We’re proud to be able to share some highlights from our springtime community college commencement ceremonies across Virginia. With 23 colleges to share, we needed to break things up into three blog posts!
In this story, we feature Blue Ridge through Laurel Ridge Community College.
For Mountain Empire through Reynolds Community College, click here.
For Southside Virginia through Wytheville Community College, click here.
Blue Ridge Community College:
Nearly 200 students walked in BRCC’s 55th commencement ceremony on May 17. Student speaker Easton Jarboe (seen above on the right with BRCC President John Downey and his mother, Dr. Marlena Jarboe, BRCC Dean of Academic Affairs, reminded his classmates that, “From the professors and staff that kept campus running smoothly, to seeing friends in classes that made lectures something to look forward to, we have all been a part of a larger whole working to achieve our dreams. Let us remember the power of community.”
Brightpoint Community College:
Nearly 400 of the college’s 1,200 graduates walked across the stage during the college’s fifty-fifth annual Commencement Ceremony May 12. The event featured inspirational commencement speeches that highlighted perseverance, given by graduates Saamiya Mohammed, a business administration major, and Courtney Miller, a nursing major.
Camp Community College:
Camp Community College held its 52nd Annual Commencement ceremonies on May 12. The college conferred 212 degrees and certificates. Nursing graduate Charlotte Balek was the student speaker.
Central Virginia Community College:
CVCC held its 2023 commencement ceremony at the Liberty University Vines Center on May 15. You can view the recorded ceremony here.
Danville Community College:
DCC celebrated 476 graduates earning 736 credentials during commencement exercises on May 13 at Averett University’s North Campus.
“The best part of our jobs as educators is to see our students grow, flourish, and succeed and that’s exactly what we did during our commencement ceremony,” said DCC President Dr. Jerry Wallace. Virginia’s Deputy Secretary of Education Virginia McKenzie Snow was the graduation speaker.
Eastern Shore Community College:
ESCC’s 2023 spring graduation was conducted on campus May 11. Above on the left, ESCC President Dr. Jim Shaeffer poses with Commencement Speaker Roosevelt “Ted” Mercer, Jr., Major General, USAF (Ret.) CEO and Executive Director of Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority.
Germanna Community College:
Germanna graduated 762 students during its spring commencement ceremony May 11 at the Fredericksburg Expo Center. Student speaker Alessandra Garcia Guevara, seen above on the right, came to GCC after her family immigrated from Lima, Peru, in 2019. She overcame language challenges with an impressive work ethic and positive attitude, graduating with a 4.0 GPA and has been accepted to the University of Virginia for the fall.
Laurel Ridge Community College:
LRCC celebrated the success of 895 graduates on May 12, including Sheila Webster, whose journey at Laurel Ridge began 24 years ago. That’s her on the left with LRCC President Kim Blosser. Life got in the way: four children, family health crises, and more, but Webster never gave up, and earned her associate degree in Early Childhood Development. Said Webster, “If they don’t get anything else from me, they will see Mom never gives up, Mom is a hard worker. They’ve inherited my work ethic.”
For Mountain Empire through Reynolds Community College, click here.
For Southside Virginia through Wytheville Community College, click here.
