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TCC Celebrates Student Success at 2025 Academic Excellence and Community Engagement Awards Ceremony
Tidewater Community College (TCC) held its annual Academic Excellence and Community Engagement Awards Ceremony on Thursday afternoon, April 24, in the Chesapeake Campus Student Center. Over 150 students were honored for their academic achievements and dedication at the event, with a special focus on those earning top grade point averages. Several students also received community engagement awards.
The ceremony opened with a warm welcome from TCC Associate Professor of Mathematics, Sarah DiCalogero, a TCC faculty member for over 20 years and current Faculty Senate Chair.
TCC President Dr. Marcia Conston addressed the audience, stating:
“I am continuously amazed and proud of the positive, good impact and influence TCC families, our students, families, and staff have on Hampton Roads. It is always a joy for me to recognize and to honor our students’ special achievements as well as their social achievements.”
Professor of Spanish and Foreign Language Department Chair, Dr. Jessica Lynam, served as the keynote speaker of the event. She praised the students’ resilience, saying:
“You kept on showing up. You showed up on the days when you felt like quitting. You showed up when it felt like too much.”
Dr. Lynam highlighted two Spanish words: “La Preparación” and “Educación”. “La Preparación” means preparation in English. She referred to how the students started off with the process of academic preparation. She related it to the students’ classes, degree program, and grades. “Educación” means education in Spanish. She emphasized the word’s deeper meaning beyond education to include character, values, and personal growth.
Dr. Lynam is TCC’s Professor of the Year for Academic Year 2024-2025. She teaches Spanish on the Portsmouth and Chesapeake campuses.
Later in the program, Dr. Conston, alongside Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Karen Campbell, handed out awards to students.
Students recognized for Academic Excellence were grouped by grade point averages:
4.0
3.8 to 3.99
3.5 to 3.79
Interim Associate Vice President of Academics, Dr. Siabhon M. Harris, introduced the Community Engagement Award.
“I would like to take a moment to highlight the purpose of this award. This award was created to recognize our students that go above and beyond, not only in the classroom, but also give service to others. These are students that have shown exceptional academic achievement and a deep commitment to making a difference in their time at TCC,” Dr. Harris said.
Faculty and staff nominated students, who excel in their studies and embody a spirit of service in the college and Hampton Roads area, for this award.
The recipients had to meet essential criteria. To be eligible, students had to have GPA of 3.0 or higher, be a first-time recipient, and demonstrate a strong history of service at the college or in the local community.
This year, there were 16 students who received the Community Engagement Award.
Tanisha Amos
Audrey Barrett
Tiana Carter
Ethan Crutchfield
Isaac DeHaan
Darryl Faine
Deiandre Fernandez
Eli Gray
Kevin Guo
Julia Lee
Cody Murray
Rick Nguyen
Mandy Nieto
Mary Orvin
Whitney Ulmer-Dukes
TCC Pep Rally Sparks School Spirit and Anticipation for Return of Sports
Tidewater Community College energized its campus community with a spirited pep rally on Thursday, April 10, in the Portsmouth Campus Student Center. Students, staff, faculty, administrators, and families came together to celebrate student involvement and build momentum for the return of TCC athletics.
The event, part of the college’s ongoing efforts to boost school spirit. Featured lively music from a DJ, dancing, food, and speeches from campus leaders and student representatives. The event was hosted by emcee LaShawn Scott, who kept the energy high, and the crowd engaged throughout the rally.
Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Karen Campbell introduced the rally’s theme, “Storm Forward,” encouraging the crowd to embrace change and move ahead with confidence. TCC President Dr. Marcia Conston also addressed the attendees, delivering key remarks and motivation that emphasized unity.
“I am excited that we are all here together. We did this for you—the students,” Conston said.
Dr. Conston acknowledged the arrival of fall sports, giving TCC Athletics Director Chad Smith the floor.
The initial announcement of TCC’s return to intercollegiate was back in February’s press conference; however, Smith shared that the first official basketball team practices will begin October 1, with the competitive season starting in November.
Head Men’s Coach Clint Wright and Head Women’s Coach Rebecca Kershaw discussed recruitment efforts and the excitement of rebuilding TCC sports.
