Topping organization promotes Christian values in MC youth
The Bridging Communities Regional Career and Technical Center (BCRCTC) is a regional school located in New Kent County that provides career, technical and health science education to high school juniors and seniors from the Middlesex, Charles City, New Kent, West Point, King William, and King and Queen school divisions.
Last week, seniors in the BCRCTC Cybersecurity and Game Class refurbished 10 used computers to be donated to The Foundry in Topping, a preteen and teen after-school program that encourages Christian values.
“This project specifically was done in partnership with Virginia Student Training and Refurbishment program (Virginia STAR) which is a nonprofit organization that provides us with surplus computer equipment from state and private agencies so our students may refurbish them for donation to local families, community members, or organizations in need,” said Julie Ellis, executive director of BCRCTC.
“In the past, we have donated to various Victim Witness Assistance Programs, The Fix Ministry in King William, and Bridges of Change — a domestic violence shelter in New Kent,” she said.
“We are always looking for additional groups or organizations that may need computers or laptops. I am a Middlesex resident and learned about The Foundry from Wendy Shores,” said Ellis.
“Our students were pleased to be able to help expand opportunities and provide additional resources for some of the youth in Middlesex by donating and installing 10 towers, monitors, keyboards, and computer “mice” to The Foundry.
“I personally love that there is an option in Middlesex for teens to get together to have fun, socialize, and have access to mentorship. I am happy there are positive and productive options for them as a peer group to learn more about citizenship and how to give back to their community,” said Ellis.
“While students were visiting The Foundry, which they loved, we also discussed how we will continue to support Beth Justice, The Foundry’s youth program director, by creating a database of resources and activities the students can use to learn more about computer science, cybersecurity, game design, etc.
Justice thanked BCRCTC for its donation and said that the computers will “greatly” benefit The Foundry students in its after-school program with their homework and other fun activities.
Bridging Communities opened in 2012 and currently has about 200 students and offers 8 programs, said Ellis. These programs are designed to give students a choice at graduation to head directly into the workforce with their industry certifications and credentials or to further their education at trade schools or two-year or four-year colleges.
BCRCTC classes include Cybersecurity & Game Design, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Nursing, and Pharmacy Technician, Diesel Technology, Small Engine & Marine Service Technology, Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC), and Culinary Arts.
With each of the programs at Bridging Communities students have the opportunity to participate in work-based learning in the form of clinicals, internships, externships, ride alongs, and school-based enterprise, said Ellis.
Many students end up getting hired full-time by the businesses they complete their internships with and participate in their annual signing day. At Bridging Communities students earn up to 35 college credits in six of our programs.
There is no cost to students and families, as local school divisions fully fund Bridging Communities, and pay all expenses from college tuition to credentialing exams.
There is an application process and it is competitive, as seats are limited in each program. Interested students should talk to their school counselors for information.
