BRCC EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION, INC
Fall 2021
Bush Named 2021 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholar
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RCC student Cassady Bush is one of 207 Phi Theta Kappa members named a 2021 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholar and will receive a $1,000 scholarship. Phi Theta Kappa is the premier honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges and helping them to grow as scholars and leaders. Ms. Bush, of Waynesboro, is in the Human Services program at BRCC and plans to transfer to James Madison University. She hopes to eventually work with youth in foster care. Scholars are encouraged to assume leadership roles by participating in Society programs and are selected based on scholastic achievement, community service, and leadership potential. More than 900 applications were received. The funds provided by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation not only aid college completion, but also give students the opportunity to engage in Society programs and develop leadership skills to become future leaders in their communities. “Research shows that Phi Theta Kappa members are four times more likely to complete a college degree than their peers,” said Dr. Monica Marlowe, Executive Director of the Phi Theta Kappa Foundation. “The Leaders of Promise Scholarships recognize students for what they have achieved already and assure that financial need isn’t an obstacle to achieving their academic goals.”
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Rural Virginia Horseshoe Initiative Award
lue Ridge Community College received the Gerald L. Baliles Rural Virginia Horseshoe Initiative (RVHI) Award from the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education (VFCCE) to help close the educational attainment gap between the Rural Horseshoe region and the state at large. Named for the 65th governor of Virginia, the award honors Baliles’ legacy of promoting educational accessibility. The primary goals of the RVHI program are to reduce the number of rural residents without a high school diploma and to increase the number of see RVHI inside➤ Chair Matthias N. Smith , Vice Chair Andrew P. Vanhook, Secretary John A. Downey , Treasurer Cynthia F. Page Kenneth R. Boward Price A. Boxley Rob W. Cale
Karen C. Clark Kenneth S. Cleveland III Steve Elkins
Dinah Gottschalk Bret F. Harrison Larry K. Landes
Mary McDermott Thomas C. Mendez David R. Metz
Paula C. Moore Mary Pavlovskaya Tassie L. Pippert
Justin T. Rexrode William M. Saxman Jr. Linnea J. Spradlin
Courtney W. Thompson Pamela K. Ungar Keith J. VanBenschoten
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.
Meet Our New Foundation Board Members Price Boxley is a McDonald’s Owner Operator/
Boxley
Licensee, owning and overseeing the operation of 11 restaurants in the Shenandoah Valley. Price serves on McDonald’s OPNAD and represents 187 McDonald’s in Virginia & North Carolina in national advertising and menu innovation; he is also a Board Member of Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of Charlottesville, and currently serves on the board of the Sentara Rockingham Memorial Hospital Foundation. In addition to funding scholarships at BRCC, his organization also supports Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Club, Salvation Army, Young Life, Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, and the Blue Ridge Food Bank. Price holds a B.S. in Business Management and Business Marketing Management from Virginia Tech.
Bret Harrison is a lifelong resident with deep family roots in the area. He grew up in McGaheysville, and he and wife Ellen presently call Keezletown home. For the last 27 years, Bret has worked in various positions for ComSonics and currently serves as President and CEO. In addition to serving on the BRCC Educational Foundation Board, he also serves on the Lakeview Development Corporation board as greens committee chair. Bret holds a B.S. in Business Marketing from the University of South Florida, Management MBA from Florida Institute of Technology, and certificate from the University of Penn ESOP Leadership Program for CEO’s. Harrison
Landes
Larry Landes recently retired from an amazing
42-year career in teaching and administration. Larry graduated from Madison College in 1977 with a BS degree in Health and Physical Education and earned a Master’s Degree in Administration and Supervision from Virginia Commonwealth University. For 34 years, Larry was a principal in Goochland County, Hopewell, and Augusta County. Larry finished his last 14 years at Fort Defiance High School where his dad was the first principal. Larry has been happily married to Joy for ten years and is blessed to have two stepsons, Ben ( Jess) and Max (Megan). Larry thoroughly enjoys his four step-grandsons. Larry values and appreciates the connection and partnership that local high schools have with Blue Ridge Community College, and feels that is an honor and a privilege to serve on the BRCC Educational Foundation Board.
Born and raised in the Shenandoah Valley, Mary Pavlovskaya graduated from James Madison University with a Dual Degree in Psychology and Justice Studies in 2016. She started her career with F&M Bank in 2011 and currently holds the role of Business Deposit Services Officer. Mary is honored to serve as a Board Member for the United Way of Staunton, Augusta County and Waynesboro. In her spare time she enjoys hiking, visiting local breweries and playing golf. She currently resides in Harrisonburg and has taken on the adventure of adopting two little kittens, Milo & Lucy. Pavlovskaya
Thompson
VanBenschoten
Courtney Thompson is the President & CEO of
the Greater Augusta Regional Chamber of Commerce. She is a graduate of James Madison University and has spent her entire career in the Augusta County, Staunton, Waynesboro area focused on business development. In addition to serving on the BRCC Educational Foundation board, Courtney serves on the Boards of the United Way SAW, Shenandoah Valley Workforce Development, and the American Frontier Culture Foundation. Courtney and her husband Phil have one son, John Parker, and live on a beautiful farm with horses, cows, cats and a dog. She enjoys volunteering at her son’s school and at Hope’s Legacy Equine Rescue. In her free time, Courtney can be found reading, horseback riding or playing the piano.
