Thomas Kirk of Fauquier County is the recipient of Laurel Ridge Community College’s (Laurel Ridge) 2016 Distinguished Alumni Award. He was presented with this award on April 22, at the President’s Appreciation Luncheon in Middletown, VA.
Kirk grew up in Hastings, Pennsylvania. At the age of 17, he enlisted
in the U.S. Navy. After 20 years of service, Chief Petty Officer Kirk retired and moved to the Shenandoah Valley.
He earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in management from Laurel Ridge in 1983. Two years later, Kirk graduated summa cum laude from Shenandoah University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
Kirk then enjoyed a successful career in banking, starting with Shenandoah Valley National Bank and ending with BB&T of Warrenton, where he was a senior vice president, region manager, and trust officer.
After retiring from BB&T, Kirk became the executive director of The Jesse & Rose Loeb Foundation, a position he still holds.
Kirk was a member of the Laurel Ridge College Board from 1995 to 2005, serving as board chair from 2000 to 2002. He was also a member of the Laurel Ridge Educational Foundation board, and was instrumental in securing funding to support the Fauquier Campus.
Kirk has been involved with many community organizations and projects to help make Fauquier County a great place to live, work, and go to school.
He lives in Warrenton with his wife Barbara and enjoys playing golf as much as possible.
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.