Adrian Kelly Holds Book SigningUsing AI as a Teaching Assistant: Supporting Educators Through AI Professional DevelopmentBlue Ridge Community and Technical College Celebrates Grand Opening of Plastics Training LabBlue Ridge CTC Celebrates Leadership Training Graduates from Gat Creek FurnitureCriminal Justice Faculty Member Megan Anderson’s Research Featured at International ConferenceBlue Ridge Community and Technical College Spring 2026 Nursing Graduates Achieve 100% First-Time NCLEX-RN Pass RateBlue Ridge CTC Unveils New Welding Lab at Morgan County CenterBlue Ridge CTC Hosts Governor Morrisey’s $50 Million Helsing Investment AnnouncementBRCTC’s Heavy Equipment Operator CourseBlue Ridge Community and Technical College to Celebrate Expansion of Workforce Training Opportunities with Welding Lab Ribbon CuttingBlue Ridge CTC and St. Joseph School Sign Dual Enrollment AgreementBlue Ridge CTC Board of Governors Meeting June 3, 2026Blue Ridge CTC Celebrates HVAC Class of 2025-2026 GraduatesNursing Program Celebrates 2026 Graduating Class in Pinning CeremonyBlue Ridge CTC Hosts First Ever Veteran Graduate Cord CeremonyEnvironmental Tech Program Gets 3rd Place Award in Operation GreenlidBlue Ridge CTC Honors Students in Spring 2026 Student Awards CeremonyJumpStart Welding Team Qualifies for State in MIC Build Out ChallengeNew BRCTC Podcast EpisodesManufacturing Collaboration with Berkeley County SchoolsBlue Ridge CTC Board of Governors Meeting April 1, 2026Mykayla Spielman’s Success at ROCKWOOL
Blue Ridge Community and Technical College’s Accelerating Student Completion: Encouraging New Dreams (Ascend) is a program created to help more students earn certificates and associate degrees within three years. Funded by a grant from Arnold Ventures, Ascend replicates the ASAP program at CUNY colleges in New York whose students doubled their graduation rates by providing a range of financial, academic, and personal supports.
Blue Ridge Community and Technical College’s Accelerating Student Completion: Encouraging New Dreams (Ascend) is a program created to help more students earn certificates and associate degrees within three years. Funded by a grant from Arnold Ventures, Ascend replicates the ASAP program at CUNY colleges in New York whose students doubled their graduation rates by providing a range of financial, academic, and personal supports. These supports include comprehensive and personal advisement, career counseling, tutoring, waivers for tuition and mandatory fees, gift cards for groceries and/or gas, and additional financial assistance to reduce or eliminate the cost of textbooks.
Ascend also offers special class scheduling options to ensure that Ascend students get the classes they need, are in classes with other Ascend students, and attend classes in convenient blocks of time to accommodate their work schedules. As students approach graduation, they receive additional assistance to help them transfer to a 4-year college or transition into the workforce, depending on their goals.
Eligibility Requirements
Apply To Ascend Now
Register For An Information Session
Lisha Burks, Ascend Director:
ASCEND@blueridgectc.edu
304-260-4380 EXT. 2409
