Our Stories

Ahnora Ozor

Published June 24, 2025

Ahnora Ozor's story begins with an unexpected change of plans that brought her family from Nigeria to the U.S. in October 2020.

"It was supposed to be Canada," she recalls with a laugh. "I still have to ask my dad what happened, because to this day, I don't know what happened!"

The transition was not easy. She arrived during the coronavirus pandemic and was placed in 11th grade because of her age, even though she already completed secondary school in Nigeria.

Ozor attended DuVal High School and discovered Prince George’s Community College through the dual enrollment program. She was drawn to community college because of the opportunity to enroll in college courses while still in high school and reduce her higher education expenses. 



"Taking some of the dual enrollment classes, I really, really liked the professors. They really made an impact on me," she said.

Once enrolled as a full-time PGCC student, Ozor got involved with leadership positions, as it reminded her of similar roles she held in her home country.

“Back in Nigeria … you have the head girl, the head boy … each person has a leadership position,” she explained. As a former soccer player, she chose to join PGCC’s Student Government Association (SGA) because it allowed her to be involved with athletics, since there was no women’s soccer team on campus. Both students and faculty recognized her leadership, and she was elected to be SGA vice president.

Perhaps Ozor’s most ambitious undertaking was reviving PGCC’s debate team. She enjoyed debate competitions in Nigeria and even considered it as a possible career path.
“I really loved debating … I wanted to be a motivational speaker when I grew up [but my mom wanted me to] be a doctor, be a lawyer, whatever.” She did research, talked to friends, and ended up restarting the club and enrolling it in the American Parliamentary Debate Association (APDA), the oldest intercollegiate association of its kind in the U.S. The team competed against prestigious schools such as Harvard, Yale, and Stanford.

"People were really mesmerized by the fact that we were a community college coming in to just beat the likes of Harvard," she recalled. “This is why I created the club. This … [was] the vision I saw.” Ozor is proud that the debate club will continue after she leaves PGCC.

Amid her success, Ozor also navigated personal challenges. In 2023, her mother suffered a stroke, adding family responsibilities to her already packed schedule of classes, ROTC training at the University of Maryland, and multiple leadership roles.

"I knew I was strong ... but now I know obviously you could do anything you put your mind to," she said.

William S. Flores

Published May 6, 2025

William S. Flores, 20, is a focused first-generation student who never saw himself attending college. Encouragement from a Prince George’s Community College recruiter helped him to challenge his perspective and set his sights on higher education. Today, Flores is among the top-performing students at PGCC and will serve as the 2025 Distinguished Graduate at Commencement this year.

“I did so much research to learn what it was to just be in college,” Flores said. “As a first-generation Latino, I would say that college was never seen as a goal for me, just because I didn't know what it was. My parents don't come from an educational background, so I didn't have anyone in my life to tell me that I had to go to college. All I heard was that college is good for you. But for me, in my head, college was only good for those who were smart, those who were wealthier, and successful.”

Flores answered the bold call to see beyond his immediate reality and pursue a greater future for himself. He graduated from High Point High School and enrolled at PGCC, where he majored in general studies. After finishing at PGCC, he plans to transfer to the University of Maryland College Park, where he will major in public policy and minor in marketing. He aspires to run for Congress or governor in the future. He also has entrepreneurship goals of owning a farm and selling produce one day. Flores believes in the power of representation through his own story and strives to empower others.

“It was a PGCC Latina advisor that I got to meet at my local high school,” he said. “She was my representation. Looking back, I wouldn't think that I would be in the place I am if it weren't for the people who were surrounding me or the questions that I asked.”

In his free time, Flores gives back to the community through volunteering with other first-generation students, helping them with college readiness.

“It's more than just volunteering,” he said. “I love it. It's a passion of mine to be able to share with other Latino students who are unaware of the educational system here in America and give them the information that will be so valuable for them once they graduate from high school.”

While a student at PGCC, Flores was involved with the Southern Management Leadership Program, a Promise Scholarship recipient, the honors program, and served as a Student Senator during the College-wide Forum in 2023.

He appreciated the strong support system at PGCC and admitted that the level of care he experienced at the College made him feel special, seen, and heard.

“It's not just the professors and staff pushing you to do your thing,” he said. “They are there every step of the way, and they are there to help you whenever you look back and you have any questions. And that's really important when it comes to supporting students.”

Flores said he is proud of himself for pushing through his circumstances to achieve his goals and inspire others. He took a chance on college, and it changed his life. His legacy is a message of embracing the transformative power of fearlessness. He tapped into his own greatness by not being afraid to try something new.

“In order for you to taste or have that success, you must first taste that bit of failure in your life,” he said. “Many people tend to fear what could happen. You never know if you don't take that chance or leap of faith to continue.”