Tereza Akhtar, a proud daughter of Salvadoran immigrants and mother of four, never imagined she’d be back in a college classroom at age 38 as a first generation college student, but today, she’s thriving as a nursing student at the NOVA Medical Education Campus.

After dedicating years to raising her children, Tereza found inspiration close to home: her husband is a registered nurse, and her daughter is pursuing nursing at George Mason. Motivated by their paths, she enrolled at NOVA to pursue her own dream. Now in her third level of nursing studies, she is on track to graduate in 2026.

Returning to school after many years wasn’t easy. “At first, I was worried about the age difference,” Tereza admitted. “But NOVA made me feel welcome. The professors were so helpful, and I made real friends through study groups.” She found comfort in NOVA’s diversity and the encouragement of peers who, like her, were navigating college as adults.

“Receiving a scholarship from the Regency Women's Club lifted a huge weight off my shoulders,” Tereza shared. “It gave me more time to study and more confidence to keep going. NOVA gives people, young or older, the chance to build a better future. Your support truly changes lives.”

Your gift helps students like Tereza turn resilience into life-changing careers. Thanks to the generosity of Jon and Heather Seeber, your donation will be matched up to $45,000: Strong Roots, Bright Future - NOVA Foundation.