About National

Success Stories

Surgical Technology Success
The Louisville & Lexington Campuses continue to see success through the Surgical Technology program. We recently caught up with six students completing their externships at Norton Healthcare Pavilion.

Picture Perfect
On Wednesday, May 28, Tracy Rosemond will walk across the stage as one of the first graduates from the Memphis Campus of National College. And when she accepts her diploma, well–the official photographer had better be on his toes! Tracy operates her own freelance photography business–TraMar Photography–and knows her way around a camera, both film and digital.

Brains, Not Brawn
“It’s been…two years since I’ve been out of school, I’ve got a great job here and couldn’t ask for anything more.”

Building Her Own Legacy
"I’m proud of myself, too, for getting it all together!"

Firsthand Knowledge
“It’s nice to be able to tell them that you were in the same situation they’re in,” she says. “When someone is trying to balance working full time and going to school, you can say ‘I’m doing it to, I understand where you’re coming from, because I work full time and take night classes’.”

Gearing Up for Clinicals
Florence Campus surgical technology student Rebecca Ballman is past the halfway point in her program and preparing for her clinical externship, the final step in her program. It’s an exciting time for any surgical technology student, and one she is looking forward to.

Fashioning a New Career
Stow Campus business administration– management student Joseph Blair-Walker was attending a job fair in Akron, Ohio last fall when he had a realization. There were a lot of good jobs available, but he soon learned he could get nowhere in his job search without an education. Luckily for him, the admissions staff from National’s new campus in nearby Stow was also at the job fair.

No More Layoffs
Sonia Elliott, a 2006 graduate from the Knoxville Campus with a medical assisting degree and a minor in medical billing and coding, has a one word answer for her job description: “Everything,” she says without a hint of sarcasm.

There and Back Again
Just a few years out of school and working full-time as a cashier at a car dealership, Dayton Area Campus graduate Leah Bomberry felt something was missing. “I kind of felt bad about myself, I needed to go to school, I needed to do something.”

Getting Me Out in the Field Quicker
As a working mom, Toni needed not only a solid education on which to build a promising career, but flexibility as well. National fit the bill perfectly.

Catching Up with an Old Friend
Administrative Office Professional graduate and former Harrisonburg Campus staff member Vickie Pullen recently paid a visit to her alma mater to talk about her experiences since leaving the campus last fall to work for the Harrisonburg operation of an $11.5-billion global corporation which provides printing & related services.

A Success
Like many National College employees, Vianne Greek is herself a National grad, having earned her Master of Business Administration degree from the Roanoke Valley Campus in 2007.

Where IT is At
Lisette started her job almost as soon as she graduated in August of 2007. “I had a week of vacation,” before she started, she says. “I was most excited, it was a very good opportunity right away.”

A Dream to Count On
Jennifer Quesenberry’s quest to become an accountant began in high school when she took Accounting 101. It was a class she “loved.” Post high school she held several jobs but she wasn’t satisfied with her career direction. One day while driving past the Charlottesville Campus of National College, Jennifer decided to stop in and learn more about the accounting programs.

"I Can Do It!"
Leann Mimms, a November 2007 graduate and medical assistant for Gold Skin Care in Nashville, comes from a family with several medical professionals, including an aunt who is a registered nurse and a cousin who is a physician assistant. So it’s no surprise that after high school, she set her sights on a medical career.

"I Do So Much!"
Interested in the medical field since she was just nine years old, Lori heard about National’s medical assisting program one day and decided to check it out. Soon thereafter she was taking classes.

A New Niche
She longed to begin a long term career instead of just having a job.

Miss Independent
Knoxville Campus pharmacy technician student Jessica McClymonds (center) was recently awarded a $500 Imagine America Promise Scholarship due to her outstanding academic record.

By the Numbers
Madison Campus student Vanessa Meacham has set some lofty goals for herself, but thanks to her boundless determination and National College education, she is off to a fast start.

Sky's The Limit
Jared Callaway is finishing his last week of medical assisting classes at the Knoxville Campus, but he’s already thinking about his educational venture.

A Stock on the Rise
The achievements and accolades continue to roll in for Tammy Montgomery – two-time National graduate, Alumni Hall of Achievement inductee, and former financial planning representative extraordinaire for the Bristol Campus.

Enjoying the Perks
"I just received my second promotion in six months," says Debbie Ruckel, Danville graduate. "I get a company car!"

Politics As Usual
Politics is a daily affair at the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics – the office of world-renowned political analyst Larry Sabato. The programs and activities of the center have a profound influence on government and politics in the United States, and at no time is that more evident that during the current presidential election. And at the center of it all is our own Jennifer Page, a 2006 National College graduate.

A Ray of Sunshine
Aramark is very fortunate to have an employee like Sheena Washington, a graduate from the Charlottesville Campus. Dubbed “Sunshine” by the Director of Fontana Food Center Darryl Rudge, Sheena is a Unit Clerk for Aramark at the University of Virginia and has brought a ray of sunshine into the office that draws people in just to ‘bask in those rays’.

