Jules Sulpazo spent years running a Philly Pretzel Factory location — early mornings, delivery prep, long hours, and the permanent smell of baked dough in her car. She was proud of what she built. But something was missing.
Now, nearly a year into her career as a surgery nurse at Pinnacle Veterinary Specialists in Willow Grove, she walks through the door on even the hardest days still smiling.
“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.”
Two Failed Attempts at College — and What She Learned From Both
Sulpazo didn’t arrive at Manor College on a straight path. She’d tried college twice before — once for Chemistry, once for Nursing. Both times, she walked away.
“I was in class and thought, ‘Those professors love what they do, but I don’t,’” she said. “It served as an inspiration for me to go find out what I loved to do.”
The problem was never ability. It was fit. She needed a program she was genuinely passionate about, and a school that would take a chance on her.
The Admissions Director Who Said ‘I Believe in You’
That’s where Manor College made the difference.
When Sulpazo applied to Manor’s Veterinary Technology program, her academic record from those earlier attempts wasn’t strong. She almost didn’t get in. But Manor College Director of Admissions John Simila went to bat for 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.”
That kind of personal attention — a real person taking a real interest in a prospective student’s potential — is what sets Manor apart from larger institutions where applicants are just numbers in a system.
How Manor’s Vet Tech Program Launched Her Career Before She Even Graduated
Sulpazo didn’t have to wait until graduation to see her degree pay off. Through Manor’s Veterinary Technology program, she secured an externship at Pinnacle Veterinary Specialists in May 2025. Three months later, she was hired full-time.
The externship wasn’t just a resume line but rather a proving ground. And Pinnacle turned out to be exactly the kind of workplace culture she’d been looking for.
“I didn’t just run the pretzel factory from my house; I was there every day,” she 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.”
It’s not unusual, she said, to see doctors cleaning out kennels alongside vet techs. That kind of culture — earned through Manor’s real-world, hands-on program — matched who she already was.
What She Wants Every Struggling Student to Know
As she prepares to receive her degree, Sulpazo reflects on the advice she received from a fellow Manor alumna along the way: lean into the hard moments, because they’re part of the process.
“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,” she said, “because the joy in the end is so worth it. 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.”
Sulpazo is a member of the Manor College Class of 2026. She earned her associate’s degree in Veterinary Technology. Ready to follow a similar path? Explore Veterinary Technology and more programs at Manor College.