Coach Wright noted that nearly 30 male student athletes traveled as far as Texas and New York to attend the recent basketball showcase held at Portsmouth Student Center on Saturday, March 29. Out of the 14 male student-athletes offered a spot on the team, nine accepted. Three of the future student-athletes—Dwight Howard, Bryce Thompson, and Tayshawn Trotman—were present at the pep rally.
Coach Kershaw also spoke about her recruitment successes, highlighting two female athletes who already signed and two others who have verbally committed to the program.
At the pep rally, two student-athletes officially signed with the TCC Storm. On the men’s side, Derrick Grant, a 2024 graduate of Western Branch High School, committed to the program. For the women’s team, Ocean Lakes High School senior Madeline Fisher signed on as well.
Looking forward, the college announced its next basketball showcase event will take place on July 12. Several student-focused initiatives were highlighted including the Open-Door project, mentorship, and other student resources. Attendees also had the chance to participate in a raffle.
As TCC looks ahead to a new era of athletics and student engagement, the pep rally served as a powerful reminder of the college’s commitment to growth, inclusion, and school pride.
Dr. Andrea Palmisano honored with VCCS Chancellor’s Award for Teaching Excellence
Dr. Andrea Palmisano of Tidewater Community College was recently honored with the 2025 Chancellor’s Award for Teaching Excellence by the Virginia Community College System (VCCS). The award was presented on Wednesday, April 2, at the New Horizons Conference held at The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center. Palmisano received praise for her dedication to student-centered learning, academic rigor, and engagement with all students.
“The award is to emphasize that the faculty play a huge role in community colleges and to inspire everyone,” Palmisano said.
The Chancellor’s Award for Teaching Excellence is presented annually to one teaching faculty member who exemplifies outstanding teaching at VCCS college(s). The recipient receives a VCCS stole and a $5,000 monetary prize. Only one nomination per campus is accepted. Selection criteria include instruction effectiveness, student focus, discipline continuity, and personal attribution.
Palmisano noted that her colleague and 2023 recipient, Thomas Geary, nominated her for the award.
“Andrea is an inspiration to her colleagues who see how much she puts into her course planning. When I hear of her innovations and approaches, it makes me want to reflect on how I can make my own courses better for my students,” Geary said.
As part of the nomination process, she compiled a comprehensive packet that included personal statements and accolades highlighting her qualifications. She also gathered references from faculty, staff, administration, and students. Palmisano noted that assembling the materials took several months of dedicated effort.
Since 2010, Palmisano has been a member of the psychology faculty at TCC’s Virginia Beach Campus. She began her tenure as an adjunct professor and was promoted to Assistant Professor of Psychology in 2015. Two years later, she advanced to Associate Professor of Psychology, and in 2019, she achieved the rank of Professor of Psychology, the position she currently holds.
Currently, Palmisano teaches principles of psychology, psychopathology, and childhood development. This fall, she will also introduce a new course she created called “Cross-Cultural Psychology”.
Palmisano has served as the faculty advisor for Psi-Chi-Phi, the psychology club on TCC’s Virginia Beach campus, for 12 years.
One of her students, Eli Gray, praised Palmisano for the guidance and support she offered throughout his academic journey at TCC.
“There’s not a single class that she teaches that you don’t feel how genuinely passionate she is. She’s also helped me and pushed me to accomplish things that I didn’t think I could do on my own. She always has everyone’s back,” Gray said.
Palmisano notes that many of her students transfer to four-year institutions to complete their bachelor’s degrees, and several go on to earn their master’s degrees. Her students often pursue careers in school psychology, speech pathology, counseling, and nursing. She continues to mentor and support them throughout their academic and professional journeys.
She holds a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University and a Ph.D. in Psychology from Capella University. Originally from Brazil, Palmisano is bilingual in English and Portuguese. She moved to the United States in high school after her father’s job brought the family overseas.
Palmisano has over 30 years of experience in the mental health and counseling fields. She began her career as a parent-child therapist for four years at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in New Jersey, before transitioning into higher education. In 1996, after a few years as a stay-at-home mother, she began teaching as an adjunct psychology instructor at Farleigh Dickinson.
In 2002, she became a Contract Trainer and Youth Program Director at Virginia Conflict Resolution Center in Norfolk. Since 2012, she has also worked as a Certified Mediator and Trainer at Palmisano Mediation Services, alongside her full-time faculty role at TCC.
