Sep 16 2020
This article was published on Sep 16 2020 and was archived on Aug 31 2021. The information below may be outdated or inaccurate.
Richmond – New River Community College recently received the prominent “Gerald L. Baliles Rural Virginia Horseshoe Initiative Award” from the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education (VFCCE) to increase high school and college completion. The award was renamed to honor the legacy of Gerald L. Baliles, the 65th governor of Virginia, a native of rural Patrick County and a forward-thinking leader. Baliles worked to ensure that all Virginians had access to education and training.
The Gerald L. Baliles Rural Virginia Horseshoe Initiative (RVHI) Award aimed to reduce the number of rural residents without a high school diploma from 1 in 5 to 1 in 10, and to increase the number of rural residents with an associate degree, diploma, or certificate from 26 percent to 52 percent.
To date, RVHI has provided more than $10 million in direct and matching funding toward achieving these goals. Significant outcomes indicate that the population of the RVHI region aged 25 and over without a high school degree has decreased by 4.2 percent and those with at least an associate degree has increased by 4.0 percent.
NRCC’s award will be used to continue funding a Student Resources Specialist staff position. This position is housed in the Student Services department and provides direct student support by engaging current and future NRCC students as they navigate the college process, from consideration to completion.
“This award allows us to continue serving our students through personal support and direct contact. We are always striving to offer the best student support experience possible, and this award helps us to continue to meet the expanding student needs in our local community,” said NRCC President Pat Huber.
The NRCC Educational Foundation will be providing matching funds through local efforts. To help support this effort, visit www.nr/edu/foundation or call (540)674-3618.
There were 13 awards made by the VFCCE through a competitive application process. Recipients of the 2020 Gerald L. Baliles Rural Virginia Horseshoe Initiative Award:
Blue Ridge Community College
Dabney S. Lancaster Community College
Danville Community College
Eastern Shore Community College
Lord Fairfax Community College
Mountain Empire Community College
New River Community College
Patrick Henry Community College
Paul D. Camp Community College
Rappahannock Community College
Southside Virginia Community College
Southwest Virginia Community College
Virginia Highlands Community College
About Virginia’s Community Colleges:
Created more than 40 years ago, the VCCS is comprised of 23 community colleges located on 40 campuses across the Commonwealth. Together, Virginia’s Community Colleges serve more than a quarter million credit students each year.
For more information, please visit www.vccs.edu.
About The Virginia Foundation for Community College Education:
The mission of the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education is to build student success and the Commonwealth’s future by supporting its 23 community colleges through:
For more information, please visit www.vfcce.org.
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