Community college first launched local Center on Hawksbill Street in 2005; move to Jenkins Hall occurred with community support in 2021
By Randy Arrington
LURAY, Jan. 15 — Founded in 1970, Laurel Ridge Community College (then-Lord Fairfax CC) offered its first courses in Page County during the latter part of that first decade, a handful of classes taught at Luray High School. By the mid-1990s, course offerings had greatly increased and a decade later a community partnership lead to a four-room Luray-Page County Center opening in late 2005.
“We are so blessed,” said Laurel Ridge President Kim Blosser, a Page County native from Stanley. “Page is a phenomenal community that came together and helped us… It means a lot to me personally…I fully admit I am a little biased.”
Local government, local businesses, and local residents contributed financially in 2005 to the opening of the Center in the former Wrangler annex at 320 North Hawksbill Street in Luray. The local community stepped up again 16 years later when the current Jenkins Hall was built and opened in 2021. The $4.7 million project marks the first permanent structure that the regional community college had built in Page County.
On Thursday evening, Laurel Ridge, in conjunction with the Luray-Page County Chamber of Commerce, held a public event to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the regional community college having a Center in Page County.
“Thank you for coming and supporting us,” Judy Suddith, director of the local Center, told nearly 100 attendees on Thursday. “We started a long time ago in that building on Hawksbill…and we will continue here [in Jenkins Hall] for many years from now, with your support.”
Page County’s Gail Price is credited with bringing a larger course offering to the Luray-Page County Center, but Suddith, her successor, has been involved with the Center since its beginning and served as its director for the majority of its existence.
“She answers every student’s question,” Blosser said of Suddith.
The modern facilities and additional space have allowed Laurel Ridge to create even more opportunities at Jenkins Hall, including a Trades Lab and a Science Lab used for Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training.
“Please continue to spread the news about this wonderful community asset. We are so lucky to have Laurel Ridge here in Page County,” said Luray-Page County Chamber of Commerce President Gina Hilliard. “And if you have any questions, send them to Judy.”
Laurel Ridge has served more than 2,900 students at the Luray-Page County Center since it first opened two decades ago. For the 2024-25 school year, 322 county residents enrolled in academic courses at Laurel Ridge, including 75 graduates in the Class of 2025.
A total of 150 high school students — 146 public, four private — were involved in the college’s dual enrollment program, earning college credits while still attending high school. Of those dual-enrolled Page County students, 33 earned a certificate or degree from Laurel Ridge before graduating high school. According to Blosser, “while fewer than 1 percent of students statewide earn a college credential before finishing high school, an impressive 7 percent of high school students in our service region reached that goal in 2024.”
A total of $447,946.46 was awarded to 100 county residents in total aid to finance their education — federal and state grants, scholarships; not loans.
“This is the best site for a community college in Virginia,” the state’s then 20-year chancellor of community colleges Dr. Glenn DuBois said during a Sept. 13, 2021 ceremony in Luray. “Virginia depends on our ability to educate as many as possible, and now we have one more terrific tool in that great work ahead.”
Nearly 200 came to commemorate the grand opening of Jenkins Hall that day. The 8-acre site donated by the Jenkins family sits between the Blue Ridge and Massanutten mountains, just behind Walmart off Route 211. Russell A. and Rodney A. Jenkins and their family were honored at a special event in May 2019 for donating the acreage at their development, Luray Landing, for the building that now bears their family’s name.
The 13,000-square-foot building contains five classrooms, a computer lab, a student commons area, a small conference room, a testing center and employee space, as well as a rooftop terrace. Three of the classrooms — Caverns A, B and C — can be combined to form one large conference room.
In early 2021, the College also started its Workforce Solutions program, which celebrated its fifth anniversary this week. Laurel Ridge has not only grown in Page County, but the institution continues to take the lead among community college’s in the commonwealth by:
- Leading all 23 members of the Virginia Community College System in state-measured student success metrics — something they have done now four years running;
- Guaranteeing admission agreements with more than 30 of Virginia’s colleges and universities;
- Offering more than 75 associate degree and certificate programs, and more than 40-plus fast-track career training programs;
- Providing more than $8 million in non-loan financial aid (amount awarded to students in 2023-24 academic year);
- Receiving a 98-percent approval rating by students who said they would recommend Laurel Ridge to others.
Laurel Ridge has added programs for heavy equipment operators complete with state-of-the-art simulators, electric linemen training, HVAC certification, physical therapy assistants, and certified nursing assistants, among others.
Since starting out in a single high school classroom, and then expanding to four rooms in a former Wrangler jeans sewing plant, and then expanding again to a newly-constructed, independent structure built for education…President Blosser doesn’t see this as an ending and stating “mission accomplished.”
Instead, she leads visitors down a short hallway on Thursday evening to show them a door. It’s an ordinary door, like many others in the building — except this one “will one day lead to a new building.” Expansion plans were made when Jenkins Hall was built five years ago, and Laurel Ridge’s president wants to see the Luray-Page County Center continue to grow over the next two deacades that it serves students in the Page Valley.
“I can’t tell you how much this Center means to me,” the Page County native noted.
She stressed the local opportunity that Laurel Ridge offers, which didn’t always exist. Whether it’s for a professional certification, a GED, continuing education, dual enrollment, or getting a jump start on a four-year college or university, the college president stresses that there’s no better time than now and no better place than Laurel Ridge to further your education.
“We are a great start for them,” said President Blosser. “Tell everyone you know that this is a great place to get started.”
For more information on Laurel Ridge Community College,
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