Kastille Cranefield knew she had to make a change after working as a pharmacy technician for 10 years, including working on the front lines of the COVID crisis, which took a toll on her. She was determined to move on and put that difficult experience behind her.
Carlton Reid battled a health crisis that kept him from attending middle and high school. During this difficult period, he was being homeschooled and took a class at NOVA. However, things did not go well. Nevertheless, he persevered and returned to NOVA later to pursue college success.
Switching professions can be daunting, but Daniel Rivera made a promise to reinvent himself and start a new career after working in the hospitality industry for a decade. He had no clue how to get started, what the new career might look like or even how long it would take to make the switch.
Jaden Todd is a techie and a NOVA Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (CCDC) team member. He spends a lot of time in the cybersecurity lab on the Woodbridge Campus, where the team practices. It is his second home. When Jaden first visited the lab, he knew this was where he belonged.
In the summer of 2021, Deborah Castellanos was one of the first women in NOVA’s Data Center Operations (DCO) program and the first Hispanic female. Two years ago, she landed a job in the Data Center industry.
Jason Howell is a very proud alumnus, even though he never expected to attend NOVA. He went to W.T. Woodson High School in Fairfax for nearly four years but ended up graduating from Osbourn High School in Manassas after his family moved.
NOVA is extremely proud that President Anne M. Kress and VCCS Chancellor David Doré have both been named to Virginia Business magazine’s “Virginia 500 Power List for 2023-2024.” The fourth annual edition lists the Commonwealth’s top executives in 20 categories.
Wendell Jones was the first in his family to graduate from college. Wendell is a highly accomplished individual who earned a four-year degree and two master's degrees from the University of Washington, in Seattle.
Renee Ibanez worked as a certified dental assistant for 16 years. She recently returned to NOVA to retrain and retool to prepare herself for a career in the exploding field of data center operations. After hearing about NOVA’s Data Center Operations Program from friends, she decided it was the career change she was looking for.
Today, we’re celebrating a birthday–107 years! In 1916, the National Park Service (NPS) was signed into existence with the National Park Service Act. As we celebrate this day, we also celebrate NOVA Nighthawk and spring 2023 grad Anthony DeJesus, an NPS employee who took his career to the next level earning an AAS in Biology from NOVA.
NOVA’s first summer study abroad program at Abertay University in Dundee, Scotland, was a resounding success after several years in the making, which included a COVID-19 delay.
A co-worker once told Daniel Harwood that he was too smart to waste his time working at a restaurant. Already knowing that was not his calling, Daniel decided it was time to switch careers and went to work at a bank. After working at the bank for a considerable time, Daniel felt unfulfilled in his career.
Maroua El Alaoui recently completed the inaugural Ethical Hacking, Cybersecurity and Criminology Bootcamp at Abertay University in Scotland. This is a first-of-its-kind program offered by NOVA at Abertay.
At schools like NOVA, the band Metallica has the appreciation of students…for more than just their music. Many enjoy the band’s songs, but others are grateful for the band's financial support and assistance.
NOVA Student Iyouel Endashaw Feels NOVA has Set Him Up for Success, NOVA Nighthawk Heading Towards a Career in Foreign Service, Selected for State Department’s FAIT Fellowship
David Proakis is grateful for the band Metallica! It's not that he knows any of the band members, but it was through the band's foundation, All Within My Hands, that he got the financial support he needed to pursue an Information Technology class at NOVA.
Samar Rafiqzad is a first-year NOVA student with a passion for advocacy work. She is helping others understand what sexual violence is and how to prevent it.
Elisabeth Bodin is on track to graduate with an associate degree in teacher education this fall. She has a love of history and an insatiable desire to continuously learn about the past.
Limar Aryan is pursuing his dream after winning a Gilman Scholarship! Winning the scholarship gave him a sense of worth. It helped change his perspective and allowed him to see his potential.
Sean Michael Shuman found himself as a caregiver for an ill family member after wrapping up his studies at NOVA. Even the best of us can be greatly impacted during such difficult times, and Sean was no exception.
Apart from my STEM classes, I greatly appreciate Dr. Dali Tan. She is my Chinese professor, who told me about an opportunity that led me to a USAID internship. She's always sharing valuable opportunities with her students.
Last week, the NOVA Educational Foundation (The Foundation) hosted a kick-off event to launch the new ‘NOVA Alumni and Friends’ Network where alumnae spanning the decades came to share their empowering stories of how NOVA changed their lives.
Sadia Jahir Annona, a recent NOVA graduate, was the last student to walk across the stage at NOVA’s May 15 commencement. Sadia is the consummate over achiever—she was a dedicated student, Gilman Scholar and the voice of students to the College’s administration as student liaison to the College Board.
