Community Link Newsletter

Perseverance is a potent word to recent BRCC graduate Valorie Kier-Johnson. She began taking classes in the fall of 2005 and became actively involved in campus organizations such as the SPECTRUM Multi-Cultural Club. “I was really enjoying my classes,” Valorie said. “I hadn’t really joined any clubs in high school, so I was doing something different by getting involved with SPECTRUM.”

When Valorie joined the Army National Guard, she juggled her coursework and basic training at Fort Jackson, SC. In 2009, Valorie was deployed to Afghanistan for 9 months with the 276th Engineer Battalion. She performed her duties as a driver of supply convoys honorably, and returned home to the Shenandoah Valley to resume her studies in the spring of 2010. She said: “I never thought about giving up on my education. I wanted to go straight back because I knew I would have to catch up as best I could. I was very motivated.”

Though the deployment took its toll physically and mentally, Valorie would not be deterred, and earned an Associate of Arts and Sciences degree and a General Education certificate in May. Recently engaged to a fellow soldier she met while deployed, Valorie plans to transfer to a four-year school to study botany.  “My life is moving at a fast pace, and I feel really good about that,” the 23-year-old said. “I feel like I have a bright future.”

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Results of The Chronicle of Higher Education’s 2011 survey of “Great Colleges to Work For” were recently released, and Blue Ridge Community College was once again recognized as a “Great College to Work For” in 10 of the 12 two-year college categories.  As a result of achieving this designation in so many different areas, BRCC was also listed on the Chronicle’s “Honor Roll” as one of the top three two-year colleges in its size category!  This is the third consecutive year that BRCC has achieved this honor roll designation.  Honor Roll members in the four-year college & university category included institutions such as Duke, Notre Dame, Georgia Tech, Baylor, and University of Southern California.

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Occasionally a student will say something to me that reminds me of my great fortune, having chosen a profession that profoundly changes lives.   Such was the case when a young woman approached me recently during our new student orientation event on campus.  Ironically, she was not a new student.  She was at the orientation because she was returning to BRCC to earn a second specialization after having already earned an Associate’s Degree.  What impressed me, however, is that she told me that during her previous experience at the College one of our faculty members was the only person, besides her own mother, who believed in her and convinced her not to give up when she first started toward her college degree.  This student had overcome incredible difficulties to achieve her degree, and she credited that faculty member’s patience as the only reason she was able to persist and find a high paying job locally.  Now she is working for that local employer, while returning to the College for even more valuable education.

Blue Ridge Community College is changing the lives of our students and transforming the communities we serve.   We train the current and future employees of the Shenandoah Valley, but beyond that, we instill in our students a perspective of commitment, caring and confidence that ultimately touches the lives of us all.  When we purchase the goods and services produced locally, we are the beneficiaries of the great work of our dedicated faculty and staff.   Most importantly, we are the beneficiaries of the perseverance and dedication that shines through the work in which our students engage. 

We could not do this profoundly impactful work if not for you, the benefactors of the Blue Ridge Community College Educational Foundation.  Through your generosity you demonstrate your belief in the work we do, so that our faculty and staff can demonstrate a life changing belief in the future of our students!

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The BRCC Educational Foundation closes out its fiscal year on June 30, 2011, but there is still time to contribute to the 2010-11 Blue Ridge Annual Fund.  If you want to be a part of building the dreams of today’s students while ensuring them one of the finest educations available, then make your gift to the Blue Ridge Annual Fund. Go to http://www.brcc.edu/edfound/ and click on the “Donate Now” button, and know that you are making a difference for our students, faculty and community.

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Libba Hall received this award from the Promise Group for her work assisting Hispanic students on campus.  Libba was honored at the 3rd annual Celebration of Hispanic Education in June on the campus of Eastern Mennonite University.  Information about the Promise Group can be found at: http://mysite.verizon.net/promisegroup/index.html.

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Susan Knipp, Licensed Veterinary Technician and Blue Ridge Community College graduate, received the Technician of the Year Award by the Virginia Association of Licensed Veterinary Technicians at the annual Virginia Veterinary Conference in Roanoke. The conference is attended by LVTs and veterinarians from across the state.

She was nominated by BRCC’s sophomore class and the class of 2010, who were in attendance when she was thoroughly surprised by the announcement. “It is a double honor for me because I was nominated by the students,” said Knipp. Continue Reading »

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After winning their 8th straight regional competition, the BRCC SIFE team travelled to the SIFE USA National Competition that took place in Minneapolis, Minnesota in May.  The team placed first runner-up in the semi-final round.  Members of the award winning BRCC SIFE Competition Team are Megan Samples, Megan King, Kassy Zavala, Maria Murerwa, Chelsie Shaff, Johsua Hedrick, Ryan Collier, Chris Montes, and Kevin Smith.  They finished ahead of former national champion The University of Arizona, as well as teams from Heritage University and the University of South Florida in their division.

Continue Reading »

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BRCC’s Alpha Xi Xi chapter recently returned from the Virginia Regional Convention in Virginia Beach with several awards.  They achieved Five Star Status and were named as a Distinguished Chapter, Holly Rasheed was named as a Distinguished Chapter Member, and Larry Rasheed received the Horizon Award for new advisors.  The chapter placed third in the Distinguished College Project Category, and placed first in the Honors in Action Distinguished Issue Award, making this the fourth straight year that they have earned a first place award at the Regional level! Continue Reading »

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The Student Ambassadors of Blue Ridge Community College recently received the “Best Collaborative Volunteer Engagement Award” from the United Way of Greater Augusta for the Unity Day Project held in September.  During Unity Day, BRCC students, faculty and staff volunteered at six locations in Staunton, Waynesboro and Verona. Volunteers worked at a church soup kitchen, the Senior Center and the Comfort Care for Women in Staunton; with the YMCA and Meals on Wheels in Waynesboro; and with Rebuilding Together in Verona.  The Student Ambassador program is a volunteer organization of students who assist with different on- or off-campus functions to promote BRCC, such as providing campus tours and helping with college information nights at local schools.

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Ms. Lynn Reams was recognized in April as a recipient of the Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy.  The program is hosted by the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education to honor leading philanthropists from each of Virginia’s 23 community colleges, as well as the system’s statewide foundation.  This marks the sixth year the awards have been given.

“Each of these supporters personifies the theme of this event, Living Philanthropy.  For those of us here today, living philanthropy is the promise that our impact will live on; it will blend with those who came before creating a larger and larger living tapestry of good will, benefitting and elevating those who come next,” said Glenn DuBois, chancellor of Virginia’s Community Colleges. Continue Reading »

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