It will be a couple of years before 2025 graduate Isabella Hardy is a full-fledged social worker, but she has already helped connect dozens of Laurel Ridge students to the eligible services they need. This year, Hardy is sharing the honor of Fauquier Campus Outstanding Graduate with Mikayla Roberts.
When she first arrived at Laurel Ridge after graduating one year early from Fauquier High School in 2020, Hardy thought she wanted to become a nutritionist.
“As I was going to Laurel Ridge, I had always had an interest in psychology, mental health – I just think it’s super-duper interesting,” she said. “Classes like Introduction to Sociology and Principles of Psychology, the Juvenile Justice System, really made me think maybe this is a direction I would like to go.”
This led to Hardy deciding to get her degree in general studies with a concentration in human services – she found the topic so interesting, she read the accompanying textbooks two times each.
Sociology Professor Larry Friedenberg, who started the human services path at Laurel Ridge, helped Hardy to craft an internship for which she could earn credits. She did this internship in the fall of 2024, and transferred to James Madison University in spring 2025 to get her bachelor’s degree in social work.
Hardy interned with Laurel Ridge social worker Tiffany Matthews, and her efforts included working with the online screening tool, Single Stop, which allows students to see what supplemental resources they may be eligible for, such as government benefits, educational resources, health insurance options and community support.
“Her contributions to the Single Stop Program made a tangible impact – encouraging 47 students to follow through on accessing critical benefits and playing a key role in securing over $220,727 in confirmed aid,” Matthews said. “This wasn’t just about numbers for her; it was about making sure students had the support they needed to continue their education without unnecessary barriers. Whether assisting students in understanding eligibility for SNAP, WIC, Medicaid, or financial aid programs, she approached every interaction with patience, empathy, and a deep sense of responsibility.”
Also as part of her internship, Hardy assisted with several college events, including a conference revolving around an 1824 newspaper clipping advertising the sale of 60 people enslaved at Belle Grove, mental-health related workshops and middle school tours, represented the college at several community events and ensured hygiene stations around the college’s campuses were stocked.
Hardy said she especially valued the time she spent working with Matthews.
“She was a really amazing person,” she said. “She helped me figure out my plans to transfer to JMU and gave me guidance on applying and on building my resume.”
Living just five minutes from the Fauquier Campus was a big draw in bringing Hardy, whose sister Mikaela is also a college alumna, to Laurel Ridge, but not the only one.
“College is so expensive, and I was able to earn my degree there for somewhere in the ballpark of $10,000,” she said. “My first semester here at JMU has already cost more than my associate degree. It just shocks me that some people go right to a four-year when there are colleges like Laurel Ridge that are so close and also so much cheaper and you can also get so much closer with your professors.
Attending Laurel Ridge on the path to obtaining her bachelor’s degree allowed Hardy, who ultimately would like to be a child trauma therapist, the time to figure out what her major would be.
“I was able to gain clarity by what inspired me,” she said. “Making the most of your community college experience is something that you should do.”
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.