16 ET Career Scholars Placed In Internships and Apprenticeships

In May, the first cohort of 18 Engineering Technology Career Scholars (ETCS) graduated from NOVA! Fast-forward a month and 16 of them have been successfully placed in internships and apprenticeships at Micron, Digital Realty, and Microsoft!

Why it matters: 

Tech internships are a vital part of the local talent pipeline due to a robust technology sector and increased demand for skilled workers. The high percentage of successful internship and apprenticeship placements directly from the ETCS program (all at no cost to the students), shows NOVA’s innovation and dedication in producing top talent to support the region. 

Key details:

• Of the 16 placements from our first cohort of ET Career Scholars, 3 are completing internships and apprenticeships at Micron, 6 at Digital Realty, and 7 at Microsoft.
• Scholars placed in internships and apprenticeships earned CSC’s at NOVA in Data Center Operations or Engineering Technology. Some scholars completed both tracks.
• 18 ET Scholars completed 30 career studies certificates (CSC’s) in less than a year at NOVA at no cost to them.
• The second cohort of 42 ET Career Scholars is currently underway for the 25-26 Academic Year.

Reaction:

"Everything has been going well. Everything we learned in class is really coming together." 

~ Nau Hernandez, Microsoft Intern

"I did my first round by myself today, which was pretty cool. I’ve been learning a lot, like how to monitor the BMS, fill out DEQ sheets, and write MOPs. I think next week I’ll be shadowing the leads too, so I’m excited for that!" 

~ Edgar Chavez, Intern, now Engineer 1 at Digital Realty

"I’ve been having a fantastic time as an intern. I’m really glad to see the things we learned in class being applied in the data center environment. Everybody here is super supportive and positive!" 

~ Francisco Arzeta, Microsoft Intern

Learn more: 

ETCS is a free 1-year, grant-funded, pre-apprenticeship program created to address the growing demand for skilled workers in data center operations and semiconductor manufacturing. Applications for the third cohort will go out in January 2026 for the 26-27 Academic Year. For more info, click here.

PDI is Pitch Perfect at NOVA

In June, NOVA hosted its third annual Product Design Incubator (PDI) Pitch Event at the Annandale Campus. For participating NOVA students, this event is the culmination of entrepreneurship workshops held in the spring combined with a summer design incubator where they identify a specific solution that they develop into a product. The Pitch Event brings that product idea to an audience of faculty, staff, and regional industry representatives.

Why it matters:

PDI equips students with real-world innovation skills - creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking - while they work as a team to develop and pitch a product in a professional setting.

Products Pitched:

• UServices: Making government services a one-stop shop.
• HeartFed: Reducing the stigma around food assistance.
• BuyWise: Curbing impulsive grocery spending.
• Odyssea: Supporting teen mental health through empathetic gaming.
• Artificial Reasoning Institute: Addressing the societal impacts of A.I.
• Sifted: An A.I. powered search engine to enhance nutrition.

Other key details:

• PDI includes mentoring from NOVA faculty, regional entrepreneurs, and incubator alumni.
• Recruiting begins this Fall for the 2026 cohort.
• PDI is made possible by funding from the National Science Foundation.

Reaction:

“I knew I’d have time over the summer and wanted to gain experience working with a team on something more technical, since I hadn’t had that chance before. I liked the thrill of it. We learned so much—how to speak in public and collaborate effectively. It’s been a wonderful experience.”

~ Ariel, PDI student

Click here to read more about the specific PDI projects

Click here for a detailed Q&A with individual PDI participants

Former NOVA Student Speaks

at Capitol Hill Briefing for NSF

In June, NOVA alumna Judy Marouf spoke on Capitol Hill at a congressional briefing about how National Science Foundation (NSF) funding of community colleges is opening doors in emerging technology and shaping the future of work. The briefing’s aim was to help convince congressional appropriators to continue to fund the NSF. 

Why it matters:

The NSF is a key funder of tech programs at NOVA and beyond. The fact that a former NOVA student was selected to speak at a congressional briefing underlines the high regard NOVA is held in by the STEM education community.

Key details:

• The briefing was organized by the R&D Congressional Caucus, American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), and New America.
• The event was held at the Rayburn Congressional Building in Washington D.C.
• Marouf, now a computer science major at GWU, was the only student among a panel of 5 that included 2 community college presidents, a think tank expert, and a tech industry executive.
• The audience of 100+ included congressmen, congressional staffers, national higher education leadership, NOVA faculty and staff, and others.

Marouf focused her speech on vital experience gained while she was involved in NOVA's Product Design Incubator (PDI), a program funded by the NSF that integrates entrepreneurship and design thinking.

From the address:

“The PDI program gave me the space to explore my interests in a practical setting and helped me realize that I want to pursue a career in technology or product management. It gave me a sense of direction and clarity that I didn’t have before. I had access to faculty mentors, local entrepreneurs, and industry professionals who gave feedback throughout the process. Having an opportunity like this during my time at community college added a layer to my education that brought together creativity, technology, and career exploration in a way that felt really grounded and accessible.”

Success for SkillsUSA at Nationals

It was an exciting week for NOVA at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference June 24-28. NOVA students are coming back with 8 medals!

Why it matters: 

It's Nationals! SkillsUSA equips students with skill sets required for success in skilled trades and technical fields. NOVA's SkillsUSA students continue to showcase the college's excellence on a national level.

Key details:

• 8 medals were won overall, 3 silver and 5 bronze.
• Silver was secured in Computer Programming by Levante Yazici.
• NOVA also secured silver in Team Interactive Application and Video Game Development by David Le and Irene Tran.
• Bronze was won in Team Engineering Technology Design by Erin Tran, Julian Dixon, and Orion Bazid.
• Bronze was also brought home in Team sUAS Commercial Drone by Abdalla Mohamed and Hudhayfah Amonullah.

Reaction:

"We are incredibly proud of our NOVA Nighthawks! It was an exhilarating week watching our students compete against other states and showcasing their skills on the national stage." 

~ Justin Owen, SkillsUSA Lead Advisor

Click here to learn more about SkillsUSA at NOVA.

Spotlights in Cybersecurity

Northern Virginia Community College, in partnership with Micron Technology, recently hosted Chip Camp, a dynamic three-day experience for rising 8th and 9th graders designed to spark interest in the semiconductor and chip industry. 

Why it matters:

Early engagement through hands-on camps is paramount in creating a pathway to in-demand technology fields, and semiconductor manufacturing at Micron is a vital industry in the region because microchips power the technologies we use everyday.

Key details:

• 97 students from local middle and high schools attended the camp.
• Students were immersed in hands-on sessions including coding with micro:bits, building logic circuits, design thinking challenges, mechatronics, and rocketry.
• The camp culminated in a tour of the Micron facility, where students learned how to coat microchips.
• Students also participated in a “clean room suit race" to see which team could suit up the fastest.

Reaction:

"It was rewarding to see campers collaborate, brainstorm, and engage deeply with the technology shaping our future, all while discovering exciting career opportunities in their own backyard! They really seemed to enjoy the interactive, fast-paced sessions, and we saw consistently high levels of curiosity and creativity. The energy was high, the learning was real, and the future of tech talent in NOVA looks bright!"

~ Christine Hirst-Bernhardt, NOVA STEM Education Coordinator

IET Faculty Job Opportunities

Scholarship Opportunities