Northwest Vista College didn’t let a pandemic keep it from celebrating its graduates.
On a cold night at Six Flags Fiesta Texas, hundreds of cars filled its expansive parking lot to view four large movie screens. Students trickled in with decorated cars, caps and gowns, and were ready to honk and have parties in their vehicles with glow sticks and disco balls.
About 480 cars were present for NVC’s first-ever drive-in event. Many of the cars came with family and friends, and another 1,728 people viewed the 2020 commencement video that was shown at Fiesta Texas.
While numbers are still preliminary, about 1,600 students have completed an associate degree or certificate in fall 2019 and spring, summer and fall 2020. This past May, NVC had to go from having an indoor ceremony to a virtual one. This first-ever winter ceremony took the place of the May in-person ceremony.
The speakers were:
- Dr. Ric Baser: NVC President
- Dr. Mike Flores: ACD Chancellor
- Marcelo Casillas, Board of Trustees Chair
- Keynote: Dr. Shelia Simmons: CEO & NVC Business Council Chairperson
- NVC Alumna: Sarah Senger
The NVC committee given the unprecedented challenge to coordinate this event:
- Dr. Lisa McGoldrick- Chair
- Mallory Plummer
- Marie Morgan
- Paul Vallejo
- Kim Lisenbardt
- Dr. Randall Garza
- Firely Vincent
- Terrance Parker
- Jonathon Gonzales
- Elladean Moreno
- Sharon Dresser