Scholarship Recipients
Myles Brown
Myles Brown is a native of Yorktown, Virginia. As an undergraduate student, Myles attended the Virginia Military Institute for two years before transferring to the University of Virginia. While at VMI and UVA, he was a Midshipman in the Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps (Marine Option) program. In 2019 he graduated with a degree in Psychology and a minor in African and African American Studies and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant later that summer. Myles served four years in the Marine Corps as a Communications and Information Systems Officer in Camp Pendleton, California. After receiving his discharge from the Marine Corps, he enrolled in the Virginia Tech Master of Information Technology program. His long-term professional goal is to work as the Chief Information Officer for one of the major American sports leagues.
Myles is an active member of his local community participating in multiple service initiatives as a member of his local NAACP and Omega Psi Phi chapters, and in his free time, he enjoys Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, and football. He is proud to be a Hokie and is looking forward to what the future holds at Virginia Tech!
Clara Fok
Hello, I'm Clara, I recently graduated from Rowan University with a bachelor's in management information systems! This fall I will be starting at Ernst & Young as a tech risk consultant. I'm very excited to be a part of the MIT program where I have the opportunity to develop IT and cybersecurity skills. I'm looking forward to continuing my academic career as I begin my professional journey!
Rahul Gorijala
Hello! My name is Rahul Gorijala and I'm a current student of the VT-MIT program. I attended Virginia Tech for my undergrad degree in Cybersecurity Management and Analytics and graduated in May 2023. I currently work for American Honda Motor Company in Columbus, Ohio, where I am a Software and System Design Engineer.
I'm very excited to begin my graduate studies at Virginia Tech. My undergrad years were amazing and I learned a lot from my time at VT, so I'm definitely excited to begin learning in a great program at a higher level.
Outside of work and school, I enjoy traveling and playing sports. I was on the Club Water Polo team at Virginia Tech as an undergrad!
Go Hokies!
Brittany Gould
Hi! I am Brittany Gould. I graduated from George Mason University with my Bachelor of Science Degree. I’m honored to have been chosen to be an MIT scholar and I am excited to begin my first semester at Virginia Tech. I am pursuing a master’s degree in information technology. I currently work as a developer in rlington, Virginia. My love for computers & technology started at a very young age. I remember the day I received my first computer I knew that I had a passion for technology. I am currently taking courses on Generative AI. I find artificial intelligence very interesting to learn about. I not only love computers, but I enjoy teaching and sharing my knowledge with others. I belong to an organization called Girls Who Code. I really think it’s important that girls learn about computers and gain knowledge of programming at a young age. In addition, I also taught an enrichment course at Boolean girls which helps girls in elementary school to learn rogramming and gain confidence with computers and encourages and empowers them to want to pursue careers in the computer field when they get older. Many of the girls I taught beginning programming to learned to design their own games in a short amount of time. In college, I had an exciting opportunity working for Google as a Google Student Innovator. Google paid for my trip to Google’s Headquarters in Mountain View, California to get trained on GCP. I then worked for Google to instruct college students at George Mason University about the Google Cloud Platform. In my free time, I enjoy programming, 3D printing, designing websites, photography, love traveling, learning new things, visiting museums and many more interests. I am delighted to be selected as an MIT Scholar at Virginia Tech this semester!
Jiaao Jia
Jiaao Jia’s birthday overlapped with the first day of Lunar Calendar in 1998, which was the Chinese New Year Day. He grew up with his grandparents in the small city of Tangshan near Beijing, PRC. At the age of 13, his parents brought him to California, USA as a permanent resident, where he began his unique journey.
Jiaao Jia joined the U.S. Air Force in August 2016 as a Water and Fuels Systems Maintenance apprentice soon after his graduation from Ruben S. Ayala High School. After arriving at his first duty station in McGuire AFB, NJ, he swiftly accomplished his upgrade training and demonstrated technical expertise at an early stage. His efforts contributed to the completion of numerous projects and water main break repairs. During Jiaao’s deployment to Kuwait in 2019, his team designed and built a new fire suppression system for the Ali Al Salem Air Base. He also directly contributed to Camp Arifjan’s new flight line construction and inauguration.