In addition to teaching, Palmisano leads certification courses and mentors aspiring mediators. She trains other mediators in the Hampton Roads area and visits schools to help students develop soft skills through her peer-mediation curriculum.
“Time is going to pass. So, five years are going to pass whether you do what you love or not. So, what if you just do what you want to do? And then five years from now, you can look back and say, ‘Wow, I did it’, rather than ‘Oh, I wish I had done it’,” Palmisano said.
Palmisano resides in the Virginia Beach area with her husband and is a proud mother of two sons who work in the medical field. She also enjoys dancing as a form of mental health therapy.
TCC’s Coding Competition: Teams Showcase Skill and Collaboration
Tidewater Community College held a Coding Competition on Saturday, March 29, in the Virginia Beach Campus’s Advanced Technology Center. TCC’s Business, Computer Science & IT Pathway sponsored the competition which brought together 18 students from a pool of 28 registrants. With six teams of three students each, the competition tested their skills in solving complex algorithmic computer programming problems, simulating the challenges typically encountered in both academic courses and real-world software development jobs.
TCC’s Computer Science faculty— Scott Davis, Stephen Harris, and Jared Oliverio—organized and launched the event. The faculty members designed the Competition to improve students’ problem-solving abilities while fostering teamwork. Each team was tasked with solving a series of algorithmic challenges that ranged from beginner-level to advanced. The problems required participants to demonstrate their knowledge of various programming languages, including Python and Java. The competition also mirrored the types of puzzles one might face in software developer interviews, with minimal support documentation and restrictions on using Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) that offer code assistance. This unique structure ensured the focus remained on raw programming skills, teamwork, and the ability to think critically under pressure.
According to Cassandra Small, a Computer Science Program Coordinator at TCC, students honed their group programming skills, learning how to collaborate effectively and approach problems from multiple perspectives throughout the event.
“The challenges provided invaluable experience for future academic or professional endeavors, as many students in the competition expressed their excitement about the learning process,” Small said.
Small noted that while most of the winners were Computer Science majors, some of the winners were Dual Enrollment and Information Technology.
Jayden Zuniga, Todbukh Burged, and David Holloway won first place by dazzling the judges with their ability to tackle the most complex problems with remarkable speed and precision. Their collaboration and technical prowess set them apart from the other teams, earning them the top spot.
Maksim Karavaev, Travis Wiggins, and Ethen Carter earned second place, displaying exemplary teamwork and creative approaches to solving some of the more difficult challenges. Their strong problem-solving strategies earned them a well-deserved second position.
Aria Celik, Myriam Gallant, and Makayla Hawkins took third place. They demonstrated solid technical skills and a great ability to adapt to the challenges as the competition progressed.
“Many of these students transfer to four-year institutions and pursue other technology degrees. Some may immediately begin seeking positions in the field of technology, but it all depends on the student’s career goals,” Small said.
The Computers for Success Club at TCC, Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association International (AFCEA), and Naval Information Center Warfare (NIWC) contributed generous prize donations. The competition provided participants with valuable skills and emphasized not only technical skills but also the importance of collaboration, time management, and adaptability.
Faculty members noted how impressive the students were in their programming abilities and in how well they worked together to solve complex problems.
“The competition was a fantastic opportunity for our students to develop their technical abilities and to collaborate with their peers. We look forward to hosting even more of these events in the future, where students can continue to challenge themselves and grow. Overall, the Coding Competition was a tremendous success, celebrating the bright future of software development and teamwork among the next generation of programmers,” Small said.
Small anticipates making the competition an annual event.
“We’ve done the competitions in the past prior to the most recent one but have not been consistent each year. We do, however, anticipate adding it to our annual calendar.”
Exploring the Universe: TCC’s Virginia Beach Campus Planetarium Entertains and Educates
Tidewater Community College’s Virginia Beach campus has a hidden gem: a state-of-the-art Digistar 5 laser projector planetarium with 4k resolution. In 2008, the planetarium opened in the Science building, featuring 88 seats and an all-sky image.
TCC collaborates with the company Evans and Sutherland, which makes shows for the planetarium, usually one new show a year on top of regular shows. On the first Friday evening of every month, the planetarium usually presents two or three visual and sound shows, which are open to the public. Several TCC professors take turns hosting the shows: Dr. David Wright, Leah Flax, and Kevin Mitchell, among them. Johnny Waugh, who works as the Equipment Service Repair Tech II, also helps with the preparation before the shows.
