Alumni Spotlights

The NWACC Foundation is honored to recognize the achievements of our distinguished alumni. To be considered for a feature, please contact Alumni@nwacc.edu.

Benjamin Schaap, Class of 2018

Benjamin Schaap took several introductory software engineering courses at NWACC simply out of personal interest. Although he ultimately earned a business degree at his four‑year institution, the technical foundation he built in those early classes inspired him to continue learning on his own. That self‑driven exploration paid off—he secured a software engineering role upon graduating in 2020.

Throughout his career, Schaap has remained connected to NWACC and recently established the Schaap Family Alumni Scholarship, which supports current students as they pursue their education and meaningful career paths. The scholarship encourages learners to explore subjects beyond their degree requirements, empowering them to discover classes that spark both personal passion and professional growth.

Schaap also offers a piece of advice to current students:
“Before you graduate, write down what success will mean to you in five years. Life can take you down surprising paths, and sometimes it’s helpful to have a reminder of your original goals.”

Ethan Martinez, Class of 2023

Ethan currently works in marketing and business development, where he serves as the Vice President of Business Development at Martinez Agency. Here, he focuses on helping businesses grow through strategic branding, digital marketing, and community engagement.

In reference to his time at education, Ethan said, “My time at NWACC played a huge role in shaping my career path. The classes, professors, and hands-on experiences gave me the foundational skills I needed to think critically, communicate effectively, and take initiative. NWACC taught me how to turn creativity into strategy and gave me the confidence to pursue opportunities beyond the classroom. It was the place where I learned to connect passion with purpose — lessons that continue to guide me every day in my professional journey.”

Jake Good-Fernandez, Class of 2024

Areli Cabera, Class of 2021

Areli is a 2021 NWACC graduate. During her time at NWACC she was involved in the Honors Society. Areli was the recipient of the Ruby B. Mathews Endowed scholarship while enrolled at NWACC.

Since graduating, Areli has completed her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Arkansas. She plans to continue her education in pursuit of a Master of Social Work. Most recently, Areli represented the NWACC Alumni Association as the 2024 Plant-A-Seed Soiree alumni speaker.

Jonathan Janacek, Class of 2019

Jonathan Janacek is a 2019 Construction Technology graduate and current president of Janacek Remodeling, a construction company originally started by his father, that continues to serve Northwest Arkansas.

Janacek started with NWACC in high school by taking concurrent classes and has since been a close member of the NWACC Family. In 2019, he taught construction courses alongside faculty for two years. However, he has been back on campus multiple times since 2021 to assist in many teaching capacities. He also spoke at the 2023 Plant-a-Seed Soiree hosted by the NWACC Foundation. In 2022, he established the Janacek Remodeling Scholarship. “For me, giving back to NWACC through scholarships has been a way to allow other students to reach their dreams the same way I was finally able to reach mine myself.”

When speaking about NWACC to the community, he keeps empowering students as his main goal. “There is a place for every student at NWACC, whether traditional or non-traditional, there is a place for every single student.”

Shelley Attaway, Class of 2020

Shelley Attaway works as a Computer Lab Supervisor at Northwest Arkansas Community College, where she utilizes her skills and expertise to assist students and faculty with technology-related issues. In addition to her role as a technology assistant, Attaway also serves as a tutor, helping students with computer information assignments and programming.

After several years of working in childcare and raising three children of her own, Attaway pursued her dream of a career in technology. Despite the challenges of managing both her home and education during the global pandemic, she completed her AAS in Computer Information from Northwest Community College.