NVC Retrospective : Laying Foundations and Discovering the Wildcat Spirit
Growth & Discovery (1999-2002)
Northwest Vista College (NVC) celebrated its grand opening on October 8, 1999, with the completion of the Learning Center and College Commons. The festivities, held near the bridge entrance to the Academic Building, brought together District Board members, employees, and students and featured NVC English faculty member Cluster Byars, who captivated attendees by reading a poem he had authored specifically for the occasion. (See the poem here.) These foundational facilities enabled classrooms, labs, and faculty offices to establish their permanent homes within the Academic Building.
Rapid Campus and Program Growth
The first floor of the Learning Center became the administrative heart of the college, housing key offices and the Student Success Center. The NVC Learning Resource Center (library) occupied the second floor, quickly gaining recognition for its extensive digital collections – a forward-thinking approach for its time. The College Commons building served as a vibrant hub, accommodating the bookstore, the college’s Kinesiology and Multimedia Technology programs, the Office of Student Engagement, and the college’s main dining hall.
Building on its initial momentum, NVC rapidly expanded its academic offerings. In 1999, demonstrating early innovation, NVC launched courses in both Geology and Chemistry in the up-and-coming online format. Soon after, the college program catalog expanded to include new, specialized programs such as Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology, Teleservice Technology, Health Administrative Services, and Computer Information Systems. Notably, programs like Community Health Worker and Pharmacy Technology, introduced during this period, continue to be offered today, underscoring their enduring relevance.
The Wildcat Mascot Emerges
As the student body grew, reaching 4,056 by 2000, a unique aspect of the campus’s character began to emerge, leading to the unexpected discovery of what would become the college mascot. During the 2000-2001 academic year, employees observed large paw prints belonging to a mountain lion on campus. The area just outside the Commons Building, where the bridge and stairs now lead to Juniper Hall, was aptly named Wildcat Cove. On Graduation Day, signs proclaiming “Beware of the Wildcat!” added to a touch of campus lore.
Initially, it was suggested to trap and relocate the mountain lion, which had taken up residence in the backwoods of the NVC campus, to give birth to a cub. Instead, all students and employees received training on how to react if they encountered a mountain lion, with the directive to “Look Big!” This particular she-cat became a significant part of the college’s early identity and ultimately evolved into the college mascot – The Wildcat.
Accreditation and Expanding Impact
A pivotal moment in NVC’s early history arrived with the achievement of initial accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges in 2001. This significant milestone demonstrated the college’s adherence to its mission, the quality of its programs and services, and its commitment to integrity. As a direct result, NVC gained the crucial ability to support essential student functions, including access to federal financial aid and grants, and ensured transferability of its credits by other accredited colleges and universities.
In that same impactful year, NVC received its first Title V Grant, totalling $1.9 million. Concurrently, the NVC Workforce Education & Training department forged key partnerships with 15 businesses and organizations, successfully training over 2,500 individuals, further solidifying the college’s role in community development.
By fall 2002, enrollment had reached 7,099. In a testament to its innovative spirit, NVC became the first community college in San Antonio to offer a CISCO Certified Networking Associate Certification. Also in 2002, NVC earned nationwide recognition as a leader in student growth from Community College Week. This distinction marked the first of many accolades NVC received throughout the years.
Beyond academic and enrollment achievements, NVC fostered a deep connection with its natural surroundings, a characteristic that remains a point of enduring pride. NVC received the Texas Master Naturalist Award for preservation from the Texas Master Naturalist program, acknowledging its commitment to environmental stewardship. Thirty years later, the NVC campus continues to be celebrated for its natural beauty, a hallmark of its identity and a testament to its commitment to both education and environmental stewardship.
Stay tuned for next month’s Retrospective: 2003 – 2006.
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- NVC Instructor and Student Show Why Mentorship MattersNational Mentoring Month is observed in January, but mentoring students is something Northwest Vista College Business Instructor Dr. Chunnisee Jackson does year-round. Dr. Jackson began teaching at NVC in 2024. She had previously been a teacher at John Marshall High School in San Antonio. That’s where she first met NVC student Ivette Hernandez, who was a freshman in her business class at Marshall. At that time, Hernandez and her classmates were attending Jackson’s class online because of the pandemic. Neither one of them could have predicted that their online introduction would grow into a lasting friendship and blossom to a mentorship beyond high school, and continue at NVC. Jackson was the only business teacher at Marshall and students, such as Hernandez, who chose to earn the business administration endorsement, took her classes from freshman to senior year. “Throughout that time, we built a relationship. I saw Ivette progress through her high school career, and she was very inquisitive,” said Jackson. “We discussed a lot of things in regard to what she was going to do after high school.” Hernandez, who graduated from Marshall in 2024, said Jackson was always there when she needed someone to talk to – both as a teacher and friend. “I find it really like a mother/daughter relationship,” said Hernandez. Jackson, who was working on her Ph.D. in Education back then, still found time to assist Hernandez and her other students with their college applications, sign up for orientations, and more. She also made sure her students knew about the benefits of AlamoPROMISE and encouraged them to enroll in the program. Hernandez took her teacher’s advice and is now an AlamoPROMISE student attending NVC. When Jackson first learned that Hernandez wanted to go to NVC, she showed her how to start the FAFSA application that Hernandez then completed with her parents. “I helped her get through that process and then she found out she was admitted, which was crazy because that’s when I started my interview process with Alamo Colleges,” said