Meet our diverse class of STEM Promise Program scholars

Emmanuel Abuah plans to transfer to either MIT or Virginia Tech’s engineering program. Julie Jackson fell in love with code the very first time she typed it in for a class project. I.C. Norcom High graduate Jadelyn Perry didn’t want to choose between a graphic design or computer science degree, so she’s pursuing both.

Meet Tidewater Community College’s fourth class of Women’s Center STEM Promise Program scholars, each of whom will receive full tuition and fees for two years of study. The 20 recipients will pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics-related disciplines at TCC.

“The STEM Promise scholars embody TCC’s commitment to diversity and inclusion by identifying underrepresented students and supporting them as they prepare to enter the workforce in STEM fields,” said Jeanne Natali, director of the Intercultural Learning and Women’s Center at TCC.

The newest class includes students from all over Hampton Roads selected from a competitive pool of more than 100 applications. Recipient Noah Boucher, aiming to complete a doctorate in electrical engineering, is a former intern at Jefferson Lab. Zackary Kopp, who will major in Mechanical Engineering Technology, is a former IMS Gear intern. Madison Millspaugh researched, designed and built a prototype for a propeller-based bladed boat while in middle school. She plans to pursue her associate in engineering.

Ten of the recipients intend to study some form of engineering at TCC.

“Our newest cohort is a combination of students from diverse backgrounds and experiences, all with a common desire to pursue degrees and successful careers in the STEM fields,” said Jaedda Hall, coordinator for the program. “TCC continues to be committed to creating a larger and more diverse STEM workforce pipeline — with 70 percent of students in this cohort identifying as an underrepresented student in STEM.”

The TCC Educational Foundation started the Women’s Center STEM Promise Program four years ago with the goal of creating a larger, more diverse STEM pipeline in Hampton Roads. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply for the scholarships, which are open to all.

Applicants must meet requirements that include a high school GPA of 3.5 or higher and eligibility for in-state tuition. Recipients must enroll as full-time students in the following associate degree programs: Engineering, Civil Engineering Technology, Electronics Technology, Information Systems Technology, Computer Science or Mechanical Engineering Technology.

For more information about the program, contact Hall at jhall@tcc.edu. To learn how you can support the STEM Promise Program, contact the TCC Educational Foundation at foundation@tcc.edu.

The 2020 recipients

Emmanuel Abuah, returning student

Noah Boucher, Grassfield High

Loren Butts-Bails, returning student

Brenden Dial, Kempsville High

Alex Grant, returning student

Jasmine Grant, Bayside High

Julie Jackson, Princess Anne High

Benjamin Johnson, Deep Creek High

Halimat Kadri, Salem High

Zachary Kopp Kellam High

Shannon McGuire, Kellam High

Madison Millspaugh, First Colonial High

Kaileen Myers, Landstown High

Courtney Njoo, college graduate

Jadelyn Perry, I.C. Norcom High

Hunter Pollock, Ocean Lakes High

Taeya Richardson, returning student

Ryan Stites, Grassfield High

Shelleby Watson, returning student

Kyler Wimbush, First Colonial High

Short-term workforce program gave career-switcher a fresh start

With two children at home, Courtney Aristy didn’t want to work weekends anymore. She wasn’t about to go back to retail. She had limited experience in medical billing but no certification.

Today she holds a management position at Optima Health and she spends Saturdays and Sundays with the kids. Aristy credits a three-month workforce training program at Tidewater Community College for advancing her career. Thanks to a FastForward credential grant, costs were minimal.

In addition to receiving a certificate of completion from TCC, Artisty earned certification as a medical billing and coding specialist after acing the national exam.

“Some people don’t think certificates will get you anywhere; everybody talks about getting a four-year degree or a master’s,” said the Virginia Beach resident and former manager of city’s convention center. “The certifications are so helpful and great for your resume. If you come into a company with these certifications, you will make money.”

Here’s how FastForward works. Domiciled Virginia r esidents can earn an industry credential at one-third the cost of tuition for short-term training programs. Income eligible students can qualify for additional financial assistance that pays up to 90% of the cost of training in high-demand programs in fields that include IT, health care and the skilled trades!

“It was so easy,” Artisty said. “I had to have a bank statement and filled out an applications. You need all the stuff that in the scope of applying for financial aid. Everybody was super friendly.”

She attended evening classes from 5:30-9 p.m. three days per week for three months, an accelerated pace she was grateful for. The material tested her analytical and critical thinking skills. Having something of a medical background helped her, but she saw peers without also succeeding by putting in a little extra time.

Aristy began a job as a claims processor shortly after completing the program. “My credentials helped me get my foot in the door at Optima,” she said.

Job applicants with credentials are twice as likely to be hired than applicants without credentials, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

After five months, Aristy transitioned into a leadership role. Today she’s a team coordinator for Optima’s Business Systems operation.

