Laurel Ridge preparing for opening of new Luray-Page County Center

For Immediate Release:
December 11, 2020

Primary Media Contact:
Sally Voth
Public Relations Specialist
[email protected]
Phone: 540-868-7134

Jenkins Hall release

As 2020 comes to a close, Laurel Ridge is shutting the doors of its first home in Luray, 334 N. Hawksbill St., and moving into its new purpose-built Luray-Page County Center. Friday, Dec. 18, will be Laurel Ridge’s last day at the Hawksbill site.

That site, a former Wrangler jeans factory, opened up as the Luray-Page County Center in 2006. While the building was sold at auction a couple years ago, Laurel Ridge was able to continue its lease. However, the building wasn’t designed for instruction, and had issues common to older facilities – leaky roof, frequent power outages and inadequate parking.

Thankfully, the Jenkins family – Russell and Elta Rae, plus their son and daughter-in-law Rodney and Karen – donated about 8 acres of land behind the Luray Wal-Mart to the Laurel Ridge Foundation. Community donations, as well as state and grant funding, have helped cover the costs needed to build the new center.

The 13,000-square-foot center, named the Russell A. and Rodney A. Jenkins Hall, will house classrooms, science and health science labs, a trades lab, board room and student commons areas.

The college is “so excited” about the new center, said Laurel Ridge President Kim Blosser, a lifelong Page County resident.

“This new center allows us to offer several new programs we’ve never before been able to offer in Page County,” said Dr. Blosser. “Starting in February, the heavy equipment operator and HVAC programs will be offered in the new Pioneer Bank Trades Lab. Next fall, Laurel Ridge’s new Physical Therapy Assisting program will begin, as well as many other health professions, trades, and college transfer programs.

“Residents of Page County and surrounding counties will have even more opportunities because of the expanded classroom and lab space in Jenkins Hall. We are looking forward to welcoming all of our students into the new instructional spaces.”

Laurel Ridge Workforce Solutions is excited to also be offering a medical assistant program and phlebotomy assistant program starting in January, said Director of Marketing Guy Curtis.

“Students will learn in an amazing, state-of-the-art facility gaining hands-on skills to face today’s high-demand jobs,” he said. “Using labor market information for Page County and the immediate surrounding areas, we knew launching these programs would help students find immediate employment opportunities regionally.”

The Laurel Ridge Educational Foundation is offering a unique way to support the new center while giving a lasting gift. The foundation has established its first-ever donor brick campaign. Personalized engraved bricks will be displayed in the courtyard of Jenkins Hall. Depending on the size, the bricks are available for personalization for $125 and $250, and will support the foundation’s Luray-Page County Center Building Fund. To order, visit www.laurelridge.edu/brick.

An information session on trades programs being offered at Jenkins Hall and other college sites will be held Jan. 16, 8 a.m. to noon. Learn more or enroll in the session at https://lfccworkforce.com/event/trades-information-session-6/

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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.

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