- When: 1 p.m., Sunday, May 12.
- Where: George Mason University’s EagleBank Arena (4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax).
- Commencement Speaker: JR Bontrager, director of technology at 3D Herndon.
JR Bontrager is an inspiring example of resilience and determination. At 46, he recently returned to NOVA, where he is studying engineering while also working full time as director of technology at 3D Herndon. As this year’s commencement speaker, JR is eager to share his personal journey, hoping to inspire others to take advantage of NOVA at any age or stage in their careers. Access to continuous education, he argues, is especially crucial in today’s dynamic and ever-evolving workplace.
An artist by nature, JR has a gift for designing and crafting creative solutions. At 3D Herndon, he specializes in 3D design, printing and scanning. The company is known for its innovative projects, including:
- Adaptive prosthetics for medical use.
- Renderings of ancient bones in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution.
- Other cutting-edge product designs for a range of clients.
Beyond his work, JR is an advocate for individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), a cause close to his heart due to his own battle with the condition. He loves leveraging his engineering expertise and passion for technology to improve the lives of others.
NOVA’s Commencement Ceremony:
- Will be live streamed Livestream | Northern Virginia Community College (nvcc.edu).
- Will be recorded and closed-captioned for viewing purposes.
- Will be made available on the NOVA website.
For answers to frequently asked questions, please visit the Spring 2024 Commencement page.
The Center Square: "Tuition is increasing at Virginia community colleges for the first time in five years due to a unanimous decision from the State Board of Community Colleges."
"Virginia’s 23 community colleges are increasing their tuition by $4.61 per credit hour, about 3% of the previous in-state tuition rate. For most of them, tuition will be $158.61 per credit hour for the 2023-24 school year or $2,379.15 for a 15-credit-hour semester. Other mandatory fees will vary, depending on the college." "Eight of the colleges decided not to modify their tuition differential rates. Though the tuition increase is the same for those schools, the total tuition rate is not, and their tuition rates will be posted on their websites."
Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative and the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives offer college, vocational, and trade school scholarships to public, private, and home-schooled high school seniors whose families receive electricity from electric cooperatives. Students may apply to both scholarship programs.
NOVEC and VMDAEC will send scholarship funds directly to recipients' chosen educational institutions for help with tuition, room and board, student fees, or book purchasing.
