Alumni Spotlight: Danielle Chavarria

For Danielle Chavarria, an alumna of St. Philip’s College (SPC), a personal health diagnosis became the driving force behind her pursuit of a nursing career.

Chavarria, who earned an Associate of Science degree in December 2025, said her decision to pursue a career in the medical field was shaped by her own health journey. She was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in December 2021 while still in high school.

“I went through a lot in the hospital system,” Chavarria said. “I have always had a passion for the medical field and wanted to be a nurse, but this really pushed me. I received so much compassion, and it motivated me to want to give back to someone else in the same way.”

She chose SPC for its affordability, proximity to home, medical providers, and strong academic foundation for nursing prerequisites. Encouragement from a high school dual credit English teacher also played a key role in her decision to attend SPC.

At SPC, Chavarria became actively involved through the First Year Experience (FYE) program and served as a peer mentor under College Health Coordinator Russel Adamski. She credits Adamski and a former FYE Student Success Coordinator, Kathy Valdez, as instrumental mentors who helped her grow both personally and academically.

“They were the reason I got involved on campus and out of my shell,” Chavarria said.

Chavarria said her time at SPC strengthened her confidence and reinforced her belief that her goals were within reach.

“I knew that no matter what, my goals weren’t impossible and I could reach my dream,” she said. “I just needed to put my best foot forward.”

Now, Chavarria is preparing for the next step in her educational journey. She has been accepted into a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at Schreiner University through the Promise-to-Promise program, becoming the first eligible student to transfer under the initiative.

Chavarria said she remains focused on giving back to others with the same care and support that helped her through her own journey.