Summer 2016
BRCC’s 48th Commencement Nearly 300 graduates participated in commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 14. With the newly renovated Houff Student Center as the backdrop, degrees, diplomas, and certificates were conferred as more than 2000 audience members cheered on the new grads! The keynote speaker was Virginia’s Secretary of Commerce and Trade, Maurice Jones. He spoke of “being resilient” as one faces challenges in life, and the importance of kindness toward one another. Student speaker, Mimi Huynh, said “At Blue Ridge I discovered the way to success is to be happy, and love what you are doing,” and suggested her fellow graduates to “live a life that makes you happy.” For the academic year (including Summer 2015, Fall 2015, and Spring 2016), the College awarded approximately 1200 credentials to more than 900 individuals. BRCC has served well over 100,000 students since doors opened in the fall of 1967.
BRCC Educational Foundation Board Chair Thomas C. Mendez Vice-Chair Cathleen P. Welsh Secretary John A. Downey Treasurer Franki A. Hampton
Kelly R.S. Blosser Alphonso P. Boxley III Debra S. Callison Denise E. “D.D.” Dawson Douglas G. Driver Teresa H. Gauldin Nancy Hulings
Elizabeth Jerlinski Camala B. Kite Mary Louise Leake David L. Ledbetter Martha Livick Beverly B. McGowan Robert W. Riley
Karen E. Santos Jerry D. Sheets Alan L. Shelton Stacey D. Strawn Alan J. Sweet Travis J. Tysinger Cynthia Weidner
Community Link is an official publication of the Blue Ridge Community College Educational Foundation. It is distributed to friends in the Shenandoah Valley, as well as BRCC faculty and staff, and is published quarterly by the Development Office, Blue Ridge Community College, Weyers Cave, VA 24486. If you have any questions or comments regarding this publication, please contact Angie Glenn, Development Services Coordinator, at (540) 453-2307 or glenna@brcc.edu.