In October 2020, Senior Airman Jiaao Jia finalized a significant career transition and became a Network Operations Technician. After his technical study at Keesler AFB, MS, he was assigned to Beale AFB, California. With Jiaao’s eager to seek IT knowledge, he learned from many skilled technicians, which shaped his positive work ethic and effective communication.
Staff Sergeant Jiaao Jia was promoted to become a supervisor in December 2021. He strived to be the model Airman and mentored others regarding necessary life tools to accomplish the Air Force missions. He was unintimidated to experiment with new processes and share his knowledge with teammates. Under his lead, the network encryption team delivered classified communications for multiple globally separated units throughout various networks.
Focusing on his career development and education opportunities for the past 7 years, Jiaao obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology from Bellevue University. In Spring 2024, he began the Master of Information Technology program study. He recently gained the Cisco Certified Network Associate certification in addition to his COMPTIA Security+ certification, which reinforced his fundamental knowledge as a computer networking and security professional.
In addition, he actively engaged in numerous community support programs. He volunteered at Habitat for Humanity contributing to the construction of furniture for the Habitat ReStore. Also, he gathered a small team to regularly package and distribute food supply for the Yuba-Sutter Food Bank. These efforts offset landfill, promoted affordable housing, and supported the basic needs of residents.
His personal life motto was referenced from the Chinese philosopher Confucius: “Treat others the way you want to be treated”.
John Ricard
My name is John Ricard and I received undergraduate degrees in Actuarial Science and Data Analytics from Drake University in 2021. Since then, I have been based out of Colorado where I have been employed in consulting and healthcare actuarial functions.
In these roles, I found myself in increasingly technical projects and I made the decision to depart the actuarial path as my passion evolved into a data-centric one. In October 2023, I joined Prudential Financial as a member of the modeling team where I decided to pursue a master's degree to further my technical knowledge and develop additional skills to excel in my new career.
When choosing where to study, the reputation of the VT-MIT program along with the available course offerings made it an easy choice from both an academic and a personal development perspective. Following the completion of this program I intend to pursue a doctorate in Computer Science where I hope to further apply the education I receive from Virginia Tech and solidify my career path.
Smera Yeruva
My name is Smera Yeruva and I currently live in Dallas, Texas. I graduated from The University of Texas at Dallas with a major in Biology as I wanted to pursue a career in healthcare. Soon after graduating, I realized that I had a passion for technology. My journey in the technology field began when I started working as an Artificial Intelligence Intern. Working as an AI intern opened my eyes to the boundless opportunities and innovations within the IT field. I was fascinated by the endless possibilities of data analysis and machine learning. Each day presented me with new challenges to solve and advancements to explore, igniting my curiosity and driving my passion for IT further. The collaborative environment and the opportunity to continuously learn and grow were what solidified my decision to pursue a career in the IT field. As I delved deeper into the realm of technology during my time as an AI intern, I became increasingly aware of the need for advanced knowledge and expertise to make meaningful contributions in the field which led me to Virginia Tech’s MIT program. What drew me to Virginia Tech’s MIT program was the emphasis on hands-on learning experiences, which I believed would provide me with the practical skills necessary to thrive in the evolving landscape of technology. The MIT program offered everything I was looking for in a graduate program – academic excellence, innovative research opportunities, and the chance to make a real difference in the world through technology.
Elsie Darko
My name is Elsie Darko and I work with AWS as IT Support Engineer.
I am also a registered nurse in Virginia, completed bachelors of science and master of nursing degree at university of cape coast, Ghana.
I later transitioned from nursing to IT at a point in my career.
To help me better grasp the concepts, I started my IT journey from northern Virginia community college where I studied associate degree in cybersecurity, as I was very much interested in cyber security. At the initial stages of my career change, I took industrial certifications as the basic level, these were ITIL and security +.
