NVC Key to Career Success for Member of First Graduating Class of 1998

This year Northwest Vista College (NVC) celebrates its 30th anniversary!

On April 18, 1995, the Alamo Colleges Board of Trustees approved the establishment of NVC, the fourth college in the Alamo Colleges District.

In May of 1998, NVC held its first commencement ceremony at the Mabee Library Auditorium at the University of Incarnate Word. Among the 20 graduates that year was Veronica Arnold, who earned a Certificate of Completion in Pharmacy Technology. Arnold believes graduating from NVC was key in helping her launch her 17-year career as a certified pharmacy technician at CVS Health. She began attending classes at NVC in 1997, and said that her time on the campus helped her learn important skills such as preparing to meet deadlines, paying attention to details, and how to adapt to workplace situations.

Arnold retired from CVS Health in 2017 and later worked in retail before joining The Clowvazar Academy in San Antonio in 2022 as an administrative assistant for the school that helps students with learning challenges. But that’s not her only job. For the past 18 years, she’s also been working as a girls' fast pitch umpire for the San Antonio Lone Star Officials.

“It is the best part-time job I have ever had,” she said.

Arnold has also chosen to continue her education by earning an Associate of Arts at NVC in 2022, and an Associate of Science at Palo Alto College in 2018. Currently, she’s working on an Associate of Applied Science in Administrative Assistant at San Antonio College.

While attending NVC, Arnold recalls that some of her fondest memories included enjoying the beauty of the campus and the friendliness of the instructors. Her advice to current and future community college students is to take advantage of the financial aid options, including grants.

“Don't be afraid to apply,” she said. “NVC is a great stepping stone in your scholastic and workplace career.”