During the pandemic, Aristy has worked remotely and is grateful for an understanding employer offering flexibility. Through Optima, she is working on an advanced degree in health care management.

“I would say at that time in my life, the TCC program was a saving grace for me,” Aristy said. “If anyone has an opportunity to do any of the workforce programs, it’s completely worth it.”

Interested in kickstarting your career with one of TCC’s workforce programs and a FastForward grant? Reach out to career coach Alejandra Diaz-Rangel at adiazrangel@tcc.edu or 757-822-1559. Or contact TCC at 757-822-1111.

Laid off after two decades, first-generation graduate finds a career and a future at TCC

Linda Stokes has a message for students learning remotely during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Online learning may be the new norm, but don’t be discouraged or afraid of it. Even in my 60s, I’ve been online for my entire degree, and it was a great education.”

Stokes graduated from Tidewater Community College in May with an associate degree in Administrative Support Technology.

She came to TCC after being laid off from a job she held for more than two decades.

The Norfolk native graduated from Booker T. Washington High with a diploma that included a specialization in basic business skills.

“I knew my parents couldn’t afford college, so I took that diploma and went to work,” she said. “I looked at education as a steppingstone to employment, so when I got that first job, I never looked back.”

In 2012, Stokes’ organization downsized, leaving her without a job.

“I was applying everywhere and getting no interest,” she said. “I didn’t look qualified even with my experience,” Stokes said. “With my TCC degree, I’m on equal footing with anyone coming out of college.”

Stokes chose TCC because she wanted to get a degree quickly. The Administrative Support Technology program offers a solid foundation in basic administrative skills with advanced training to prepare students for high-tech offices.

“At 62, I needed to find a way to keep going and support myself,” Stokes said. “And the two-year degree sounded better to me.”

Stokes found support through the Open Door Project (ODP), a federally funded program that provides resources for first-generation college students.

“The people of TCC, no matter where you go from the testing center to financial aid to student services, they are pulling for you and encouraging you,” she said.

From the start, Stokes connected with Kay Williams, the ODP director at the Norfolk Campus, who became a mentor and friend.

“Ms. Kay helped guide me and when I was struggling with math; she provided a tutor,” Stokes said. “All along the way, she celebrated my successes.”

Stokes also credits her favorite professor, Peggy Scott, with helping her on the journey. “She was always reaching out to see if I needed help and was there providing positive feedback,” Stokes said.

Scott helped Stokes update a resume that helped her land her current job with Norfolk Public Schools as an in-school suspension supervisor.

Stokes graduated with a 3.7 GPA and is proud of her membership in Phi Theta Kappa, the honor society for two-year schools. She plans to pursue her bachelor’s in general education.

“It wasn’t a must to go to college in my day, and some people still think they don’t need to go,” she said. “But I’m here to say that you do. It’s higher education, and it makes you more employable and professional.”

Stokes added, “I’ve met so many people who start in college and then drop out because of their social lives. I encourage everyone to make it their goal to finish what you start.”

Navigating unprecedented times and uncharted waters

Dear TCC Family,

On Sunday, we remembered the one-year anniversary of the mass shooting in Virginia Beach. While I was not here during that tragic time, I mourned the loss of those 12 individuals killed in a senseless act of violence.

Just last week, we witnessed another tragedy in our nation, the death of Mr. George Floyd in Minneapolis. Like many of you, I am horrified by the circumstances surrounding his death. The outrage of so many spilling into our streets, manifesting into both peaceful protests and violence, speaks to the hurt, anger and confusion in our communities. Collectively, their voices seem as one, crying out for solace, calmness and resolution.

Mr. Floyd’s death occurred in the midst of a pandemic, COVID-19, which has claimed the lives of more than 377,000 worldwide, 104,000 nationwide, and approaching 1,400 in our own state. Along with the staggering deaths totals, this relentless virus has devastated our social, economic, political and educational systems. We are truly navigating unprecedented times and treading in unchartered waters.

Coming to this community a mere five months ago, I was impressed by your willingness to move this college forward with new leadership and a renewed focus on student success. In mid-March, I again applauded your tenacity to transition to remote learning and teleworking in response to COVID-19. I continue to be inspired by your dedication to tirelessly serving our institution and students. Your resilience is undeniable.

As President of Tidewater Community College – our institution – I encourage each of you to stand with one another during these difficult days. Know that I support you, and I urge you to support each other. Reach out to your colleagues, your friends and mentors. We might be physically distant, but we are together. Talk to one another, and just as important, listen to each other. For those in need, support services are available to help.

My message to each of you is one of profound compassion, hope and expectation for brighter days. Change is long overdue and frustratingly slow, but I am confident that circumstances will improve. As an institution of higher education, we remain committed to dispelling bigotry and modeling inclusivity.

