January 18, 2017
Laurel Ridge Community College was recognized as the Large Business of the Year by the Shenandoah County Chamber of Commerce at the chamber’s annual meeting and banquet Tuesday night in Mt. Jackson.
The college was nominated for the honor by longtime Shenandoah County telecommunications firm, Shentel. The chamber was seeking nominees who had more than 25 employees, and had made a significant and long-term contribution to the county’s well-being.
More than 1,100 Laurel Ridge students last year hailed from Shenandoah County, with 158 of them graduating. Nearly 350 Shenandoah County high school students were dual enrolled with Laurel Ridge.
Additionally, Laurel Ridge employed 47 Shenandoah County residents full-time, and 110 part-time in 2016.
Laurel Ridge President Dr. Cheryl Thompson-Stacy accepted the award on behalf of Laurel Ridge. 
“I would like to thank the Shenandoah County Chamber of Commerce for this great honor,” Dr. Thompson-Stacy says. “Not only do we employ a significant number of Shenandoah County residents, we have enrolled thousands of Shenandoah County students in our credit programs over the years, and we continue to offer workforce training programs to many county businesses through both the Workforce Solutions program and the Small Business Development Center.”
In 2015, the Front Royal-Warren County Chamber of Commerce named Laurel Ridge Education Contributor of the Year.
Laurel Ridge was awarded the Regional Greater Good Award in the large business category by the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber in 2013.
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. 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.