From Art to Arc Welding: How A MGCC Student Found Her Spark—and Success
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Clifton Forge, Va (Sept. 25, 2026) - When Sarah Brown first thought about college, the price tag felt like an insurmountable barrier. Passionate about art and design, she wasn't sure if higher education was financially realistic, or where she truly fit in.
That uncertainty changed the day she walked onto the campus of Mountain Gateway Community College (MGCC).
Initially interested in interior design, Sarah found a welcoming community of faculty and staff ready to help her explore her options. Through their guidance, she discovered a surprising new outlet that blended her creative instincts with hands-on skill: welding.
“When I went for the first day of class, I was ‘yeah, this is what I want to be doing,’” Sarah recalled. “When you’re welding, there’s nothing else you’re thinking about except welding. You can make pretty welds, and it’s a form of art in my opinion.”
Sarah’s journey is emblematic of a broader trend sweeping through the Alleghany Highlands and Blue Ridge. Across the region, local industries are hungry for a skilled workforce, and more students are discovering that MGCC provides a high-quality education and immediate job preparation at a fraction of the cost of a four-year university.
Sarah isn't the only one taking notice. For the Fall 2026 term, MGCC reached another major milestone, marking its fourth consecutive year of enrollment growth:
• Fall 2023: 935 students
• Fall 2024: 983 students
• Fall 2025: 1,058 students
• Fall 2026: 1,115 students
This steady upward trajectory—amounting to a nearly 20% increase in student headcount over three years—is driven largely by MGCC’s commitment to meeting students where they are. To make higher education even more accessible, MGCC introduced new 8-week instructional sessions for the 2026–2027 academic year. These shorter, flexible terms offer multiple entry points throughout the year, allowing recent high school graduates, non-traditional students, and working adults to start or resume their studies without waiting for a traditional semester kickoff.
In addition to career preparation, MGCC offers a high-quality education at a fraction of the cost of four-year public and private universities. Students can complete degrees, certifications, or transfer pathways while drastically minimizing—or completely eliminating—student debt through institutional scholarships, state financial assistance, and FAFSA funding.
For MGCC leadership, the growing headcount numbers tell a deeper story about community trust and economic impact.
“Our continued enrollment growth is a direct reflection of MGCC’s responsiveness to the Alleghany Highlands and Blue Ridge needs,” said Dr. John Rainone, President of Mountain Gateway Community College. “By introducing flexible options like our 8-week sessions and expanding our hands-on technical programs, we are breaking down barriers to higher education. Seeing students like Sarah discover their passion and build a secure, affordable future is at the heart of our mission.”
Now in her second year, Sarah has already stepped into the workforce, securing a job at Altec Industries that lets her keep going to school. For anyone hesitant about taking the leap into higher education, her advice is simple—look toward MGCC.
“When people say ‘I don’t want to go to a four-year college, I can’t afford it, but I want to do this’, I say Mountain Gateway,” Sarah said. “It’s 2 years, you have scholarships, you have your fasfa and everything else, and then on top of it you’ve got extreme support here.”
Behind the welding mask and under the bright arc of the torch, Sarah found more than just technical training—she found a supportive community, a creative calling, and a direct path to a career, all right here at home.
ABOUT MGCC: Founded in 1962 and located in the Alleghany Highlands region of Central Virginia, Mountain Gateway Community College (MGCC) is a two-year public institution of higher education and one of 23 community colleges in Virginia. Mountain Gateway Community College operates two educational campuses, the Clifton Forge campus and the Rockbridge Regional Center in Buena Vista. MGCC is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees.
Mountain Gateway Community College is supported by the Commonwealth of Virginia, the counties of Alleghany, Bath, Northern Botetourt, and Rockbridge; the cities of Buena Vista, Covington, and Lexington. For more information about Mountain Gateway Community College, please visit MGCC.edu
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