News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SVCC Prepares Alumna for A Career in Education
As part of Southside Virginia Community College’s (SVCC) ongoing Alumni Spotlight Series celebrating American Education Week, SVCC proudly shares the inspiring journey of an alumna whose educational foundation at the college helped launch a meaningful and successful career in public education.
A graduate of Park View High School, Morgan Hash began her SVCC experience early by enrolling in Dual Enrollment courses and attending The Governor’s School of Southside Virginia (GSSV) located on the Christanna Campus in Alberta. She credits these opportunities with giving her an academic head start and shaping the direction of her future career.
Today, Morgan serves as a Reading Interventionist and School Testing Coordinator at Victoria Elementary School, a role in which she supports young learners and helps cultivate strong academic growth within her community.
Reflecting on her time at SVCC, Morgan shared, the GSSV Program enabled her to earn her Associate of Arts and Sciences degree, providing core classes that transferred seamlessly when she continued her education. “My classes at SVCC provided a challenge that allowed me to develop the skills I needed to pursue my Bachelor’s Degree,” she said. “Personally, I built relationships with instructors and classmates that made attending SVCC enjoyable.”
Morgan highlighted the academic rigor, personal connections, and skills she gained, especially time-management and organizational skills, which continue to support her in her role as an educator. She also credits SVCC faculty for their inspiration, naming Mrs. Martha Wilson as a standout instructor who encouraged creativity, curiosity, and a deep understanding of the content.
After graduating from SVCC, she transferred to Virginia Tech, completing her Bachelor’s Degree in Human Development in 2016 and Master’s Degree in Elementary Education Curriculum and Instruction in 2017. She went on to teach second grade for more than eight years in Mecklenburg County before completing the Educational Leadership Endorsement Program at Longwood University and beginning her current role at Victoria Elementary.
Morgan describes her SVCC foundation as essential to her success. “SVCC bridged the gap and allowed me to start my Bachelor’s Degree more confidently and better prepared,” she said. Completing her associate degree allowed her to finish her bachelor’s degree in three years, saving time and reducing college expenses for her family.
Looking back, she says her achievements are a reflection of the strong foundation she built at SVCC. “I look back on my time at SVCC fondly. I got to have great experiences with my classmates and instructors. This time shaped me into the person I am today and prepared me to pursue higher education.” She notes that she and her classmates went into a wide variety of fields, all supported by the solid academic preparation SVCC provides.
She strongly recommends SVCC to others. “SVCC provides a lot of great opportunities in a local setting. These opportunities can prepare you to begin your career or pursue further education. Starting at the community college level allows you to explore your interests further if you are unsure of a specific career path.”
“Being an educator can be challenging, but the impact that you can make is priceless,” Morgan added. If you would like to pursue a career in education like Morgan, contact Dr. Sarah Horne, 434-736-2087 or by email, sarah.horne@southside.edu. For more information visit, southside.edu/upcoming-semester.
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