NOVA Alum, Proud NOVA Parent and NOVA Champion
The NOVA Foundation is fortunate to have the support of many NOVA alumni who are also NOVA parents. They share a love for NOVA, often born from different perspectives, and sometimes those different perspectives merge.
Meet Lance Frye. Father of NOVA students, NOVA Alumnus and a NOVA champion.
Lance's relationship with NOVA began in the mid-1980s as an enlisted member of the United States Marine Corps Reserve who planned to get his college degree to become a Marine Corps officer.
He enrolled in an English class on the Woodbridge campus with NOVA professor and acclaimed novelist Dr. Robert Bausch, explaining “it was really more of a philosophy class where we engaged in lively discussions about philosophy and politics.” Dr. Bausch made a positive impression on Lance. After Dr. Bausch's death in October 2018, Lance was honored to have been asked to deliver a part of the eulogy at the Celebration of Life held at the Woodbridge campus in honor of Dr. Bausch.
As it turned out, enrolling in Dr. Bausch’s English class led to something more than the advancement of Lance’s education and a long-time connection with a professor. It was during this very same class that Lance met his first wife, Laura. “We hit it off on day one," Lance recalled, "and I asked her out for our first date on campus.” They were later married and enjoyed 21 years together with their children before Laura passed away from cancer in 2010.
The Frye family's connection with NOVA does not end with Lance and Laura’s time at NOVA. It continues to this day through Lance's four children, three of whom have enrolled at NOVA in pursuit of their education.
- Lance’s daughter Lauren enrolled at NOVA and completed her associate degree through NOVA’s Guaranteed Admissions Agreement (GAA) program before going on to East Carolina University to earn her MBA. Today, Lauren has a successful career as an HR Director with an IT firm in Atlanta, and Lance can’t say enough about the importance of NOVA’s GAA program.
- Lance's daughter Virginia attended NOVA for a year before transferring to East Carolina University where she is a senior studying elementary education.
- Lance’s son, Robert, followed his father’s footsteps by joining the Marine Corps. He recently returned home to Woodbridge and is now attending classes at NOVA.
Lance supports NOVA students by actively seeking to hire them at Woodcrafters Furniture & Cabinetry, his retail and manufacturing business in Woodbridge. He proudly shares the stories of Woodcrafters’ employees who also call NOVA their alma mater. One current employee is taking advantage of NOVA’s GAA program to complete his studies at George Mason University. Another employee recently completed his Career Studies Certificate in HVAC-R and has departed Woodcrafters after securing employment in his career field.
Given his exemplary commitment to NOVA on so many levels, only one question remained: Why NOVA?
Lance answered quickly, citing the value of NOVA and expanding on his own experience, “NOVA is a great way for students with limited financial means to get a degree.” He went on to reflect, “I wasn’t ready to go to a four-year college right out of high school. Attending community college gives you a chance to mature a bit before going on to a four-year institution, on with life or on to work.”
The NOVA Foundation extends a heartfelt thanks to the Frye family for allowing NOVA to serve them in pursuit of their higher education goals. We are honored to count the Frye family, and past and present employees of Woodcrafters Furniture & Cabinetry as a vital part of our amazing NOVA Foundation family!
Support NOVA today by making a gift in the name of a loved one this Father's Day. When you give to NOVA, you educate tomorrow's workforce and ensure student success.
A Mother’s Love
A Legacy Secured
As a young girl growing up in the depression era, Mary Sullivan was not expected to continue her education beyond high school. However, this did not extinguish Mary’s love of learning and it did not stop her from achieving her educational dreams.
Mary moved to the Reston area in the 1960s, and met her husband, John Sullivan, at her workplace in Washington, DC. They later married and had two daughters, Jennifer and Diane. Mary, always wanting to continue her education, enrolled as a student at NOVA’s Loudoun campus.
Juggling two young daughters and classes, Mary ultimately attained her Associate’s Degree in 1985. English and Art History were some of her favorite classes. Jennifer and Diane Sullivan recall a time when Mary took Diane, who was unable to go to school that day, with her to one of her classes.
Jennifer notes, “That is how dedicated she was to her classes and to learning. Not having that opportunity in her young life made her commitment to learning even greater.”
Mary was also an artist, and she enjoyed drawing, watercolor and oil painting among other mediums. Diane recalls another time when her mom started a remodeling project in their house as a class project for one of her design courses at NOVA. Mary’s enthusiasm to learn did not wane as she continued to take classes and volunteer in a variety of art centered organizations in Reston well into her 80s.
