Valencia Stories



Valencia Student Lands Prestigious Summer Fellowship in Boston

Leslie Recendiz is a born tinkerer – the kind of kid who opened up broken appliances to see what was [...]


One Grad’s Incredible Journey from Underachiever to AI Researcher

Would someone please pinch Steven Forsyth? He’s living out the first half of an incredible dream – working in Washington, [...]


‘It’s Never Too Late’ Says Grad Who Started a Second Career as a Paralegal

Carol Murray isn’t wasting any time jumping into her new career as a paralegal. After graduating from Valencia College on [...]

Desliens family in cap and gown.

Father, Mother and Son to Graduate Together at 2018 Commencement

For Donll Desliens, 19, Valencia College’s new Poinciana Campus feels like home. “The campus is really intimate; you feel like [...]

O'Dang Hummus Creator Jesse Wolfe

O’Dang! Valencia Grad Brings Hummus Creations to the Masses

A lot us have gone through the misery of having our wisdom teeth pulled. Some bounce back faster than others. [...]


My Valencia Story: Valencia ‘Was Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me’

Rusty Johnson wasn’t sure where his life was going when he returned home from Vietnam in 1971. Immediately after moving [...]


Valencia Grad Celebrates Award, Decades-Long Career in Teaching

In an effort to illustrate Valencia’s impact in Central Florida, we have spent the year of 2017 – Valencia’s 50th [...]


Valencia Grad Finds a Home in the R&B and New Age Music Field

As a kid, Carl Borden never had formal musical training, but when he was 12 or 13, he began experimenting [...]


From Shy Guy to Student Leader: How Valencia Changed His Life

Giorgi Beraushvili may be a big man on campus today, but when he started his first semester at Valencia College, [...]


Helping a City Find its Vibe: Valencia Architecture Grad On Orlando

When Joel Setzer graduated from high school, he wasn’t focused on college. Instead, he channeled his energy into Rory, the [...]