ANNANDALE, Va. (May 18, 2026) — Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) celebrated its 60th commencement Monday, graduating 7,860 students who earned a combined 8,572 credentials. This outsized total reflects the rise of “credential stackers,” graduates who secured more than one degree or certification to boost their resumes for immediate workforce entry or transfer to four-year institutions.
Ambition in action: A dual mission
Launchpad for the bachelor’s degree (4,482 credentials): The majority of transfer-bound students earned the Associate of Science (AS) degree in fields like business administration, information technology and health sciences.
Workforce engine (3,726 credentials): Thousands of new graduates are entering the regional economy with immediate, “resume-ready” skills. These students earned Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees in high-demand fields like cybersecurity and nursing; Career Studies Certificates (CSC) in business information technology and network administration; and certificates in specialized fields like early childhood development.
Presidential commendation
NOVA President Anne M. Kress, PhD, commended the class for their steadfast determination, noting that many reached this milestone while balancing multiple jobs and family responsibilities.
“Today we celebrate you because you turned those dreams into reality. You turned that ambition into action—and that's what makes you extraordinary,” Kress told the graduates. “Your drive, that determination to turn ambition into action, will serve you well, always”
Extraordinary NOVA graduates
Lina Chimasuque Panqueva (AS ‘26) and Ariel Ticona (AS ‘26) were two of only 60 scholars nationwide to receive the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. The highly competitive scholarship provides up to $55,000 per year to help exceptional students complete their bachelor’s degrees.
NOVA students also claimed 12 of the 16 semifinalist spots from Virginia, selected from more than 1,300 applicants nationwide.
The 2026 Phi Theta Kappa All-Virginia Academic Team includes Liya Lemma, Javier Ramirez Chacon and Ayesha Waheed, all members of NOVA’s class of 2026. The competitive selection process recognizes high-achieving students, their leadership abilities and service to others.
From GED to MD: The power of the pathway
Keynote speaker Jonathan “Jack” Ham, MD (NOVA ’19) epitomizes the potential of the community college pathway. After starting at NOVA with a GED, Ham transferred to George Mason University and eventually the University of Virginia School of Medicine, where he graduated Sunday as a Raven Society Scholar—UVA’s highest academic honor.
Having received his medical degree only 24 hours prior to the ceremony, Ham returned to his alma mater to share a message of persistence with the Class of 2026. Passionate about improving the journey for others, Ham shared that he came to see community college not as a detour, but as the place where his academic identity truly took shape.
“One of the most important lessons that NOVA taught me was to be patient with myself,” Ham told the graduates. “It wasn't perfect, and your journey will likely also not be perfect or a straight line. But the grit and the resilience that you've developed... will continue to serve you as you move forward in the rest of your career.”
Commencement by the numbers:
- 7,860: Total eligible graduates
- 8,572: Total degrees, certificates and workforce credentials awarded
- 1,965: Registered in-person participants
- Venue: George Mason University’s EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, Va.
Note: Graduation numbers are based on data provided by the college registrar as of March 15, 2026, and may have changed slightly since then.
Watch the recording of the ceremony
Media contact: Kathy Parkinson, public information officer | 703-577-2828 | kparkinson@nvcc.edu
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About Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA)
Northern Virginia Community College is the largest public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth of Virginia and one of America’s largest community colleges. NOVA enrolls more than 76,000 students at its six campuses in Alexandria, Annandale, Loudoun, Manassas, Springfield and Woodbridge and through NOVA Online. For more information about NOVA and its programs or services, call 703-323-3000 or visit NOVA’s website.