As far back as Britney Phillips can remember, she could sing! She realized she had a gift after singing in front of people and seeing their reactions. This encouragement from others inspired her to start really focusing on her singing in elementary school, and eventually, she began training with voice coaches.
Yency Jovel, a recent NOVA graduate, has always been taught how important education is. To her, going to college and continuing her education pursuits was not a question. She is determined to continue pursuing her bachelor's degree, then master's program, and eventually doctorates – while working in the medical field.
At the end of May, officers from the U.S. Department of Education’s office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) visited NOVA’s Medical Education Campus for a conversation on skills-first training. Richard Cordray, FSA’s chief operating officer, and his team came to learn about how NOVA is creating an on-going pipeline to fill the region’s in-demand jobs, especially for critical healthcare workers.
NOVA’s annual “Meet the Grads” series is spotlighting Mildred Waller, a woman who felt college was out of her grasp; but in May she graduated alongside two of her daughters.
Peter Fortin is about to finish up at NOVA and transfer with a full-ride scholarship to Williams College in Massachusetts. Things are looking up for him now, but he wasn’t always feeling so optimistic about life.
Kevin Baisden is a student on a mission—to be the best version of himself and to help others. He got his start at NOVA and then went to Columbia for a B.A. with a joint major in economics and philosophy.
In closing AANHPI Month, we celebrate author Hanh Bui for writing a book that recognizes young readers’ discovery of their heritage. The book is called The Yellow Áo Dài.
Wrapping up AANHPI Heritage Month at NOVA, the office of DEI held an event focusing on caring for your mental health as an Asian American Pacific Islander. May is also Mental Health Month.
Nicole Goldberg is a brand-new NOVA grad! She took part in NOVA’s spring commencement on May 15. Ever since Nicole took her first Chinese class in elementary school, she fell in love with the language and culture.
NOVA continues to celebrate National Nurses Month with CCMA Caitlin Huynh. Through G3 funding, Caitlin received her Certified Clinical Medical Assistant training quickly and affordably. Her experience in the classroom has contributed to her confidence and success in a competitive workforce.
A few years ago, Grace Rai could never have imagined that she would have back-to-back graduations, or that she would be graduating from a two-year college before finishing high school.
As NOVA continues to celebrate AAPI Heritage Month, meet Ollie Bao Tran Vo, who prefers to go by Ollie Vo. She loves helping students and is fascinated by economics!
Inspired by the bravery and resilience of his parents, Hamed Hamed has thrived at NOVA and will graduate next week with an A.S. in Engineering. Hamed hopes to apply his love of technology to the healthcare field and discover medical advancements through artificial intelligence.
Two NOVA Nighthawks, are among 60 national high-achieving community college students selected to receive the 2023 Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. The highly competitive national scholarship aims for it promising Cooke Scholars to complete their undergraduate educations with as little debt as possible.
In kicking off NOVA’s annual “Meet the Grads” series, NOVA is spotlighting, Jim Carlisle for a video chronicling his achievements. After serving in the military from the ages of 18 to 37, he pursued jobs in logistics management, moved across the country and now is laser focused on continuing his education—to help others by opening a mental wellness center.
Sandra Janet Medrano Alvarez, who prefers to go by Janet, graduated from Osbourn High School in Manassas City. She never imagined she could attend college since there was no way to afford it.
After leaving her childhood community behind, Laurie found empowerment through her pursuit of higher education. This spring, she will graduate with her second degree from NOVA and proudly recalls her community college experience as “life-changing.”
May is National Nurses Month, and NOVA is spotlighting one of our amazing Nursing students. Meet Jaime Alvarenga. He can testify that you never know where life will take you.
May is AAPI Heritage Month, and we are spotlighting Cindy Tran who wanted to follow her peers to a four-year university after high school, but the pandemic shut that down. It was then that Cindy turned to NOVA.
Kimberly Cocchi (pronounced KAH-chee) is a non-traditional student-parent whose plan to go back to school ignited her dreams to achieve greatness. Cocchi aspires to help solve real world problems, like closing the wealth gap and stabilizing the economy while creating equity and equal opportunity within diverse markets.
On April 20th, 2023, the NOVA Educational Foundation launched its second annual ‘Giving Day,’ a 24-hour virtual fundraiser in support of NOVA student achievement. Over $53,000 was raised to support student success and meet emerging needs of the college.
Brittany Piper is busy with speaking engagements during April, which is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. She is a national sexual violence prevention expert, healing coach and survivor.
Northern Virginia Community College’s Annandale campus hosted an inaugural Virginia Community College Experiential Conference on Saturday, April 15, 2023 at the Long Nguyen and Kimmy Doung Theater, located in the Richard J. Ernst Community Cultural Center at 8333 Little Turnpike Road, Annandale, VA, 22003.
