For Volker Cloud, Saturday’s graduation from Holy Cross College marks not just a milestone but the culmination of a bold, accelerated academic journey. A computer science major with a mathematics minor, Cloud will graduate in three years, walking alongside his sister, Marcella, who completed her degree a semester earlier.
“It’s pretty cool,” he admitted.
But Cloud’s time at Holy Cross was never about coincidences. It was about adjusting with determination.
Fueled by Opportunity
Cloud began at Holy Cross with 25 college credits earned during high school. What was meant to be a traditional four-year experience transformed into an intense academic sprint when a PhD opportunity in electrical engineering with a focus on chip security opened at the University of North Carolina Charlotte.
To qualify, Cloud needed to complete his undergraduate degree early. So, he stacked his semesters, taking 18 and 17 credits back-to-back, adding summer courses, and balancing residential assistant duties in Basil Hall.
“It was stressful,” he admits. “But it taught me how to handle pressure. When your back’s against the wall, you figure it out—and if you overcome that challenge, you come out a pretty stellar student.”
Though the PhD funding didn’t materialize, Cloud remains determined. He’s been accepted into the applied mathematics and computer science master’s program at IU South Bend and has job prospects in software development while continuing to pursue fully funded doctoral opportunities.
A Scholar and a Maker
At Holy Cross, Volker became known for his technical acumen and his 3D printer. As a first-year student, he joined the Computer Science Club and helped print over 300 commemorative coins for President Marco Clark’s inauguration. That sparked a deeper involvement in creative projects, including customized items for events and groundbreaking ceremonies.
“Dr. Clark really engages with students. When he found out we could 3D print, he just asked if we’d make something for the inauguration. So, we did.”
Volker also dove into advanced research, conducting a capstone project on post-quantum cryptography under the mentorship of Professor Vandenberg. “Quantum computers could break today’s encryption within 20 to 25 years,” he explained. “So, I thought, ‘We should probably fix that.’”
Finding His People, Leaving a Mark
Though he was homeschooled from second grade through high school, Holy Cross became a natural extension of the close-knit environment he knew growing up. “The people here make the difference—especially the professors,” he said. “Dennis Vandenberg and Deborah Arangno, in particular, were incredible mentors. They offered me solid, solid advice.”
Cloud also played a role in launching the Upsilon Pi Epsilon (UPE) computer science honor society chapter at Holy Cross. Many of those members were also in classes together, creating a sense of family.
“We were able to grow and bond together,” Cloud said.
Holy Cross is special, he said, because of “the people, first and foremost.”
Looking Ahead
His family, including five siblings and his parents, will be in the crowd Saturday—except his oldest sister, who lives in Texas. Still, it’s a full-circle moment: two siblings, two degrees, one shared stage.
Whether he continues in graduate school, launches into a software development role, or lands in a fully funded PhD program, Cloud is ready. “It would have been nice to do a full fourth year without all the pressure,” he admits. “But I’m proud of what I’ve done. This experience shaped me.”