I stand beside you in solidarity, with an unwavering resolve to foster a learning environment that is safe, healthy and welcoming for all.

Sincerely,

Dr. Marcia Conston
President
Tidewater Community College

Portsmouth biology professors get creative with virtual labs

What can you do with two pieces of bubble gum, two pieces of wax, 1 meter of string and a ruler?

Demonstrate the scientific method, of course!

Tidewater Community College students taking summer biology classes on the Portsmouth Campus discovered that in their initial remote lab experiment.

“Our faculty found creative ways for students to be successful and save money,” said Michelle Woodhouse, interim vice president for Academic Affairs and chief academic officer.

TCC students didn’t have to hunt down the supplies for the online labs, either. Instead, everything they needed for every lab was packaged and delivered curbside by staffer Nancy Jones, who wore gloves and a mask while passing kits through the passenger window.

Jones typically sets up labs for science students, but the transition to virtual learning due to COVID-19 prompted professors Katrina Dash and Siobhan Harris to be more innovative than usual. Typically science kits for in-person labs cost students $140. Instead, Dash and Harris devised their own kits that largely consist of everyday items, including peroxide, vinegar, food coloring, sugar and fruit.

Originally the plan called for students to purchase the materials themselves.

“Then we re-evaluated,” Jones said. “We didn’t want to spring that on our students and have them out shopping during COVID.”

Instead, Jones collected the items, many already in supply on campus and others bought at The Dollar Store. “Baking soda is a cleaning agent and so is peroxide, so because of COVID-19, they were a little harder to find.”

Jones assembled all the nonperishable items in the kits in her home – “to the delight of my cats” – she noted and even color-coded them for easy distribution at the Portsmouth Campus. BIO 101 students received one kit; BIO 106, another, and she even ensured students had the right size of gloves before they drove away.

Cost to the student: $0. She estimates each kit cost no more than $5 to assemble.

“Students take pictures of themselves performing the labs,” Harris said. Also, they answer questions on the lab and must pass a quiz. The integrity of the lab is important. We want this to be a real learning experience.”

Ninety kits were assembled; WAVY chatted with the professors and Jones during one of two distribution days.

Criminal Justice professor encourages students to follow their dreams

Antonio “Tony” Passaro Jr. spent the first fifteen years of his career working as a state trooper. He was later assigned to high-tech computer crimes for the Virginia State Police and held a cross-designation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a federal agency.

Today he is the Criminal Justice program director and department lead for the Norfolk Campus.

“I enjoyed my time in law enforcement, but I like what I’m doing now because I get to encourage students,” Passaro said. “Learning is a choice and it is my goal to mold aspiring minds.”

Passaro says his passion for criminal justice and law enforcement stems from his extensive training and police background, and his education. He holds a master’s in criminal justice with an emphasis in management and planning.

To get students interested in the subjects he’s teaching, Passaro conducts mock scenarios and gets students to answer pertinent questions. “I encourage them to think critically about what we’re learning and then share their conclusions. This creates a great dialogue in the classroom and that’s what students will ultimately remember,” Passaro said.

The Criminal Justice program is offered on all four of TCC’s campuses and online. “Working with faculty on the other campuses is definitely a highlight,” he said.

To remain pertinent to the curriculum, Passaro does plenty of research. “In the classroom, we look at everything from controversial issues like the legalization of marijuana, to the ever-changing traffic laws,” he said. “I tell my students that knowledge is power and the more you know, the better prepared you will be for your future department.”

“In every class I teach, I encourage students to go beyond their comfort zones and expand their critical thinking to help them become better investigators,” Passaro said. “I want them to find work they love and not let anyone stand in their way, and believe by faith that everything will work out.”

In his free time, Passaro uses his investigative experience to act in true crime shows on the Investigative Discovery channel, making appearances in “Wicked Attraction,” “Ice Cold Killers,” and “Last Moment of Clarity.”

Passaro is at work on a doctorate in Higher Education Leadership with an emphasis in Criminology and Criminal Justice from Old Dominion University. He will complete the program in December 2020.

He is also a member of the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators and serves with the NASA Federal Law Enforcement agency at Langley Research Center having successfully completed training at the NASA Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Now you can earn your associate degree in computer science from TCC entirely online

Tidewater Community College’s associate degree in computer science is now offered 100% online.

TCC designed its 61-credit Associate of Science in Computer Science for students who plan to transfer to a four-year college or university to pursue a bachelor’s degree in computer science.

Students pursuing the associate degree advance from problem-solving skills to computer applications and learn programming and advanced concepts, such as virtual memory. Free software is available for students to use at home.

TCC also offers the following transfer degrees 100% online:

The additional TCC degrees or certificate programs that are 100% online are in Accounting, Acquisition & Procurement, Criminal Justice, Hospitality Management, Industrial Technology, Land Surveying, Law Enforcement, Management, Small Business Management & Entrepreneurship and Technical Studies.

