For Immediate Release:
May 5, 2017
Primary Media Contact:
Sally Voth
Public Relations Specialist
[email protected]
Phone: 540-868-7134

Laurel Ridge’s 46th commencement exercises begin at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 13, at Skyline High School in Front Royal. There are an anticipated 1,046 members in the Class of 2017.
Included among those graduates are 199 students who have yet to receive their high school diplomas. They have taken advantage of the dual-enrollment program offered through a partnership between Laurel Ridge and high schools in the college’s service region.
Students who either earn an associate degree or earn a certificate in education – meaning they have completed a year’s worth of college credits – are known as Governor’s Scholars. Most students then plan to transfer these credits to a four-year college or university.
The 2016-2017 academic year Ross Fellow for Scholarship and Service Mark Layden, a Sherando High School graduate, will be the graduation speaker. Prior to the commencement ceremony, the Laurel Ridge College Board will present Medallions of Recognition to four individuals who have greatly contributed to the college’s mission.
Additionally, the Outstanding Graduate from the Fauquier Campus and the Outstanding Graduate from the Middletown Campus will be announced during the commencement ceremony.
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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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