Graduate featured in New York Times
Bill Blackburn, independent filmmaker and graduate of the Lexington Campus’s radio & television broadcasting program, was recently interviewed for a major article in the New York Times.

Dr. 40509
“I was very unsure in the beginning if everything would work out."–Angela Grant, medical assisting

Legal Eagle
I chose National College…because after the initial meeting with them, it was clear that they had a dedication to further education and achievement."–Tiffany Guinn-Frith, business administration-management

Anything That She Sets Her Mind To
National College has changed my life because it has given me flexibility to work while attending college [and] helped me gain skills so that I could get out of the fast food business.” – Roberta Wolford, medical assisting

I Made a Difference
"I had a job before I graduated – that was great!"-Shana Wilson, medical assisting

Where Everybody Knows Your Name
"Being in a professional environment is a lot better."-Talitha (Tally) Webb, surgical technology program

Stepping Up
“[The school] had what I needed to step up in my career.” – Michelle Scott, health information technology

Diamond in the Rough
“The adaptability [National] had towards my schedule was a big benefit."–Jon Routzahn, business administration–management

It's Not “Just Like” Family
“In this role, she finds not only her medical coding and billing knowledge useful, but also the computer skills that are a part of every National College curriculum."–Ashley Newsom, medical coding and billing

Alumni Hall of Achievement
"I like knowing that I've made a difference to someone or helped a prospective student with getting their education financed" – Tammy Montgomery, business administration–accounting and business administration–management

She Showed Them!
Two Years Ahead, and Loving It – Tia Maynard, radio & television broadcasting

"We Train the Best and We Hire The Best."
Service with a Smile – Denise Ladner, administrative office professional

“I was very unsure in the beginning if everything would work out."
“There’s no instructor here that I don’t like; they’re all very nice,” says Hans-Dieter Kubatsch. “They are very devoted to their jobs and help the students as much as they can.”

She Doesn't Know When To Quit
"I moved here looking to further my education in the medical field, saw an ad for National College in the paper, and they gave me the best financial aid package,"– Debbie Kirk, medical assisting/pharmacy tech business

Enrolling was one of the best decisions I've made.
“Enrolling was one of the best decisions I’ve made.” – Elizabeth Kelley, paralegal

Overcoming Challenges
“I really enjoyed [National]; I almost didn’t want to graduate so I could stay!"–Stephanie Johnson, administrative office professional

It's a Small World
“I was working at a thrift store, and after five years, I was going nowhere…There’s got to be something better"–Sayuri Henger, Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT), pharmacy technician

All About Family
“One thing that I think is unique about National, because I didn’t find this at other schools, is the fact that their main focus is giving you skills that you’re going to use directly in the work environment.”–Carrie Hauser, business administration–management

Now I Am Able to Give Back to Mankind
"National provided me with the skills to be a medical assistant, which then enabled me to expand into other sections of the medical field" – Sharon Harding, medical assisting

The Fast Track
By September she had been promoted…and in January she was promoted again. Knoxville graduate Angela Hagler found that her computer applications technology degree is a good fit for the banking industry.– Angela Hagler, computer applications technology

Cincinnati’s Dynamic Duo
“We get to see the other side, how it all works, and understand where [students] are coming from."–Dana Gibson, business administration-accounting

Bright Future
"I loved the fact that they were smaller classes [at National], you had the teachers' attention more so than you would in larger classes".– Ashley Gelhar, business administration-management

Success in Tow
"When I had difficulty getting financing to start my business, they helped me make the connections I needed to get an SBA (Small Business Administration) loan," Lorenzo Edwards, business administration-management

'I'm worth it!'"
“Now I have the salary that says, 'I'm worth it!'” – Debi Detamore, administrative office professional

Rising to the Top
“My last quarter I could tie things in to the externship and bring them right here."–Andrew Collins, business administration–management

This Man Means Business
"Everything I learned in two years at National, I’m using those skills."–Julius Chambers, business administration–management

Change of Environment
“I am proud of my job and I feel good about what I do."–April Butcher, administrative office professional program

She was determined to prove them wrong!
"National is truly like family" – Tonya Horne Boyd, medical assisting

A Success
Thanks to the Trade Act and National’s Workforce Development Grant, Ricky Abney found new career opportunities through National College in Richmond, KY, after working 30 years at a manufacturing facility that recently relocated overseas.

An Angel
“I am now in a position to make a difference in others lives!” – Lisa Angel, medical assisting

A Return on Investment
"I just turned 41 and finally know what I want to do in life.."–-Vicky Hutcherson

Moving into The Future
“I've found excellent instructors at National College. They really want to see each student succeed.” – Larry Sutherland, information systems engineer

Woman on a Mission
“I have gained a tremendous amount of knowledge without worrying how to pay for it. "–Linda Hoffman, business administration-accounting

What a relief!
"I never knew college could be so enjoyable..."– Sabrina Goncalves

"I am a brand new person"
“You cannot know how everyone here at National College has made such a tremendous impact for the better on my life. I never thought of myself as successful, but now I know that I can be and will be, in whatever endeavor I undertake. ” – December Bertram