Criminal justice sophomore Cody Sanders and art sophomore Maddie Mason compete in the bungee cord races, hosted by the Business Student Organization, April 24 at Northwest Vista’s 20th Birthday Celebration. The objective of the race is to place a velcro wrapped bean bag as far away from the starting point before the bungee cord pulls the participant back. Sanders won every round. Photo by Tyrin Bradley
Education sophomore Kassandra Ferrel paints an hour glass on the face of Valerie Montalvo, Historical Hares history club president and liberal arts freshman, April 24 at Northwest Vista’s 20th birthday celebration. The hourglass is the symbol of the history club. Photo by Tyrin Bradley
Students and faculty celebrate the birthday with a parade.
By Nathalie Mora
sac-ranger@alamo.edu
To celebrate Northwest Vista’s 20th birthday, faculty, staff and students marched across the bridge over Northwest Vista Lake in golf carts decorated for Fiesta.
President Ric Baser and faculty members led the parade in golf carts as students from various student associations marched behind waving to the crowd of about 200 people.
The April 23 parade, known as the “the shortest Fiesta parade,” took less than five minutes, but created a large amount excitement in the crowd.
After singing “Happy Birthday,” Baser gave a short speech about the college’s progression.
Baser, who has served as president for less than one year, said Northwest Vista has come a long way in 20 short years.
He became president of the college in August 2014.
“We have a great history, great faculty and great students,” he said.
The college grew from being a campus with one building and one trailer to having 12 buildings and a lake.
Classes at Northwest Vista began in fall 1995 at partner sites, including high schools in Northside Independent School District, Baptist Institute of Health Education and the Memorial Hospital System.
Baser expects nothing but growth for the college that started with seven students and now boasts more than 16,000, and he looks forward to being part of that.
Baser and other faculty members continued the celebration by passing out cupcakes.
“It’s a great event to be a part of,” business administration sophomore Victor Tadefa III said. “Everyone is upbeat and happy.”
An inflatable slide, temporary tattoo stations and a food truck were among the activities.
Each year, Northwest Vista has a Fiesta celebration, but the added excitement over the college’s birthday made the event more special, Gary Bowling, coordinator of student development, said.
