ACCD News & Events

NVC Students Enjoy Animal Encounters

September 2 , 2005
Contact: Maureen Smith, Public Information Officer, Northwest Vista College
210-348-2011 m
msmith@accd.edusmith@accd.edu

The week before classes began at Northwest Vista College, students were visited by an umbrella cockatoo named Susie and a monitor lizard named Oteo.

But these students weren't at SeaWorld or the San Antonio Zoo. They were waiting in line in the college's Learning Center to register for classes and pay tuition. The unexpected appearance of large reptiles and exotic birds caused reactions that ranged from startled gasps to wide grins as several brave souls petted and posed with the animals.

The wildlife visits were not courtesy of Jack Hanna, but members of the SeaWorld Animal Encounters Team. As part of a partnership between Northwest Vista College and SeaWorld, the animals were brought to the campus to educate and entertain students while they waited in long lines to register and pay tuition.

The arrangement came as a result of a meeting between SeaWorld's General Manager Dan Decker and Director of Public Relations Fran Stevenson, Jackie Claunch, Deb Morgan, Jerry Barucky and Missy Guillot.

Members of the SeaWorld Animal Encounters Team included Jason Baca, Sarah Centeno and Marte Salcido. They were accompanied by Communications team members Josie Villela and Jason Rouse.

This was not the first time SeaWorld and Northwest Vista College have teamed up. In spring 2003, the rapidly expanding college faced a shortage of parking spaces for students, faculty and staff. SeaWorld came to the rescue, allowing NVC employees and students to park their cars in the SeaWorld parking lot and take shuttle buses to campus.

In 2004, with SeaWorld's encouragement and support, the Loro Parque zoological team from Spain's Canary Islands began English-as-a-Second-Language instruction at NVC. Loro Parque's team works alongside SeaWorld staff, acquainting themselves with the park's husbandry and training procedures.

"The recent visit by SeaWorld lightened the busy days and created a lot of excitement on campus," says NVC Corporate Liaison Missy Guillot. "SeaWorld is working with our Customized Training Group at Northwest Vista College to further develop the extraordinary partnership between these two Westover Hills neighbors."