Spring Commencement 2024: Noah Haddad, College of Nursing

Senior nursing student Noah Haddad comes from a family of healthcare professionals, so he always knew that he wanted to pursue a healthcare career. He was unsure, however, where he would earn his degree and what he would study until he happened to be at a soccer academy showcase in Florida.

“I got recruited to play soccer at the showcase by Radford,” Haddad says. “But I already had ties to the university. My dad actually played here at Radford, so it was really cool to have the opportunity to follow in his footsteps.”

Once he had decided on Radford, the Littleton, CO, native next had to choose what he would study. As he explored his options, nursing quickly rose to the top of his list.

“I began looking into the program in regard to how prestigious it was and the super high NCLEX pass rates and it just became obvious that this was the right path for me,” Haddad says. “I’m one of these people that if I can do something the hard way, I'm going to do it the hard way. So I wanted to push myself to be better in all aspects while I was here at Radford.”

That determination has paid off for Haddad, whether in the classroom, the lab or on the soccer pitch. This past year, Haddad was named to the Big South Academic All-Conference team.

“You know, studying nursing and playing soccer at the same time is not easy,” Haddad says. “The nursing program and Radford as a whole has been an important part of my growth and maturity. The right decision is not always a fun decision, but I knew I wanted to succeed. Radford helped me set my priorities straight.”

Haddad has worked to integrate the two aspects of his Radford experience by participating in the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) for all four of his years on campus. The group is a leadership organization consisting of student-athletes representing all 16 sports at Radford University. SAAC serves as a conduit of communication among student-athletes, coaches and athletic administrators on issues to improve the student-athlete experience and promote growth and education through sports participation.

“I like being the voice for my team,” Haddad says. “The athletic community at Radford is super tight knit. We are all really good friends and hang out together. It’s like a family and I enjoy being able to advocate for my fellow student-athletes.”

In addition to his athletic career and extracurricular activities, Haddad is also completing his clinical rotations at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital in the Intensive Care Unit.

“As a level one trauma center, the hospital is really fast-paced and that’s the type of workflow that I like,” Haddad says. “I've been able to meet a lot of people through my clinicals and I’ve met a lot of super-skilled, intelligent nurses. I’ve learned so much and made memories with them that I’ll never forget.”

As he approaches graduation, Haddad says he’s torn about how to feel. He’s happy to be finishing his degree and starting a new chapter in his life, but he says he will miss Radford and all the university has to offer.

“I’m really happy to finally be able to do what I’ve gone to school for over the last four years,” he says, “but at the same time, it’s really emotional and kind of sad that I’m moving on from some of the best friends that I’ve ever had. It’s going to be hard to let go.”

While leaving Radford will be difficult, Haddad says he has only great memories of his time as a Highlander.

“Radford is a smaller school and everyone really starts to become like family,” he says. “These people that I’ve met and the memories that I’ve shared with them are things that I’ll hold with me for the rest of my life.”