The most recent shows were hosted by Dr. Wright on Friday evening, March 7. Wright is a TCC Professor Emeritus of Physics and Astronomy. He presented three shows: Max on the Moon and Cosmic for kids, Supermassive Black Holes, and Rock Music Laser Light Show featuring music by David Bowie.
Wright helped with the planning, building and startup of the planetarium. He taught at TCC for 45 years in the Physics and Astronomy department, specializing in calculus physics, algebra-trigonometry based physics, conceptual physics, and astronomy. Dr. Wright previously appeared in a TV show called Science Files on PBS that won two Emmy’s. He has also presented on multiple shows with celebrities: Kelly Clarkson, Conan O’Brien, and Regis and Kathie Lee. After retirement from TCC, Wright is still heavily involved with the planetarium and encourages people to attend the shows to learn more about astronomy and science.
“People should expect to learn something about astronomy as well as have some fun,” he says.
Flax and Mitchell noted that they favor the music side of the shows where they sync the sound to different visuals. They have their longtime friend, Chris Kemp, join for some shows to play his bass guitar. The three of them call their band, “Pleiades Planetarium Exchange”.
Before the shows, details are blasted out to the public and students are notified earlier to have first dibs on obtaining tickets. Tickets are free; however, they must be reserved online on the TCC website.
TCC does have rules for attending the planetarium: children under the age of 4 are not permitted in the planetarium, and children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Food, drinks, and chewing gum are not allowed. The Science building is wheelchair accessible and has accessible parking on the backside of the Science building.
The next shows will be on Friday, April 4, startingat 6:00 p.m. “Secret Lives of Stars (By E&S) will be showing the unique characteristics of stars and their secret lives. At 7:15 p.m., “Laser Light Show Grateful Dead” will be shown.
For the educational side of the planetarium, Flax emphasized that she enjoys taking TCC students into the planetarium for labs and even lectures. Like her science class, multiple classes in the Science and Mathematics Pathway use the planetarium for labs, especially classes NAS 131 and NAS 132 which are astronomy-based. Students learn about constellations, seasons, blackholes, and more.
“Instead of looking at a computer screen and showing like what a sky would look like, I can put it up and it really looks like its nighttime. It’s a huge tool for teaching and answering questions. It’s such a special place. I can’t imagine a better educational tool,” Flax said.
Eathan Wankel is one of Flax’s students who has enjoyed his time in the planetarium. Wankel is a General Sciences student on the Virginia Beach campus and plans to transfer to the University of Arizona to study Astrophysics after graduation in May.
Wankel notes that his astronomy class spends class time in the planetarium once a week which he prefers over a normal classroom setting. He also attended multiple shows on Friday evenings with his family including the “Life to Mars” presentation.
“It definitely is an enjoyable room to be in, mainly for all the different pictures we get to see from telescopes that have been taken over the last 20 years,” says Wankel.
Wankel said he is inspired to further his education and eventually work with telescopes through his experience in TCC’s planetarium.
TCC’s AVP for Student Success, Dr. Kia Hardy, Inspires Leaders for Women’s History Month
Tidewater Community College’s Associate Vice President for Student Success, Dr. Kia Hardy, inspired leaders on Tuesday afternoon, March 25, as the featured speaker at the college’s Women’s History Month event, “Preparing to Fill the Leadership Gap: The Challenges Facing Mid-Level Women Leaders in Urban Community Colleges.” Speaking at the Virginia Beach Campus Student Center, Dr. Hardy provided an inspiring address advocating for women’s empowerment, equity, and leadership.
Dr. Hardy is a Virginia Beach native and Kellam High School graduate. She studied sociology and was a member of the women’s basketball team at the College of William and Mary. After earning her undergraduate degree in 2005 at William and Mary, she widened her educational background by earning a Master of Education degree in Educational Policy in 2008. During her time in the master’s program, she worked at William and Mary as the Assistant Women’s basketball coach. After earning her master’s degree, she began working in higher education as the Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Admission at William and Mary and then as the Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admission at North Carolina State University.
Hardy started her career at TCC as the Lead Academic Counselor on the Norfolk campus from 2014 to 2018. Subsequently, she served as the Interim Dean of Student Services on TCC’s Norfolk campus from 2018 to 2020 while working on her Doctor of Philosophy degree in Community College Leadership at Old Dominion University.
