Editor’s Note: This article was originally published online on Laurel Ridge Community College’s website. You can see the original article here. Aaron Winfree has turned to Laurel Ridge Community College several times when he’s needed to upskill. He’s earned an associate degree and multiple credentials from…
For a lot of new moms, dealing with the late nights and the demands of a newborn can be taxing enough, but for Princess, in her postpartum period, she decided she wanted to start her college journey by pursuing the certified nursing aide program at Mountain…
Preparing to go to college can make anyone nervous, even the best of us. But for Kashna, going to college meant assimilating into a culture that was still fairly new to her, while also learning and studying in her non-native native language. Kashna immigrated to the…
Going back to school to earn a credential while being a mother to three young children is no easy feat. But for Heather Owens, she was determined to find a new career path after briefly working as a nurse during the onset of COVID-19. The grueling…
While Jeff Wayne had worked as a truck driver in the early part of his career, he didn’t anticipate heading back on the road later in life. He had moved on to installing commercial carpets and enjoyed the work. But following a life-altering event, he needed…
When Blue Ridge Community College (BRCC) received part of a $5 million grant to help train pharmaceutical workers in the region for a company struggling to access talent, other local employers began to take note. BRCC was attracting a pool of talented students, and Merck, the…
So, you recently started a new job and are working alongside people with years of experience under their belt in either welding, carpentry, truck driving, power line maintenance or another skilled trade. These senior workers possess a deep understanding of the industry, and working with them…
Having worked in the construction industry for over 30 years, it’s safe to say Kristin Juvelier has a robust understanding of the field, with experience operating all types of machinery required for different job sites. However, recently, she was faced with a difficult situation: to keep…
With Virginia expected to receive at least $10 billion for infrastructure-related projects from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, it is no surprise that Virginia’s Community Colleges are working hard to train the next generation of workers to meet the increased demand. The Virginia Infrastructure…
Virginia needs more welders, particularly maritime welders. The state has not been immune to the staffing shortages affecting industries across the country. By 2023, the American Welding Society estimates that the industry will be short by 375,000 welders. With the average welder 55 years or older,…