The next start dates for Summer Session classes at TCC are June 1 and July 6. Dynamic sessions are offered continuously.

Email enroll@tcc.edu or call 757-822-1111 for enrollment information.

TCC to freeze tuition and fees for Fall Semester 2020

Tidewater Community College will freeze tuition and fees for the 2020 Fall Semester thanks to a unanimous decision announced Thursday by the State Board for Community Colleges.

This marks the second year in a row that the board has voted to hold tuition and fees steady for the coming fall for all 23 of Virginia’s Community Colleges.

The State Board’s decision means TCC’s in-state tuition and mandatory fees will remain at $185.35 per credit hour. Community college tuition and mandatory fees are approximately one-third of the comparable costs of attending Virginia’s public four-year universities.

“The decision by the State Board to freeze tuition and fees for the Fall Semester reaffirms our commitment to ensuring access and affordability for our students and their families,” said TCC President Marcia Conston. “While that is always a priority, it is especially significant during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Glenn DuBois, chancellor of Virginia’s Community Colleges, said, “We are doing everything we can to be an affordable, accessible resource for Virginians. Some people find themselves unexpectedly out of work. Others are looking for safer, convenient options to pursue their college aspirations. We want to be there for them.”

He added, “We’d like to maintain that rate beyond the fall, if the state funding exists to help us do that responsibly.”

Further, the State Board maintained the existing tuition rate for out-of-state students, which for TCC is $385.45 per credit hour.

Navy’s director of Tropical Medicine considers TCC her springboard

Standing by her bedroom window, Nehkonti Adams didn’t know why.

Later, the 11-year-old realized it was to avoid getting shot due to the civil unrest that had erupted in her home, Monrovia, the capital city of Liberia.

It wasn’t long before a new chapter started for Adams, which included immigrating to the United States with her family and joining the U.S. Navy, where she’s risen to lieutenant commander. Tidewater Community College played a role, too, for the doctor of infectious disease.

That’s where Adams found the confidence and the academic success in science classes that had eluded her in the past.

“TCC ended up being the springboard for my career,” said Adams, today the Navy’s director of Tropical Medicine in Okinawa, Japan. “In the beginning, I was very insecure about how I would perform in college. I made the right choice in TCC.”

Her family left Liberia for Chicago, home to her paternal grandfather, and Adams spent her teen years in Minnesota. She made an abrupt decision to join the Navy after a recruiter visited her high school cafeteria. At 18, she enlisted, stationed at the Navy’s base in Little Creek and aboard the USS Ashland.

Deployment took the ship to Brazil, and in Rio, she listened to the experiences of a Liberian refugee, an experience that fueled her interest in medicine. “I decided I wanted to work with displaced people and refugees,” she said.

Adams remembers returning to Norfolk and heading for Barnes & Noble, where she visited the college section to leaf through books detailing nursing school requirements. She continued in the Naval reserves and enrolled in classes at the Norfolk Campus, immediately bonding with Professor Fred Farris. He reminded her of her father, a physician and anatomy and physiology college professor.

“In Professor Farris, I saw what people saw in my father,” she said. “He taught biology, and I got an A in his class. He took the time to help us and was so kind.”

Graduating with a 4.0 GPA from TCC with an Associate of Science in Science, Adams transferred to Trinity College in Washington, D.C. Among her closest friends there, another TCC graduate who had also received a scholarship to Trinity.

“Uncanny,” she said.

Because of the support system left over from her TCC days, Adams chose to return to active duty and this area to attend Eastern Virginia Medical School. Infectious disease was an obvious choice given her roots in Liberia.

“Being from Liberia, things like malaria, I knew about even at 10 years old,” said Adams, whose parents ran a family practice clinic there. “And there’s some other parasitic diseases people get there. Because I saw illnesses like that firsthand and because of my love for traveling, infectious disease was a natural fit.”

Adams will live in Japan until the fall of 2021. She provides key policy support working with the Naval hospital there and the Marines. Her recent efforts are focused on COVID-19 and keeping U.S. military personnel safe.

Adams’ native country remains foremost in her mind; she tries to return for two weeks every year to head a field clinic. Adams has traveled to 40 nations and has been in the Navy for 25 years. She regularly speaks on the importance of STEM opportunities for women.

“My parents inspired me when I was younger, and the Navy gave me the opportunity to be a great doctor,” she said. “And TCC, that’s where the story began.”

Explore TCC during the college’s first-ever virtual information sessions

Reach your academic and career goals during these uncertain times by participating in Tidewater Community College’s first-ever virtual information sessions on May 26 and 28.

Hear presentations from TCC representatives about academics, technical training, student services and campus resources from the comfort of your home. Learn how you can get started with affordable, flexible and convenient courses.