In her address, Dr. Hardy shared research from her dissertation about women who are underrepresented in higher-education positions in the workforce. Her phenomenological research study was based on women’s experiences in mid-level positions at urban community colleges. The study was qualitative, and she interviewed ten diverse women leaders in dean or director positions. She noted that she found five major themes from her study: leadership progression, work-life balance, mentorship and professional development, communication, and institutional climate and structure.
More of her research noted that there is higher representation for women at the community college-level for presidents versus any other higher education-level. She found that most held faculty or academic positions before their presidencies. She also highlighted that women are often put in interim positions, noting how she is a prime example.
After earning a Ph.D. from Old Dominion University, Dr. Hardy served as Interim Dean of Advising/Virginia Beach Campus Dean, and then Dean of Advising/Norfolk Campus Dean. In May 2024, she was promoted to TCC Associate Vice President for Student Success in the Student Affairs Division.
Through her own research and experience, Dr. Hardy notes several avenues that help women succeed in higher-education, specifically in mid-level to executive-level roles. She highly recommends mentorship, professional development, and pursuing a doctoral degree.
Despite her career and educational successes, Dr. Hardy recalls the challenging time when she was simultaneously working at TCC and earning her Ph.D. at ODU. Dr. Hardy and her husband, Cerone, also had a toddler at the time.
“I knew that that was something that I was going to ultimately do, and so I decided that I was going to [get my Ph.D.] when my son was younger. I trusted the setup that we had with tri-parenting when my mother and mother-in-law were retired and able to help me and my husband parent our child,” Dr. Hardy said.
Dr. Hardy also mentioned how she struggled with her mental and physical well-being for a while. She said that she lost her voice and didn’t feel like herself.
“It was a year and a half during a pandemic of trying to figure out how to fix me. My doctor told me, ‘When you feel something coming on, you need to take a day, or you need to figure out how you can bring yourself back.’”
Dr. Hardy now carefully manages her overall well-being to make sure she is making time for herself and her loved ones with her workload.
“I really worked hard [to center myself] for the last three to four years. Now, I take time for myself. I even have the Calm app. I actually bought a lifetime subscription to it. I listen to it during the day and do the little thirty second mindfulness,” Dr. Hardy said.
Dr. Hardy encourages women to pursue their goals and ambitions, especially in higher education. She wants to serve as a mentor to help guide others through their journey.
Dr. Hardy closed with a special message, “I am available like I mentioned when it comes to mentorship. Whether it’s a student or a staff member, we can make a meeting on my calendar. But, I wish the best on whatever journey that you’re on.”
TCC Emergency Funds Helping Students Stay on Track for Success
Tidewater Community College has provided individuals in the Hampton Roads area with education and skills-based training for decades. TCC not only offers a wide range of areas of study and trade skills but has resources that help students overcome challenges that may hinder them from learning in the classroom and earning a degree and/or certification.
Around the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, TCC started encouraging students to reach out to the newly established office, the Student Resource and Empowerment Center (SREC), to utilize the Student Emergency Assistance (SEA) funds. SEA funds are available to students who are experiencing financial hardship. The intent of this resource was to provide small assistance grants to help students overcome financial issues that make it difficult for students to continue and succeed in their academic programs during the pandemic. It continues to serve the TCC student body today.
Davien Armstrong, Lead Case Manager of SREC, has been connecting students to resources at TCC since July 2022. He previously worked as advisor for Open Door, a federally funded program that helps first generation students and students with disabilities with academic performance.
“When COVID came around and we received a lot of money through the 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the funding really opened the door for us to provide assistance on a much broader scale. We were able to help with more items financially than we were previously,” Armstrong said.
The small assistance grants can go towards books, car repairs, childcare, commencement regalia, medical/dental expenses, rental assistance and deposit, required course supplies, transportation, tuition, and other living expenses.
Armstrong notes that there are other types of assistance that SREC has available including diaper distribution, food bank, internet and technology access, mental healthcare services, mothers’ room access, and more. The SREC has services available for all students from a variety of backgrounds.
Armstrong says that SREC also can help students build a financial plan for long term stability as they enter the workforce or go on to a four-year institution to earn their bachelor’s degree.
Recently, students have reached out to SREC with gratitude after they were assisted financially in tough times.
