For the second year in the row, students were encouraged to participate in a writing contest titled "Why a Degree." The contest asks students to pick different themes that surround accomplishment, money, opportunity and better jobs.

Organized by the NVC Public Relations team, the contest had 66 submissions. First, second and third place winners were selected. What’s unique this year is that four people tied for the second place so it was decided that NVC would award four, second prizes which is $150 for each of the students. The top winner gets $250. The third place winner gets a $50 gift card to the NVC bookstore    

The goal of the contest is to have students commit to earning a degree from NVC by thinking and writing about it and explaining why they think it’s important. This contest is for students but it also brings together faculty and staff who evaluate the essays. Twenty employees from across the college reviewed the essays. Below are the winners of the contest and here's a link to the essay from the top winner. 

• Stacia Hernandez – $250 scholarship 
• Tracy Christian – $150 scholarship 
• Richard Havel – $150 scholarship 
• Jonathan Machuca – $150 scholarship 
• Kimberly Redgate - $150 scholarship 
• Cynthia Reyes - $50 NVC bookstore gift card