Technical College

A Blue Ridge Community and Technical College student was among 50 community college students across the nation, Canada and Micronesia to be named 2013 New Century Scholars, the college announced Friday. Judy Jeffares was the only student from West Virginia to receive the honor from the program, which is sponsored by The Coca-Cola Foundation, Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, Phi Theta Kappa and the American Association of Community Colleges, the college said in a news release. “We are proud to have Judy Jeffares selected as a New Century Scholar.

An annual $1.6 million appropriation increase for Blue Ridge Community and Technical College in Martinsburg was included in the state budget, Senate Bill 160, passed Friday by the West Virginia Legislature. “I went to Charleston determined to advocate for our region. An increase in Blue Ridge Community and Technical College's base budget was imperative,” said Sen. John Unger, D-Berkeley/Jefferson, who got the increase. Of the 10 community colleges in West Virginia, Blue Ridge CTC has received the least amount of funds per student for the past several years.

More than 100 people joined Blue Ridge Community and Technical College leaders Friday to celebrate the completion of an $18.2 million campus project with ribbon-cutting and flag-raising ceremonies. Staged in front of the college's new 55,000-square-foot academic/administrative building on the 46-acre campus, the celebration highlighted a milestone in the growth of the school, which expects about 4,400 students to enroll for the fall semester. “This has been a long time in the making,” Blue Ridge CTC President Peter G. Checkovich said.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Beginning today, the Community and Technical College of Shepherd in Martinsburg officially will be called Blue Ridge Community and Technical College, officials announced. Workers on Friday mounted new signs on the outside of the school's only campus building off West Stephen and South Raleigh streets in advance of the name change approved by the West Virginia Legislature earlier this year. "Receiving independent accreditation signifies tremendous growth and presents so many opportunities for our college," college President Peter Checkovich said in a news release.

An agreement signed Wednesday by leaders of Blue Ridge Community and Technical College and the University of Charleston provides another option for students to seamlessly transfer from one school to the other to continue their education, officials said. The agreement provides Blue Ridge CTC students who complete an associate degree the option of transferring to the University of Charleston's Martinsburg campus to pursue a bachelor's degree without the risk of losing credit for completed course work.

MARTINSBURG, W.VA. -- Spring semester enrollment at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College in Martinsburg is projected to exceed 2,000 students, President Peter G. Checkovich said this week. "It actually exceeded our goal - by a couple hundred," Checkovich said after presenting an enrollment report Wednesday to the college's board of governors. Final fall enrollment was 2,195 students, which was 58 percent higher than 2005, according to the school's institutional research posted on its Web site.

A Blue Ridge Community and Technical College student was among 50 community college students across the nation, Canada and Micronesia to be named 2013 New Century Scholars, the college announced Friday. Judy Jeffares was the only student from West Virginia to receive the honor from the program, which is sponsored by The Coca-Cola Foundation, Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, Phi Theta Kappa and the American Association of Community Colleges, the college said in a news release. “We are proud to have Judy Jeffares selected as a New Century Scholar.

An agreement signed Wednesday by leaders of Blue Ridge Community and Technical College and the University of Charleston provides another option for students to seamlessly transfer from one school to the other to continue their education, officials said. The agreement provides Blue Ridge CTC students who complete an associate degree the option of transferring to the University of Charleston's Martinsburg campus to pursue a bachelor's degree without the risk of losing credit for completed course work.

The case of a former Blue Ridge Community and Technical College student accused of repeatedly violating the school's campus ban on firearms is set to go to trial in Berkeley County Magistrate Court. Joshua Lee Beck, 28, of Martinsburg, was charged with two misdemeanor counts of possession of firearms on the school's campuses in October 2011. Berkeley County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Christine Riley said Tuesday that no plea offer had been extended to Beck, who is being represented by Martinsburg attorney William J. Powell.

Students from Blue Ridge Community and Technical College competed in the recent Cisco NetRiders Competition. The academic challenge featured a total of 94 competitors in the final round, including five Blue Ridge networking students. The following five students placed in the West Virginia state competition: First place - Benedikt Ott; second place - Tom Rebuck; third place - Joshua Rener; fourth place - Derek O'Donnel; and fifth place - Aaron Breeden. Once the state competitions were completed, Ott continued in the international competition, placing seventh and receiving a $200 gift card.

The following small-business planning courses are being offered by Blue Ridge Community and Technical College in the Jefferson High School Media Center, Charles Town. The cost for each, including handouts, is $19. • “Starting Your Own Business”: This course focuses on how to identify business ideas and how to determine if a specific idea is a feasible opportunity. The class is being offered Monday, Oct. 1, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. • “Your Business Plan - Simplified”: This course provides step-by-step instructions for writing a professional- quality business plan.

More than 100 people joined Blue Ridge Community and Technical College leaders Friday to celebrate the completion of an $18.2 million campus project with ribbon-cutting and flag-raising ceremonies. Staged in front of the college's new 55,000-square-foot academic/administrative building on the 46-acre campus, the celebration highlighted a milestone in the growth of the school, which expects about 4,400 students to enroll for the fall semester. “This has been a long time in the making,” Blue Ridge CTC President Peter G. Checkovich said.