For Immediate Release:
April 20, 2016
Primary Media Contact:
Sally Voth
Public Relations Specialist
[email protected]
Phone: 540-868-7134
Thomas Kirk of Fauquier County is the recipient of Laurel Ridge Community College’s (Laurel Ridge) 2016 Distinguished Alumni Award. He will receive the award on Friday, April 22, at the President’s Appreciation Luncheon in Middletown, VA.
Kirk grew up in Hastings, Pennsylvania. At the age of 17, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. After 20 years of service, Chief Petty Officer Kirk retired and moved to the Shenandoah Valley.
He earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in management from Laurel Ridge in 1983. Two years later, Kirk graduated summa cum laude from Shenandoah University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
Kirk then enjoyed a successful career in banking, starting with Shenandoah Valley National Bank and ending with BB&T of Warrenton, where he was a senior vice president, region manager, and trust officer.
After retiring from BB&T, Kirk became the executive director of The Jesse & Rose Loeb Foundation, a position he still holds.
Kirk was a member of the Laurel Ridge College Board from 1995 to 2005, serving as board chair from 2000 to 2002. He was also a member of the Laurel Ridge Educational Foundation board, and was instrumental in securing funding to support the Fauquier Campus.
Kirk has been involved with many community organizations and projects to help make Fauquier County a great place to live, work, and go to school.
He lives in Warrenton with his wife Barbara and enjoys playing golf as much as possible.
*************************
Founded in 1970, Laurel Ridge Community College is a multi-campus public institution of higher education. With three locations — Middletown, Warrenton, and Luray-Page County — the College serves eight localities in the Shenandoah Valley and northern Piedmont regions. The localities are the counties of Clarke, Fauquier, Frederick, Page, Rappahannock, Shenandoah and Warren and the city of Winchester. Laurel Ridge offers more than 75 associate degree and certificate programs in a wide variety of disciplines, in addition to providing access to bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs offered on site by a four-year institution. Laurel Ridge also serves the business community by offering workforce preparation programs for employees and employers. Laurel Ridge serves more than 9,000 unduplicated credit students and more than 11,000 individuals in professional development and business and industry courses annually.
Laurel Ridge Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees. Laurel Ridge Community College also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Laurel Ridge Community College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).
Laurel Ridge Community College is an equal opportunity institution providing educational and employment opportunities, programs, services, and activities. Laurel Ridge shall promote and maintain equal employment and educational opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions including lactation, age (except when age is a bona fide occupational qualification), status as a veteran, national origin, or other non-merit factors. Laurel Ridge also prohibits sexual misconduct including sexual violence or harassment. Inquiries may be directed to the Associate Vice President, Human Resources, [email protected], 173 Skirmisher Lane, Middletown, VA 22645, 540-868-7226.
Laurel Ridge Community College was known as Lord Fairfax Community College until June 2022. For consistency purposes, the college will be referenced as Laurel Ridge going forward.
###