Virtual information sessions will be held:

Tuesday, May 26, at 5 p.m. – Register for this session.
Thursday, May 28, at 5 p.m. – Register for this session.

These sessions are for all prospective students and their families and will feature special breakout sessions on college transfer, military support, paying for college and career training. Experts will answer your questions, and students will share their experiences.

Whether you plan to take a full load or just one class, TCC offers a range of options to prepare you for the next step.

Visit our Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach campuses virtually through our online videos and learn more about campus-specific services.

Need help? Email enroll@tcc.edu, call 757-822-1111 or visit our Help Center for answers to frequently asked questions.

TCC’s Corey McCray selected as Aspen Fellow

Tidewater Community College’s Corey McCray was selected by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program as one of 40 leaders who will participate in the 2020-21 class of the Aspen Rising Presidents Fellowship.

McCray, who serves as interim executive vice president and vice president for Workforce Solutions, will take part in this prestigious leadership program that prepares the next generation of community college presidents to transform institutions to achieve higher and more equitable levels of student success.

McCray, a 24-year veteran educator, functions as chief academic officer, chief student affairs officer and chief Workforce Solutions officer. He took a leading role in establishing TCC’s Skilled Trades Academy, which provides short-term workforce training for in-demand construction and maritime trades.

“I’m honored to have been selected as an Aspen Rising President Fellow,” McCray said. “I look forward to this experience and future opportunities to impact institutions that have a focus on student success. I am also looking forward to meeting members of my cohort and together exploring new and innovative ways of leading institutions of higher education.”

The Rising Presidents Fellows will embark on a 10-month fellowship beginning in July 2020. Delivered in collaboration with the Stanford Educational Leadership Initiative, the fellows will be mentored by esteemed current and former community college presidents who have achieved exceptional outcomes for students throughout their careers. They will learn strategies to improve student outcomes in and after college, lead internal change and create strong external partnerships with K-12 schools, four-year colleges, employers and other partners.

The 2020-21 fellows are leaders at colleges that collectively serve more than 500,000 students.

Back to school with College Anywhere VA

Don’t put your future on hold.

Pursue a meaningful career or be transfer-ready for the four-year school of your choice. It’s now even easier to get started with a new tool from Virginia’s Community Colleges, CollegeAnywhereVA.org. Tidewater Community College is one of 23 community colleges in the Virginia Community College System (VCCS).

College Anywhere VA is an online portal enabling Virginians to find online courses that best meet their needs. In addition to connecting students with high-quality and affordable remote-learning courses, the site connects current and prospective students with advisors, known as College Navigators, who streamline the application and course enrollment process.

Summer classes start May 18 and fall semester begins Aug. 24.

“Our students, especially our high school seniors, have lost so many experiences over the last couple months — no proms, no yearbook exchange, no graduation ceremonies. We owe it to them to provide them with the virtual door to their next educational step,” said Glenn Dubois, VCCS chancellor.

College Anywhere VA provides a transparent view into the 10,000+ online courses offered through Virginia’s community colleges. Depending on student goals, these courses could:

count toward an associate degree or certificate program;
count toward a degree or certificate program at another institution; or
include valuable workforce training programs that prepare students for career credentials.

Virginia’s Community Colleges, including TCC, have guaranteed transfer agreements with dozens of private and public institutions across the commonwealth. Tuition and fees are roughly one-third of the comparable costs at four-year universities.

Student veteran honored by national magazine

Tidewater Community College student Katherine Martinez is one of 48 veterans nationwide selected to receive the inaugural 2020 Student Veteran Leadership Award presented by G.I. Jobs magazine.

This list, which honors student veterans who are making a positive impact at their school and in their communities, will be published in the August issue.

“It’s really exciting to be recognized. When you’re volunteering, you don’t think about how others perceive your efforts,” said Martinez, president of TCC’s chapter of Student Veterans of America. “I primarily focus on raising awareness on mental health and helping fellow veterans with the transition process of being active duty to veteran.”

The Navy veteran was nominated by Shelly Bearden, veterans resource liaison at the Center for Military and Veterans Education. Martinez traveled with Bearden to Los Angeles for the Student Veteran Association National Convention.

“She was in her element at the conference, going to seminars and networking with fellow veterans and employers, gathering new resources and contacts,” Bearden said. “She is a driven young woman committed to reaching out to and serving her fellow veterans who may be struggling in crisis to be there to lend a supportive ear.”

Martinez will complete her Associate of Science in Social Sciences this summer. She will transfer to Old Dominion University in the fall.

She aspires to work for the federal government as a criminologist.

“My overall goal is to gain knowledge to better advocate for communities that need resources and assistance with public policy,” she said.

GI Jobs is a national publication that has been connecting service members, veterans and their families to civilian career, education and business ownership opportunities since 2001.

