Katina Thongvong

Katina Thongvong's parents were refugees who came to America as a result of the Lao Civil War that occurred from the 1950s through the 1970s. "They did not have the opportunity to attend college, and neither did a large number of my family members. I do not want the struggles my family members went through to make sure I could live well in the United States to go to waste."

Katina came to Delaware Tech on the SEED scholarship. "It made going to college a lot more affordable. An investment in your education is more valuable than any other investment you can make."

Since coming to Delaware Tech, Katina has developed better social and time management skills and learned how to manage stress and anxiety. "I also learned not to judge people too harshly - everyone has walked a different path in life to get where they are today."

Katina noted that education at Delaware Tech is a lot more than just academic work. "The student population at the College is very diverse. I would encourage any student to join clubs and not be afraid to approach people to strike up a conversation. You can learn a lot of interesting information just by talking to other people."

After graduating from Delaware Tech, Katina plans to transfer to the University of Delaware as a junior by utilizing one of Delaware Tech's articulation agreements. She plans to pursue a bachelor of science in computer science with a cybersecurity minor.