For Cristian Cortes Novoa, some of the proudest moments at Lakeland Community College come from helping someone else take the next step, whether that means walking a student to the campus food pantry or helping a classmate schedule tutoring.

"I take pride in being a trusted person on campus that can get students connected to what they need," Cortes Novoa said.

Cortes Novoa's path to Lakeland began with military service. Born in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, he joined the Navy in 2018 and served five years as an air traffic controller, with assignments in Greece and Texas. Aviation work later brought him to Ohio in 2025, but he soon sought a new direction.

Two days after leaving an aviation job, Cortes Novoa toured Lakeland and met with staff in the Veterans Center. He completed registration by the end of the following week.

That welcome helped him find a sense of belonging. Cortes Novoa credits Rhonda and Debbie in the Veterans Center with taking a personal interest in his transition, and he describes Rhonda as an ongoing mentor as he navigates life after the military, explores social work and looks for ways to serve his community.

Cortes Novoa is now pursuing an Associate of Arts degree and plans to earn a master's degree in social work, with the goal of helping people access the resources they need.

That commitment is already evident across campus. Cortes Novoa has served as president of the Students & Veterans Club and the Hispanic Club, secretary of the Black Student Union, and currently serves as president of Lakeland Student Government. He also helped start the Lakeland Pride Community, creating an opportunity for students to find connection and a safe space.

As a student worker in the Veterans Center and a student ambassador, Cortes Novoa helps veterans and their families navigate college and welcomes prospective and incoming students.

"I feel responsible for my peers at Lakeland, and I want every single student here to have all the resources and tools to succeed in and out of the classroom," Cortes Novoa said.

Cortes Novoa has made the Dean's List every semester at Lakeland. He credits Learning Center staff and professors Traci Sullivan and Mitchell James, among many others, with supporting his academic growth.

Looking ahead, Cortes Novoa hopes to bring his education and experience to work that creates lasting, positive change in Lake County, back home in Florida and beyond.

Aliece Johnson was awarded the Outstanding Student Recognition for her academic success and dedication that has resulted in two certificates and an associate degree from Lakeland Community College. Johnson began classes at Lakeland in 2023, originally aiming to earn one certificate while raising her two young children at home.

"In my three years in the business department, it means that my professors acknowledge my continuous hard work in class," said Johnson when asked about the meaning of being an outstanding student.

Johnson credited professors Gretchen Skok DiSanto and Daniel Curtin for their lasting impact on her education due to their experience and knowledge in the business field. She also mentions that Lakeland supported her academic success through making class registration straightforward and having instructors that made learning easy.

Johnson's passion for learning has led to her success and recognition as an outstanding student. She plans to take what she has learned at Lakeland both in and out of the classroom and pursue further education toward a bachelor's degree.

Cortney Miller was named an Outstanding Student by Lakeland Community College, recognizing her academic achievement and dedication as a single mother returning to school. Miller, who was drawn to the opportunities in the healthcare field, maintained straight A's throughout the Medical Assisting program while balancing her responsibilities outside of the classroom.

"I am a 30-year-old single mom who works very hard to take care of her child," Miller said. "Going back to school, I had to prove to myself that I can do hard things, and I can do good things. I feel very proud of the way I am leaving the Medical Assisting program and the connections I made with my classmates."

Miller explained that she was nervous about returning to school after struggling academically in high school. Her experience at Lakeland changed her view of both herself and education. She credits professors Denise Lash and Angela Miller with making a lasting impression, describing them as understanding, considerate, strong women who were willing to help students whenever needed.

"I learned that I can do challenging things," Miller said. "I learned I am more disciplined than I thought I was and that when it comes to education you just have to have a good instructor."

For Miller, being an Outstanding Student means more than having good grades, it also means being engaged and participating during class, asking questions, helping fellow students, and having a good attitude. She plans to stay enrolled at Lakeland as a full-time student to pursue further education. Her motivation, she said, begins at home.

"My passion starts with me being a mom and trying to support my daughter," Miller said. "Lakeland gave me the opportunity to go back to school and get an education so that I could get a good job."

Phillip C. Ryan is among this year's Outstanding Students at Lakeland Community College. Ryan is recognized for his dedication and leadership since enrolling as student after military retirement from the Army. His hard work has led him to graduate with an Associate of Arts degree.

Ryan explained that he came to Lakeland in an effort to find a path forward in civilian life.

"As a veteran, it isn't always easy to come back to civilian life," said Ryan. "Lakeland has done wonders in helping me reconnect with life outside the military and forge new bonds in a career field I am confident in and passionate about."

Three Lakeland faculty members stood out as instrumental to Ryan's academic success. When asked who left a lasting impact during his time at Lakeland, Ryan mentioned that professors Mitch James, James DeMonte and Tobin Terry were there for him every step of the way. From his writing to looking into four-year schools to transfer to, they took time to answer any question he had.

"I wouldn't have been nearly this successful without their mentorship," said Ryan while speaking about the faculty who helped him succeed.

Lakeland also connected Ryan with opportunities to thrive in leadership. In the fall of 2025, he completed Phi Theta Kappa's Honors in Action program, where he coordinated a week of several mental health programs and activities. Ryan also discovered a passion for the Center for International Education's guest speaker series. He explained that getting to experience a variety of people visiting Lakeland to share about their lives and careers was eye-opening and impactful to his journey.

After his time at Lakeland, Ryan plans to transfer to Hiram College as a writing major. Eventually, plans to pursue an MFA and possibly teaching after discovering a love for mentorship.

Only three functioning plasma spectrometers remain in the country, and Ulisses Rodriguez knows how to run one. This spring, he is recognized as one of Lakeland's outstanding students.

Rodriguez first encountered Lakeland as a junior in high school during a field trip to a gel electrophoresis lab on campus. That visit had a lasting impression that would shape his academic path.

"I had a great time, and the field trip made me feel like Lakeland had what I was looking for in terms of science education," said Rodriguez about the field trip.

After enrolling at Lakeland, Rodriguez got to explore their passion for science. He learned to operate the direct current plasma (DCP) spectrometer, a rare piece of scientific equipment, through Lakeland's undergraduate research program. He is now among a small number of people in the country with the knowledge to operate one.

"I am passionate about science, and being able to find the opportunity to do undergraduate research at Lakeland helped me feed that passion," said Rodriguez.

He also mentions that professor Dr. Karen Knaus was a great mentor and instrumental in keeping their passion for science alive. Now, Rodriguez hopes to carry the foundation they've built at Lakeland into a future in the field of science.

At just 16 years old, Savanah Ellis, is already taking on college-level coursework and learning what it means to succeed through College Credit Plus (CCP) at Lakeland Community College.

Beyond the classroom, Ellis has become a familiar face around campus, spending time in the Lakeland Library, Breakers and Learning Center to make use of the resources available to her. Along the way, Savanah has also found community and connection at Lakeland.

"The whole campus feels like you're connected to Lakeland," Ellis said when asked about what life on campus is like.

Ellis plans to continue her journey to success while using Lakeland's resources as she works toward an associate degree. Once graduated from high school and Lakeland, she hopes to transfer to Cleveland State University and pursue a career in health and fitness.