Virginia Western Community College is the first institution in Virginia to have certified evaluators and offer Bioscience Core Skills Institute microcredentials to students. These microcredentials offer students verified proof of proficiency in targeted lab skills, thus enhancing their employability.

This summer, Dr. Kristylea Ojeda trained an additional six instructors to deliver and evaluate the BCSI microcredentials. These individuals are: Paige Miller, Bryan Walke, Owen Lofthus and Lanette Upshaw from Virginia Western; Devonte Wiley, a graduate from the AS in Biotechnology program now working at TechLabs; and Dr. Tiffany Randall from Brightpoint Community College.

This spring, six first-year students in the AS in Biotechnology program and three students in the Medical Lab Technician (MLT) program received BCSI microcredentials, with each student successfully earning three or four microcredentials in specific lab techniques like pipetting skills, aseptic technique and more.

Eleven BCSI microcredentials directly align with skills already taught in Virginia Western’s biotechnology courses. Spring 2026 was the first semester in which these microcredentials were implemented in courses with students. Those students who received microcredentials are:

Anne Marie Frazier — earned Safety: Hazard Assessment; Documentation & SOP; Aseptic Technique; Small Volume Metrology; and pH Meter microcredentials

Ja’Nariah Perry — earned Safety: Hazard Assessment; Aseptic Technique; Small Volume Metrology; and pH Meter microcredentials

Emmett Reynolds — earned Safety: Hazard Assessment; Numeracy; and Small Volume Metrology microcredentials

Arden Rossi — earned Safety: Hazard Assessment; Aseptic Technique; Small Volume Metrology; Lab Safety: Clean Up; and pH Meter microcredentials

Christina Watkins — earned Safety: Hazard Assessment; Documentation & SOP, Aseptic Technique; Small Volume Metrology; Microscopy; and pH Meter microcredentials

Lucien Wolfe — earned Safety: Hazard Assessment; Documentation & SOP; Small Volume Metrology; Microscopy; and pH Meter microcredentials

Haley Taylor — earned Safety: Hazard Assessment and Small Volume Metrology microcredentials

Kit Hayes — earned Safety: Hazard Assessment and Small Volume Metrology microcredentials

Ashley Zaronsky — earned Safety: Hazard Assessment; Numeracy; and Small Volume Metrology microcredentials

Also this spring, two second-year AS in Biotechnology students passed the Biotechnology Aptitude and Competency Exam (BACE): Aiden Moore and Penelope Blaydes. The BACE credential certifies students’ overall proficiency in bioscience skills and knowledge necessary for entry-level technician positions.

By stacking BCSI microcredentials with the BACE credential, Virginia Western provides students with broad-based competency validation as well as targeted technical proficiencies. This furthers efforts to provide a high-quality biotechnology education that equips students for success in both employment and further studies.