Outside of work, I love to spend time with my family and also give to my community by supporting with youth ministry at church. I do volunteer at stem programs organized by my organization when I can.
What drew you to MIT or why were you interested in the program?
During the time when I decided to go back to school, I searched online and also knowing Virginia tech’s ranking for technology courses are ranked high, I thought it was a great idea to be part of this great institution where I could develop my stills and grow in my career.
Another factor that interested me to be part of Virginia Tech MIT program, was the flexibility and the whole idea of having the opportunity to manage work and school and family.
How has MIT helped you with (growing) your career, reaching your career goals? OR How will MIT help you with your next steps or career goals?
With the courses that I am taking so far, I feel better prepared for a role in cyber security, although I am still in the process of finishing my degree, I am looking forward to learning more and developing my skills for the next steps in my career goal.
I believe this will help me with the next steps of my career goals of becoming a cyber security Engineer.
How has the MIT scholarship helped you?
MIT scholarship has really been a big relief, I am fortunate to enjoy this privilege and very thankful.
Rhea Bhatia
I joined the MIT program shortly after finishing undergrad at VT because I decided to change career paths. As a Human Development major, I thought I wanted to pursue a career in the medical field, but that quickly changed after COVID once I realized there was a great need for information technology in our world and I knew I could create a more significant impact with IT in the healthcare industry.
I was drawn to the MIT program not only as a former Hokie but also because of the broad curriculum I could explore. As someone who knew I wanted to pursue a career in IT but wasn't sure what specific field I fit into, I knew this program would allow me to discover my passions within IT.
MIT has already helped me learn and grow so much and will continue to help me navigate the next steps of my career. As someone who has never really had experience with IT, MIT has given me the opportunity to learn and build a foundation for both fundamental and advanced concepts that I will carry with me into my career. Thanks to the MIT program, I now like to think of myself as an "IT professional" :).
The MIT scholarship has given me the freedom to fully immerse myself in learning and finding professional growth while easing some of the financial challenges that come with graduate school. I couldn't have been more excited to be chosen as an MIT scholar because it allowed me to feel more included within such a diverse program. The scholarship has not only supported my academic journey but also serves as a tribute to the faith that the MIT program has in my potential, inspiring me to aim for even greater heights in my future career!
Sara-Katherine Eakes
Hello! My name is Sara-Katherine Eakes and I am 24 years old. I currently live in Ashburn, VA, but I am originally from Greenville, NC. I have been in Ashburn for about a year and a half now. I currently work for Verizon Corporate Security doing personnel security clearances. I went to the University of North Carolina Wilmington for my undergraduate degree and received a degree in Psychology, Criminology, and Sociology with a minor in Business. I like to read, go to the beach, hang out with friends, and hang out with friends in my free time. I have a chihuahua that is my little sidekick. His name is Sebastian and he is well traveled. I chose Virginia Tech because my granddad went here and wanted to make him proud!
Jorge Tardio Urquidi
I came to the United States in 1999 from my home country, Bolivia. Although I had studied as a Systems Engineer, when I arrived, I worked as a satellite dish installer. At that time, it was an ideal opportunity to work in tech and improve my English. I knew that the only way to be successful and guarantee a better life for my family was continuing my formal education in the United States. I enrolled at DeVry University and completed the Technical Management B.S. program. The degree opened many opportunities, I started working at Accenture, a large consulting company. After that I worked for several smaller consulting companies in many different industries. I learned a lot of very exciting skills that ultimately landed me a job at Fannie Mae. I decided to continue my formal education at Virginia Tech and can't wait to see what opportunities this will open for me in the future.
Mona Bakhtiary
My name is Mona Bakhtiary, and I have been part of the MIT program since Fall 2022, I was fortunate to receive the MIT Scholarship in the Spring 2023. Since joining the MIT program, I have passed six classes with different departments, and each class has been a learning experience for me. I am incredibly fortunate to be a part of the MIT program. This program has significantly helped me in transitioning from the humanities field to the STEM field. Having been determined to change my career path, the MIT program, with its wide selection of courses, has allowed me to explore various subjects from different departments. This exposure has not only provided me with a well-rounded education but also helped me identify my specific interests within the Business analytics field.
