Thomas, a mechanical engineering student, grew up adoring Howard Belton, a retired engineer, and reflected on their bond often as he pursued his degree from VCU.

Another pandemic semester is ending, and with it comes hope that better days are ahead. We interviewed 20 students this spring on the eve of their graduation. These are their stories.

Headaches and memory loss nearly derailed her final years of school. But thanks to her mother, the Department of Political Science and her own perseverance, Jolley will graduate this month.

A new website, brandcentergrads.com, is a showcase of student work and a way for new graduates to establish connections with potential employers.

“I want something that’s going to make me want to get up in the morning, no matter how exhausted I am, with an energy that says, ‘I gotta go. I gotta go do my work.’ … There’s so much work to do.”

Later this month, he will become the first graduate of VCU’s Graduate Certificate in Health Care Innovation program.

Christina Gordon’s device, the Proxy-Flosser, could ease the daily cleaning routine of those who wear braces. Her invention is one of five that has received funding from VCU’s Commercialization Fund.

Providing care to underserved populations — both urban and rural — have solidified in Holston a commitment to giving back.