A single dad of two girls, Kenneth Pritchett had accomplished a lot as a medical records technician for nearly 25 years and as a local school board member. But there was one thing he didn’t have: a college degree. Brightpoint helped him change that.

During the pandemic, Chrishelle York enrolled at Brightpoint in search of a career change and more stability. She juggled coursework, homeschooling her daughter and managing her salon. Now, she’s transferring to VCU in pursuit of a career in human resources.

At Brightpoint, Heilie Sheppard positioned herself for a job she loves in machining and career advancement in mechanical engineering.

After high school, Khiem Tran spent a gap year working and saving — to achieve his dream of earning a bachelor’s degree. At Brightpoint, he discovered a lasting desire to give back and took advantage of the college’s guaranteed transfer agreement with Virginia Commonwealth University.

When John Karlsen dual enrolled at Brightpoint as a high school senior, he wanted to explore different healthcare careers before deciding on his bachelor’s degree major. His associate degree in health sciences and EMT certification at Brightpoint gave him patient-care experience and a pathway for his future.

To Brittany Woolridge, Great Expectations is not just the title of a novel by Charles Dickens. It’s the name of a Brightpoint program that has supported her on the way to “where God placed me to be,” she says. “Helping others, whether adults or kids, I feel like that’s where I’m supposed to be.”

Since age seven, Saamiya Mohammed has been a busy baker. Two years ago, she got serious about her sweet skills and established a business. Known as “the cake girl” around campus, the business administration major somehow makes time to go all-in on the student experience.

When Dana Legere started at Brightpoint, she couldn’t conceive how far her college connections would take her. Before transferring to James Madison University, Brightpoint’s 2018 Trailblazer of the Year amassed a sterling leadership résumé — including Student Government Association president, Governor’s Task Force delegate and General Assembly representative — which led to a niche role with a government consulting firm that merges her passions for science and politics.

Jason Taylor, an Air Force veteran and a single father, cashed in his GI Bill at Brightpoint to grow his real estate business and be a role model for his 3-year-old son.

When Billy Whorley interviewed at Church & Dwight and learned the company was willing to make an investment in his education, he was sold on the job. Soon after starting, Billy earned Lean Practitioner certification through Church & Dwight’s partnership with the Community College Workforce Alliance (CCWA). A year later, he’s earned two additional certifications and enrolled in Brightpoint’s industrial electricity CSC to keep advancing his career.