Public Relations

Bella Vista Fire Chief Says NWACC Alumni Association is Good Idea

BENTONVILLE (Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008) - NorthWest Arkansas Community College (NWACC) has become a family affair for Bella Vista Fire Chief Steve Sims’ family and he is excited about the new NWACC Alumni Association.

Even as a child, Steve Sims (pictured) always knew he would work in fire services. Sims began his career in 1986 with the goal of becoming a Fire Chief. Thanks to his determination and a quality education, 21 years later he achieved his dream in becoming the Bella Vista Fire Chief.

Sims began his educational journey in 1990 when Springdale Memorial Hospital offered college credit classes through North Arkansas Community College that would count toward a paramedic degree. Sims graduated from that program in 1991 with a paramedic diploma but he wanted more.

In 1995 he discovered NWACC in Bentonville and took classes in the Scheduled Truck Way Building but was only able to continue for two semesters. Sims was able to return to NWACC in 2000, and in 2003 he graduated with an Associate in Fire Science and an Associate in Paramedic Science. Not only did he earn two degrees he maintained honors status and graduated Magna Cum Laude.

Sims also added to his class load by taking advantage of the articulation agreement between NWACC and Arkansas Tech. He took classes to complete a bachelor’s degree at Arkansas Tech while completing his associate degrees at NWACC. Sims graduated Cum Laude from Arkansas Tech in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management. Sims is continuing his education and is scheduled to graduate from Arkansas Tech with a Master’s Degree in Homeland Security in 2010.

Sims says he originally chose NWACC because of its low tuition and easy accessibility. Sims says that the professors at NWACC, many of whom actually work in fire services themselves, really care about the students and the education they provide the students.

“There is not one professor there that wouldn’t help a student in any way they could.” said Sims.

Sims’ wife Lisa also graduated from NWACC in 2002 with an Associate Degree in Paramedic Science. Steve and Lisa are so pleased with their NWACC education that they have decided their thirteen year old son, Jeremy, who also wants to follow in his father’s footsteps, will attend NWACC his first two years of college.

When referring to his educational experience, Sims states, “I wouldn’t take any of it back; it’s the best thing I ever did. Education really is the key to success.”

Sims is excited that NWACC is finally forming an alumni association and plans to take part in it. Sims believes that an alumni association is a great way to connect alumni as mentors with new students. He also says it is a great way to be involved with what is going on at NWACC and it is a great way to communicate and network with other alumni.

The NWACC Alumni Association will hold its Alumni Welcome Back to NWACC picnic on Saturday, August 23, noon till 2:00 pm on the lawn behind the new Student Center.

For more information contact Becky Hudson, Alumni Relations Coordinator at rhudson1@nwacc.edu or 479-619-3103 or visit www.nwacc.edu/alumni.

This page was last updated on:  December 21, 2009 @ 8:51 am