Keith J. VanBenschoten graduated from the Virginia Community College System (DCC) and Eastern Mennonite University. Upon graduation Keith and his family settled in the Shenandoah Valley where he began his career with a local pharmaceutical packaging manufacturer as Materials Manager. After more than a dozen years there he joined what would become InterChange Group, Inc. in 2001 and serves as its COO. Keith has served in past board capacities with the Ruritans, ISM, and APICS, and currently serves on the JMU Global Supply Chain Board. Keith and his fiancé, Hui, enjoy traveling and spending time with Keith’s four children and five grandchildren. Keith and Hui reside in Rockingham County.
Message from the President
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he start of another academic year at Blue Ridge Community College is always a wonderful time to reflect on the important work we do and on each of you who supports us in our work throughout every year. But most of all, I think of our students who work so diligently to create a better life for themselves and a better community for all of us. Here are some recent student successes: BRCC President • One of our graduates was recently highlighted in Dr. John A. Downey a national publication for his success in the welding field. After completing a Fast Forward program in our Workforce Services division in less than two months, the student became a traveling welder and now earns more than six figures as a result of these skills.
• A transfer program graduate participated in the Bowman Scholars program while enrolled at BRCC and then successfully transferred to James Madison University. Once there, not only did she complete the very challenging nursing program, but she also received the Victoria Alcantara Outstanding Nursing Student Award. This recognition allowed her to graduate debt free! • A third BRCC student (featured on front page) was one of only 207 students across the United States to receive a Phi Theta Kappa 2021 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise scholarship! These stories are inspiring, but not surprising. The students who enroll at Blue Ridge Community College are given the opportunity – with the support of our outstanding employees – to achieve great success that can change their lives forever. The majority of our students work while attending BRCC, and they balance the demands of their coursework with the real-life learning they get from the workforce. Thanks to the support of our generous donors to the Blue Ridge Community College Educational Foundation, we are often able to reduce some of the financial stress that our students face while enrolled here. Even with federal and state financial aid programs that pay for some of the tuition and fees that students incur, many can no longer afford to take time away from work because of the increasing costs of housing, food, transportation, internet, cell phones, and even child care. Your support means that these students can take an additional class each semester and finish their degree in a far shorter period of time. Thank you for investing in the emerging workforce of the central Shenandoah Valley. We truly appreciate your support of our life-changing mission!
You Can Make a Difference Blue Ridge Community College is doing everything we can to keep our students on track with their educational plans, and the Foundation is vital to helping make that possible. By investing in the Blue Ridge Fund now, you give the Foundation the flexibility to respond to the College’s needs in a timely and effective manner. To make a gift, please use the enclosed envelope, or scan the QR code above. Thank you for your continued support!
Bridge to Madison Program Will Enhance Student Access, Affordability
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joint program between Blue Ridge Community College and James Madison University will open new doors for students. The Bridge to Madison transfer program, one of only a few similar programs in Virginia, provides academic and social support to help students gain admittance to and succeed at JMU. Under the agreement, students who applied to JMU but have not been accepted through the regular admissions process can be considered for selection into the program. These students will be able to live on the university campus while taking their first year of college coursework at Blue Ridge Community College. The arrangement lowers costs for these students and provides academic support from both institutions. Students successfully completing the program will be able to attend JMU full time their sophomore year. “Thanks to this program we’ll be able to serve students in new and innovative ways, increasing access, enhancing affordability and expanding opportunities for success by better meeting individual student needs. There is no single pathway to higher education; through this program we are providing another way for students to pursue their educational dreams,” said JMU President Jonathan Alger. Blue Ridge Community College and JMU will support approximately 50 students through the Bridge to Madison program in the first year. “The Bridge to Madison Program is yet another example of how the longstanding partnership enjoyed between Blue Ridge Community College and James Madison University results in such great benefits to the Commonwealth,” said Dr. John Downey, president of Blue Ridge Community College. “I’m delighted that even more students will benefit from a supportive academic pathway through BRCC to achieve a baccalaureate from JMU!” RVHI continues
rural residents with an associate’s degree, diploma, or certificate. By investing in rural education, the VFCCE is working with Virginia’s Community Colleges to promote opportunities to pursue higher education and a more equitable Commonwealth. The BRCC Educational Foundation is a proud partner in the RVHI grant. BRCC’s approved grant request was in the amount of $100,000. Of that, $50,000 is coming from the VFCCE and the other $50,000 is being provided by the BRCC Educational Foundation. This grant award will support two career coach positions, as well as scholarships for the Blue Ridge Promise Program. “This award will support the College’s efforts to guide the next generation of employees for the rural Shenandoah Valley. So many of our students pursue transfer program opportunities or career oriented programs that lead directly to high pay employment opportunities as they seek bachelor’s degrees. Through the expertise of our career coach professionals, the RVHI program will help students understand better the connection between their educational choices and their career opportunities,” explained BRCC President, Dr. John Downey.
