VA Scholarship Recipient Nora Cross

Feb 25, 2026

By Cindy Baugher

For many high school graduates, determining next steps can be uncertain, but for Nora Cross, recent graduate of Christiansburg High School and VAPBA Division scholarship recipient, the future is already in motion. A passionate tennis player and driven student, she is newly enrolled at Virginia Tech, where she is pursuing a degree in biology as her first step toward becoming a physician's assistant.

Nora’s journey into healthcare began long before college applications, rooted in a deeply personal experience: caring for her grandmother during her battle with throat cancer. As a middle schooler, she stepped into the role of caregiver, learning compassion, resilience, and purpose—qualities that now guide her ambition to help others like she helped the beloved grandmother who once cared for her.

Jason Slaughter, President of the New River Valley chapter of the VAPBA, presents a scholarship check to Nora Cross.

With both parents working full-time in law enforcement at the time of her grandmother's illness, Nora knew that she could shoulder the responsibility. But it was not a simple undertaking. The cancer diagnosis had left her grandmother unable to eat or speak, and her difficulties were compounded by her inability to hear. Caring and resourceful, Nora was able to communicate with her by writing on a sketch pad. This experience helped Nora to realize that she enjoyed helping people and what direction her career path should take.

Nora saw firsthand the value of helping others through her parents' example. She describes her parents, who met while working for the Blacksburg Police Department: "My mother is a detective at the Radford City Police Department. She got into law enforcement to help make the world a better place. She takes on other people’s problems and cares deeply about what happens to these people. My mother works on special victim cases, such as domestic crimes against children, and sexual crimes, and these cases take a huge mental toll on her because she is so invested in helping the people who have been wronged. She helps those who are at their lowest and brings justice to their lives. Her profession is a hard one and it takes a strong type of person to withstand what is thrown at you, but it brings justice to the world."

Nora, doing what she loves on the tennis court.

"My father is a retired lieutenant from the Blacksburg City Police Department. He worked in this profession for 25 years. During his career, he was a patrol supervisor, spent several years on the SWAT Team, worked for State Police Drug Task Force, and was an instructor in several different disciplines, such as firearms, pepper spray, etc. When I was growing up, my dad spent much of his career working the nightshift and he was willing to make sacrifices for public safety and the betterment of our community."

Aside from her parents' daily example, Nora’s favorite leader is Anne Jones. Jones was formerly the women's tennis head coach for Virginia Tech and now coaches locally. According to Nora, "She's dedicated her life to teaching people how to play tennis but also how to be a good person." Jones helped guide and direct Nora in both tennis and life. "When I was going through a rough time in high school, she got me involved in the tennis community and that really changed my life." Nora continued, "I met all sorts of people and learned how to be confident and outgoing with others. Anne really pushed me to be better and taught me to never give up on what I want. She was willing to work with me at seven in the morning to better my skills. She taught me discipline and the value of hard work."

Nora, a proud new Hokie, with her mom Carla.

Nora credits the sport of tennis for changing her life in "more ways than I can count." She played and lettered for her high school team, serving as team captain her senior year, and played in junior and adult leagues and tournaments. She taught the sport through working the Blacksburg Parks and Recreation summer camps and earned high school all state tennis her junior year, as well as winning region doubles champions.

The tennis court is not the only place she excels. National Honors Society and National Beta Club had Nora on their rosters due to her 4.22 GPA — the weights given for the rigor of her AP and dual enrollment classes pushed her above the 4.0 mark.

Helping in her community is important to Nora. The Women’s Resource Center benefitted from her volunteer work for both their 5K event and the Fear 2 Freedom event, where she created care packages for survivors of sexual crime. Assembling Thanksgiving baskets to donate and helping to run a Trunk or Treat celebration were also initiatives she participated in. She assisted the Radford Victim Witness Program and RCPD by creating flyers with resource information for the homeless population. And, as the owner of three cherished cats, Nora felt a call to volunteer and donate to the Radford Animal Shelter.

Each year on her birthday she donates to the Radford Animal Shelter.

Nora's mother is VAPBA member Detective Carla Cross. For obvious reasons a proud mom, she said, "I think I speak for our entire family when I say that we are lucky to have Nora. She's the hardest worker I know and when she commits to something she sees it through. Her character, self-discipline, and empathy leave me with no doubt that she will succeed in all that she sets out to do. She is a blessing to us all and I know she's going to do great things in life for others. Ut Prosim" is the motto for Virginia Tech – 'So that I may serve.' I believe this is going to be a perfect fit for her!"

Nora chose Virginia Tech because of how at home she feels there, in large part because of her involvement in and around the university's tennis center. The strong biology and honors programs at VT were also a strong draw. And it certainly doesn't hurt that she's a third generation Hokie. "My grandfather, grandmother, and father all went to the school, too."

Her mom is Nora's greatest influence. "She always puts others before herself and truly cares about people." She continues, "Even though I may help others in a different way compared to her, I want to be like her and make the world a better place."

While no doubt appreciative for Nora’s words, Detective Cross points out, "It isn’t easy being the child of a police officer, much less two of them! We missed a lot of important moments, holidays, etc. Nora was 6 months old to the day when the shooting at Virginia Tech occurred in 2007. My husband and I were both called to be there and had to leave her with family members for several days. We've had moments throughout the years where we have to be gone and rely on family to help. You often wonder if your children will be affected by this negatively, but she has used these experiences to grow into a strong, thoughtful, tough young woman. She works hard, she fights hard for what is right, and she's confident in who she is."

Setting goals, reaching, and even exceeding those goals, is the norm for Nora, as evidenced by her awards and accomplishments, and this scholarship. But, when she's feeling less than confident, her favorite Bible quote comforts her. Isaiah 41:10, "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you."