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Featured Articles

NOVA’s First Winter Commencement Recognizes Continued Student Achievement

Last week, Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) celebrated our Winter 2021 graduating class at our inaugural Winter Commencement. The commencement theme, “Go Boldly,” exemplified the tenacity of our NOVA Nighthawks as they embarked on the next stage of their journey, and they expressed appreciation to the faculty and staff members who guided them to success.

Winter Commencement

Meet the Grads - Brianna Ontiveros

Every student at NOVA brings a different story, and a different perspective on student success and achievement. Commencement brings to life their accomplishments. For a student like, Brianna Ontiveros, she has always known that she was meant to be in the healthcare field. At NOVA, she has successfully completed one step towards becoming a nurse practitioner and the institution is proud of #NOVANighthawk in graduating at the 2021 Winter Commencement and sharing her story.

Meet the Grads - Brianna Ontiveros

Meet the Grads - Sarah Dade

Every student at NOVA brings a different story, and a different perspective on student success and achievement. Commencement brings to life their accomplishments. For a student like, Sarah Dade who returned for a second degree at NOVA after completing her first here 11 years ago, she looks forward to becoming an amazing educator.

Meet the Grads - Sarah Dade

NOVA’s Kwabena Konadu Receives SCHEV’s 2022 Outstanding Faculty Award

NOVA is excited to announce that our own Cybersecurity Professor Kwabena Konadu is among one of 12 recipients of Virginia’s ‘2022 Outstanding Faculty Awards.’ The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) and Dominion Energy jointly announced the award recipients yesterday recognizing exceptional faculty at Virginia’s institutions of higher learning who exemplify the highest standards of teaching, scholarship and service. Each recipient will receive a $7,500 award from Dominion Energy at an in-person ceremony on March 1, 2022.

NOVA’s Kwabena Konadu Receives SCHEV’s 2022 Outstanding Faculty Award

Meet Our Veteran Grad, John-Albert Villanueva

Every student at NOVA brings a different story, and a different perspective on student success and achievement. John Albert Villanueva is a returning student who aspired to finish his degree here and did it exceptionally!

Meet Our Veteran Grad, John-Albert Villanueva

NOVA Celebrates CNA Grads And First Metallica Scholars Cohort

On Friday, December 3rd, NOVA celebrated a fantastic Nurse Aid graduation, which also included the first cohort of Metallica Scholar Nighthawks who have completed their Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) training. All students in the program are recipients of funding from Metallica’s All Within My Hands (AWMH) grant, stewarded by the Association of Community Colleges (AACC); Virginia’s Fast Forward Program, Re-Employing Virginians (G3) or FANTIC.

NOVA Celebrates CNA Grads And First Metallica Scholars Cohort

Student Nick Carr-Voigt Finds a Second Chance Through G3 Scholarship

Nick Carr-Voigt is one of NOVA’s amazing G3 students. G3 is an initiative allowing Virginian’s of low to modest income to get the skills they need to get a skill, get a job and get ahead (G3). G3 scholarship makes community college possible for those who financially qualify on a timeline that works for them (full time, part time, a few weeks or a few years).

Student Nick Carr-Voigt Finds a Second Chance Through G3 Scholarship

NOVA and Virginia Tech Commemorate Newly Formed Cyber Pathway Program

On November 12th, 2021, Northern Virginia Community College and Virginia Tech Pamplin College of Business held a partnership-signing ceremony celebrating the newly-formed Business Information Technology – Cybersecurity Management and Analytics (BIT-Cyber) program.

Dr. Cyril Clarke, Dr. Robert T. Sumichrast, Dr. Anne M. Kress and Dr. Eun-Woo Chang

Recent NOVA Certificate Graduate Talks About Her Amazing Journey into Healthcare

Arona Coelho was recently featured in a Wall Street Journal article by Tamar Jacoby, president of Opportunity America. The piece discussed the economy’s reliance on institutions of higher ed. for a fast, skills-focused education that pays off in the labor market. Coelho represents the bold type of NOVA student who finds connections in each other to share stories of adversity and successes.

