As an Aspen Prize Finalist, Northwest Vista College remains dedicated to empowering students to achieve their full potential and shape their own bright future." Table - Celebrate 30 - Video and Image

The Northwest Vista College Psychology Department attended the meeting of the Southwestern Psychological Association (SWPA) from March 28 to March 30 in Little Rock, Ark. NVC Professor of Psychology, Dr. Don Lucas, along with seven NVC Psychology students, attended workshops, invited talks, research symposia, poster sessions, and research paper sessions. NVC students presented two original research studies to standing-room-only audiences. NVC students Suzzie Olvera, Christopher Sauceda, Robin Pritchard, Mel Cordero, Jax Silva, and Abril Martinez presented two studies. One study was titled, “Is Neurodivergence Associated with ‘Failing’ Tests of Reliability and Validity on Scientific Surveys?” The second study was titled “Prevalence of ADHD and Autism in Community Colleges.” Dr. Lucas chaired a session on Health Psychology, and, with the help of NVC student, Eriq Gomez, presented a theory paper titled, “A ‘Happy’ Part of Life: Wonderments.” Dr. Lucas said the SWPA audiences were particularly interested in the “Prevalence of ADHD and Autism in Community Colleges” study as its results directly relate to ‘implicit’ causes of less-than-ideal graduation rates in community colleges. The study found that few community colleges know exactly how many neurodivergent students are on their campuses because they rely on general statistics about neurodivergent populations. For example, according to the Centers for Disease Control, in the U.S. population, the rate of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is 6%, and the rate of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is 2%. Instead, the NVC study measured the prevalence of students with ADHD and ASD and scientifically found that between 4% and 33% of students enrolled in community colleges had ADHD traits, while 19% of these students were diagnosed with ADHD. Between 17% and 40% of community college students had ASD traits, while 3% of these students were diagnosed with ASD. Dr. Lucas added that finding that a third or more of higher education students have neurodivergent traits can have vast ramifications on learning and staying in college. Christopher Sauceda and Robin Pritchard will be attending The University of Texas at San Antonio and The University of Texas at Austin, respectively, in the fall, where they plan on continuing their studies of neurodivergent student populations. NVC students have been attending and presenting at the annual meetings of the SWPA with Dr. Lucas since 2005.  

A Triumph of Talent: NVC Repertory Dance Ensemble Shines at ACDA South-Central The Northwest Vista College community felt a surge of pride as the NVC Repertory Dance Ensemble returned from the American College Dance Association (ACDA) South-Central regional conference. Over the Spring Break, these dedicated dancers committed to an intensive experience, traveling to the national festival that brings together premier dance programs from institutions across the nation. This annual event, encompassing 11 regions, provides a platform for knowledge sharing, networking, and artistic exchange. Northwest Vista College, San Antonio's only participating community college and one of the few in Texas, consistently attends this large national dance event. While the NVC dancers have always gained valuable experience, this year's achievements are exceptional. NVC Repertory Dance’s performance of "TECHTOPIA," a captivating piece choreographed by NVC instructor and former NVC Dance student, Brittany Lopez, was selected for the coveted Gala Concert. Performing in the Gala Concert is a historic milestone for NVC, as it is believed to be the NVC team’s first-ever selection for the Gala Concert. Out of nearly 60 dances presented throughout the conference, "TECHTOPIA" was chosen as one of the 12 standout performances. This achievement is particularly significant as NVC was the only community college represented in the Gala Concert, sharing the stage with renowned dance programs from institutions such as the University of Texas - Austin, Texas A&M University, and many more. Congratulations to our NVC dancers. Their achievement is a shining example of the talent and dedication thriving within Northwest Vista College.

