Nathaniel 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.

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.

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Class 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

A Significant Milestone on a Journey Janell Casias has long held the dream of a college education. As she steps onto the commencement stage on May 22, 2025, she carries with her a history of challenges that have fueled her resolve. The Distinguished Graduate Award, sponsored by GM Financial, recognizes students for their campus and community involvement, leadership, and dedication to Northwest Vista College. This year, it honors Janell Casias, a student whose journey to this milestone is marked by remarkable resilience and lifelong pursuit of education. Currently a medical assistant and office manager for a pulmonary care group in San Antonio, Janell plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in nursing at St. Philip’s College with a focus on critical care. Looking ahead, she also hopes to establish a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting pregnant teens with mental health resources and other essential services. Janell understands the challenges faced by teen moms. At the age of 14, she became a mother. By 16, she endured the loss of her own mother and navigated early adulthood largely on her own. Demonstrating remarkable resourcefulness, Janell used her savings to buy a foreclosed home with cash at the age of 20. While the remodeling process was lengthy, her four-bedroom, two-bathroom house eventually became the home she envisioned. Janell, who eventually became a mother of four, always knew that college was necessary, yet she prioritized her children and never wanted them to feel like they were an obstacle to her ambitions. Ten years ago, she said she attempted to attend classes, but the demands of raising young children and being in a difficult marriage created significant barriers. The shift towards online learning following COVID provided Janell with a renewed opportunity. With her children now more independent and free from a marriage that stifled her aspirations, she re-enrolled in college. Balancing full-time work with online classes proved to be the key to achieving her long-held educational goal. Reflecting on her journey, Janell has learned a valuable lesson she shares with others: “You have to believe in yourself and make that first step.” For Janell, earning her associate’s degree is a powerful fulfillment of a promise made to her 13-year-old self, a significant milestone on a journey that she confidently knows will continue with pursuing a master's degree. Click Here to Visit the NVC Commencement Webpage

The 2025 Tailar Kai Matthews Memorial Scholarship has been awarded to four deserving current NVC students: Holly Cripps, Jackeline Grimaldo, Robert Ortega, and Ghadeer Ramadan. Tragically passing away in July 2023 in a fatal car accident, Tailar Kai Matthews’ presence was back on campus on May 7 with a scholarship celebration honoring her presence. Dr. Don Lucas and Tailar's mother, Portia Matthews, formed the Tailar Kai Matthews Memorial Scholarship in the fall of 2023. The Tailar Kai Matthews Memorial Scholarship is awarded every spring semester on April 23 (World Book and Copyright Day).  Matthews graduated from Northwest Vista College as a psychology major in May of 2018. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2020, and three years later, her master’s degree in social work, both degrees from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Matthews' passion for her academic journey always included being helpful, giving, and being a voracious reader. The Tailar Kai Matthews Memorial Scholarship honors these three things. Tailar Matthews’ mother, Portia Matthews, said to the winners, “From this day forward, a part of Tailar is with you on your academic journeys.” Scholarship winner, Ghadeer Ramadan, who was with her husband and two daughters, said, “I am committed to honoring the legacy of Tailar through hard work and achievement. Thank you again for your generosity. Your support is not only helping me reach my goals but also inspiring me to give back to others in the future.” Others in attendance at the celebration included NVC President Dr. Amy Bosley, and NVC Social Sciences chair Paul Northway. “It was heartwarming to see the love and lives Tailar touched during her journey at NVC and at the University of Texas at San Antonio, a journey that now continues through the Tailar Kai Matthews Memorial Scholarship,” said Northway. Also, in attendance was UTSA’s Assistant Professor of Social Work, Jelena Todic, and NVC’s Professor of Psychology and Psychology Department coordinator Dr. Don Lucas. “Being an expert in your content area of specialization certainly is a part of being a good professor,” said Dr. Lucas. “But, by far, the greatest part of being a good professor is disseminating content in a fashion that allows students to grow and flourish from making the content their own. This growth and flourishing creates unique bonds between students and teachers. Some of these bonds are never forgotten. Tailar and I have one of these bonds.” Scholarship winner, Jackeline Grimaldo, expressed her thanks to those attending the celebration by noting that within a year, she will be among the first to graduate from NVC with a Bachelor of Applied Technology Degree in Cloud Computing, a feat she credited to scholarship opportunities such as the Tailar Kai Matthews Memorial Scholarship. Another scholarship winner, Holly Cripps, said she’s graduating next year with an associate degree and majoring in psychology.  “This scholarship is especially meaningful to me because I have always had a deep love for reading — something I know was important to Tailar,” Cripps added. “Books have been my refuge, my inspiration, and my source of knowledge throughout life. It feels incredibly special to receive a scholarship that honors someone who shared that same love for reading. I hope to honor Tailar’s memory by continuing to learn, grow, and give back to my community.” Representatives of the newly formed nonprofit organization, The Tailar Way Inc. — Mykala Castille, Gladys Cisneros, Joselyne Gonzales, and Lisa Griffin — donated $2,500 to the Tailar Kai Matthews Memorial Scholarship fund at the ceremony. Sofia Ongay and Molly Wilkes from the Alamo Colleges Foundation officially accepted this generous contribution. The new scholarship winners are now forever linked to the inscription on the Tailar Kai Matthews Memorial Scholarship plaque in the NVC psychology department that reads:  “The greatest gift you’ll leave behind in this world is your book of life. Fill its pages with unapologetic love, roaring laughter, intentional friendships, and a relentless pursuit of the most incredible adventures imaginable.” For application details on the scholarship, contact Dr. Lucas at dlucas@alamo.edu.