Arthur Tamayo provided the keynote address for the 2023 NOVA SEAL Awards. Among the most prestigious student award given by the College, SEAL awards are giving to students who exhibit exemplary Service, Engagement, Academics and Leadership.
Shannon Left uses her eye for the arts to bring a fresh perspective to her many technical pursuits. She has accomplished much during her time at NOVA and will graduate in May with an associate of applied science degree and three career studies certificates.
Stefania came to the States in January 2020, just months before the COVID-19 pandemic took hold. Moving to a new country all alone is challenging, but the pandemic made it even harder. She admits it was scary when she first arrived, and the shutdown started.
As we continue to celebrate Community College Month, meet Sydney Guthrie, a dual-enrollment student at NOVA. She graduates in May with an associate degree in science and a 4.0 GPA. A month later, she will finish her junior year at James Madison High School in Vienna, Va.
Tenzin Tsega was a senior in high school when the COVID shutdown began. He used that time to work on himself, improve his mental health, figure out who he was, and find his purpose in life.
If you've ever wondered what’s possible for a NOVA student, prepare to hear the inspirational story of Kellie Blair Hardt.
Meet NOVA student Dylan Salgado! His journey has been one of constant moving and upheaval. For him, it wasn’t just about moving to different states but different countries.
Faris Shaheen was still deciding what he wanted to study when he started at NOVA. He absolutely loves anything to do with computers, but he’s afraid if he has a career in computers that, between his passion and his career, he’ll eventually get sick of it and even get nauseous just at the sight of a computer.
Christine Schull, NOVA professor and SCHEV Outstanding Faculty Awardee has been educating students for more than 25 years. She began working in early learning as an undergrad, working in various settings with infants, toddlers, preschoolers, school age children and adults with developmental disabilities.
This week is about celebrating neurodiversity and focusing on the talents of those with neurodivergent brains. Neurodiversity is part of human diversity. Like fingerprints, no two brains are quite alike.
Rose Lockerby has a special heart and a true passion to care for others. The good she does and will continue to do is the result of a difficult and emotionally challenging experience she lived through while growing up.
This International Women’s Day, we celebrate Paola Septien Brown who wants to continue to inspire and hopes to transfer and study international business.
In celebration of Women’s History Month, NOVA is highlighting one of our Esports athletes. Madison Davidson prefers to be called Maddie!
Happy Study Abroad Day! NOVA’s Office of International Education and Sponsored Programs (OIESP) is dedicated to guiding students in their study abroad experiences.
Jannatul Ferdaus is a first-generation student from South Asia. For as long as she can remember, and following the death of a close family member when she was very young, she has wanted a career in medicine.
NOVA recently hosted a roundtable of students and faculty along with federal representatives from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
"Initially, I was pursuing a degree in computer engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst during the 2021 spring semester,” Christopher Aviles-Sanchez said.
Kimberly Mitchell was stunned to learn she won the Gilman Scholarship. “I’m so thankful because I didn’t think I had it in me, I did not think I would win, but I’m so glad that I did!”
Nicolas Rodriguez recently celebrated his 32nd birthday! The next day, he was flying to Tokyo, Japan, to do an internship.
Dear Colleagues, Northern Virginia Community College expresses sympathy and concern regarding the devastating earthquake in Syria and Turkey and the tragic impact on members of our community–particularly our Syrian and Turkish employees and students, those with family and friends in Syria and Turkey, and members of the military and diplomatic services.
Korean culture has always intrigued Farah Mohamed. Instead of studying Spanish or French in high school, Farah studied Korean. Although she applied for a Gilman scholarship to study abroad, she wasn’t confident in her essays and felt she probably wouldn't win.
As we observe the “International Day of Women and Girls in Science” on Feb. 11, we would like you to meet Professor Jill Caporale, who teaches Biology and Environmental Science at NOVA’s Annandale Campus.
Jim Carlisle served in the military, worked in logistics management, moved across the country and focused on continuing his education - all to fulfill his goal of helping others by opening a mental wellness center.
Rose Mary Bellamy, a proud NOVA alumna, kicks off Black History Month with her advice on what it takes to attain your dreams.
Licia Washington is from Gloucester, Va., and although she has a community college in her hometown, she relocated to attend NOVA.
On January 19, Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) hosted a formal ribbon-cutting and grand opening ceremony for the newly established AAPI Intercultural Learning Center.
NOVA is proud to again partner with Volunteer Fairfax in commemorating https://www.volunteerfairfax.org/ Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. MLK Day honors the civil rights leader, his legacy and his impact.
Meet Amanda Zubricki, a powerful and persistent advocate for the deaf and hard of hearing. A registered dental hygienist, speaker and influencer, Amanda was born profoundly deaf and wears hearing aids.
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