Carlye Manuel is a recent graduate of Patrick Henry High School. While enrolled at PHHS, Carlye always loved math and science and knew that her dream career would involve a combination of the two: civil engineering seemed like the perfect fit.
Luckily for Carlye, Virginia boasts one of the top engineering universities in the nation: Virginia Tech. Carlye learned about Virginia Highlands’ Guaranteed Admissions Agreement with Virginia Tech’s College of Engineering, which would save her place in the top-notch program while also saving her thousands in tuition costs. Armed with this knowledge, starting at VHCC was a no-brainer for Carlyee. What she didn’t expect was how much she would love the VHCC experience.
Virginia Highlands’ engineering classes average around 10 students per class, which gave Carlye the opportunity to form close connections with both her classmates and professors. “All of my favorite memories at VHCC so far have stemmed from moments in my engineering courses. Professor Hale always makes class interesting, whether it be by throwing his jokes around or by cheering on his students and our interests,” said Carlye.
Carlye will graduate in May 2022 with her Engineering Associate’s degree from VHCC and will begin Virginia Tech’s Civil Engineering program as a junior the following fall. She hopes to intern for Disney's Imagineering Department after attending Virginia Tech and her goal is to become a Structural Imagineer for Walt Disney World designing and planning rides, resorts, and parks. “Virginia Highlands is an uplifting environment that provides me with a pathway to pursue my dreams,” said Carlye.