Valencia Stories



Achieving the Dream: Retiree Returns to College, Earns His Degree at Age 68

May 8, 2016 was a major milestone for William Mobijohn. It was the day the Vietnam veteran graduated from Valencia [...]


After facing his obstacles, Valencia grad leaves for Columbia University

Archie Brechin dreams of becoming a college professor. It is, he says with a chuckle, the family business. His mother [...]


New Construction Program Is Changing Lives — One Job at a Time

Before Aaron Person signed up for a class in basic construction, he had little experience in the field – except [...]


Sweet Success, or How I Earned a College Degree While in High School

Hala Saedi is 17 years old and graduating from East River High School in Orange County this spring. But she’s [...]


Valencia Graduate, Venezuelan Activist Named Fulbright Scholar

Kenther Ramos was 16 years old and a university freshman when he attracted the attention of the Venezuelan government. Kenther, [...]


Infant’s Near Drowning Spurred Father’s Career Choice

Manuel Rivera never imagined himself becoming a health-care provider. He planned to go into the military after graduating from high [...]


Valencia Grad Earns Doctorate, Now Working in Simulation Research

Every morning, Crystal Maraj pulls up to work in the sprawling research park next to the University of Central Florida. [...]


From Lifeguard to Cyber Safeguard: One Man’s Path to Digital Forensics

Geovanny Perez has always wanted to protect others. That’s why he worked as a lifeguard at Disney resort hotel for [...]


To Fargo and Beyond! Engineering Grad Lands Job at Microsoft

One of the first things Varsha Sujanani will do to prepare for her new job as a Microsoft engineer is [...]


Turning Challenges Into Triumphs: One Graduate’s Story

Hampton Hovey marked a happy occasion last week – one that some doubters thought would never come. He graduated from [...]