For the fourth year in a row, the Public Relations team conducted the “Why a Degree: Writing Contest” as part of the degree completion campaign to enhance student and employee perception about the importance of completing a degree or certificate at Northwest Vista College.
The objective of the contest is to encourage students to think about completion and commit to writing it as a goal. Another objective of the project is to engage a diverse group of NVC faculty and staff in the completion process by learning first-hand why students want to pursue an associate degree or certificate.
Many thanks go out to the 24 faculty and staff members who reviewed the essays. They got a rare glimpse into the hearts and minds of 61 NVC students who participated in the Writing Contest and shared their stories of perseverance towards earning a degree or certificate from NVC. Here's a list of employees who participated as judges: [file 1].
With the support of NVC President Jackie Claunch, and Lynne Dean, director of Institutional Advancement, and the NVC bookstore, NVC awarded $1,200 in gift card prizes to the Writing Contest participants. In addition, all students who entered the contest received an NVC thumb drive. The students who earned the most points for their stories won the top prizes. To see the winners, go here.
The essay contest is expected to continue next year thanks to the generous support of NVC alum and adjunct faculty member, Jon Earl, whose donation helped establish the NVC Degree Writing Contest Program fund.
“As an NVC graduate, I know how important it is to have people supporting you, and a feeling that the faculty really cares about your progress and learning,” said Jon. “It means a lot to me because I see students coming into English classes afraid of what college will be like, and by the time they leave my class, they realize how rewarding college will be (and that it is not so scary after all).”
Employees and community members can contribute to the Writing Contest fund (#340001) any time by contacting Lynne Dean at (210) 486-4135 or via email at ldean12@alamo.edu.
Here are two excerpts from the student's stories:
“I lost my father on August 5, 2009. That hit me hard; I had given up on everything, but it was this loss and the help that I received from counselors and friends that gave me the chance to turn around and go after what I want. That was when I decided to return to school and pursue my degree.”
“I am currently still a full time student working towards an Associate’s Degree in Business Management/Administration. I also still work full time, raise my three boys and maintain a 4.0 GPA. It is tremendously important for me to get a degree because I want to show my children that it can be done, that nothing should ever get in the way of following your dreams no matter how difficult, no matter how challenging, no matter how impossible it may seem.”
Contributed by Renata Serafin, Director of NVC Public Relations