TCC marks 70th Commencement Exercises with first-ever virtual celebration

Tidewater Community College recognized its spring graduates with a first-ever virtual commencement on May 11. The 70^th Commencement Exercises were streamed for graduates, family and friends to share together on social media.

The online ceremony was the first commencement under President Marcia Conston, who became the college’s sixth president in January.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has upended many aspects of our lives; however, it is important for us to celebrate your achievement,” President Conston said in her opening remarks. “You have reached a significant milestone, and I am very proud of you and your achievements.”

Faculty from various disciplines and staff members from every campus took turns giving shout-outs to TCC’s newest graduates.

Professor Andrea Palmisano, representing the Social Sciences pathway on the Virginia Beach Campus, advised the graduates to “stay intellectually curious, use your critical thinking skills and follow your dreams.”

“Go forth and put into practice what you have learned and never stop conquering challenges along the way,” said nursing instructor Catina Davis.

ESL faculty offered “congratulations” in multiple languages.

Military-related students received a special message from Stephanie Martinez, veteran service coordinator at TCC’s Center for Military and Veterans Education. More than one-third of the college’s enrollment is military-related.

“The pursuit of your academic goals in these unprecedented times is beyond commendable,” she said. “You worked through rigorous academic demands, and through it all, you graduated.

Staffer Vickie Britt recognized TCC’s dual enrollment students from Kempsville High School, the inaugural cohort to complete TCC’s Business and Entrepreneurship Academy. They are among 30 Governor’s Medallion recipients – the most ever for the college. These are high achievers who received associate degrees before their high school diplomas.

Four student speakers reflected on their TCC experiences. Jena Essary, who held 4.6 at Grassfield High School before enrolling here, was among 11 Women’s Center STEM Promise Program scholars graduating.

“Many things can be done with a community college education,” said Essary, who earned her associate in computer science and is now at Old Dominion University. “The only person who limits yourself is you.”

Kiana Brown, also a STEM scholar and active in multiple organizations on the Chesapeake Campus, agreed, “At TCC, I learned my community is more than the buildings and people around me. I learned what matters most is what you do for others and continuing to do those things to make your community and world a better place.”

Governor’s Medallion recipient Lauryn Thompson added, “I have learned so much and experienced so much at TCC.” Thompson, just 17, will major in mechanical engineering at Old Dominion.

“You made it!” Zaquinntia Chamblee said to her peers before offering these words from a favorite church sermon. “Your dreams and goals may be delayed but they will never be denied.”

Corey McCray, the college’s chief academic officer, presented the candidates for graduation. Each of the campus provosts preceded with calling the names of the graduates who chose to participate in the virtual event.

The entire class of 2020 is listed at the conclusion of the online ceremony.

TCC graduate hopes to pay it forward with a human services degree

Even before the COVID-19 crisis, William Toncray was spending a lot of time at the hospital. As a Child Life department volunteer, Toncray provides engaging activities for patients at Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters.

“We play games and do crafts with children bedside or take them to the playroom,” he said. “There are moments when it’s really hard to see kids so sick, but it’s also very rewarding watching them light up when we paint, draw or even just play cards with them.”

The Hickory High graduate came to Tidewater Community College with no specific career goals. He graduates with an Associate of Science in General Studies on May 11 and plans to pursue a human services bachelor’s degree at Old Dominion University.

Toncray, 20, credits his volunteer work at TCC with helping him come up with a career plan that involves helping those in need through social work and advocacy.

It all started for Toncray when a student government leader invited him to get involved on campus. “Without that one interaction, my entire TCC experience could have been very different,” he said. “As student leaders, it is important to consider what effects our actions have on other people.”

Toncray holds a 3.6 GPA and was parliamentarian for student government. He helped launch a campus chapter of National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), a national group working to break the stigma and provide support for those dealing with mental health challenges.

Struggling with clinical anxiety when he first came to TCC, Toncray found help through the new NAMI group. “Having peers you can lean on and talk with has been a huge help,” he said.

Toncray also developed plans for a food pantry on Chesapeake Campus. He even presented the project at a Virginia Community College Association student leadership conference. “It was during this time that I found that I’m passionate about helping people with their basic needs and found my calling,” he said.

Toncray calls his time at TCC transformative, noting two particularly inspiring professors in Bert Fox (psychology) and Marc Wingett (biology). “They made you want to go to class and participate,” he said.

“My goal was to get my general education requirements done for a lower cost, and I did that. But I got so much more,” Toncray said.

“TCC puts the community in college. Once I got involved, I made some great lifelong friends and found my future path.”

Navy wife fulfills life goal with nursing degree

Fashion model in Milan?

Stephanie Overfelt did that as a teen.

Bachelor’s in Mandarin Chinese?

Accomplished.

Snowboard instructor on a mountain?