Melody Romines, a General Studies student on the Portsmouth campus, recently received financial assistance to help repair the roof on her house.
She is originally from Texas and said that TCC has been her support system with her family out of state. She served active duty in the military from 2016 to 2022 and worked at the Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth until spring 2024. She decided she wanted to go back to school to expand her educational background to provide her with more opportunities for her and her children.
Romines said her roof was leaking and worried about the safety of her family with the anticipated arrival of snow and other inclement weather. She said she started supporting her and her two young children on her own after a separation from her ex-husband and subsequently didn’t have the funds to repair it.
“My roof started leaking and needed to be replaced. I filled out an emergency fund request form, and Ms. [Brittany] Scott was able to help me,” Romines said.
She emphasized that TCC quickly provided the financial assistance in a short turnaround time.
“This time last year, I was donating plasma to pay for expendables because my disability check and GI bill only covered my bills,” Romines said.
She said she was able to receive extra diapers and utilize the food bank to help support her family. She also received the CCAMPIS childcare scholarship and now her kids attend the daycare on Portsmouth’s campus while she attends class and works for the Dean of Retention, Valerie Burge-Hall, Ph. D., at the welcome desk.
Romines praises the college and staff for all the support and opportunities she continues to receive, “I’m very thankful that TCC had all these programs, and I’m very thankful that the environment is very open and welcoming. There are people that will help you and provide resources. You just have to be humble enough to ask for help.”
Romines plans on entering nursing and possibly transferring to Old Dominion University to earn her Bachelor of Nursing degree.
Teneka Newsome, a Human Services student also on the Portsmouth campus, received financial assistance for her apartment funds after a turn of challenging events occurred including an eviction and the death of loved ones.
In the fall of 2023, Newsome decided that she wanted to go back to school and advance her education in human services after working as a personal care aid for over 15 years in the behavioral health sector. Newsome had previously struggled with school during her childhood in the rural town of Ahoskie, North Carolina, where she left high school without a diploma because she didn’t pass a state reading level test.
In 2024, Newsome said she was witnessing her world falling apart while still enrolled in school. In the spring, she was living with her parents when a foreclosure occurred, and then her uncle, whom she was very close to, passed away. In the fall, she hit the lowest of lows when she and her children were evicted from her parents’ house. A month later, her teenage son passed away.
Newsome received funds for her new apartment shortly after her eviction. She says that TCC not only helped her financially but gave her the extra support she needed when she was going through deep emotional and mental turmoil. She praises TCC’s mental health resource (Timely Care) and faculty and staff for all the support she received.
“If you’re going through things, don’t be afraid to talk and share because so many people are so willing to help. I know if you come from a long background, there are people who are skeptical to help because they don’t know what the situation really looks like, but then there are people who have good faith who say, ‘I do trust that if I do this for this individual, they’re going to do right. And that’s what I strive to do now. Anything that has been given to me, I try to pay it forward,” Newsome said.
Newsome was accepted into the College Attainment for Parent Students (CAPS) program that guides low-income single mothers throughout their higher education experience. She said that wanted to give back to TCC after all the assistance the college has provided her and her family. Last December, she created a kids’ toys donation and drive for the holiday season as vice president of her Human Services club.
“TCC is a star. The community speaks for itself. Everyone who I have spoken to or encountered have been so welcoming and nonbiased. TCC has transformed my life as a whole. I found support within the community and resources here on campus,” Newsome said.
Newsome plans to transfer to Norfolk State University to earn her bachelor’s degree in social work and eventually earn her master’s degree to be a licensed social worker. She recently earned a certification as a peer recovery specialist.
Armstrong strongly encourages students to seek out resources that TCC offers. “This is entirely a judgment free zone. We’re not here to judge anyone. We’re purely here to help in every sense of the word. We’re not here to pry. We simply want to know, ‘What can we do to help?’”.
The four campuses: Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Virginia Beach all have SREC offices with case managers available during the weekdays.
Keynote Speaker Floyd Jones Inspires at TCC’s Nonprofit Summit
Tidewater Community College’s Academy for Nonprofit Excellence hosted the 2025 Nonprofit Summit: The Power to Thrive on Tuesday, March 11, in the Virginia Beach Campus Student Center. The Summit included two speeches by keynote speaker Floyd Jones and multiple workshop discussions to help local changemakers expand their nonprofit organization impact and help repower them to succeed in their future work. TCC staff and local nonprofit organization leaders from the Hampton Roads area presented their fundraising advice and experience in the concurrent sessions in the morning and afternoon.
