Jules Sulpazo (Willow Grove, Pa./ St. Basil’s Academy) graduates from Manor College with her Associate’s Degree in Veterinary Technology.

As the owner of a Philly Pretzel Factory shop and a full-time student at Manor College, Jules Sulpazo is proud of the work she put in. The long hours spent prepping morning deliveries, car rides smelling like pretzels and time spent studying were long and exhausting.

But now, nearly a year into her career as a surgery nurse at Pinnacle Veterinary Specialists, Sulpazo walks through the doors of her Willow Grove home on even the toughest days with a smile on her face. 

“Yes, I moved on from something I was proud of,” Sulpazo said, “but you learn what people say to you when you’re young – to follow your passion because that’s what truly matters.”

Sulpazo discovered Pinnacle through Manor College’s Veterinary Technology program. She began her externship there in May 2025 and was hired full-time three months later. 

At Pinnacle, she found a company where executives weren’t afraid to be in the trenches alongside veterinary technicians. It’s not uncommon to see doctors cleaning out kennels besides you, she said. 

“I didn’t just run the pretzel factory from my house, I was there every day,” Sulpazo said. “At Pinnacle, they are boots-on-the-ground people and that’s what I could relate to. There’s no hierarchy. Everyone just wants to practice good medicine.” 

Not everything was always this easy. 

Sulpazo remembered getting through the tough times, including when she almost didn’t make it into Manor’s Veterinary Technology program. 

Sulpazo gave college a shot twice prior to attending Manor – once for chemistry, the other for nursing. Both times, she dropped out because her passion for the subject wasn’t there. 

“I was in class and thought, ‘Those professors love what they do, but I don’t,’” Sulpazo said. “It served as an inspiration for me to go find out what I loved to do.” 

She credited current Manor College Director of Admissions John Simila with helping her. 

“He took the time to vouch for me, even though my scores weren’t great my first two times in college,” Sulpazo said. “Without him, I wouldn’t have had a chance. He took the time to be like, ‘I believe in you’ and that made the difference for me.” 

As she prepares to receive her Associate’s Degree in Veterinary Technology from Manor College, Sulpazo remembered the advice she got from a different Manor College alum: Embrace the hard times. 

“You’re going to have moments where you can’t believe you’re doing this and you just have to trust that innate instinct that you’re doing what you love because the joy in the end is so worth it,” Sulpazo said. “Because when it’s over, no one can take away that degree. You did it. You did that on your own and you have it forever.”