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“Excellence in Education” Award Presented at New Horizons Conference

Â鶹ÊÓƵ is proud to announce that Hayleigh Bradbury, Career Services Mentor, was awarded the 2025 Excellence in Education: Developing Virginia’s Talent Award, at the recent New Horizons Conference held at the Hotel Roanoke, April 1-3, 2025.

The conference is held each spring by the Virginia Â鶹ÊÓƵ College System and celebrates excellence and innovation in community colleges around the state.  Â鶹ÊÓƵ is particularly proud to have been acknowledged four of the past five years.

Hayleigh was recognized for her work in guiding ESCC’s Career Services Center, which opened in 2024 as part of a $1.85 million Title III Strengthening Institutions Program grant.  Within six months, goals were met including serving over 300 unique students and assisting 20 students in acquiring internships or work-based learning experiences. It should be noted that the second number does not include the number of students helped in finding jobs outside of their academic path.

The launch of the mentor program in August 2024 has allowed ESCC to create pathways for students to connect with local professionals, both retired and active, who can answer questions and help students create and work towards their goals.  The program currently has 14 mentors and 21 mentees.

(Pictured above: ESCC Director of Student Services, Amy Shockley, Career Services Mentor Hayleigh Bradbury, VCCS Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Workforce Services, Dr. Felicia Ganther, and VCCS Chancellor, Dr. David Dore’.)