MIT classes helped me to gain real life experience with the classmates that are working professionals and every group activity turned into a learning experience. With the help of the MIT scholarship that I received last semester. I have been to take on more courses and participate more effectively in the program. This financial assistance has helped me greatly. With the MIT scholarship program, I was able to take courses from different departments such as ACIS, BIT and MGM, at Virginia Tech. Overall, being a part of the MIT program has been a life-changing experience, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunities it has provided me in pursuing my passion for the Business analytics field.
Gregory Parker
I am excited about pursuing my Master of Information Technology degree, with a focus on Health Information Technology in the VT-MIT Program. For the past 10 years, I have served in a number of roles in operational support for the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) healthcare.gov website. Expanding my understanding of health data and how it can reveal keys to assist everyone to achieve positive healthcare outcomes, from the uninsured to Medicare and Medicaid clients to those who have the best in health coverage, drive my pursuit.
Early in my Information Technology career, I thrived in environments where I functioned as a “Jack of all trades” in the small IT Department of what was at that time the largest Medicaid Health Plan in Washington, DC. I transitioned to an assignment as the Operations Director for the DC Medicaid enrollment broker, which was followed by time as the Network Operations Center Lead for a major Department of Defense contractor. My current work in support of the ACA began with an assignment as Operations Lead in the Operations Center for the Affordable Care Act website. Each of those experiences were opportunities to overcome adversity, to research solutions alone and with teams, as well as enjoyable experiences to produce for consumers, insurers, and the previously uninsured.
My undergraduate degree is a BS in Computer and Information Sciences, with a Mathematics minor from the University of Maryland. When I am not working in the technology sphere, my wife and I are supporting our sons’ academic and athletic endeavors. I also enjoy playing piano and organ, as well as choir direction. My wife, Dr. Gina Parker, and I have 5 sons: Justin (Augustana College, Davenport University - Global PMP Graduate Studies, Football Tight End), Collin (Morgan State University - Business Administration), Connor (UMBC, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine PhD Candidate), Cole (University of New Haven - Exercise Science/MPH, Track and Field Decathlete), and Corban (Annapolis Area Christian Upper School - Senior).
Ariel Sanchez
I'm Ariel Sanchez, I hail from the D.C. metropolitan area. Currently, I serve as a Client Systems Technician in the United States Air Force Reserves. Alongside this, my civilian role encompasses the position of Compliance Analyst at Kearney and Company, where I work in tandem with the Air Force DEAMS program and make sure that our procedures are working efficiently and securely.
My background comprises a bachelor's from George Mason University. Presently, I'm engaged in pursuing a Master's in IT from Virginia Tech, contributing to my strong foundation in Information Technology and the dynamic field of cybersecurity.
What sets me apart are my resilience and unwavering tenacity—qualities developed further during my time in the United States Air Force. Guided by the core values of integrity, service, and excellence, I approach challenges with a renewed perspective.
My motivation extends beyond personal achievements; it's about the pride of my family and country. This unshakable drive fuels my commitment to continuous growth.
Brian Beasley
Brian Anthony Beasley is a professional software developer proficient in design, installation, testing, maintenance, and system security. With over five years of experience in technology, he is equipped with diverse and promising skill sets. Proficient in platforms, languages, and embedded systems. Mr. Beasley has experience with development tools and procedures. He will be an asset to Virginia Tech University because of his ability to work independently or collaborate as part of a team. Giving the ability to successfully lead coding teams and quality control initiatives. He graduated from Capella University in 2023 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology. While at Capella University, he earned the NSLS (The National Society of Leadership and Success) award for exemplary academic performance and leadership skills. Currently, he lives in the New York City area and is inspired daily by the idea of changing the world through technology.
