Ava Conway, a distinguished student who received an associate degree with the highest honors, served as the keynote speaker for the event. At just 18 years old, Conway hails from Eastern View High School, where she is set to graduate with an advanced diploma on May 18. Ranking in the top 10 percent of her class, Conway is faced with a choice between three universities for her continued education.
During the ceremony, Germanna conferred a total of 1,307 degrees and credentials upon 867 students. Conway, who plans to pursue a master’s degree in fine arts to fulfill her dream of becoming a drama teacher, reflected on her journey through Germanna’s Scholars program, which allows students to earn degrees without leaving their county. This initiative, spearheaded by Culpeper businessman Joe Daniels and generously supported by him and his wife Linda, provides significant opportunities for local students.
Conway’s decision to join Germanna’s Scholars program stemmed from her dissatisfaction with her previous educational experience. “I knew that I didn’t want to only attend my high school full time, and I wanted the opportunity to get ahead and earn my associate degree before I moved on to a four-year university,” Conway explained. “I decided to apply to Germanna, and after attending I realized that it was the change that I needed.”
Expressing her lifelong passion for acting, Conway emphasized the importance of pursuing her dreams despite skepticism from others. “The first thing I ever said I wanted to be was an actress,” she recalled. “There was always some part of me that wanted to perform.” Conway’s determination to pursue a career in the arts is a testament to the value of following one’s passions and the transformative power of education.
Germanna Community College’s commitment to providing innovative educational opportunities extends beyond the Scholars program. The institution offers various Early College programs, including the Gladys P. Todd Academy and the Future Educators Academy, which aim to empower students and prepare them for future success in their chosen fields.
"The Fredericksburg region will be the focus of Amazon Web Services’ multi-billion-dollar investment in data centers announced Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin Wednesday. The move represents the largest single economic development investment in the state's history, according to Governor Glenn Youngkin," reports the Fredericksburg Free Press.
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Davis retired from his job as head of Germanna's Educational Foundation and Gullickson's Special Assistant for Institutional Development on March 1 to take a volunteer position replacing Ron Branscome as Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Mary Washington Healthcare, a $1 billion health system with two hospitals and 42 additional facilities across the Fredericksburg region.
"Bruce brought more than fundraising skills to his job as he led efforts to build the Stafford Center in North Stafford and a health science building in Locust Grove," said Germanna Community College President Janet Gullickson in a press release. "He also brought a huge heart with a deep well of empathy for our students. His sense of genuine caring opened doors for students even in difficult economic times like the pandemic. Because of his commitment to students and passion for the work, Bruce succeeded in doing much more than allowing Germanna to expand. He allowed us to help students in need not only with money to help them cover tuition payments but also with basic needs like car repairs and gas and food."
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Germanna Community College: "On Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, Transurban North America, operator of the 95, 395, and 495 Express Lanes, celebrated the imminent completion of the 95 Express Lanes Fredericksburg Extension with a $250,000 grant to the Virginia Infrastructure Academy at Germanna Community College."
"Joined by the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education, the Virginia Department of Transportation, elected officials, and community members, Transurban presented the contribution that will go toward the Infrastructure Academy’s mission to train military veterans for a career in infrastructure."
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Press Release: "Last week the Virginia Board of Education took a step toward closing the state's K-12 teachers gap by unanimously approving Germanna Community College’s Future Educators Academy."
"Lab schools are partnerships between colleges and public-school divisions that don't charge tuition. The state has earmarked $100 million for 20 lab school startup grants. The lab schools can receive up to $1 million toward startup costs."
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"But she says it may be hard to persuade young people to vote in 2024."
"Dr. Lennahan was one of only two national winners of the Standout Faculty Member award, along with Sanne Rijkhoff, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi."
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Virginia Governor's Office: "The Virginia Board of Education today approved two new lab schools, Germanna Community College’s Future Educators Academy and University of Mary Washington’s Academy of Technology and Innovation. With three approved lab schools among 20 lab school applicants across the Commonwealth, Virginia is becoming a top national leader in lab school development."
"The Board unanimously approved of Germanna Community College’s Future Educators Academy. FEA is an innovative model in collaboration with Germanna Community College, Laurel Ridge Community College, and James Madison University focused on an acceleration track for the next generation of high-quality teachers in the region. This lab school reinvigorates the current teacher cadre with innovative opportunities through observations and hands-on practicums and streamlines the pathway to teacher licensure by prioritizing an associate’s degree in high school and allowing students to complete their Bachelor’s degree in as little as two years after high school graduation."
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The Center Square: "Tuition is increasing at Virginia community colleges for the first time in five years due to a unanimous decision from the State Board of Community Colleges."
"Virginia’s 23 community colleges are increasing their tuition by $4.61 per credit hour, about 3% of the previous in-state tuition rate. For most of them, tuition will be $158.61 per credit hour for the 2023-24 school year or $2,379.15 for a 15-credit-hour semester. Other mandatory fees will vary, depending on the college." "Eight of the colleges decided not to modify their tuition differential rates. Though the tuition increase is the same for those schools, the total tuition rate is not, and their tuition rates will be posted on their websites."
Jack Rowley of Stafford County was the Germanna Community College winner of the 17th Annual Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy last week in Richmond.
More than two dozen individuals, families, and organizations were honored with the 2023 Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy.
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On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson took the field with the Brooklyn Dodgers, breaking the Major League Baseball color line.
Win Germanna Community College - Fredericksburg Nationals Scholarships by entering the college's annual Jackie Robinson Essay Contest open to juniors and seniors at high schools in Germanna’s service region (Fredericksburg City, Stafford, Spotsylvania, Culpeper, Orange, King George, Madison, and Caroline counties).
