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From Orientation to Graduation

The NOVA Program is a federal TRIO Student Support Services grant project committed to fostering the intellectual, personal, and professional growth of first-generation and low-income students from Orientation to Graduation.

The Fall 2026 application is now open.

Apply to the NOVA Program
  • A photo of EKU students from the NOVA program gathered out front of the Whitehouse for a group photo.
  • A photo of EKU students from the NOVA program admiring nature.
  • A photo of EKU students from the NOVA program standing in front of the JFK presidential library and museum.
  • A photo of EKU students from the NOVA program aboard a sailing vessel.

    • Key Resources

    Spring 2026 Peer Mentors

    Below are our Peer Mentors for this semester. The Peer Mentors will guide NOVA freshman throughout their first year of college at EKU.

    Avery Blevins (SO)

    Major: Social Work
    Interests/Campus Involvement: NOVA, Honors Program, Student Social Work Association

    Kassidy Burke (SR)

    Major: Biomedical Sciences
    Interests/Campus Involvement: NOVA, Chi Omega, Tri-Alpha First Generation Honors Society, Honors Program, EKUMed, Pre-Professional Health Society, Phi Kappa Phi Honors Society, National Society of Collegiate Scholars-EKU, Volunteering

    Cloey Davis (JR)

    Major: Criminal Justice
    Interests/Campus Involvement: NOVA, Gaming, Reading, Critiquing movies, Walking

    Olivia Dwyer (SR)

    Major: Globalization & International Affairs
    Interests/Campus Involvement: NOVA, Cooking, Gardening, Hiking, Crafting

    Julie Embry-Veleta (SO)

    Major: Forensic Science
    Interests/Campus Involvement: NOVA, Reading, Hiking, Exploring nature, Hanging out with Family & friends

    Jasmine Gaona (SR)

    Major: Public Health
    Interests/Campus Involvement: NOVA, NOVA Student Activities Council

    Berenice Garcia (SO)

    Major: Animal & Veterinary Sciences
    Interests/Campus Involvement: NOVA, Art

    Adri Gaulzetti (SR)

    Majors: Criminal Justice & Police Studies
    Interests/Campus Involvement: NOVA, Summer Orientation Leader, First Kerns, McNair Scholars, Crime & Chemistry, FBLA, Facilities Student Worker

    Jorden Goff (SR)

    Major: History
    Interests/Campus Involvement: NOVA, Tennis, Lego building, Cooking, and Traveling

    Adrian Guillen (SR)

    Major: Psychology
    Interests/Campus Involvement: NOVA, First Kerns, Reading, Going to the gym

    Kaeley Heaton (SR)

    Major: Recreation & Park Administration
    Interests/Campus Involvement: NOVA, EKU Division of Natural Areas Event Programmer, Hiking, Outdoors, Fitness, Plants, Music

    Kaden Hollingsworth (JR)

    Major: Construction Management
    Interests/Campus Involvement: NOVA, Climbing, Working out, Building things, Food

    Cora Hopkins (JR)

    Major: Broadcasting & Electronic Media

    Patience Howell (SO)

    Major: History Teaching
    Interests/Campus Involvement: NOVA, Marching Band, Concert Band, EKU Young Dems

    Olive Ibarra (JR)

    Major: Psychology
    Interests/Campus Involvement: NOVA, First Kerns

    Elizabeth Jones (SR)

    Major: Public Health
    Interests/Campus Involvement: NOVA, NOVA Student Activities Council

    Amya Kendrick (SR)

    Major: Public Relations
    Interests/Campus Involvement: NOVA, PRSSA, Tri-Alpha, CSI (Center for Student Involvement) Marketing Specialist, CBM (EKU Communications & Brand Management) Student Communications Specialist

    Olivia Kennedy (SR)

    Major: History
    Interests/Campus Involvement: NOVA, Crochet Club

    Hope Kerns (JR)

    Major: Broadcasting & Electronic Media
    Interests/Campus Involvement: NOVA, NOVA Student Advisory Council, Eastern Progress, Honors Program, Tri-Alpha First-Generation Honors Society, Alpha Gamma Delta, Students for Appalachia, McNair Scholars Program, Gear-Up Ambassador, Case Dining Social Media Intern, First Kerns, Smile Club

    Tiana Kilgore (JR)

    Major: History
    Interests/Campus Involvement: NOVA, Immanuel 99U Ministry, History Club, Crochet, Greek Life, Choir

    Emily Loreto (JR)

    Majors: Spanish & Business
    Interests/Campus Involvement: NOVA, Reading, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Olivia Rodrigo, Drawing, Spending time with dogs

    Trinity Mahan (SO)

    Major: Criminal Justice
    Interests/Campus Involvement: NOVA, NOVA Student Activities Council

    Allyson Meredith (SO)

    Major: Communication Disorders
    Interests/Campus Involvement: NOVA, Marching Band, Pep Band, Choir, Alpha Gamma Delta, Housing Community Receptionist

    Makala Morris (SR)

    Major: Elementary Education
    Interests/Campus Involvement: NOVA, Pokemon, Rocks, Monster High

    Avery Slaughter (SR)

    Major: Criminal Justice
    Interests/Campus Involvement: NOVA, Alpha Kappa Alpha Inc., NOVA Student Activities Council

    Carolyn Teegarden (SO)

