Blue Ridge Community and Technical College is excited to welcome a new partner in its commitment to developing skilled workers in the Eastern Panhandle community. Blue Ridge staff members Lisa Osborn, Jon Unger, and Alan Daley recently attended the Mike Rowe Works Foundation’s “Work Ethic Certified Train the Trainer” program. Mike Rowe, known for hosting TV shows like “Dirty Jobs” and “Somebody’s Gotta Do It,” established this foundation to help cultivate a stronger work ethic in the next generation. His foundation has also awarded over $11 million in scholarships aimed at training skilled workers.

During the two-day training, staff received valuable guidance and tools to teach the principles of Mike Rowe’s S.W.E.A.T. (Skills and Worth Ethic Aren’t Taboo) Pledge. This program emphasizes essential aspects of work ethic, personal responsibility, delayed gratification, and maintaining a positive attitude, all designed to help students succeed as they enter or reenter the workforce. Mr. Rowe joined the training via Zoom for about an hour, answering questions and sharing his vision for the program’s future.

As a newly minted Work Ethic Certified school, the School of Workforce staff is considering various options for delivering the training to students, including summer life skills boot camps and outreach partnerships with community organizations. Ultimately, the goal is to integrate this curriculum into the broad array of supports that Blue Ridge Community and Technical College offers to help its students and community thrive.

Blue Ridge Community and Technical College offers more than 60 associate degree and certificate programs, as well as workforce development training.  Blue Ridge Community and Technical College is conveniently located on Route 45 West, past the Commons Center, at 13650 Apple Harvest Drive. For more information about Blue Ridge Community and Technical College, please call 304-260-4380 or visit our website at www.BlueRidgeCTC.edu.