Jones, a renowned coach and community builder, shared his insight on engagement and nonprofit leadership for fundraising campaigns. The New York City native is the founder of Floyd Jones Enterprises and BackBlack—an initiative that has raised over $2 million for Black-led nonprofits.
Jones has a mission to provide leaders of nonprofit organizations with tools and confidence to succeed with their fundraising campaigns, specifically actionable strategies to transform their followers into loyal supporters and donors. He also has experience with partnering with leaders to help grow their grassroot organizations and create lasting change. Jones has worked with several brands in the past including Nonprofit Storytelling Conference, VISA, Nike, AfroTech, Neon One, Man Talks, NBA 2k, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
At the Summit, Jones presented two strong keynote speeches to inspire the audience of nonprofit organization leaders and purpose-driven entrepreneurs: “The Significance of Your Story” and “Community as Catalyst”.
The afternoon keynote speech “Community as Catalyst” was devoted to providing organizational tools to help nonprofit organizations engage the community. It focused on the process of mobilizing passionate advocates, volunteers, and board members into joining the fundraising campaigning and connecting with others to build a network of supporters.
Jones noted that Sarah Linden-Brooks, Program Director of the Academy for Nonprofit Excellence, had heard him speak at another convention and reached out to have him speak at this year’s summit.
“I love when I see organizations so intentional about supporting changemakers. We have so many people who are making an impact, but they don’t have the support they need to fly and succeed. So, when Sarah told me about this event, I was like ‘I’m going to be there’. I decided to make my way to TCC and speak,” Jones said.
Jones first spoke on his fundraising success with the Volo Kids Foundation, which is an organization that uses the power of play to build communities of active, resilient, and confident kids through quality sports programs and opportunities at no cost to families. The foundation launched its first Giving Tuesday campaign in 2017. Jones played a role in the peer-to-peer campaign, which had a goal to raise $5k. The campaign evolved as he started the trend to change his profile picture on social media to him as a kid playing a sport to spread awareness of the campaign. It sparked conversation online where the campaign’s supporters received hundreds of likes and dozens of comments to help spread awareness of the campaign. Jones and his team ended up raising $30k, and the success of the campaign drove momentum into the next year.
Jones shared his tools for fundraising success including the 5 S’s of success: set an intention, set a goal, segment your audience, mobilize your supporters, and share your story. He also shared the significance of goal setting and collaboration. He emphasized that fundraising should be easy and engaging and to be creative while in the process.
Jones shared his final piece of advice: “People want to support you. Let them.”
TCC has many Nonprofit Summit Supporters including the United Way South Hampton Roads, Hampton Road Community Foundation, ODU: Monarch Humanities Internship Academy, Towne Bank, Association of Fundraising Professionals VA: Hampton Roads Chapter, The Curtis Group, Network Peninsula, and Nisenson Consulting.
To learn more about TCC’s Academy for Nonprofit Excellence, visit https://academy.tcc.edu for more information.
Virginia’s House Speaker Don Scott Honors Black History Month with Inspiring Address
Tidewater Community College’s Student Life Committee closed Black History Month 2025 on Wednesday afternoon, February 26 at the Portsmouth Campus Student Center. The Virginia Speaker of the House, Don Scott, served as the keynote speaker to discuss workforce development and shared his story of his rise to earning a spot in the Virginia House of Delegates. TCC students, faculty, staff, and the public were invited to attend the keynote speaker presentation, “African Americans and Labor: Resilience, Innovation, and Empowerment” which included a networking lunch.
TCC’s Associate Vice President for Professional Development Solutions with Workforce Solutions, Kodi Fleming, was onstage with Speaker Scott to discuss workforce development and the industry within our area. Speaker Scott said he is pushing for paid internships and workforce employees’ access to quality training. He praised TCC for providing resources and opportunities for people to earn a certification and go into the workforce with skills that can help them succeed in multiple fields.
In Scott’s keynote speech, he shared about his upbringing with his single mother and siblings in Houston, Texas. Scott attended Texas A&M University and graduated with a degree in agriculture. After earning his undergraduate degree, he served as a naval officer on the destroyer USS John Hancock. In 1994, he earned a law degree from Louisiana State University, hoping to continue into the legal world.
