The Community College Initiative (CCI) Program held the 2023 Commencement Ceremony at the Special Events Center on West Campus on May 2nd for the 16 International Students that have completed this program. Program Manager, Vanessa Singh has made a profound impact on each one of these students throughout the last 10 months of the program. This was expressed by each student as they gave a presentation on the Five Pillars of the program and expressed the tremendous gratitude they have and growth that they have experienced though this opportunity to study in the United States.

The Five Pillars of Academics, Volunteering, Internship, Cultural Exchange, and Leadership and Community Impact Project are the basis of the program that each student must participate in and excel. Participants study in one of the following eligible fields: agriculture, applied engineering, business management and administration, early childhood education, information technology, media, public safety, and tourism and hospitality management.

We celebrate with these students as they prepare to head back to their different destinations in the world, knowing that their time here at Valencia College has been one that each one will cherish and continue to use in their future endeavors and accomplishments. The CCI program is an exchange program sponsored by the Department of State and hosted by Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA).