Blue Ridge Community College Launches Summer Learning Program for Youth
Blue Ridge Community College (BRCC) is set to offer a series of engaging educational opportunities for young learners this summer, specifically targeting preteens and teenagers through its “Learning Creates Brighter Futures” program. This initiative aims to foster interest in nontraditional career paths, allowing students to explore various fields in a hands-on environment.
According to Dave Urso, the Vice President of Academic Affairs at BRCC, the return of this program reflects the institution’s long-standing commitment to promoting educational engagement among youth. Urso expressed enthusiasm about the initiative, stating, “We’re excited to bring our Learning Creates Brighter Futures series back. For many years, we’ve focused on kids’ programming in the summer that gets students into the educational space and thinking about nontraditional careers.”
This year’s program includes classes in biomanufacturing, veterinary technology, and ceramics, providing participants with an opportunity to gain insights into potential career options. The Introduction to Biomanufacturing Camp, aimed at students in grades 10 to 12, is particularly noteworthy, as it demystifies the science behind the production of vaccines and other medications derived from living organisms. Urso emphasized the value of such exposure, noting, “One of the things that’s so exciting about this is that it’s kind of like, can I spend just a week learning about Intro to Biomanufacturing, which may not have even been on my radar as a career path?”
Additionally, the program features two new ceramics classes for aspiring artists: one focused on creating lanterns and luminarias, and another aimed at producing mugs, bowls, and platters. The ceramics courses cater to a wide age range, offering classes for students aged 11 to 18. The pre-veterinary course is designed for participants between the ages of 14 and 18.
Classes are designed to accommodate between 12 and 20 students, with instruction provided by BRCC’s full-time faculty. The biomanufacturing camp is offered free of charge, while fees for the other classes range from 9 to 5. To encourage participation, BRCC is offering a limited-time discount of off on enrollment, with the coupon code LCBF75 available for use by interested students.
For those looking to register or learn more about the summer program, further details can be accessed via the official BRCC website at brcc.edu, or by contacting the college directly at (540) 453-0264 or via email at info@brcc.edu. Scholarships may also be available for qualifying students, with inquiries directed to the same email address.
In a landscape where young individuals are often pressured to identify their career paths early on, Urso highlighted the importance of initiatives like Learning Creates Brighter Futures: “Programs like these allow people to experience and try different things,” providing students with the exploratory opportunities essential for informed decision-making regarding their futures.
