The Culpeper County Public Schools Start on Success (SOS) program held its fifth annual end of year celebration on Friday, May 8, 2026 to recognize the accomplishments of the students throughout the year and to thank the community who supported them.
Five students were recognized during the lunchtime celebration at the Family Resource Center including Elijah Bailey, Azalea Oakes, Kaleena Hargrove, Brock Metzger, and Jason Pierce. Other attendees included the students’ families and teachers, CCPS School Board Members, CCPS Division Superintendent Dr. Brads, CCPS Director of Special Education Bari Nixon, members of the CCPS Special Education Department, and representatives from the organizations that worked with the students throughout the year.
During the celebration, teacher Kim Bledsoe presented a slideshow with highlights of the students’ journey this year through the highly structured school-to-work program. She explained activities that the students completed to learn important skills of the program including workplace ethics, conflict resolution, interview skills, and workplace safety. She also shared highlights from student work placements at Sycamore Park Elementary School, Southside Coffee and Gifts, Doggy Clips, Bello Muse, Lanes Commercial Repair and Pearl Sample Elementary School.
Bledsoe reflected on the students’ growth and accomplishments, sharing, “Through their hard work, effort, and dedication during both the classroom instruction and the work-based learning internship experiences, the students have demonstrated that they are motivated, prepared, and ready to take the next steps toward entering the workforce and embracing future opportunities. The skills, knowledge, and experiences they have gained provide a strong foundation for what lies ahead. To this year’s interns, whether you pursue further education, begin a career, or explore new opportunities, remember that you are capable, prepared, and already on your way to success.” To the interns this year, she said, “You didn’t just study how to succeed, you practiced it every day through your hard work and dedication.”
These students graduated on Saturday, May 16, 2026, and this program has given them many skills and tools to take with them as they embark on their next steps. Culpeper County Public Schools congratulates these students for all of their accomplishments and thanks the community partners who make this program possible.
About Start on Success
The CCPS Start on Success program is a collaboration coordinated by the VCU Center on Transition Innovations (CTI), Culpeper County Public Schools, the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), the Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), and local businesses. In the program, students learn how to build and strengthen their employment skills by applying the skills and knowledge taught in the classroom while working in a paid internship with a local business.