Around that time, Scott said he had many struggles and challenges which led him to serving time in prison. Throughout that time, he reconnected with his faith and felt guided in a better direction.
Scott said he cherishes the workforce development programs. His first job after prison was welding. In 2002, Scott joined the KRA Corporation, a workforce development company, working in case management followed by a promotion a year later to project manager. In 2005, Scott moved from Philadelphia, where he and his wife originally resided, to the Hampton Roads area. At that point, he was running the project and serving as the senior vice president at the firm.
In that decade, Scott addressed this part of his life as the period of “resilience” as he worked his way through a difficult time of his life, regaining his strength and identity as a person.
Scott spoke on how he reached a point where he wanted to be able to use his law degree and skills to contribute to making change in society. In 2014, he passed the Virginia bar exam and was licensed as an attorney in 2015. He opened his own firm where he took on criminal defense, family law, and civil cases. In 2022, Scott partnered with Breit Biniazan Trial Lawyers.
Scott said that “it’s easy to have a pity party” but people can “redefine” themselves like he did. He called this “innovation” because he was able to make a new name and story for himself.
Eventually, Scott stepped into politics. He ran in 2019 for the House of Delegates to represent the city of Portsmouth. He served as the minority leader from 2022 to 2024. In 2023, Scott was nominated unanimously by his caucus and became the first black Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates in history.
“Politics don’t matter, humanity is what matters,” Scott said.
In his time in politics, he has advocated for many important causes including criminal justice reform, economic development, affordable healthcare, and public education.
Scott spoke on “empowerment” as the last message to the TCC community. He encouraged people to speak up and not to be afraid to be their authentic self.
“People need to use their voice to speak up. Representation matters,” Scott said.
TCC Introduces Men’s Basketball Head Coach Clint Wright Sr.
Tidewater Community College introduced the college’s new men’s basketball Head Coach, Clint Wright Sr. to the TCC community and families at an athletics news conference at the Portsmouth Campus Student Center on Wednesday, February 12.
Wright is a Suffolk native and has over a decade of experience coaching at the high school level. He previously coached basketball at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, Nansemond River High School, King’s Fork, and Lakeland High School in Suffolk before joining TCC as the men’s head coach.
Wright is honored to be a part of TCC athletics and this new milestone in the institution’s history, “I’m extremely excited for this opportunity. It’s one that I dare not take for granted. To be a high school coach and now a college coach is something that I’m just simply overjoyed with. I can’t wait to get with the kids at the four campuses to get those guys at the basketball gym and get some training going.”
Coach Wright gave props to his wife, Javonda, along with other family members and friends, for the overwhelming amount of support they have provided him during this career transition.
Chad Smith, TCC Athletic Director, welcomed Wright to the TCC Athletics program and applauded Wright on his most recent coaching success which was around the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Wright led Lakeland’s boys’ basketball team to the 2020 3A Region Championship as well as a state championship. The same year, he was selected as the 3A Region Coach of the Year.
Wright is also a former college-athlete, who graduated from Norfolk State University in 1991. He was a team member on the basketball team during the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Tournament Championship in 1990. He also played a huge role for the three South Atlantic Region berths for the Spartans.
Wright remembers his time as a student-athlete and how special it was for his personal and professional growth. He wants to be able to give back and serve as mentor to his student-athletes.
“I want to establish some significant relationships, so they can do anything they want to do when they leave here. As we know, TCC is “From here, go anywhere,” Wright said.
TCC will join the Region 10 conference of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and compete against other two-year colleges in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia starting in the 2025-2026 academic year. TCC will be the largest community college in Virginia to offer competitive athletics.
TCC’s president, Marcia Conston, is excited to have a competitive athletics program added to the college.
“The advantages of an affordable higher education experience coupled with an engaging athletics program are something students in our region deserve. We are eager to see all of the doors that will open for our students and community as a result,” Conston said.
The college’s StormBird mascot was unveiled, embracing and evolving the former STORM identity. The StormBird will make its debut when competition begins this fall. Game schedules, ticket information, and TCC Storm merchandise details will be announced in the coming months.
More information about TCC’s new athletics program is available online at tcc.edu/sports or by following TCC athletics on Instagram at TCCStormSports.