“Park City Mountain Resort in Utah,” she says. “I flew out the weekend before finals and earned one of eight positions.”

But really she’s always known inside that she was meant to be a nurse.

“I wanted to do nursing but didn’t believe in myself enough,” she said.

Overfelt, 39, will graduate on May 11 from Tidewater Community College with her Associate of Applied Science in Nursing. She will start a job at DePaul Medical Center this summer.

As an oncologist’s daughter, Overfelt developed an interest in medicine, but was overwhelmed in her first college chemistry class of 300 or more at Arizona State University. Instead, she gravitated toward what was comfortable.

“I was home-schooled and one of my tutors was Chinese, so it was familiar,” she said.

By the time Overfelt married a Navy sailor, she realized she had the brains and savvy to do anything she wanted. Even with four kids in tow and a husband on deployment, nursing still appealed to her.

She started at TCC five years ago by completing a handful of prerequisites for the program. Back then, she home-schooled the kids, who today range in age from 7-13.

“It’s been a journey; this has tried me more than anything,” she said. “If I had been single with no kids, it would have been a different story. As far as nursing school itself, it’s been amazing. It’s tried me in every way possible.”

Sometimes she’d leave her home in the Red Mill area of Virginia Beach for clinical rotations as far away as Mary Immaculate Hospital in Newport News. She listed tasks for her kids in 15-minute increments to ensure they were out the door to school on time on those days when she was out the door before they were awake.

Overfelt relied on her innate organizational skills, sometimes setting her alarm for 3 a.m., to study, giving her three quiet hours to study.

“I couldn’t have done it with any other kids,” she joked. “They were great.”

Overfelt found camaraderie with her peers at TCC and inspiration in professors Shannon Washington and Kirstie Robinson.

“They were phenomenal; they really wanted to see us succeed,” Overfelt said.

By spring break, Overfelt lined up a job at DePaul, where she will work in intensive care, a unit dominated by COVID-19 patients. “I’m excited right now to do it,” she said.

“I’m really proud of this accomplishment. Everybody should be no matter what their college journey is. It is an accomplishment. It’s being disciplined enough to study, to say, ‘Hey, I’m going to do this. And achieve this. And conquer this and learn this.’ I’m glad that my kids got to see this journey.”

Performing artist & STEM Promise Scholar bound for Virginia Tech engineering

Christian McClenney grew up belting out Aretha Franklin tunes and starring in Hurrah Players productions. With a sister who sings on cruise ships and a mother comfortable doing stand-up comedy, McClenney envisioned her own future in performing arts.

The stage was set for that after the Governor’s School graduate was accepted into a touted performing arts school in New York. That’s when Tidewater Community College entered the picture, and her life changed course.

McClenney, 20, will graduate from TCC on May 11 with an Associate of Science in Engineering. She will transfer to Virginia Tech to pursue a bachelor’s in biomedical engineering.

“You could say I worked my butt off for this,” she says proudly.

An engineering career wasn’t on McClenney’s radar after she aced the audition for the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, which accepts roughly 21% of applicants. An unexpected illness made her rethink her options. As an upperclassman at Salem High, she developed a painful inflammatory skin condition eventually diagnosed as Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS). There is no cure. Frustrated by empty appointments with physicians, she nursed herself into remission.

With that, she gained a fresh perspective.

The performing arts school was costly. McClenney learned about the Women’s Center STEM Promise Scholarship and earned acceptance into that program, too. The scholarship meant her tuition and fees would be covered for her first two years of college.

“That mattered a lot,” she says. “Plus having HS made me really look at the bigger picture. I wanted to do something that I thought would help the most people the most.”

By becoming a biomedical engineer, maybe, she thought, she could play a role in helping others with HS.

TCC’s engineering program has been far from easy; in fact, McClenney calls weathering the classes “a humbling experience.” Sometimes she’s been the lone African American female in a science class.

She credits Jaedda Hall, STEM Promise coordinator, for being a mentor and is grateful for the support she received from TCC’s Women’s Center.

“I remember Ms. Jaedda telling me that just because it’s hard doesn’t mean I wasn’t meant to do it,” McClenney said. “She told me, ‘Breathe, and you’ll get through it.’ ”

“Christian is very hardworking and dedicated — taking up to 18 credits each semester to finish her degree in two years,” Hall said. “She was also ready and eager to recruit new students to TCC — frequently attending outreach events with me at local high schools.”

The next chapter at Virginia Tech awaits.

“Without STEM Promise, without the Women’s Center, I wouldn’t have my computer, my calculator; I wouldn’t have known about the scholarship that paid for my books,” McClenney said. “I met a bunch of female engineers here, too.

“So many tears, so many sleepless nights,” said McClenney, who will participate in TCC’s first-ever virtual commencement. “Now I’m ready to see my picture on the screen . . . “

And take on the world.

