"I'm the person that calls that number and just pushes zero until a human picks up. I need a Thomas." Brandy Hawkins Boies said it, and it's the truest thing about community college enrollment in 2026. On this Laurel Ridge Community College edition of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael welcomes back Director of Communications and Outreach Brandy Hawkins Boies, joined by Thomas Monk — Outreach Specialist and Career Coach at Laurel Ridge's Middletown campus, and the actual first human anyone new to Laurel Ridge is likely to meet.

Thomas walks through what an outreach specialist actually does — 25+ conversations a week with prospective students of every age (from high schoolers exploring dual enrollment to 50-somethings quietly wondering if it's too late to change careers), a philosophy of "half the hurdle is just getting started," and a way of thinking about the college journey as a baton pass across five different departments that the student experiences as one hour of their time. He explains the biggest questions he gets ("How do I get started?" and "Can I afford this?"), the guaranteed-admission agreements with 37 Virginia colleges and universities, why he starts by asking students what they DON'T want to do, and why he loves being the objective third party in what's often a very personal decision. Plus: the upcoming Laurel Ridge Open House on July 23rd (virtual at noon, in-person at 5 PM), why AI and machine learning is now a real Laurel Ridge program, and Janet's ongoing internal dialogue about what she should go back to school for — with special thanks to her best friend Mary, whose incoming text after this episode is a foregone conclusion.

WHERE TO START AT LAUREL RIDGE

FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS (any age, any goal) • Ask a question — laurelridge.edu/visit → the top box lets you submit ANY question (dual enrollment, career change, program interest, "I don't even know where to start"). Thomas or a team member replies within 48 hours. • Schedule a meeting — second box on the same page. Book a 30-minute session with Thomas or the outreach team, virtually or in person. • Book a campus tour — outside of events, at your convenience. • Come to an open house — customized, semi-structured, room-based Q&A.

WHAT THE OUTREACH TEAM CAN HELP WITH • Application and getting started • Financial aid, scholarships, and G3 funding • Academic advisor matching • Transfer credits from previous colleges or universities • Life-experience credit • Program exploration (academic + workforce solutions + certifications) • Corporate and continuing education • Custom in-person or virtual visits with your group or organization

UPCOMING OPEN HOUSE — JULY 23, 2026 Two-session format (attend one or both): • 12:00–1:00 PM — Virtual session (great for a lunch break) • 5:00 PM — In-person session at the Middletown campus Both sessions include a program overview, application help, tour options, and access to specific department representatives. Register at laurelridge.edu/openhouse.

THE VALLEY TODAY with Janet Michael — A decade of conversations.

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