Don't Let Cost Stop You

It's Laurel Ridge Community College Day on The Valley Today, and today's conversation tackles one of the biggest myths standing between people and a degree: the belief that they can't afford it. Host Janet Michael is joined by Guy Curtis, Director of Marketing, and Buddy Wilson, Director of Financial Aid at Laurel Ridge Community College, to walk through exactly what financial aid can look like — no matter your age or path. From FAFSA basics to Virginia's lesser-known aid programs like G3, Fast Forward, and VASA, Buddy breaks down who qualifies and how to get started, while Guy shares upcoming open houses, welcome days, and info sessions happening across the region this month. If you've ever assumed financial aid "isn't for you," this episode is built to change your mind. EVENT DETAILS Community Info Session — Front Royal Reaching Out Now, 200 East 8th Street, Front Royal, VA Thursday, August 13, 2026 at 5:30 PM  Community Outreach Table — Handley Regional Library, Winchester Wednesday, August 20, 2026 1:00–4:00 PM New Student Welcome Days Thursday, August 20 — 5:00–6:00 PM — Luray-Page County Center  Friday, August 21 — 6:00–8:00 PM — Fauquier Campus Saturday, August 22 — 10:00 AM–1:00 PM — Middletown Campus RSVP requested online; students, parents, and family members welcome LINKS & RESOURCES laurelridge.edu — main site, search bar for navigation laurelridge.edu/financialaid — financial aid page laurelridge.edu/visit — tours, info sessions, open houses, coach connections THE VALLEY TODAY with Janet Michael — A decade of conversations. New podcast episodes drop weekdays at 11 AM. Catch the show on The River 95.3 and Fox Sports 1450 AM weekdays just after noon. Subscribe and listen at thevalleytodaypodcast.com — available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoy the show, please take a moment to leave a rating or review — it helps more listeners find us. Connect with us: Facebook — facebook.com/ValleyTodayFanPage Instagram — instagram.com/thevalleytoday