On November 10, 2019, Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) hosted a Veterans Day Breakfast, which honored its student, faculty, and staff population of current and former servicewomen and men. The event took place at the Ernst Center on NOVA’s Annandale Campus at 8333 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA 22003.

Mr. Alvie Johnson, a retired U.S. Army Officer of 21 years of service, currently Vice President of ‘Army Accounts’ for ‘All Points Logistics’ graciously opened and moderated the event. Also, a current NOVA board member, Mr. Johnson, recognized that the College currently comprises of 15% military, former military personnel, or military family members -- and allowed each veteran who attended the breakfast an opportunity to share their story.

Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC) Foundation’s Vice President and Executive Director of the NVTC Veterans Employment Initiative, Steve Jordon, announced the establishment of four scholarships at the Veterans Day event. In partnership with the NOVA Educational Foundation, two scholarships will be named the ‘Earle Williams NVTC Foundation Veteran Technology Scholarship,’ and two will be named the ‘Bobbie Kilberg NVTC Foundation Military Spouse Technology Scholarship.’ Two of the scholarships under each name will be directed toward traditional associate’s degree studies, and the other two will be directed to technology workforce certifications.

Earle Williams was an Army veteran, business leader, and NVTC board member who became the president and CEO of BDM International. Earle was very involved in numerous corporate boards, non-profits, community organizations, and educational institutions, including NOVA.

Bobbie Kilberg has served as president and CEO of NVTC for the past 22 years. Bobbie worked in four presidential administrations from Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, George Bush (41) to George W. Bush (43) -- and she held leadership positions at Mt. Vernon College and the Aspen Institute. Over her many years representing the Northern Virginia technology business sector, Bobbie was recognized as a Laureate by the Washington Business Hall of Fame, Washingtonian Magazine’s 100 Most Powerful Women and 100 Tech Titans, and she will receive the Washington Business Journal’s Lifetime Achievement Award in December. Bobbie was awarded an honorary associate degree in humane letters by NOVA and was recently recognized by them for her support and advocacy for women in technology.

“We are delighted to deepen this important partnership with NVTC and the NVTC Foundation. Their scholarship support is a significant investment in our veteran students,” said Kelly Persons, executive director, NOVA Foundation.

For more information about NOVA’s veterans’ programs, please contact Takesha McMiller, director of military and veterans services at tamcmiller@nvcc.edu.