Esther Clark stands by a Russian rocket.

Esther Clark, a rising star in academic excellence and leadership at Northern Virginia Community College, just turned seventeen this summer. She started taking classes at NOVA in 2006, and since then she has risen to the position of President in two of NOVA’s most prestigious organizations. She has also represented the student body in the Annandale’s Campus Council.

Clark has a unique academic background. She was home schooled with her brothers and sisters and started her dual-enrollment at NOVA when she was fourteen. “My parents are my principals and my teachers” says Clark, “It’s a teaching style that really goes with the flow.” Clark will receive her high school diploma in the spring, and the 62 college credits she has already earned are a great starting off point for her future.

Taking college courses at such a young age set Clark apart. “Nobody guessed that I was that young, I felt like an undercover secret agent of something” says Clark, “I also felt like I was bragging when I mentioned my age, so I kept to myself as much as possible.”

She didn’t keep to herself for long. In the spring of 2008, she joined the honor society Phi Theta Kappa and became a senator in the Student Government Association. Later that fall, Clark became the youngest SGA President in recent memory. Under her leadership, the SGA initiated a number of changes on campus. They organized blood drives every semester and college-wide SGA meetings to incorporate all six campuses. The Student Government also co-hosted the homecoming dance that spring to raise money for relay for life. They were successful in raising over a thousand dollars for cancer research in one night. Clark also helped produce the orientation video for the Annandale campus.

Her experiences as President of the SGA were formative to her leadership style and opened up new opportunities for her. “The best part was that I got to work with so many diverse people. My senate was composed of people from at least seven different countries. I got to learn about different cultures and develop leadership skills,” said Clark.

As her term as SGA President came to an end in spring 2009, Clark was nominated for President of Phi Theta Kappa. She ran a fair campaign against her friend Shamaila Iqebal, who now serves as PTK’s Historian. “She’s the most experienced PTK President we have ever had since she is fully engaged here at the college,” says Professor Dick Wilan, the faculty advisor of Phi Theta Kappa.

Since the semester began, she has conducted officer meetings to help and encourage her four Vice Presidents with their endeavors and prepare for the PTK induction ceremony of over one hundred new members on October 16. She has also attended a leadership conference at the University of Virginia for PTK members and plans to attend an honors conference at the College of William and Mary at the end of the month.

Off-campus, Clark is an active volunteer, athlete, and international competitor. She worked at a homeless shelter in Fairfax last semester, and now volunteers tutoring homeless elementary school students. She also used to play soccer on a Division 1 team for Washington Area Girls Soccer. Clark has been building model rockets competitively since 2002. She has traveled to Poland, Russia, Spain, and all over the United States to compete. Next year, she plans to compete in the International Rocketry Competition held in Serbia.

“A couple of days ago, I finally realized what I wanted to do when I grow up!” said Clark, “I definitely want to work for NASA.” She has found a way to combine her love of chemistry, biology, and outer space in a rewarding career as an astronaut with a specialty in bio-chemistry. “My greatest fear is not achieving my goal and not being able to go to outer space.”

“I can’t wait for her to succeed! I’m so excited to see where she goes!” says friend and fellow PTK member Shamaila Iqebal. Esther Clark has become a great leader at NOVA, but she’s not done yet. This NOVA student is reaching for the stars!

By: Kimberly Schreiber

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