Laurel Ridge holds commencement this week
Members of the class of 2024 will walk across the stage as Laurel Ridge Community College holds its 53rd annual commencement exercises Thursday, May 9, and Friday, May 10.
Health professions graduates will have their ceremony on May 9, followed by all other graduates on May 10. Both ceremonies will be held outdoors – rain or shine – behind Cornerstone Hall on the Middletown campus at 2 p.m.
Strasburg-area resident Jason Dolan, a firefighter-paramedic earning his registered nursing diploma, will be the May 9 commencement speaker. Brandi Yasem, of Winchester, who intends to become a cardiovascular surgeon, will speak at the May 10 ceremony.
Following the health professions commencement ceremony on May 9, there will be pinning ceremonies for graduates in the nursing, surgical technology and medical laboratory technician programs. Emergency medical services graduates will have a coin ceremony.
The ceremonies cap off a week of celebrations, including those for TRIO graduates, student academic and engagement award winners and those in the Early College program.
It is anticipated 1,003 students make up the Laurel Ridge Class of 2024, a 12% increase from last year’s 895. Graduates are from the following localities:
► Rappahannock County: 11
► Clarke County: 40
► Fauquier County: 178
► Frederick County: 253
► Page County: 42
► Shenandoah County: 115
► Warren County: 91
► Winchester: 134
► Other: 139