Valencia Stories



From HeartBreak to Wakanda, Film Grad Finds Costuming is a Great Fit

Tomoko Goddard was standing on a beach in Puerto Rico, working on the filming of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” when [...]


County-Funded Scholarship Program Rescues Student’s Dreams of College

Mihaka Saintelus had her sights set on college early in her high school career. Her top three picks offered different [...]

Carl Roc landed a job as a technician with Siemens Mobility after completing short-term job training at Valencia College.

Training for a Brighter Future

  Carl Roc’s future was uncertain even before graduating from St. Cloud High School. He thought he couldn’t enroll in [...]


Meeting Challenges Head On: Valencia Grad Overcomes Learning Disabilities to Earn Degree

Commencement is a celebration for all of our graduating students, but it’s an especially sweet occasion for students like Mariana [...]

Selena Chaves in Valencia College's AST training room at the Poinciana Campus.

Trading the Classroom for Circuits, She’s Launching a New Career

The first thing you notice about Selena Chaves is her joyful attitude and helpful demeanor. That, coupled with a drive [...]


Two Paths, A Shared Dream: Culinary Students Create Gingerbread Version of U.S. Capitol

(Editor’s note: This article was originally published in January 2023.  Because of the holiday season, we are republishing it to [...]


Chasing His Dream: Deaf Student Earns CDL License to Become Valencia’s First Hearing-Impaired Trucking Grad

Driving a big rig was an idea Stuart Randles had always toyed with, a dream that had been percolating in [...]


Down But Not Out, Valencia Grad Battles Challenges to Earn Master’s Degree in Cybersecurity

As a young girl growing up in Fort Myers, Manvella Pope got her kicks from taking things apart. Cassette players, [...]


Medical School for Two: Valencia Grads Marry, Attending Medical School Together at Rutgers

For two students in medical school, Marco Santos Teles and Isabel Silva seem remarkably calm. Maybe this married couple – [...]


Creative Thinker: Valencia Student Wins International Competition

When Salma Sanchez arrived in the U.S. at age 15, she had never taken an art class. Sure, she’d been [...]