NOVA Fortnightly, the newspaper of Northern Virginia Community College, became the first publication of the college to ever win a Virginia Press Association award. But staff members didn’t just win one, they won two awards – in a category where the college newspaper competed against mainstream newspapers.

NOVA Fortnightly, the newspaper of Northern Virginia Community College, became the first publication of the college to ever win a Virginia Press Association award. But staff members didn’t just win one, they won two awards – in a category where the college newspaper competed against mainstream newspapers.

On Friday, March 25 at 7 p.m., nine of NOVA’s top singing sensations will battle for the title of this year’s NOVA Idol. The college finalists are Erika Anderson, John Ashburn, Martina Green, Lyndsi Hicks, Kelley Kime, Elaine Lopez, Laura Manzer, Lauren McLeod and Edwin Thorpe. And from various high schools in the region, CJ Marble, Devyn Metz, Padideh Guodarzi Nejad and Joao Versos will be competing for a prize of $1,000.

The Automotive Program at the Manassas campus of Northern Virginia Community College hosted the regional SkillsUSA Competition in Automotive Maintenance and Automotive Service Technology on Jan. 6. Two high school students from the Spotsylvania Career and Technical Center were the big winners.

Brandon McCormick received a $1,000 NOVA scholarship for taking first place in the Automotive Service Technology competition.

Robert Dowell received a $500 NOVA scholarship for placing first in the Automotive Maintenance category.

Each year for the past three years, NOVA has teamed up with Home Instead Senior Care to bring warmth and joy to financially challenged and lonely seniors in the Prince William County area. Students, faculty and staff participate by stopping by the Christmas tree at the Howsman Building or the wreath at Innovation Park at the Manassas campus, picking up an ornament with a preferred gift listed by a senior, purchase the gift, and then returning it to the Provost’s office of the campus.

NOVA received an A+ in a recent survey of community colleges’ use of technology to enhance the student experience and increase educator effectiveness.

Started 20 years ago by the Society for Black Students on the Manassas campus, the annual Senior Citizens Holiday Celebration began with only six seniors in attendance. But this year there will be 150 seniors, with the list for the luncheon full to the brim two days after registration began on Nov. 8. Often, many of the seniors try to register for the luncheon in August because it is so popular.