Jackson. “As my students were getting accepted into Northwest Vista, I was also going through my interview process and throughout the summer I got hired.” Since becoming an instructor at NVC, Jackson has run into several of the students she taught at Marshall, including Hernandez, who to her surprise, was in her 2025 spring semester business class. Hernandez said just as in high school, now at NVC, Jackson is there for her as a mentor and a friend. She believes it's important to have an older person’s perspective, someone other than a parent who might have a different point of view. “Having Ms. Jackson as my mentor has helped me view college differently because she’s gone through the college experience.” As many students have done over the years, Hernandez chose to give her mentor a small, but meaningful gift to show just how much she values their friendship. During one of the visits to her office, Hernadez brought Jackson three, little rubber ducks to add to her collection. Jackson, who also has a mentor, believes that mentorship and relationship-building are very important. “I always tell students the things that you do now can impact your decisions later. And so, you want to be able to have healthy relationships, you want to be able to communicate in a healthy way,” she said. “You want to value yourself, believe in yourself, and know that you are capable of anything you put your mind to.” For information about NVC’s Faculty-Student Mentoring program, click here: https://www.alamo.edu/nvc/fsm
- NVC Helped 1998 Graduate Find Her CallingClass of 1998: Grad Story: Carmen Lott Do you have a 30 Year story to share? Please send a short summary of your story idea to NVC-News@alamo.edu. We will contact you for more information. VISIT NVC'S 30 YEAR CELEBRATION WEBPAGE
- A Student Athlete’s Journey to a Stronger FutureNathaniel Wilbank was raised in San Antonio, TX and attended high school at Antonian College Preparatory. During his time in high school, he was a dedicated and talented student athlete who played football, basketball, and baseball. After graduation, Nathaniel’s decision of where to attend college was easy thanks to his family legacy at the Alamo Colleges District (ACD) where his parents and grandfather attended San Antonio College. He was also excited to learn that he qualified for AlamoPROMISE, a last dollar scholarship that helps remove financial barriers by covering 100% of tuition and fees for eligible students. Inspired by his family’s experience and thankful for the opportunity to attend college tuition-free, Nathaniel enrolled at Palo Alto College (PAC). “If I didn’t have AlamoPROMISE, I’m not sure where I’d be right now,” said Nathaniel. At PAC, Nathaniel maintains an impressive 4.0 GPA and is part of the Welding Technology program with the goal of earning an Associate of Applied Science. He has also continued his path as a student athlete by joining the club basketball team, where has found a strong sense of support, purpose, and community. Nathaniel attributes his academic success to the PAC leadership and athletic staff who have kept him motivated and focused on his coursework. Although he remains busy with his studies and sports, he has also found time to give back to his community and has earned 25 hours of volunteer service this academic year. “I want to thank members of our athletics department staff…for pushing me to be strong academically with the required tutoring hours, biweekly grade checks, and volunteer service hours which have helped me to be a successful athlete and also a greater person,” said Nathaniel. At the ACD May 2025 Board of Trustees Meeting, Nathaniel was recognized as the AlamoPROMISE Student of the Month. During his acceptance speech, he thanked his parents for keeping him grounded and focused and acknowledged the opportunities given to him as an AlamoPROMISE Scholar. “PAC has given me the opportunity to pursue a degree and career path that I’m passionate about,” said Nathaniel. After graduation, Nathaniel plans to begin a career in welding to provide for his future family. His journey reflects the impact that access, support, and determination can have on a student’s path.
- NVC Offers Industry Certification Assistance Program.Northwest Vista College (NVC) empowers its students to enhance their job qualifications and earning potential through the Carl D. Perkins (Perkins) Certification Voucher Assistance Program for the 2024-2025 academic year. This program supports eligible Career and Technical Education (CTE) students by paying for specific industry-based certification exams. Industry certifications validate a student's skills, offering a significant advantage in the job market. According to Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations, national data indicates that individuals holding industry certifications often experience higher employment rates and increased earnings. One such certification is the CompTIA Security+, which focuses on a job candidate's knowledge of fundamental security concepts for employment in cybersecurity. As of May 19, 2025, Cyberseek.com data reveals a significant skills gap in the San Antonio-New Braunfels area: 887 job openings sought CompTIA Security+ certification, yet fewer than 10 applicants in the region hold it. And there are nearly 20,000 cybersecurity job openings in Texas with specified certification requirements. Cyberseek provides detailed and actionable data regarding the supply and demand within the cybersecurity job market. The Perkins Certification Voucher Assistance Program at NVC aims to make these valuable credentials more accessible to students. To qualify for this voucher assistance, students must be enrolled in an eligible NVC CTE Associate of Applied Science Degree or Certificate program and meet specific eligibility guidelines aligned with Perkins requirements. These guidelines include Pell Grant eligibility, demonstration of unique or special circumstances such as a disability or single parenthood, unemployment, or other barriers hindering educational achievement, as detailed in the application. NVC is currently accepting applications for these certification vouchers. Funding is limited, and awards will be granted until all available funds are exhausted, with a limit of one voucher per certification. NVC encourages all eligible CTE students to take advantage of this opportunity to invest in their future. Interested students can find detailed requirements and complete the online application. To learn more about NVC CTE programs, visit alamo.edu/nvc/cte.
- Congrats Class of 2025![hide]
- NVC Key to Career Success for Member of First Graduating Class of 1998Class of 1998: Grad Story: Veronica Arnold Do you have a 30 Year story to share? Please send a short summary of your story idea to NVC-News@alamo.edu. We will contact you for more information. VISIT NVC'S 30 YEAR CELEBRATION WEBPAGE
