WEYERS CAVE, VA (Rocktown Now) – Blue Ridge Community College officially opened their Career Closet in a ribbon-cutting ceremony today, February 5th, 2025, in the Houff Student Center. The Career Closet is an opportunity for students to pick professional attire for career opportunities.

The closet receives clothes from donations in the community. Donations have also come from staff and students. Some of the items in the closet are blazers, blouses, pants, ties, purses and other accessories. The closet is also free, and students can keep the clothes they chose. No appointment is necessary.

Inside of the Career Closet

Career Services Coordinator, Wandi Maseko, said in his opening speech that some students may not have the funding for professional attire and the Career Closet is a way to help those students when they enter the career field.

“One of our values as an institution is empowerment. So, we’re trying to empower you as students,” Maseko said. “We’re trying to empower you and remove those barriers for you to be able to be successful.”

Some of these career opportunities can be for a job interview, job shadowing, internships and more. Although this is the opening of the Career Closet, Wandi Maseko said they have already provided items for 18 students.

Courtney Thompson with the Greater Augusta Regional Chamber of Commerce thanked the attendees of the ribbon cutting ceremony and expressed praise for Blue Ridge Community College.

“We love Blue Ridge Community College. We partner with them,” Thompson said. “We’re excited that we can help our business community know where they can bring their professional clothes. So, if you have those professional clothes, please bring them over.”

BRCC student, Oneidy Estherlin Villa Mateo, is majoring in Business and specializing in marketing. She said the work started for the closet began last year before officially launching this year. The idea first came about in the Career Center, and some students did not have the opportunity to purchase or obtain professional attire.

Oneidy Estherlin Villa Mateo modeling for the Career Closet

“I think it has potential to become more of a community involvement,” said Villa Mateo. “We’re very grateful to not just the faculty and staff members that have donated, but their neighbors. Those who are in the area that have voluntarily donated from their closets to help those students in need to have professional attire and get out there into the work environment.”