Featured Photo: Scenes from the September 17, 2026, Scholarship Appreciation Luncheon, hosted by the Blue Ridge Community College Educational Foundation. (Photo by: Rich Keen)
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The Blue Ridge Community College Educational Foundation celebrated student accomplishments and the generosity that makes their educational goals possible on Sept. 17, 2026, bringing scholarship recipients, donors, community partners and College leaders together for its annual Scholarship Appreciation Luncheon.
Held in the College’s Blue Ridge Conference Hall in Flat Rock, the luncheon provided an opportunity for scholarship recipients to meet with the donors supporting their education, share their stories and express their appreciation. Through these personal conversations, donors saw firsthand how their generosity is helping students pursue their academic and career goals.
“Thank you for being with us today as we celebrate three things that are at the heart of Blue Ridge: the transformative power of education, the generosity of those who believe in our students, and the accomplishments of the students who are building the future of Western North Carolina,” said Blue Ridge President Dr. Laura B. Leatherwood during her opening remarks. “Each year, the Educational Foundation’s Scholarship Appreciation Luncheon reminds us what is possible when we come together around a shared purpose: we improve lives, strengthen families, and create workforce opportunities through education.”
First Bank sponsored the luncheon, with Brittany Marshall, vice president and area retail manager, sharing a message on behalf of the organization. The event also featured remarks from Lori Garcia McCammon, president of the Educational Foundation Board of Directors, and Jamie Wiener, executive director of the Educational Foundation.
“Today reminds us what can happen when a community comes together around a shared purpose,” McCammon said. “In this room are the people who make educational opportunity possible—students pursuing their dreams, donors investing in those dreams, faculty and staff who guide the journey, and community members who believe in the mission of Blue Ridge.”
Wiener highlighted the breadth of the College’s impact and the role the Educational Foundation plays in supporting student success.
“Last year, Blue Ridge Community College served 9,906 students through degree programs, workforce training, and continuing education. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, the Foundation now invests more than $1 million each year in scholarships, innovative programs, faculty development, workforce initiatives, and student success,” Wiener said.
“The impact extends well beyond our campus,” she continued. “Every scholarship awarded today helps prepare tomorrow’s nurses, teachers, first responders, skilled trades professionals, entrepreneurs, and community leaders. Together, we’re strengthening the workforce, improving lives, and building a brighter future for Western North Carolina.”
The luncheon also featured a special video presentation highlighting the experiences of Amber Heatherly, a Blue Ridge student pursuing a degree in Civil Engineering Technology, and Brianna Allen, a 2023 graduate of the College’s Human Services Technology program.
The event also marked the presentation of the inaugural Distinguished Alumni Award to Blue Ridge Police Captain Pam Cannon. Presented by Pamela Rogers, vice president of the Educational Foundation Board of Directors, the award recognized Cannon’s connection to the College and her professional accomplishments.
Cannon pursued workforce training courses at Blue Ridge in the early 2000s before earning an associate degree in Public Safety Administration-Law Enforcement in 2024. Her educational journey demonstrates how students can continue building their skills and credentials throughout their careers while using their education to serve their communities.
Leatherwood also thanked the donors whose contributions help students access the education and training they need to pursue meaningful careers close to home.
“This year, your contributions will help provide these students and thousands more with access to exceptional instruction, state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, and the education and training they need to pursue meaningful, rewarding careers right here in Western North Carolina,” she said.
The Scholarship Appreciation Luncheon reflects the Educational Foundation’s ongoing commitment to connecting community generosity with student opportunity. Through scholarships and other investments in the College, donors and partner organizations help reduce financial barriers, support educational achievement, and prepare students to contribute to the region’s workforce and communities.
More information about the Blue Ridge Community College Educational Foundation is available at www.blueridge.edu/foundation.
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