Central Virginia Community College (CVCC) will commemorate its 60th anniversary with a two-day celebration October 23-24, 2026, inviting students, alumni, employees, community partners, and the community to campus for a weekend honoring six decades of education, opportunity, and service to Central Virginia.
Established in 1966, CVCC has spent 60 years serving Lynchburg and the surrounding counties of Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, and Campbell. The anniversary celebration will recognize the generations of students, faculty, staff, alumni, employers, and community partners who have shaped the college while highlighting the role CVCC continues to play in the region’s future.
“Sixty years represents far more than a milestone for Central Virginia Community College. It represents generations of people whose lives, families, and careers have been changed through education,” said CVCC president Dr. John Capps. “This celebration belongs to our students and alumni, our employees, our partners, and the communities that have supported CVCC for six decades. As we honor that extraordinary history, we are also looking forward with tremendous excitement to the opportunities we will continue creating for Central Virginia in the years ahead.”
The celebration begins Friday, October 23, with the Inaugural Ridgecat Rally from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on CVCC’s main campus. The free kickoff event will feature an evening under the stars with barbecue, live entertainment, firepits, gathering spaces, and prize drawing for students.
Events continue Saturday, October 24, beginning with the Education that Moves the World Expo from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The family-friendly community event will showcase CVCC’s academic and workforce programs, career pathways, and community partnerships, giving visitors the opportunity to explore the wide range of education and training options available through the college and the careers they can lead to. Adding to the festival atmosphere, the event will also feature a Kids’ Corner, live music, face painting, Touch-a-Truck, campus renovation updates, and food trucks.
CVCC alumni will have an opportunity to reconnect during an Alumni Social from 4 to 6 p.m. in Bedford Hall. The gather will celebrate the college’s history with live music by an eclectic harpist and opportunities to reunite and enjoy Virginia wine and beer tastings. Registration for the Alumni Social is required. The event is free, but space is limited.
The weekend will culminate with the 60th Anniversary Celebration from 6 to 10 p.m. on the main campus quad. The ticketed dinner celebration under the stars will feature a special anniversary program, testimonials, and live entertainment celebrating CVCC’s past, present, and future.
The college’s 60th anniversary is being made possible in part through the generous support of businesses, organizations, and individuals throughout Central Virginia.
Sponsors of this event include AccessU (Legacy Sponsor), Centra (Commemorative Sponsor); BWXT, Framatome, and Southern Air (Anniversary Sponsors); and AMG, Inc., Appalachian Power Company, Atlantic Union Bank, Dr. John S. Capps and Mr. Sarah Burns, and Hurt & Proffitt (Milestone Sponsors).
“We are incredibly grateful to the organizations and individuals who have invested in this celebration,” Jodi K. Gillette, Executive Director of Institutional Advancement and the CVCC Educational Foundation said. “Their support reflects something that has been true throughout CVCC’s history: this college and this community are deeply connected. Our success is strengthened by partners who believe in our students, our mission and the future of Central Virginia.”
The 60th anniversary celebration will take place at CVCC’s main campus, 3506 Wards Road in Lynchburg.
For the complete celebration schedule, registration information, ticket purchases, and additional information, including the full list of sponsors, visit the CVCC 60th Anniversary website.