Proud NOVA Parent, NOVA Alumnus and NOVA Champion

The NOVA Foundation is fortunate to have the support of many NOVA alumni who are also NOVA parents. They share a love for NOVA, often born from different perspectives, and sometimes those different perspectives merge.

Meet Lance Frye. Father of NOVA students, NOVA alumnus and a NOVA champion.

NOVA Experience.  Lance’s relationship with NOVA began in the mid-1980s as an enlisted member of the United States Marine Corps Reserve who planned to get his college degree to become a Marine Corps officer.

He enrolled in an English class on the Woodbridge campus with NOVA professor and acclaimed novelist Dr. Robert Bausch, explaining “it was really more of a philosophy class where we engaged in lively discussions about philosophy and politics.”  Dr. Bausch made a positive impression on Lance.  After Dr. Bausch’s death in October 2018, Lance was honored to have been asked to deliver a part of the eulogy at the Celebration of Life held at the Woodbridge campus in honor of Dr. Bausch.

As it turned out, enrolling in Dr. Bausch’s English class led to much more than the advancement of Lance’s education and a longtime connection with a professor.  It was during this very same class that Lance met his first wife, Laura. “We hit it off on day one,” Lance recalled, “and I asked her out for our first date on campus.” They were later married and enjoyed 21 years together with their children before Laura passed away from cancer in 2010.

Family Connections. The Frye family’s connection with NOVA does not end with Lance and Laura’s time at NOVA.  It continues to this day through Lance’s four children, three of whom have enrolled at NOVA in pursuit of their education.

• Lance’s daughter Lauren enrolled at NOVA and completed her associate degree through NOVA’s Guaranteed Admissions Agreement (GAA) program before going on to East Carolina University to earn her MBA. Today, Lauren has a successful career as an HR Director with an IT firm in Atlanta, and Lance cannot say enough about the importance of NOVA’s GAA program.

• Lance’s daughter Virginia attended NOVA for a year before transferring to East Carolina University where she is a senior studying elementary education. 

• Lance’s son, Robert, followed his father’s footsteps by joining the Marine Corps. He recently returned home to Woodbridge and is now attending classes at NOVA.  

Student Support.  Lance supports NOVA students by actively seeking to hire them at Woodcrafters Furniture & Cabinetry, his retail and manufacturing business in Woodbridge.  He proudly shares the stories of Woodcrafters’ employees who also call NOVA their alma mater.  One current employee is taking advantage of NOVA’s GAA program to complete his studies at George Mason University.  Another employee recently completed his Career Studies Certificate in HVAC-R and has departed Woodcrafters after securing employment in his career field. 

Given his exemplary commitment to NOVA on so many levels, only one question remained: Why NOVA? Lance answered quickly, citing the value of NOVA and expanding on his own experience, “NOVA is a great way for students with limited financial means to get a degree. . . I wasn’t ready to go to a four-year college right out of high school.  Attending community college gives you a chance to mature a bit before going on to a four-year institution, on with life or on to work.”

The NOVA Foundation extends a heartfelt thanks to the Frye family for allowing NOVA to serve them in pursuit of their higher education goals. We are honored to count the Frye family, and past and present employees of Woodcrafters Furniture & Cabinetry as a vital part of our amazing NOVA Foundation family!

You can support NOVA today by making a gift in the name of a loved one in honor of Father’s Day. When you give to NOVA, you educate tomorrow’s workforce and ensure student success.

Reprinted from the NOVA Educational Foundation Newsletter