Ella-Rae Patton, a sixth grade student at Richlands Middle School, was recognized by legislators at the Virginia State Capitol on March 2 for her First Place State History Day exhibit on Ida B. Wells.
Ella-Rae Patton, a sixth grade student at Richlands Middle School, was recognized by legislators at the Virginia State Capitol on March 2 for her First Place State History Day exhibit on Ida B. Wells.
Claude Moore Opportunities, a statewide nonprofit focused on healthcare workforce development, is now accepting applications for scholarshipsto support Southwest Virginia students pursuing healthcare careers through the Virginia Community College System (VCCS). Claude Moore and local partners are funding up to three $2,500 scholarships to support community college students in the region as part of the Virginia Partnership for Health Science Careers, a statewide network of regional healthcare workforce development partnerships organized by Claude Moore, including in Southwest Virginia.
“Our experience in healthcare workforce training has shown us that cost can be a real barrier to pursuing the training and credentialing that’s required for a good-paying career in healthcare,” said Dr. Bill Hazel, CEO of Claude Moore Opportunities and former Virginia Secretary of Health. “Beyond the cost of tuition or training programs, there are often costs for transportation, childcare, and books and equipment that may not be covered by traditional financial aid. By providing flexible support during their educational and career journey, we can help more Virginians stay on track and get the training, credentials, and certifications they need to make a good living serving the healthcare needs of their community.”
"The Virginia Community College System is thankful to Claude Moore Opportunities for their investment in our students and for their leadership in helping build a healthcare ecosystem that provides clear pathways from enrollment to employment,” said Dr. David Doré, Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System. “These scholarships will provide critical support to students, helping them obtain the training needed to strengthen Virginia’s workforce and improve the quality of healthcare across the state. We are proud to work with a partner so deeply committed to our students and the workforce needs of communities."
Interested VCCS students can apply for a Southwest Virginia regional scholarship by visiting www.cm-opportunities.org. Applications are due by midnight on March 31, 2026. In order to qualify, an individual must be enrolled or enrolling in a healthcare career training program through the Virginia Community College System. Funds can be used for the direct cost of training programs, licensing/certification costs, or for student support such as transportation, equipment, or childcare.
Scholarships in every region of Virginia are being funded and distributed through the regional partnerships that form the Virginia Partnership for Health Science careers, a new statewide initiative from Claude Moore Opportunities to promote regional coordination between education institutions, workforce agencies, and healthcare providers to address Virginia’s healthcare workforce crisis.
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Tazewell County Extension Master Gardeners will offer a workshop on fruit tree grafting at the Tazewell County Extension Office, 2860 Riverside Drive, North Tazewell Saturday, April 25, from 9 a.m. to noon. Registration starts at 8:45 a.m. Cost is $12 and includes four apple rootstocks. Attendees should bring clean, sharp pruners.
There will be a variety of apple scion wood available, but attendees are welcome to bring their own. Space in this workshop is limited, so please register in advance.
To register, please call the VCE-Tazewell County Office 276-988-0405, then press “0”, or 276-385-1811 or register online at: https://forms.gle/X7TTb8KR7FpzMtWLA
Representatives from CGI, Bruce Crowder, Vice President Intellectual Property, and Taylor Robinson, Strategic Initiatives Lead, visited Southwest to donate 20 laptops to the Laptop Loaner Program. Southwest extends our gratitude to CGI for their generous donation and continued partnership.
