.png)
When Nicholas Scamardo enlisted in the U.S. Navy to serve as a Fleet Marine Force Corpsman, he thought his career path was set. But after a serious leg injury during training, everything changed. Unsure of what to do next, Nicholas worked a handful of jobs until his family encouraged him to give college a try. He enrolled at NTCC—drawn to its small classes and supportive faculty—and quickly realized it was exactly the environment he needed to start fresh.
At NTCC, Nicholas found both direction and community. History instructor Adam Meier became a mentor who pushed him to think like a scholar and consider graduate study—something Nicholas had never imagined for himself. Faculty members encouraged him to get involved, and he did: serving as SGA Vice President, helping with student programming, and building skills in public speaking and leadership. When life circumstances pulled him away from school for a time, NTCC instructors reached out and welcomed him back, reinforcing his sense of belonging and potential.
That encouragement carried Nicholas forward when he transferred to Southeastern Louisiana University (SLU). There, he earned his bachelor’s degree and later a Master’s in History. Along the way, he presented at academic conferences, worked as a graduate/teaching assistant, and was elected president of the History & Political Science Society. In a full-circle moment, he even invited his NTCC mentors to speak at SLU events. His master’s studies culminated in a 250-page thesis and successful defense—a milestone he credits to the habits instilled at NTCC: ask for help, use office hours, and keep learning out loud.
Today, Nicholas is a full-time instructor at SLU, where he brings the same student-first spirit he experienced at NTCC into his classroom. He reminds students to advocate for themselves, connect with their professors, and see education as an investment no one can take away. Looking ahead, he’s considering a PhD in history or even law school—continuing a journey he once thought was out of reach.
For Nicholas, NTCC wasn’t just a starting point. It was the place where mentors believed in him until he could believe in himself—turning possibility into a profession and a lifelong passion for teaching.