Student Spotlight:
Waren Lelewa by Sarah Sedwick
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magine how terrible it would be to have a medical emergency, but knowing that to get to the closest clinic it would involve a day’s long walk through jungles, rivers, and steep mountains,” said Waren Lelewa, an international student at Blue Ridge Community College. Waren Lelewa is from Papua, Indonesia, where he lives with his wife and young son, while working with Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), a non-profit organization that aims to help those living in remote areas get medical care, better education for their children, transportation and logistical support of Christian church leaders and missionaries and, to be of service when disasters strike. “MAF delivers doctors, nurses, medicine, vaccines, and supplies to places where medical care would not otherwise be available,” said Lelewa. “MAF airplanes are often called upon for medical evacuation flights. The sight of an MAF plane landing on a dirt airstrip looks like hope.” Since his work with the organization began in 2014, Waren’s role is to serve as an aircraft mechanic, which includes inspecting and repairing airplanes if the pilot reported trouble or if the aircraft’s condition is abnormal. MAF encouraged Waren to further his education by attending Blue Ridge Community College to work towards earning his Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) Certificate. He chose BRCC, as he had already made a connection with a pilot, Peter Santana, from Virginia who had flown his airplane into Papua, Indonesia. It turned out, Peter’s father, Joe, was a substitute
Instructional Mini Grants at Work
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aty Simpson, a Laboratory Specialist for the BRCC Veterinary Technology Program, was awarded an Instructional Mini-Grant in 2020 to create realistic singlevein trainers and surgical site preparation models. Originally, she planned to create a handful of trainers and models, but since students had reduced classroom time
instructor within the Aviation Maintenance Program at BRCC. Waren also had another acquaintance, Barry King, whom he met through Bible study class, who was also an Aviation Maintenance Technology (AMT) professor at BRCC. Beginning his educational career at BRCC seemed daunting, as Waren’s native language is Bahasa Indonesia, but he excelled quickly due to his dedication to studying and asynchronous, online class schedule. The visual technology, such as Canvas, the Quick Search within the Library Catalog, SIS, and Zoom all assisted Waren in accomplishing his tasks. “Asynchronous learning really helped me, as an International student with a time difference of 13 hours between Virginia (Eastern Time) and Papua Indonesia, so I can spend my time, on my schedule, learning all class materials,” said Lelewa. “I love the Center for Academic Vision and Excellence (CAVE). It plays an important role in helping me excel in English.” Waren’s passion for repairing engines, welding, and other handiwork, has also led him to meet other students studying at BRCC from different countries and backgrounds. He will attend his Practical/Lab in-person in August for the fall semester and plans to receive his certificate in December 2021. While Waren continues preparing for the upcoming semester, he continues his work in Indonesia, just last week, replacing the engine for an airplane that was damaged in a remote location. The aircraft was carrying 1-ton of cargo foods for the people there. “The project was accomplished, and the aircraft arrived safely to our home base,” said Lelewa.
due to COVID protocols, she actually made 36 single-vein trainers so that each first-year Vet Tech student could take a model home to practice. Second-year students also elected to take models home for practice prior to one of their class assessments. In addition to the single-vein trainers, 13 animal models were created with artificial veins, skin, and fur as well as four surgical scrub models, two of which can also be used as urinary cystocentesis models. Student feedback on the intravenous catheter placement models was extremely positive. These models have given the program greater flexibility and more realism in demonstrating tasks and skills as well as opportunities for students to practice skills in a more realistic manner. Learning to hold/restrain for venipuncture while maneuvering around animal’s heads, ears, and limbs to approach the vein appropriately is difficult, and not something students have been able to practice in the past without access to a live animal. The BRCC Educational Foundation solicits proposals for Instructional Mini-Grants from BRCC faculty and staff annually; proposals totaling $5,717 were funded during academic year 2020-21. $12,430 in grants are being funded during the current academic year, supporting highquality and innovative instruction in Welding, Calculus, Veterinary Technology, Engineering Design and more.
November 4, 2021, 7:30 a.m., Harrisonburg, Venue TBD November 5, 2021, 7:30 a.m., Staunton, Venue TBD November 12, 2021, 7:30 a.m., Orchard Creek Clubhouse, Waynesboro
Community Breakfast Series
Save the Date!
Blue Ridge Community College Educational Foundation, Inc. P. O. Box 80 Weyers Cave, VA 24486 (540) 453-2211 www.brcc.edu/EdFound Non Profit Org. U. S. Postage and Fees Paid BRCC