Chris Fisher named MGCC’s 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, to be featured speaker at commencement on May 10, 2024
Mountain Gateway Community College has named Chris Fisher as this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award recipient and featured speaker for this year’s commencement ceremony, which will take place on Friday, May 10 at 6:30 p.m. in the Armory on the Clifton Forge campus. Katie Shofstahl has been selected as the featured student speaker.
Chris Fisher is a lifelong resident of the Alleghany Highlands, having been born in Alleghany County to the late Rose Nicely Fisher. He grew up in Iron Gate and attended Alleghany High School, where he graduated in 1998. He then attended Dabney S. Lancaster Community College (now Mountain Gateway) and graduated in 2001. Soon after, he attended and graduated from Old Dominion University in 2003. In 2004, he completed the Central Shenandoah Criminal Justice Training Academy.
He began his career in law enforcement as an intern for the Town of Iron Gate Police Department through the college from 2002 to 2003. He then worked as a Patrol Officer for the Town of Clifton Forge Police Department from 2004 to 2006. Since 2006, he has been working as a Deputy Sheriff for the Alleghany County Sheriff’s Office and currently holds the rank of Captain. In his current role, Fisher oversees the School Resource Officer Program, the Crisis Intervention Team Program, and the Community Policing Program.
Aside from his successful career, Fisher has volunteered in our community for many years. He was a member of Glen Wilton Vol. Fire & Rescue from 1995 to 2004 and was a member of The Eagle Rock Rescue Squad from 1998 to 2004. He also served as a member of The Iron Gate Town Council from 2000 to 2006 and served on the Safe Homes Board from 2009 to 2010. He was the coordinator of the Town of Iron Gate Christmas Parade from 2002 to 2023 and was an Elder at Clifton Forge Presbyterian Church from 2013 to 2016.
Fisher has been a member of Iron Gate Vol. Fire & Rescue since 2004 and has been coaching youth sports since 2006. He has been a Clifton Forge Lions Club member since 2010 and a Lay Speaker at area churches since 2016.
Fisher has received many awards and achievements throughout his career, including the Scholastic Leadership Award from the United States Navy in 1998, the Honorary Member ADJ Club from the college in 2007, the Mike Bentoski D.A.R.E. Officer of the Year from the Commonwealth of Virginia in 2011, the Modern Woodmen of America Hometown Hero Award in 2011, the Community Builders Award from Clifton Forge Masonic Lodge in 2013, the Distinguished Citizen Award from Clifton Forge Elks Lodge #1065 in 2019, the Ruth Middleton Volunteer of the Year Award in 2020, and the Special Theatrical Artists Revue & Showcase (STARS) Award/Appreciation for volunteer work with the program in 2021.
Fisher is married to Melissa Ball Fisher, and they have four children: Joseph (stepson), Keaton, Caleb, and Connor. In his spare time, Fisher enjoys walking, visiting/praying with those who are ill in the community, mowing grass for neighbors, and spending time with family and friends.
Fisher will deliver remarks during Mountain Gateway Community College’s commencement ceremony on Friday, May 10. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Armory on the Clifton Forge campus
MGCC will also host a pinning ceremony on Wednesday, May 8. That ceremony begins at 7 p.m., also in the Armory. The featured speaker will be Dianna Coffey. For more information about commencement, please visit mgcc.edu/commencement.
About MGCC's Distinguished Alumni Award
Established in 2017, this prestigious award recognizes MGCC alumni who have realized exemplary distinction in their professions and honors all those at the College who have assisted them on the path to success, ultimately enabling them to enrich their communities.