May 10, 2017
The fifth annual TRIO graduate celebration dinner was held Tuesday at Laurel Ridge’s Middletown Campus. TRIO Student Support Services are available for students whose parents haven’t earned a bachelor’s degree, who are low-income, or who have a documented disability.
TRIO students receive one-on-one advising and tutoring, free printing services, extra help in filling out financial aid documentation, additional assistance with transferring to a four-year college or university and financial literacy training. The federally funded program serves about 160 Laurel Ridge students each year. It has been offered at Laurel Ridge’s Middletown Campus since 2001.
There are 29 TRIO students in Laurel Ridge’s Class of 2017, which is celebrating commencement at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 13 at Skyline High School in Front Royal.
“Each one of our graduates has worked extremely hard to be where they are today,” TRIO Support Services Director Sarah Williams said during Tuesday’s ceremony. “We’re so proud of every single student who comes through our door.”
Winchester Public Schools Director of Elementary Education Dr. Nan Bryant spoke to the graduates.
“I’m a first-generation college graduate,” she said. “My parents would love to have gone to college, but they just didn’t feel the path was there for them.”
There were three roles people in her life played for her that helped her move forward and end up obtaining her doctorate, Bryant said. Her mother was a dreamer, who made the dream of going to college seem attainable; teachers and a guidance counselor who acted as path builders; and a principal who acted as a general contractor as Bryant navigated the process of being a full-time school administrator, a mother and a doctoral student.
Bryant encouraged the TRIO graduates to play those roles in others’ lives, too.
Also during Tuesday’s celebration, TRIO Scholar awards were given to those who had GPAs of 3.6 or higher. Alexis Stiles, who graduated from Skyline High School two years ago at age 16, was named the Outstanding TRIO Graduate.
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.