Cristal Arnaldi
My name is Cristal Arnaldi-Trinidad, and I am 23 years old. I am currently stationed in San Antonio, Texas as a Cyber Officer in the United States Air Force. What piqued my interest in the MIT program at Virginia Tech was the record they had for being the #1 Online MIT program of choice for Veterans. This was also prevalent amongst my coworkers, who highly recommend the program to me. Coming into the program with an unrelated degree for my undergrad intimidated me at first, but knowing that different backgrounds are able to achieve here is what motivated me to keep a positive attitude.
Overall, I'm excited to start the MIT program this fall. I intend to share what I learn here, and apply it to my job, and share the information with my coworkers as well.
Fareeha Haidari
Fareeha Haidari is a dedicated individual currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Information Technology at Virginia Tech. Born and raised in Afghanistan, she embarked on a journey to the United States in late 2014, seamlessly picking up her education where she had left off. With a lifelong passion for civil engineering, she achieved her degree in the field from George Mason University in 2020. Presently, she excels as a project engineer within the construction industry, overseeing a significant school renovation and new construction project. Inspired by her deep-rooted interest in civil engineering and a newfound fascination with the world of technology, Fareeha aspires to amalgamate her engineering prowess with technology, crafting innovative applications tailored for the construction sector.
Jane Cayetano
Jane Cayetano spent her early childhood in New York and Nigeria before moving to the greater DC metro area. She started her finance career at Freddie Mac 20 years ago as a tax analyst and grew into her current role as Tech Lead. Recognizing that business rules are deeply embedded in systems, technology became instrumental for Jane to grasp intricate business processes. This understanding incited her to pursue a master's degree in information technology at Virginia Tech. She aims to master new technologies to hone her skills, ensuring she remains adaptable and competitive in an increasingly complex business landscape. Jane recently completed the evening MBA program at Virginia Tech. Outside of her professional life, she is passionate about fashion sketches and illustrations.
Lula Phicadu
I’m Lula Phicadu - a 2021 alumna of Virginia Tech where I graduated with a degree in International Relations and have returned to complete my MIT degree! I currently work at Accenture Federal Services where I successfully merge my interests of Foreign Affairs and Technology. I’m able to use comparative analysis skills in my career that combines international relations, business, and technology; all through the implementation of research, strategy, and consulting practice. I am elated to have been selected as a MIT Scholar and ready to take on my Cybersecurity focused degree. Outside of academics I love to travel, participate in trivia, and dive into different cultures and languages - you can always find me watching foreign language shows and movies!
Parisa Dini
Parisa Dini is an Iranian refugee who was born during the initial years of the Iran-Iraq war. She studied Software engineering in Tehran and had a job at an ADSL provider company before she needed to stay at home to take care of her son. In 2016 she arrived in the United States in pursuit of freedom and she worked diligently to build a brighter future. She enrolled in some online English and IT courses to refresh her technical skills and bridge a nearly decade-long gap in her professional career. During this period, she earned a substantial amount knowledge in Database management, hardware, and networking. At the same time, she worked full time across various industries, including hospitality, service, sales and business roles. Finally, in 2021, her dream came true and she passed the interviews and was able to get a Data Center position at AWS. After that she directed her attention towards her passion and acquired a wealth of knowledge . In 2023 she discovered an opportunity to further her education and elevate her expertise. She decided to pursue admission to the MIT program at Virginia tech, a fully online and highly flexible program that perfectly suited her situation as a single mother who needed to maintain a full-time job to support her family financially.
She has a passion for learning new skills, enjoys practicing Yoga, exploring hiking trails, reading books on kindle, watching movies, engaging in board games. She is enthusiastic about connecting with like-minded individuals who share her interests.
Reeba Khan
Reeba Khan is a new mom of a one year old baby boy, a homemaker, and a full time employee. She is a VT Alumni with Bachelors in Computer Science, graduated in 2020 and proudly chose VT again for her Masters in Information Technology starting Fall of 2023. According to her, there is no wrong time to start on your education journey, the right time is when you feel its the time. With a new baby and other increasing expenses, VT has helped her with this scholarship in pursuing the right degree at the right time.