Connor Legros, ’25, ’26, had a built-in advantage when it came to planning for college: his high school counselor was his aunt, Virginia “Ginny” Legros, ’92, ’13.
“He was an unusual student in that he listened to everything I said and took all of my advice,” Ginny says, laughing.
One of those pieces of advice: attend Northern Arizona University.
Connor, a Yuma native, completed his bachelor’s degree in geography at NAU in December 2025. Last week—just five months later—he walked across the stage again, this time earning his master’s in geography. The accelerated timeline was made possible by transfer credits, heavy course loads, and a one-year master’s program that allowed him to finish years ahead of schedule.
NAU made sense for reasons both practical and personal. Connor had long gravitated toward photography, hiking, and the outdoors—interests that aligned naturally with Flagstaff’s landscape. And the Lumberjack Scholars Award, one of NAU’s flagship merit-based scholarships, covered the cost of his tuition, making the decision financially viable.
At NAU, Connor found both flexibility and momentum. He stacked classes, moved quickly through requirements, and still found time to explore northern Arizona—Sedona, the Grand Canyon, and beyond.
“It’s been a perfect experience—getting all the education I’d like while also exploring parts of Arizona that I really enjoy,” he says.
As an NAU alumna herself, Ginny knew firsthand what NAU could offer a student like Connor. She earned her bachelor’s degree in general studies at the Yuma campus in the early 1990s, later returning for a post-degree certification in elementary education. In 2010, she joined a small cohort of eight students in NAU’s school counseling master’s program in Yuma. She then spent years as a high school educator—first teaching dance, later transitioning into counseling at Gila Ridge High School in Yuma, where Connor was one of her students.
During that same time, she also worked closely with another student, Kate Campa, who died of cancer during Connor’s freshman year.
Campa left a lasting impression on both Connor and Ginny—saying she shaped their understanding about perseverance. Ginny now serves as a board member for a nonprofit foundation established in Campa’s memory.
Last summer, Ginny was diagnosed with breast cancer. In the early days after her diagnosis, she began writing down the names of women she personally knew who had also faced cancer. The list, including Campa, grew quickly into the twenties.
The exercise changed her perspective: “I tell myself, ‘You can be mad, but you don’t get to ask why me?’” she says. “Because the truth is, ‘Why not me?’”
“Connor’s graduation feels like a graduation for me too, in a way,” says Ginny as she nears the end of a yearlong course of treatment. “It’s a full circle moment. It’s an honor to witness him reaching his goals, and I’m so excited to see where the next part of his journey lies.”
Connor may be leaving campus, but both he and Ginny remain connected to the university that has shaped so much of their lives.
“There’s always going to be something that gets in your way, but you can’t get stuck there. You have to keep going,” says Connor.
Ginny has undergone six rounds of chemotherapy, two surgeries, radiation, and ongoing infusions. If all continues as planned, she will complete treatment in late July this year.
Connor, meanwhile, is also looking ahead—exploring careers in urban planning, community development, and city design.
Together, they will celebrate Ginny’s chemo completion and continue to support each other in the next chapter of their lives. For both, the work remains the same: no matter what, keep going.
Interested in staying connected to the Lumberjack community? Learn more about ways to get involved as an NAU alum.
