Laurel Ridge Celebrates 55th Graduating Class With Two Commencement Ceremonies

Hundreds of students crossed the outdoor stage Thursday and Friday as Laurel Ridge Community College celebrated its 55th graduating class.

The Class of 2026 includes 1,252 students, including those who completed their programs during the previous summer and fall terms. Health professions graduates received their associate degrees and certificates during Thursday’s ceremony, while graduates from all other fields were honored on Friday.

Laurel Ridge President Kim Blosser encouraged graduates to carry their education forward into meaningful careers while continuing to grow in a changing world.

“Our wish for you today is that you will take the knowledge and skills you’ve learned to go and find a career you love, and as the world around us changes and new technologies emerge, that you will always be a lifelong learner,” Blosser told the graduates. “We are so happy to have you as part of our Laurel Ridge alumni family, and we can’t wait to see what great work you do in your future.”

Commencement speaker Dayana Portillo’s family holds signs featuring her photo during Laurel Ridge Community College’s health professions ceremony Thursday.

Dayana Portillo, a Registered Nursing graduate, spoke during Thursday’s health professions ceremony. She said graduation marked more than the end of classes or the earning of a diploma. For her and her classmates, it represented the strength, compassion, and teamwork needed to enter the healthcare field.

“It’s a testament of resilience, of compassion, and the commitment to serving others,” Portillo said. “We’ve spent countless hours studying, practicing skills, and learning how to care for people during the most vulnerable moments of their lives.”

Portillo also thanked her classmates for supporting one another through the challenges of nursing school.

“Our goal was to help each other out,” she said. “We wanted everyone to cross the finish line together. This experience reminds us that nursing is not something we do alone. Healthcare is built on teamwork, trust, and collaboration.”

On Friday, Education graduate Monica Thompson delivered the commencement address. She told graduates that she once dreaded public speaking and never imagined she would stand before such a large crowd. Her time at Laurel Ridge, she said, helped her grow beyond fear and self-doubt.

“Growth will take you places you never thought you would go,” Thompson said. “It didn’t take long to realize I was at a place where I could grow with the amazing staff at Laurel Ridge.”

Thompson said the greatest challenge was not always the coursework, but the battle within.

“Sometimes the biggest battle wasn’t my classes, it was myself, fighting doubt, fighting insecurities, and fighting fear,” she said. “Fear is the enemy of success because if fear can paralyze you, it can stop you from ever discovering what’s inside you.”

She also praised Communication instructor Alyson Thompson, who helped her find confidence during public speaking class. Thompson remembered her instructor sitting at the back of the room and offering quiet encouragement during speeches.

“That simple smile, that little look, they kind of said everything – you can do this, I believe in you, and keep going,” Thompson said. “She made something intimidating feel possible, and sometimes all someone needs is for one person to believe in them.”

The college also announced its Outstanding Graduate award recipients.

Maria Eugenia Valle was named the Fauquier Campus Outstanding Graduate. She earned a degree in Administration of Justice and plans to transfer to Shenandoah University to major in Criminal Justice, with a goal of working in victim services. Her nomination described her as “an absolutely outstanding scholar, talented writer and nimble critical thinker” with a “deep commitment to human rights and victim advocacy.”

Valle has completed professional training through the Fairfax County Domestic Violence Network, the Fairfax County Sexual Assault Team, and the Fairfax County Human Trafficking Prevention Office. She has also participated in the Fauquier Anti-Sex Trafficking Alliance.

Mary Herter Nelson was named the Middletown Campus Outstanding Graduate. An Education graduate, she plans to work as an instructional assistant while deciding which area of education to pursue. She also hopes to become a religious sister.

Nelson’s nomination noted her “remarkable impact at Laurel Ridge through her initiative, leadership, and consistent engagement.” She became a Student Ambassador, founded the Dance Club, joined numerous student organizations, and attended the General Assembly with other students and administrators for Community College Advocacy Day.

Graduates came from across the region. The Class of 2026 includes 296 students from Frederick County, 183 from Fauquier County, 171 from Winchester, 137 from Shenandoah County, 119 from Warren County, 69 from Page County, 35 from Clarke County, 21 from Rappahannock County, and 221 from other localities.

As the ceremonies ended, Laurel Ridge sent its newest graduates into the next chapter as nurses, educators, justice professionals, transfer students, and future leaders—each carrying a story of persistence, growth, and possibility.