When it comes to paying for workforce and career training, there are some well-known, and not-so-well-known funding sources to help reduce your out-of-pocket expenses. And while FastForward is one of the most affordable training options in Virginia, the cost may still be prohibitive to some (especially…
It’s safe to say, 2020 has been a whirlwind. To some, it may have felt like 20 years stuffed into one, while others are trying their best to make rent, pay bills and make it to the next day. Let’s put 2020 firmly in the past…
We’ve talked about how our students are passionate about bettering themselves and their careers by giving it their all 24/7, but for our teachers and instructors, that same passion and drive helps lead the classroom. When we talked to Sarah Clarkston, the FastForward Career Coach at…
Compared to other programs out there, FastForward at your local community college has a relatively straightforward application and enrollment process. If you don’t believe us, here’s what one graduate had to say: “The process to register was simple, even when I got the paperwork, I was…
According to the Virginia Employment Commission, by 2026, there are expected to be 2.6M middle-skilled jobs in Virginia – jobs that require some training, but not a four-year degree. There is a skills gap in Virginia’s workforce, and FastForward aims to bridge the gap. Each year,…
For years, Sarah Clarkston would clock in at her local grocery store, work her shift and call it a day. Even when her first store closed, she found another grocery gig to replace it. Growing up with a mother as a nurse, people would ask her…
There aren’t many high schoolers we trust behind the wheel of a car, but at 16 years old, Bram Massie was trusted with syringes and a pilot’s license. Today, Massie is an instructor at Mountain Empire Community College where he teaches students the Emergency Medical Technician…
Patrick Henry Community College FastForward Career Coach Alyssa Hawley has dedicated her career to helping others. That’s why she was recently selected as the Chancellor’s Awardee for Outstanding Achievement by a Rising Star during the 2020 Hire Education Conference. From narrowing down the right program to…
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed a lot in the workforce this year, but the need for holiday seasonal work is still there. But the jobs and procedures may look a little different than in years past. The Washington Post recently had a story about this year’s…
You don’t go into healthcare because you think the benefits are good. There’s blood, there are tears, and there are days where you have to go through some terrible situations. But it was one of those tough situations that fueled Jordyn’s passion for helping others in…