For Immediate Release:
January 13, 2017
Primary Media Contact:
Sally Voth
Public Relations Specialist
[email protected]
Phone: 540-868-7134
Laurel Ridge is commemorating Martin Luther King Jr. Day from noon to 1 p.m. on Monday with student performances, a guest speaker and the presentation of the Walking King’s Talk Award in the Corron Building on the Middletown Campus.
Longtime Frederick Douglass Elementary teacher Helen Davenport, now retired, will speak about dreams and goals. Davenport is the inspiring author of “The Journey from Dropout to Doctor,” which details her own life story. In addition to holding a doctorate of education, Davenport is a widow with five children, 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. She lives in Winchester. 
Laurel Ridge’s award-winning forensics team will perform quotes from Dr. King and the poem “Thirty-Nine Years Too Short – Too Long – Long Enough.”
The 14th annual Walking King’s Talk Award will be given to someone who is actively involved in improving human relations in his or her community, exemplifies Dr. King’s peaceful philosophy, advocates equal justice and opportunity for all and lives a life of service.
For more information about the celebration, email student activities specialist Sarah Pangle at [email protected], or call 540-868-7240.
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Founded in 1970, Laurel Ridge Community College is a multi-campus public institution of higher education. With four locations — Middletown, Warrenton, Luray-Page County and most recently, Vint Hill— 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 (Laurel Ridge) is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Laurel Ridge Community College. Laurel Ridge Community College is an equal opportunity institution providing educational and employment opportunities, programs, services, and activities and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, age, religion, disability, national origin, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, or other non-merit factors. Laurel Ridge also prohibits sexual misconduct including sexual violence or harassment.
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.
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