Featured photo: Graduates of the Level Up: Core Construction program at Blue Ridge Community College pose on July 30, 2026. Photo by: Emily Gill.
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On July 30, 2026, Blue Ridge Community College proudly celebrated two graduation ceremonies: the most recent cohort of Level Up: Core Construction, a tuition-free, accelerated workforce training program offered in partnership with the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) and Lowe’s, and the Summer Electrical Academy through Careers Electric, created by North Carolina Business Committee for Education (NCBCE) with support from the Siemens Foundation. The College hosted both ceremonies in the Patton Building’s Wyatt Auditorium in the presence of Blue Ridge faculty, staff, leaders, community members, and families.
“The success of these graduates reflects the power of workforce education and strong partnerships to prepare people for meaningful careers while meeting the workforce needs of employers across our region,” said Dr. Laura B. Leatherwood, Blue Ridge’s president. “We are grateful to NCCER, Careers Electric, and our generous funders and partners for making these transformative programs possible.”
Level Up: Core Construction
The Level Up: Core Construction ceremony recognized 10 dedicated individuals who completed the program designed to support Western North Carolina’s recovery from Hurricane Helene by preparing participants for immediate employment in the construction industry. The program began in April 2025.
Dr. Monica Carpenter, vice president of economic and workforce development and continuing education, provided opening remarks.
“Today is about recognizing the hard work and commitment that brought our graduates here,” Dr. Carpenter said. “You’ve invested your time, learned new skills, and taken an important step toward a career in an industry that is essential to our community. That’s something to be proud of.”
More information about the program and upcoming sessions is available at www.blueridge.edu/level-up.
Level Up graduates included:
Mitchell Allen
Dwayne Bolan
Gavin Carley
Hector Castro
Marcus Hawley
John Hernandez
Cody McDowell
Bryan Mendoza
Takoa Peterkin
Samuel Walker
Summer Electrical Academy
This year, NCBCE launched 12 Summer Electrical Academies through the support of the Siemens Foundation’s $9.25 million investment into the Careers Electric™ initiative. According to the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS), the Careers Electric™ Training Network is designed to increase enrollment in Electrical Systems Technology programs by 20 percent at each selected school over the next three years. It “aims to bridge the critical electrical skills gap and prepare workers for North Carolina’s rapidly growing energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure sectors.”
Blue Ridge’s July ceremony celebrated seven Summer Electrical Academy graduates.
Program instructor Shawn McCallister congratulated the graduates on their dedication during the program, and apprenticeship mentor Cassandra Townsend encouraged them to continue their journey.
“You’re leaving today with a foundation,” Townsend said. “Every electrician, every journeyman, every project manager, every foreman, and every business owner started where you are today, and that’s taking the first steps and learning the basics.”
Graduates included:
Owen Chandler
Mason Cole
Josmar Hernandez-Pineda
Alexander Noyola-Gutierrez
Jaden Odom
John Owen, IV
Eduardo Carillo Valdez
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