Brendan Wynn, PVCC

Brendan Wynn
Piedmont Virginia Community College

Sitting at my high school graduation, I was convinced I could never afford to go to college. I was the only person in the top 10% without a university beside my name in the program. My diploma would come with the Governor’s Seal, special commendation for an AP curriculum, and my high school’s music scholarship. 

But, I felt heavy as I walked onto the stage wearing special tassels and sashes for programs like the Governor’s School for the Arts and National Honors Society. I was all dressed up and no place to go. Without my parents, I was certain I could never make it to school alone.

Fortunately, Piedmont Virginia Community College made sure I never felt that I was going through anything alone. I contacted the Financial Aid office looking for a way to afford school. Though her small office was dealing with files for thousands of newly enrolled students, Financial Aid Director Carol Larson listened and helped with my predicament—a young student forced to leave his house at age 16, with no money for college application fees, let alone tuition.

Since then, Piedmont has offered me countless opportunities to give back. Whether working on college committees with tireless faculty, staff and administration or creating a Student Support Committee as the vice president of the college’s Student Government Association, I have found so many ways to support other students working to overcome obstacles to higher education. Thanks to the strong curriculum at Piedmont, I have even been able to join a research lab at the University of Virginia studying the educational development of kids who have difficulties making friends.

On January 19, 2012, I was honored to meet with Virginia legislators in their Richmond offices. House Minority Leader David Toscano and Delegates Steve Landes and Lee Ware graciously invited a group of Piedmont students to their offices before a busy day on the Hill. Like the faculty and staff whose jobs they make possible, these assemblymen were actively engaged in hearing our stories and the chance we were given through Piedmont Virginia Community College.

These legislators make the robust Virginia Community College System possible.  More than that, their dedication to higher education makes my story possible.