Your Generosity Helps Our Students Reach Their Dreams

Today’s topic is a follow-up on the Student Success Fund.

In October, the NOVA Educational Foundation launched the Student Success Fund. Within the first 72 hours, the Foundation received 1,300 student applications for assistance. Student requests overwhelmed the online portal, which had to be temporarily closed—a very strong signal of the level of need facing our students. The portal was quickly re-opened and collected applications throughout the fall before closing for the break.

As of today, the Student Success Fund has awarded $157,433 in emergency grants. In each case, the Foundation directly paid an emergency expense on behalf of a student, sending checks to utility companies and medical offices, to apartment complexes and auto repair shops. Each of these unexpected and unbudgeted expenses would have meant an empty seat in your classroom, an unfinished course on the transcript and a missed opportunity to complete a certificate or degree. An average grant of $787 kept a student’s college journey alive.

In addition, the Student Success Fund awarded $15,790 in last-mile scholarships, paying for those last few classes needed to get to the stage at graduation. An average scholarship of $831 made the difference between some college but no degree and a framed diploma and path to economic and social mobility.

The Student Success Fund will re-open next week for more applications, and I am grateful to every member of the NOVA community who has made a donation to the Fund to support our students.

Our experience with applications to the Student Success Fund this fall, however, has demonstrated that the need exceeds its current capacity. The NOVA Educational Foundation continues to seek donations to the fund, and I am happy to say that year-end giving to the Foundation was up over 25%. Our Northern Virginia community knows the transformational value of a NOVA education.

One of these community members is General David Petraeus, whose children attended NOVA at various points in their own academic journeys. He is speaking at the Alexandria Campus on January 25 to discuss his book, Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Ukraine, released in October 2023. At the request of General and Mrs. Petraeus, this event will be a fundraiser to support the Student Success Fund. I hope you will consider joining us that evening (learn more).

As we begin the new year, I want to thank every member of the NOVA community who offers the extraordinary support that makes the difference for our students. Their academic lives are richer, their opportunities are brighter and their futures are stronger because you care.

Anne