Demonstrating its continued commitment to supporting education and fighting hunger, H-E-B announced a $400,000 donation to the Alamo Colleges District and its Student Advocacy Center Network during an event at St. Philip’s College on Wednesday, March 26. The donation will support scholarships and strengthening resources available to students across the district who face food insecurity and other critical needs. The contribution from H-E-B, through its Hunger Relief program, also included a refrigerated truck that will enhance food collection and delivery in partnership with the San Antonio Food Bank, along with pantry equipment, food supplies, and emergency assistance to help students at all five Alamo Colleges. “Across the Alamo Colleges District, we know that supporting our students’ basic needs is essential to their success inside and outside the classroom,” said Dr. Mike Flores, Alamo Colleges District Chancellor. “Thanks to H-E-B’s generous investment, we’re expanding the capacity to support our students and our Advocacy Centers to ensure that food insecurity and other barriers don’t stand in the way of our students achieving their academic and career goals.” Each advocacy center across the district serves as a one-stop hub where students can access food pantries, benefits navigators, and emergency aid. Through partnerships, the centers host pop-up markets and maintain fully stocked campus food pantries, providing fresh, healthy food, and supplies directly to students and their families. “At H-E-B, we’re committed to helping our partners in education provide opportunities to the next generation of leaders who will shape the workforce in San Antonio and Texas,” said Monica Garza, H-E-B Senior Manager of Public Affairs. “Hunger impacts so many across our communities, and this gift will help give students access to food and other necessities, so they can focus on their academics and not where their next meal will come from.” According to a national study, nearly 40% of community college students experience food insecurity, which can impact their ability to stay enrolled and complete their education. H-E-B has more than a 30-year history of supporting the Alamo Colleges District and investing in initiatives and scholarships that make a difference in the lives of students. In 2024, H-E-B announced a $1 million donation to St. Philip’s College for the construction of the H-E-B Black Box Theater, further providing opportunities that drive creativity and innovation. For more information about the Alamo Colleges District Advocacy Centers, visit alamo.edu/advocacy.  ### About H-E-B H-E-B, with sales of more than $46 billion, operates over 435 stores in Texas and Mexico. Known for its innovation and community service, H-E-B celebrates its 120th anniversary this year. Recognized for its fresh food, quality products, convenient services, and a commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainability, H-E-B strives to provide the best customer experience and low prices. Based in San Antonio, H-E-B employs over 160,000 Partners in Texas and Mexico and serves millions of customers in more than 300 communities. For more information, visit heb.com and the H-E-B Newsroom.

SAN ANTONIO - Northwest Vista College (NVC) graduate Noah Hernandez is the winner of this year’s Fiesta Medal Design contest. Hernandez, who graduated in 2024, attended NVC from the fall of 2022 until the spring of 2024 and earned two degrees — an Associate of Science and an Associate of Arts. Before immersing himself in biology/pre-nursing courses at NVC, the San Antonio native had enrolled in dual credit courses while a student at Health Careers High School. This spring semester, Hernandez transferred to UT Health San Antonio where he’s pursuing a Bachelor of Science in nursing degree.  “I have a passion for helping those in need. I plan to work as a nurse as well as continue my education to become a nurse practitioner or a CRNA,” he said via email.  The former Wildcat said he and his family always look forward to Fiesta San Antonio which usually occurs during his birthday in April. Attending the Battle of Flowers and Fiesta Flambeau parades have become a family tradition, so winning the Fiesta Medal Design contest will make this year’s festivities extra special.  Hernandez said this was his first time entering a Fiesta medal contest, but he always had an appreciation for art including the student artwork displayed across the NVC campus. So, when the Fiesta Medal Design contest was announced at NVC, he took the opportunity to see what he could create. “For this design, I had the inspiration of creating a modern championship look for the medal,” he said. “Realizing that this was the 30th anniversary, I thought it would be appropriate to incorporate a "sports medal" type of design which represents all the accomplishments this campus has made so far in creating futures for our students.”  It took only four days of work for him to come up with the winning design. Hernandez acknowledges his friend, Sebastian Rodriguez, played a role in helping to brainstorm ideas for the design. He also credits his nieces for inspiring him in this and other endeavors.  “I believe the day I started the project one of my nieces was over at our house and she was learning to draw, so I decided to try and see what I could come up with,” said Hernandez. “I think many of the things I do are to set an example of what's possible for my nieces.”  This past winter break, Hernandez had the opportunity to travel to Japan from Nagasaki to Tokyo. He said immersing himself in a different culture was an amazing experience, one he hopes everyone can have.  “I consider myself a person who isn't afraid to try new things.

Northwest Vista College (NVC) participated in the launch of its Early College High School (ECHS) partnership with Kerrville Independent School District (KISD) on March 19, marked by a memorable "signing" event and video time capsule. The partnership signifies a pivotal step in NVC's commitment to expanding access to higher education and fostering student success within the region. NVC leadership and the NVC High School Programs (HSP) team celebrated the inaugural class of ECHS students and their families. The event, held in Kerrville, highlighted the collaborative spirit between NVC, KISD, and Tivy High School, emphasizing the shared goal of empowering students through accelerated academic pathways. "This partnership with Kerrville ISD is a testament to NVC's dedication to creating innovative educational opportunities for our community," said NVC Dual Credit Director of High School Programs Julie Boerm. "By providing students with the chance to earn college credit while still in high school, we are opening doors to a future of limitless possibilities." The "signing" event was a unique and engaging experience for students who officially committed to the ECHS program. Parents played an integral role, offering words of encouragement and support, reinforcing the importance of a strong support system. Students created video time capsules, documenting their hopes for the future. These videos, to be “unsealed” in four years before their high school graduation, will serve as a powerful reminder of their journey and growth. NVC believes this exercise will reinforce the students' commitment to their academic goals. At graduation, students will be encouraged to create another video about their ECHS experience. NVC at Kerrville 3/19