Virginia Highlands Community College 2026 Commencement Program

History of Virginia Highlands Community College

Virginia Highlands Community College was established on November 30, 1967, by action of the State Board for Community Colleges, and assigned a service region of Washington County, the western portion of Smyth County, and the City of Bristol, Virginia. Today it is one of 23 community colleges within the Virginia Community College System.

The College moved to its permanent 100-acre campus during the summer of 1970 and, in response to the community's needs, expanded its offerings to include both career-technical programs and baccalaureate-transfer programs.

During more than five decades of operation, Virginia Highlands Community College has become a dynamic leader in Southwest Virginia with a primary goal of providing a comprehensive and quality education for residents throughout its service region. The College served about 3,000 full- and part-time students this year. The rolling hills of the campus have been developed to include nine modern buildings, athletic and recreational facilities, and substantial parking. Programs and services also have changed to meet the needs of the local community. For example, the Division of Workforce Development and Continuing Education was created in 1996 to better prepare the local workforce. The Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center – a separate organization located on the VHCC campus – opened in 1998 to bring baccalaureate and graduate programs to the area, and the Arts Array program was expanded into a community-wide cultural program. In 2004 we welcomed our campus neighbor, the Stone Mill Business and Technology Park, and during 2006 we completed construction of a greenhouse to support the Horticulture program. In 2011, the Southwest Virginia Cultural Center and Marketplace (formerly known as "Heartwood"), opened as a gateway to the area's cultural and creative economy, featuring a dining, event, and studio hub showcasing regional artisans and musicians. The Paramont Applied Technology and Workforce Center officially opened in March 2025. This 20,000 square foot instructional building was constructed to house the College's Welding Technology, Diesel Technology, and Workforce & Continuing Education Programs. It features classrooms, modern lab spaces, collaboration areas for students, and a business and industry hub for short-term and customized training. The College’s dual enrollment program provides an opportunity for students to earn college credit while still in high school – helping them to get a jump-start on a college degree. State-of-the-art technology at VHCC has made it possible to deliver robust distance educational options, support modern classrooms and labs, and offer high-tech/high-touch services like library services, tutoring, testing, and collaboration spaces. The College has worked hard to establish additional support programs to assist students who may face difficult circumstances while enrolled, like the Helping Hands Assistance Program, the Phil Station Food Pantry, Single Stop, Great Expectations, support for Veterans, and the TRIO Programs. Through the generosity of local businesses, community organizations, and private donors, the VHCC Educational Foundation manages a wide range of scholarships designed to make college more accessible and affordable. In partnership with several funders, VHCC and the VHCC Educational Foundation are proud to offer last-dollar “promise” scholarships to recent high school graduates attending VHCC who meet certain residency and other criteria.

Today, we proudly honor the VHCC Class of 2026 by celebrating this major milestone with graduating students, their family members, and friends.

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