VHCC 2025 Commencement Program

Commencement Speakers

Skyla Keene Associate of Applied Science, Criminal Justice Career Studies Certificate, Foundations of Criminal Justice Career Studies Certificate, Law Enforcement Career Studies Certificate, Corrections Skyla Keene is a 2023 graduate of Abingdon High School and has two younger sisters whom she loves dearly – and a mischievous fish named Lenny. When not busy with school, she enjoys sewing, bouldering, reading, hiking and running. She has worked at Chick-Fil-A for three years and is a front-of-house shift leader. While she has learned a great deal in her time there, her career aspiration is to be hired after graduation by a local law enforcement agency, with the end goal to be on the road and engage in K-9 work. Skyla chose VHCC for several reasons, among them being “it’s local, I wasn’t going to have to pay for my education, and I had heard wonderful things about the Criminal Justice program here.” More than gaining confidence, knowledge and tangible skills for use in her chosen career field, VHCC also has given her “many different learning

opportunities and many connections with people in the field that I would not have had access to.” She went on to add, “But, most importantly, I have had the opportunity to be supported by people who believed in me and helped me to believe it too.” She leaves VHCC with many favorite memories, but those that stood out the most were the opportunities to participate as a role player in scenario-based training with the police academy in Bristol. Skyla says that it was both fun and also served as a valuable training tool. Skyla’s parting advice to fellow graduates is, “Don’t be your own worst enemy. Sometimes, the only thing that’s standing in the way of yourself, is you.”

Cathryn "Cate" Henley Associate of Arts and Sciences, Science Specialization in Natural Resources

Cate Henley lives in Washington County with her family and beloved animals; a pet cow, sheep, goats, barn cats, dogs and chickens. She is very active in her church with the children's ministry and the sound and lighting team. Cate comes to VHCC thanks to her family instilling in her and her twin brother a deep sense of fiscal responsibility. “We aren't fond of student debt, so VHCC was the logical next step for us.” She credits VHCC for giving her so much more than just an education. “The small class sizes have allowed me to get to know my professors. They know me by name, and not just a student ID. I know myself better, because the faculty and staff of VHCC took time to get to know me better.” Cate has many memories from her time at VHCC, but her favorites come from the many things learned on the hikes taken in the ‘Plant Life of VA’ class. Among those; “I learned pencil will become "invisible ink" in damp forest so a day of hiking notes will be useless, to make sure you and Mrs. Woosley both have your glasses on before you get excited about

finding a nearly extinct turtle because it might be a very turtle shaped leaf, and if you see Mr. Casteel eating a random plant on the side of the trail, that's normal and probably fine... probably.” Her love of wildlife, research, and all things biology inspires her plans to attend Virginia Tech this fall to pursue a degree in wildlife conservation. Looking to the future, Cate adds “I'm not just a graduate of VHCC that has checked off all the necessary course work. I'm a graduate of VHCC that has become a more confident student, ready for what comes next.” Her encouragement for others is “to take every possible opportunity to participate and be involved...a lot of the time, it's not about being qualified or even good at something that matters…it's the fact you are willing and ready to do your best, & that's all anyone can ask for.”

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