Laurel Ridge TRiO Director and Office of Accommodations and Disability Services (OADS) coordinator Vivi Meder will walk the extra mile for her students – literally. Every year, she participates in Walk the Hill, traveling to Capitol Hill to meet with members of Congress in support of the federally-funded TRiO program, which provides additional support – such as specialized advising, tutoring, transfer planning, financial aid assistance and other wraparound services – to students who are first-generation college attendees, low income or have a documented disability.
Meder’s dedication to her students and her colleagues led to her receiving the 2025 Distinguished Administrator Award. She has been with Laurel Ridge for seven years. Last year, Meder began teaching psychology as an adjunct at Laurel Ridge and Shenandoah University in addition to her OADS and TRiO responsibilities.
“It’s humbling, but it was also a little shocking,” Meder said of her award. “I wasn’t really expecting it. It has been such a hard year with all of the federal changes, which certainly impact TRiO. Some of those changes are starting to trickle down and affect how things happen in the disability services world, too.”
Fortunately for TRiO students at Laurel Ridge and across the U.S., word recently came out that federal funding for the program would continue.
“I don’t think many people realize the total impact of TRiO programs and how large this program really is,” said Meder. “We’re talking about 800,000 students nationwide currently receiving TRiO services.”
She added the program was started more than 60 years ago, so TRiO has helped a tremendous number of Americans succeed in college, thus securing better futures for themselves and contributing to the betterment of their communities. The college has offered TRiO services for more than 20 years. Economic demographics mean only students at the Middletown Campus and Luray-Page County Center are eligible.
“We serve 160 students every single year,” said Meder, who is the immediate past-president of the Virginia Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel and also active with the Mid-Eastern Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel. “We have just a lot of people who work at the college who I think are incredible. Getting this award just made me realize even more this is where I belong. I’m really feeling a lot of gratitude to the other people I work with that we recognize each other and how hard we’re all working.”
And, Meder’s colleagues feel gratitude towards her.
“Vivi is always willing to pitch in and help where she can – a trait any coworker appreciates,” the nomination for her award, which was written on behalf of four colleagues, states. “She is thoughtful and has superb interpersonal skills. She is a problem solver and is thorough in her work. Vivi is a colleague you can count on to brighten any meeting, appointment or conversation, even the challenging ones. When TRiO was in danger of losing federal funds, she was on top of and communicating with the team and college at large, all while maintaining a positive spirit.”
Meder is a leader on the Student Support Team and Advising Leadership Team, and heads up efforts, including grant writing, for the food pantry on the Middletown Campus, ensuring our students are nourished.
“She has worked hard to fully engage TRiO participants in social and cultural activities and to support their growth as student leaders,” the nomination states. “Vivi has also been an advocate for her own staff, too, seeking ways to uplift and empower them as a supervisor. We think Vivi’s unique blend of compassion, intelligence and humor combine to make her an exceptional leader and a standout colleague.”
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.