On a typical Memorial Day weekend, you would find the students of Blue Ridge Job Corps in downtown Marion, VA, engaging in community service activities. It was a given that each year students would volunteer to assist with setting up flags memorializing veterans in front of the Smyth County Courthouse or helping out with the Memorial Day parade or other festivities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, unfortunately many annual traditions have changed or been cancelled altogether for 2020. The vast majority of our students are back at their residences partaking in virtual learning, unable to volunteer in the local community. It is during this time that Blue Ridge Job Corps found their own way to observe Memorial Day, by making a display ON center. The display featured roughly 100 American flags adorning the front lawn, and visible to all those who passed by the center. The display was made possible by the efforts of the three students who remain at Blue Ridge, Oumou Fofana, Nicole Greenan, and Adrianna Lejeune, assisted a small group of staff in setting everything up.
Blue Ridge Job Corps takes pride in veterans who choose to work at the center, as their knowledge and professionalism help to provide a tremendous service to the students. Those veterans are: Earl Moffett, Driver – Navy; Edsel West, Maintenance – Air Force; Andrew Meadows, Security Officer – Army Reserves; Keith Hutton, Custodian – Navy; and Luther Havens, Security Officer – Army. Staff and students at BRJC thank them for their service.
Occasionally, former Blue Ridge students will join the armed forces, and we would like to take the opportunity to highlight A1C Michela Benefield of the U.S. Air Force. Michaela came to Blue Ridge to gain medical training, but with the ultimate goal of joining the Air Force. Upon first arriving, she began preparing for the ASVAB test, and was assisted by various staff members along the way. Michaela completed her Job Corps training in October, 2017, and enlisted in the Air Force in March, 2018. She is proud of her choice to enlist and thankful for the help she received during her time in Job Corps. Michaela is hoping to come and speak to the study body about her experience once students return to the center.