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Local Business Exec is Champion for Virginia's Community Colleges BY SARA HUNT I f Fredericksburg parents ask local financial executive Ron Holmes for advice on how to help their children get a college education or workforce training, they can expect a three-word answer: Virginia's community colleges. Holmes, a vice president of wealth management and senior financial advisor with Merrill Lynch/Bank of America in Fredericksburg, serves as secretary on the board of the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education, the supporting arm for the Virginia Community College System. He's also an ardent champion for the outstanding education that students of all ages can receive at any of the 23 community colleges located on 40 campuses across the Commonwealth. "Community colleges are a viable and affordable alternative for everyone, whether they've just graduated from high school, or have been working for several years and want to change careers, or if someone wants to get additional training to enhance job skills," states Holmes, who helped raise awareness and funding for the scholarship program at Germanna Community College for many years before becoming involved with the VCCS. "Virginia is so blessed to have one of the best community college systems in the U.S.," he said. "Each year, our community colleges are turning out thousands of degreed and certified students who are highly trained and ready for the workforce. We have no trouble finding job placement for our graduates." According to Holmes, Virginia's Community Colleges offer a great deal that many students—and their parents—may not be aware of. He noted that community college graduates could take advantage of guaranteed transfer agreements that the VCCS holds with more than 30 public and private universities across the state. Plus, there's a wealth of curriculum, allowing students to try out a variety of potential career options. continued on pg 17 16 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • September 2013 FACTS ABOUT VIRGINIA'S COMMUNITY COLLEGES • Most Virginians live within a 30-minute drive of a community college campus. • There are 23 community colleges in Virginia, located on 40 campuses across the state. • The Virginia Education Wizard has answers about college education, careers and more: www.vawizard. org • Graduates of Virginia's Community Colleges can take advantage of guaranteed transfer agreements that the VCCS holds with more than 30 public and private universities in the Commonwealth. • 90 percent of students that attend community colleges will stay in the community to work. • 3 out of 5 of Virginia's public undergraduate college students are enrolled in one of Virginia's Community Colleges. • More than 11,000 employers are served through workforce programs at Virginia's Community Colleges. • Over 25,000 high school juniors and seniors earn college credit while in high school through dual enrollment courses at Virginia's Community Colleges. • Virginia's Community Colleges served more than 405,000 people last year in academic and workforce programs.