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Laurel Ridge awards professor emeritus and staff emeritus honors

EducationHuman InterestCommunityGeneral News ArticlePress Release

 

Laurel Ridge Community College recently bestowed emeritus status on two retired professors and three retired classified employees. The college honors up to two faculty members each year with this status, recognizing their exceptional service and contributions to Laurel Ridge. They must have at least 10 years of service in the Virginia Community College System (VCCS).
 
Math Professor Eunice Myers and Biology Professor Brenda Wiens were granted emerita status this year.
 
The nominations for Professor Myers, who was with the college from 2009-21, noted she worked hard to ensure every student was successful, especially championing students taking developmental math classes.
 
“She wanted them to succeed and to prosper in the subsequent math courses that they would need to get their degrees,” one nomination says.
 
It also detailed how when the college began its Education program in 2004, many teachers seeking licensure struggled to pass the required math courses, Professor Myers “had a natural way of putting teachers at ease and helped them to build their confidence so they could master” the required math skills.
 
“She is an excellent mentor and spent countless hours with students one on one helping them with math fundamentals,” another nomination states. “I was able to cheer her on when she taught her first online class and have seen the amazing work she did when transitioning to totally virtual education due to the pandemic.”
 
Professor Emerita Myers said the college was a great place to work with friendly and helpful colleagues.

“Laurel Ridge Community College really is a family,” she said. “It’s a place where you can grow in your career. It gave me opportunities to get involved in other aspects of the college. My life has been so enriched because of my experience at Laurel Ridge.”
 
Biology Professor Ann Simpson presented the second professor emerita award to Professor Wiens, who taught Anatomy and Physiology, as well as Cell and Molecular Biology in addition to General Biology, while working at Laurel Ridge between 2008 and 2023.
 
“Her classroom was a place of engagement, curiosity, and encouragement, where students felt supported and challenged in equal measure,” said Professor Simpson. “She was deeply involved in Student Life, serving for many years as a faculty advisor to the STEM Club. Under her guidance, students pursued hands-on projects that enriched both their education and the campus community.”
 
Professor Emerita Wiens said she recently attended a Laurel Ridge Educational Foundation event where President Kim Blosser said that “community” is the most important part of the college’s name.
 
“That really resonated with me,” she said. “I think that’s what really drew me to the college in the first place. My parents impressed upon me the importance of education and the joy they found in lifelong learning, and I hope that I passed this along to my students.”
 
To be considered for the honor of staff emeritus, the recipient must have had at least 10 years of full-time service in the VCCS. This year’s honorees were facilities maintenance lead Steve Ayers, administrative office specialist Linda Bursey and trades technician Sarah Kibler.
 
Ayers came to Laurel Ridge in 2013, 16 years after starting as an HVAC technician at Northern Virginia Community College, said Facilities Director Whitney Miller. Prior to that, he had served four years in the U.S. Marine Corps and 14 years in private industry.
 
“As facilities maintenance lead, Steve was deeply committed to ensuring the safety, functionality, and beauty of our campuses,” said Miller. “He approached his responsibilities with care and consistency – every single day, including weekends, when needed. Issues were addressed promptly, problems were solved thoughtfully, and operations ran smoothly because of his vigilance.
 
“Even in retirement, he has returned in a part‑time capacity to assist with special projects. That we continue to rely on his experience speaks volumes about his impact – and about how deeply missed he would be without his continued presence. His contributions made Laurel Ridge Community College a stronger, more beautiful, and more functional place to learn and work.
 
Ayers said he was grateful to everyone who had supported him during the course of his employment.
 
“I’m very honored and very humbled,” he said. “It’s a wonderful place. It’s brought me a lot of joy.”
 
Bursey was in the first class to attend Laurel Ridge in 1970, said library archivist John Owens.
 
“Almost immediately, she became part of the college family, taking a work‑study position in the business office while pursuing her education,” he said. “Linda graduated with honors in 1972, and the college made one thing very clear – it was not going to let her get away. The Monday following her graduation, Linda reported back to work, this time as a full‑time employee in the business office. What followed was a 34‑year career of exceptional service, culminating in her retirement in 2006.”
 
She received the Distinguished Full-Time Staff Award in 1995, and in 2006, she was recognized by the Winchester International Association of Administrative Professionals as the Administrative Professional of the Year, among other honors.
 
 Laurel Ridge has been a family affair, according to Bursey. Her husband and two daughters are graduates.
 
 “My time at the college was 34 years of really good years,” she said. “The work was good, but the people were wonderful. I started as a teenager. I retired as a member of AARP.”
 
 Kibler spent 20 years at the college – 2003-23.
 
“With her signature McDonald’s sweet tea in hand and a wry sense of humor at the ready, Sarah brought a moment of warmth and light to even the longest days,” said library specialist Wyatt Vaught. “While Sarah technically worked for Buildings and Grounds, it’s more accurate to say she worked with nearly every department on campus. She knew everyone, and everyone knew her.
 
“Sarah took great pride in her work. She didn’t just keep things clean, she paid attention to the little details. Library calendars were never out of date on her watch. If someone forgot their keys, Sarah would quietly lock up behind them. If there was a small problem to fix or someone to help, she did it, no questions asked. Helping others came naturally to her.”
 
Kibler didn’t deliver a big speech upon accepting her honor, but did get a laugh from those in attendance, joking, “You all do a great job. Mine was a little bit different – I liked to aggravate people.”
 

Laurel Ridge awards professor emeritus and staff emeritus honors