NOVA Alum, Arona Coelho

Meet Rommel Aguilar Cardenas: Looking Back; Going Forward

He began work at NOVA's Woodbridge Campus in 2014, going from admissions and enrollment to student life and now, he is a retention advisor. “I cannot help but to see myself in the eyes of the many Latinx students that are still struggling to find themselves and struggling with identity, insecurities and self-doubt as they manage to overcome barriers in pursuit of their American dream, a college education.”

Meet Rommel Aguilar Cardenas: Looking Back; Going Forward

Meet Jenny Lopez: She Advises Students to Build Their Support Network and to Keep an Open Mind!

Jenny Lopez has taught at NOVA for nine years. She teaches communication studies at the Woodbridge Campus, as well as advising students and helping them to plan their course schedule and serving on college-wide committees. “I am grateful to work at NOVA because of the diverse population of students we serve in the community. Each semester, I appreciate the knowledge my students share with me about their culture and life experiences.”

Jenny Lopez

Meet Carlo Solano, One of NOVA's Software Developers

“He is a steadfast workhorse who is absolutely the best to work with!“ Well, that is high praise sent from Kelly Persons, executive director of the NOVA Foundation. Who deserves such praise? Carlo Solano, software developer in NOVA’s Information Technology Division, that’s who. In continuing our Hispanic Heritage Month profiles, we wanted to introduce you to one of NOVA’s “unsung heroes,” another phrase used to describe Carlo.

Meet Carlo Solano, One of NOVA's Software Developers

MONICA GOMEZ WANTS TO HELP FIRST-GEN STUDENTS SEEKING HIGHER ED.

Monica Gomez is currently the college readiness counselor in the Office of Recruitment and Admissions at NOVA’s Loudoun Campus. She celebrated 15 years at NOVA this past June, and she has worked in higher education since 2003, starting as a student services coordinator with the Universities at Shady Grove.

Monica Gomez Serves as a Panelist at Student Event

Three NOVA Students to Receive Lockheed Martin Vocational Training Scholarships

Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) and Lockheed Martin are proud to announce that three NOVA students have been selected to receive a Lockheed Martin Vocational Training Scholarship. The Vocational Training Scholarship program is the first of its kind within the aerospace and defense industry and awards up to $6,600 to as many as 150 recipients each year.

Three NOVA Students to Receive Lockheed Martin Vocational Training Scholarships

NOVA Bids Farewell to Dr. Sheri Robertson

Dr. Sheri Robertson, after serving almost 39 years at NOVA (plus 2 years as an Agriculture Extension Agent) will be joining the Virginia Community College System as an Associate Vice President for Academic and Workforce Policy with the start date of July 1st, 2021. She will be taking on a role to review and revise policy, as well as, to advise on systemwide transfer efforts.

Dr. Sheri Robertson

NOVA Spotlights Ways in Northern Virginia to Commemorate Juneteenth

Juneteenth, officially Juneteenth National Independence Day, also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, and Liberation Day celebrates the emancipation of those who had been enslaved in the United States. Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 when the Union arrived in Galveston, Texas to enforce the emancipation of enslaved people in Texas (almost 3 years after the declaration of the Emancipation Proclamation). The holiday Juneteenth, which is observed on June 19, has long been celebrated in Black communities across the U.S., and there has been a continued push for wider recognition of the day.

Juneteenth Flag

A Mother's Day Feature with Frances Villagran-Glover

What brought me to NOVA was the military. My husband served in the Marine Corps, and we were stationed several times in Virginia at Quantico. I used to move every six years, and this is my sixth community college that I’ve worked at.

Frances in her graduation regalia posing for a photo with her children.

NOVA Alumnus Headed for PhD and MD Program Says NOVA Accepts All and Helps Build Students

NOVA is one of the most accepting, diverse and honestly excellent institutions. There are two kinds of institutions – the kind that takes you on when you’re done building yourself and then claims credit – and then, there’s the institution that builds you. NOVA is an institution that builds you. NOVA will give you the resources you need, you just need to take advantage of it.

Sadik Karma in graduation regalia poses for a photo with family.

Profile Feature Story of Dr. Felicia Blakeney

Dr. Felicia Blakeney, first-year advisor and assistant professor at NOVA, talks about what brought her to the college and how she aims to continue to make a difference.

Profile Feature Story of Dr. Felicia Blakeney
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