    Major: Food & Nutrition
    Interests/Campus Involvement: NOVA, First Kerns, Young Democrats, EKU Housing Community Receptionist

    Trista Thomas (SR)

    Major: Occupational Safety

    Carter Vanzant (JR)

    Major: General Studies
    Interests/Campus Involvement: NOVA, Gaming

    Rae Young (SO)

    Major: Psychology
    Interests/Campus Involvement: NOVA, ARA, First Kerns

    Contact Information

    NOVA Program

    Cammack Building
    Room 005

    859-622-1047
    nova@eku.edu

    Department Directory

    Program Services

    We are The NOVA Program! For 50 years, we have helped EKU First-Generation and limited income students succeed in college. As a TRIO Student Support Services program, our sole purpose is to help you get through college, and all of our services are completely free! Here are some of the services we offer:

    • Academic Advising—Helping you pick out your classes and your schedule every semester
    • Financial Aid Counseling—Don’t understand your financial aid? We’re here to help! Need help filling out FAFSA? We’ve got you.
    • Cultural Trips and Events—All-expense paid trips to cultural hubs around the United States!
    • Peer Mentoring—Each NOVA Freshman is given an upperclassman Peer Mentor to help navigate all those new college experiences! If you are a transfer student and would like a Peer Mentor, those are available as well!
    • NOVA-Specific Coursework—GSD 101 (Intro to College), GSD 225S (Service-Learning), GSO 149 (Career & Co-op), and GSD 399 (Senior Exit Seminar)
    • “Adulting” Workshops—Learning valuable life skills that you haven’t had a chance to learn yet (How to Build Credit, Apartments 101, etc.)
    • Leadership Development
      NOVA Living Learning Community—Live on the same floor as other NOVAs
    • … and so much more!

    Courses Offered

    • 3 credit-hour freshman orientation course taught by a NOVA staff member (required for all incoming freshmen)
    • Helps students navigate the waters of their first semester at EKU
    • Students have the guidance and support of a Peer Mentor (a NOVA upperclassman student)
    • Equips students with the knowledge of campus resources, positive academic behaviors, and tools for getting engaged on campus

    • 1 credit-hour course which introduces emerging leaders to leadership theory and development
    • Attention is given to leadership styles, conflict resolution, communication skills, ethics and values
    • Students in this course work with a small group of peers to provide community service to an assigned local community partner

    • 1 credit-hour course which introduces emerging leaders to leadership theory and development
    • Attention is given to leadership styles, conflict resolution, communication skills, ethics and values
    • Students in this course work with a small group of peers to provide community service to an assigned local community partner

    • 1 credit hour course designed for Sophomores, Juniors, or Seniors
    • Prepares NOVA students for the job market prior to co-ops & internships
    • Topics include: self assessment, communication, resumes and cover letters, interviewing techniques, and business etiquette

    • 1 credit-hour course required for all NOVA Peer Mentors
    • NOVA students enrolled in this course receive instruction and training in mentoring skills and techniques
    • Students will serve as a peer mentor and assist with teaching an assigned section of NOVA GSD 101 and/or GSD 225S
    • May be retaken up to 6 credit hours

    • 3 credit-hour course for NOVA juniors and seniors
    • Helps students recognize and build skills needed for desired career fields
    • Topics include: job search, resumes, cover letters, interview skills, and making connections between academic experiences and professional goals
    • Designed to help students transition from college to career or graduate school

    Eligibility Criteria

    • U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident; AND
    • Fully admitted to EKU; AND
    • Enrolled (or planning to be enrolled) full-time on the main Richmond campus; AND
    • Demonstrate an academic need (as determined by the program); AND
    • First-generation college student (neither parent graduated with a bachelor’s degree); AND/OR
    • Low-income; AND/OR
    • The term “low-income individual” means an individual from a family whose taxable income for the preceding year did not exceed 150 percent of an amount equal to the poverty level determined by using criteria of poverty established by the Bureau of the Census.
    • Documented disability (must be a verifiable physical/learning/emotional disability).
    Federal TRiO Programs Current-Year Low-Income Levels

    Mission

    The NOVA Program is a federally-funded TRIO Student Support Services project that increases the retention and graduation rates of first-generation, limited-income, and/or students with disabilities. Utilizing an individualized, strengths-based approach, NOVA provides comprehensive support services from Orientation to Graduation to empower students to realize their fullest potential.

    Vision

    The NOVA Program will serve as a national model of excellence, providing a transformative undergraduate experience to students from underrepresented populations. NOVA graduates will be well-rounded, self-actualized, global citizens who aspire to achieve their full potential and contribute to the betterment of the world.

    Trio Student Support Services

    The NOVA Program is a Student Support Services TRIO Project funded at $417,888 in federal funds from the U.S. Department of Education for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to serve 206 eligible EKU students. This disclosure is made in compliance with Public Law 108-447 SEC 506

    Newsletter

    Our latest newsletter is available HERE.

    NOVA publishes regular newsletters to keep our students, friends, and family in-the-know! In each NOVA Newsletter, you can find:

    • Upcoming events
    • Important dates/deadlines
    • Staff updates
    • Student spotlights
    • …and more!

    If you’re interested in subscribing to our newsletter, shoot us an email at nova@eku.edu. All current NOVA students will automatically receive our newsletters. For past newsletters, please contact Ashton Chaffins at ashton.chaffins@eku.edu.