When Mary passed away in late 2019, Diane wanted to honor her mom’s lifelong commitment to learning, and she and Jennifer contacted the NOVA Foundation to start the process of establishing the Mary M. Sullivan ’85 Memorial Scholarship. Two scholarships of $3,000 each will be awarded on an annual basis in honor of NOVA alumna, Mary Sullivan.
Jennifer and Diane hope these scholarships will provide the support needed to help a student cross the finish line in reaching their educational dreams. Further, just like Mary instilled the love of learning in both Jennifer and Diane, they hope the scholarship dollars will help fuel a student’s desire to continue to learn and grow.
Star Throwing for the Future: Jim and Ellen Dyke establish endowed scholarship for adult students.
Education has always been important to Ellen and Jim. Ellen’s dedication to education, childhood development, and advocacy was forged from her early work experience after college. For two years, she taught the full range of subjects to an ungraded class of delinquent boys, ages 14 to 18, at Boy’s Village in Cheltenham, Maryland. She soon realized that as much as her students needed a teacher, more importantly, they needed a lawyer. During her years at Howard Law School, and later as an associate attorney, she took on pro bono work to represent those incarcerated unfairly. Ellen currently serves as the Chair of the NOVA Foundation. Jim continues to be a strong, regional presence across the business, education, and government arenas in Virginia. He served as Virginia Governor Wilder’s Secretary of Education and as Domestic Policy Advisor to former Vice President Mondale. His dedication to the value of education for all is manifested in his service as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University of the District of Columbia and the State Council of Higher Education in Virginia.
Together, they have endowed The Ellen and Jim Dyke Star Thrower Scholarship that awards up to $1,000 each year to a student in need. The scholarship takes its name from the Star Thrower Story by Loren Eislely, which the Dykes present with a NOVA twist. The story tells the tale of a small coastal town that woke up one morning after a storm to find thousands of starfish washed ashore. The town leaders noticed a NOVA student walking along the shore, picking up a starfish and throwing it back into the ocean. When asked by the leaders why the student was bothering with such a futile task, the student replied that while one person can’t save all the starfish, with each starfish a person throws back, they will have made a difference.
The scholarship will help adult, degree or certificate-seeking students age 21 and older to receive the credentials needed to advance their careers. Recipients can use the funds for tuition, fees, books or supplies at NOVA.
One in a million: Dr. Richard Semmler donates $1 million to NOVA over his 45-year career.
Dr. Semmler has made a profound impact during his long career teaching mathematics NOVA. He has lived modestly, with no frills - no phone, no internet, no vacations, no new car while living in a small apartment and working several part-time jobs in addition to his full-time teaching position. Why? Because he would rather use his income to help change the lives of his students through scholarships and financial aid to those who wouldn’t be able to attend college without his help.
Dr. Semmler was the recipient of scholarship funds when he was in college and he knew that he wanted to pay it forward one day. That day came in 1968 for Dr. Semmler when he bestowed his first donation in the amount of $25 to his alma matter, Plattsburgh State University of New York. Over time that increased as he made various financial contributions and went without many everyday conveniences as well as luxuries to reach the $1-million-dollar mark of donations to NOVA, or as he put it “the caboose finally made it to the train station.”
Donating money and/or time once is honorable, but to do so consistently for 45 years and counting is exceptional. Dr. Semmler is truly an inspiration to all. “It only takes a little amount, $100, $1,000, to invest in the education of a student and make a positive difference in the trajectory of their future,” said Dr. Semmler. “If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn’t make any changes at all.”
Become a donor today
Donors may start a named scholarship with a minimum donation of $5,000. The Foundation can help you set up your scholarship fund, establish the criteria for the award and understand the annual process for selection. A very generous gift of $25,000 allows you to establish a living legacy by creating and naming an Endowed Scholarship Fund.
As an example, look to Wolfgang and Roya Chadab, the founders of the Chadab Foundation for Visual and Performing Arts. Accomplished artists in their own right, the Chadabs aim to support students focused on visual/fine arts, photography, graphic design, cinema, interior design, acting, and music. Their generosity has empowered students to pursue their passions without financial constraints.
For Adriana Pac, receiving the Chadab Foundation Scholarship meant she was able to go back to school and do what she loves: photography. For Helen Binder, the scholarship means she can chase after her Master’s degree and a career as a professional artist.
Wolfgang and Roya have cemented their place in the NOVA Foundation’s history. You can do it too.
We maintain the highest level of confidentiality with respect to our donor information. We never share donor names, addresses, or fund-related financial information with any individual or organization outside of the Foundation.