Herndon and Sandel
Easily one of the highlights of the VCCS Hire Education Conference, the annual Awards Ceremony recognizes people and organizations who have gone the extra mile to promote student success and equitable access in our workforce and career training programs. This year’s highest honor, the Expanding Opportunities Award, was presented to Dr. Robert Sandel, seen here with Senior Vice Chancellor Craig Herndon. Sandel’s 23-year tenure as President at Virginia Western Community College will conclude his accomplished career next spring.
Through a video link from Seattle, VCCS Chancellor David Doré praised Sandel for his extraordinary contributions to Virgnia’s Community Colleges, noting that Sandel’s leadership transformed VWCC and left an indelible mark on workforce development in Virginia. Senior Vice Chancellor Craig Herndon had the honor of presiding over this year’s awards ceremony at the Hotel Roanoke. Dr. Sandel’s award sparked a standing ovation from the crowd on hand.
Reedy
Ewa Reedy, Healthcare Program Coordinator at the Community College Workforce Alliance (CCWA) received the conference award for Outstanding Achievement by a college faculty or staff member. Under Reedy’s guidance, CCWA’s healthcare program has experienced remarkable growth and expanded partnerships providing work-based learning.
This year’s award for Outstanding Achievement through a Collaboration or Consortia of Partners recognized the work of the Marine Trades Training (MTT) program that operates through the Community College Workforce Cooperative at Camp, Tidewater and Virginia Peninsula Community Colleges.
With strong participation by the Virginia Ship Repair Association (VSRA) and Huntington Ingalls Industries-Newport News Shipbuilding, and the Hampton Roads Workforce Council, MTT has trained about 3,400 participants in six trades for the shipbuilding and ship repair industries, with a remarkable 90% hire rate for program completers. This partnership has become a cornerstone in building a skilled maritime workforce, showcasing how collaboration can truly transform students’ futures.
Pictured left: VPCC President Towuanna Porter Brannon; Bobby Perkins, VPCC; Billy Bingham, VSRA; Art Hall, TCC; Joe Frommelt, VSRA; Vanessa Rastberger, HI/NNS; Sam Avery and Steve Cook, Hampton Roads Workforce Council; Todd Estes, VPCC; Antionette Johnson, Camp; Craig Herndon, VCCS Sr. Vice Chancellor.
Knowles
Anna Karnas Knowles, Director of Career Coaching and Network2WorkRVA at the Community College Workforce Alliance has honored as this year’s Rising Star Award winner. In her first 18 months at CCWA, Knowles designed and improved processes that transformed student intake, significantly improving response times to the increased number of students served post-pandemic. Programs under her guidance have seen record growth in enrollment, completion, and credential attainment. Knowles was also credited with securing increased state and philanthropic funding for the programs she oversees and is a key member of the grant-writing team.
This year’s award spotlighting an Outstanding Business Partner Success Story went to Lynchburg contractor Dustin Falls and Central Virginia Community College. When he learned that CVCC lacked an instructor for its new Heavy Equipment Operator training program, Falls became an NCCER-certified instructor and helped get the program going. Seen below (right): CVCC AVP Jason Ferguson, Dustin Falls, co-owner of F&B Contractors, and Dr. Herndon. By offering expertise, resources and direct instruction, F&B Contractors has been critical in creating a program that addresses a critical workforce need in central Virginia.
Jason Ferguson, Dustin Falls, co-owner of F&B Contractors, and Dr. Herndon
The awards event’s other standing ovation was directed toward the winner of this year’s Outstanding Student Success Story. Andrew Mullins (below) overcame addiction and incarceration on his way to completing the Heavy Equipment Operator class last summer at Patrick & Henry Community College. Mullins has shared his story openly in hopes of showing others that change is possible. His award nomination added that his “determination, drive and success in securing employment…exemplify the profound impact education can have on changing lives and creating new opportunities.”
Mullins
“In my view, this event is more than just a highlight of the Hire Education Conference,” said Chancellor Doré. “I believe it is essential to recognize the extraordinary work that our colleagues are doing and the partnerships they have formed—all in service to the people and employers of Virginia.”
“The theme of this year’s conference, ‘Generating Opportunities: Powering Talent & Partnerships’ reflects our collective commitment to providing education that goes beyond the traditional classroom, preparing our students for the demands of an ever-evolving workplace,” Doré added.
You can view and download photos from this year’s Hire Education Conference here.
