TCC STEM Promise Program receives fifth annual gift from Elizabeth River Crossings

Elizabeth River Crossings continues to invest in STEM education by supporting Tidewater Community College’s STEM Promise Scholarship Program.

The college named its fifth class of STEM Promise scholars in June. These 19 students are awarded full tuition and fees for two years of study in science, technology, engineering and mathematics-related disciplines at TCC.

Elizabeth River Crossings (ERC) donated $60,000 in support of the newest cohort, increasing its total investment in the STEM Promise Scholarship Program to $300,000 in five years.

“We deeply appreciate the continued generosity of Elizabeth River Crossings in support of TCC’s vision to diversify the Hampton Roads workforce,” said TCC President Marcia Conston. “Working with the staff of our new Student Resource and Empowerment Center, we are addressing the persistent challenge of creating a larger and more diverse STEM workforce pipeline. Our longtime partnership with Elizabeth River Crossings ensures we can continue training students for careers in those in-demand areas.”

“We are proud to provide the gift of education to the outstanding students in TCC’s STEM Promise Program,” said David Sullivan, chief executive officer of ERC. “As we invest in their education, we also invest in the future vibrancy of the Hampton Roads workforce.”

STEM Promise scholar Deloren Perry went on to earn her bachelor’s in cybersecurity from Old Dominion University.

A total of 89 students have had their education funded through the STEM Promise Program. TCC’s most recent class of students was selected from a competitive pool of more than 100 applicants.

Recipient Catherine Hubbard is pursuing an Associate of Science in Science. She participated in the NASA Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholar program and learned about the Mars mission and the Artemis 2024 mission for return to the moon. “There is clearly a need for women in STEM to support and join these critical missions,” Hubbard said.

STEM Scholar Katherine “Katie” Synowiec is now a branch engineer for a local firm.

TCC’s STEM Promise graduate Katherine “Katie” Synowiec earned an Associate of Science in Engineering in 2018 and is a branch engineer at Barnhart Crane and Rigging. Her fiancé, Logan Hofer also earned an engineering degree and is now a drafter at Chugach Government Solutions.

The TCC Educational Foundation started the STEM Promise Scholarship Program in 2017 to create a larger, more diverse STEM pipeline in Hampton Roads. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply for the scholarships, which are open to all. Applications for the 2022-23 class of STEM scholars will be open from Dec. 20 until April 1, 2022.

Xiaomin Chen earned her engineering degree through the STEM Promise Program.

For more information about the program, contact Jaedda Hall, TCC’s STEM Promise Program coordinator, at jhall@tcc.edu. To support the STEM Promise Program, contact the TCC Educational Foundation at foundation@tcc.edu

Visit here to learn more about the TCC’s Student Resource and Empowerment Center that connects students with a variety of free and comprehensive social services and financial resources to help them stay focused on their academic goals.