A list of the Women’s Center STEM Promise Program Scholars graduates:

Kiana Brown, Associate of Applied Science in Information Systems Technology (Network Administration). She will transfer to Old Dominion University.

Courtney Carr, Associate of Applied Science in Information Systems Technology (Cyber Security). She will transfer to Virginia Tech.

Rhys Dailey, Associate of Science in Computer Science. He has been selected for a 10-week STEM Takes Flight Program at NASA Langley Research Center.

Sumner Darling, Associate of Applied Science in Information Systems Technology (Geographical Information Systems). He will transfer to either Old Dominion or George Mason University.

Emma DeLosReyes, Associate of Science in Engineering. She will transfer to Old Dominion.

Jena Essary, Associate of Science in Computer Science. She has transferred to Old Dominion.

Zachary Fuge, Associate of Science in Engineering. He will transfer to Virginia Tech.

Seth Greiling, Associate of Applied Science in Information Systems Technology (Network Administration). He will complete an additional degree at TCC in Business Administration.

Caroline Jacobs, Associate of Applied Science in Information Systems Technology (Web Development Specialist). She will transfer to Old Dominion.

Christian McClenney, Associate of Science in Engineering. She will transfer to Virginia Tech.

Isaac Vanderley, Associate of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology. He will transfer to Old Dominion.

From the mission field in Lebanon to college grad

Chris Rugh spent his early 20s working with a Christian missionary group in Lebanon, helping Syrian refugees with their basic needs.

“That was a very introspective time for me, and I learned that I could do more than I ever thought possible,” Rugh said. “I found my passion for serving others and learned I’m a skilled administrator and good with numbers.”

Rugh returned to this country in 2018 to pursue his degree, hoping to use his math skills for good.

He graduates from Tidewater Community College on May 11 with an Associate of Science in Business Administration and plans to continue at William & Mary for his bachelor’s in finance.

“I’ve been plowing through my degree ever since, learning from some great professors on several of TCC’s campuses,” he said. His favorite: Dale Horten who teaches physics on Chesapeake Campus.

While living in a tiny village overseas, Rugh decided to pursue finance so he could be even more effective. “When you see people struggle, you learn to be at peace with things and become very grateful for what you do have.”

Rugh credits Dean Nancy Prather-Johnson with helping to pave the way. “My dean was super helpful and made the journey so smooth,” he said.

While at TCC, Rugh worked full time for an HVAC company. He also joined Phi Theta Kappa, the honor society for two-year schools. In his free time, he connected with other business students in the Investment Club on Chesapeake Campus.

After college, Rugh hopes to return to mission work, using his business degree with a large nonprofit such as World Vision. He’s most interested in helping families break out of the cycle of poverty.

“My passion is serving and helping families overseas have a better quality of life. After that first mission trip I was hooked on serving in this way,” Rugh said.

“I have friends who came to TCC and loved it, and now I know why. It’s been affordable and close to home and overall a great choice for me.”

Manufacturing and Transportation Pathway virtual open house set for May 23

Are you ready to launch your career into high gear? Then attend the Manufacturing and Transportation Pathway virtual open house on May 23.

Each program will host a ZOOM session at 9 a.m., 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. During that time you will be able to ask questions, learn about programs and speak with faculty.

The following programs will be participating:

Automotive Technology (including Chrysler, Ford, Honda, Subaru, & Toyota)
Collision Repair (Auto Body)
Diesel Technology
Machining (including Basic Machinist and CNC Operator)
Marine Technology
Mechatronics

The event is designed for everyone including high school students, recent graduates, adult learners and community members.

TCC’s Regional Automotive Center is the area’s only high-tech training facility for today’s automotive technician. The facility features nine classrooms and 15 instructional laboratory bays.

Machining and Mechatronic students can learn even more by getting hands-on experience in the Precision Machining Lab and the Robotics Lab, both on the college’s Chesapeake Campus.

To register for the online event, fill out this form.

For more information call 757-822-5000 or email questions to rac@tcc.edu.

TCC’s Veterinary Technology program earns initial accreditation

Tidewater Community College’s Veterinary Technology program has earned initial accreditation from the American Veterinary Medical Association.

This is the first new accreditation of an associate degree program in the state of Virginia since 1980. Initial accreditation gives the TCC program all the benefits of full accreditation.

TCC launched its veterinary technology program, which allows students to earn an Associate of Applied Science in Veterinary Technology, in fall 2018. The inaugural cohort will complete all program requirements by August.

The TCC program is one of three in the state and the only one in Hampton Roads. Students receive hands-on training with all species in addition to classroom instruction on the Virginia Beach Campus.

“This is a milestone for our program,” said program head Megan Taliaferro. “By achieving accreditation, our students and the veterinary practices that will ultimately employ them know that the TCC program meets the highest standards in veterinary education.”

The need for veterinary technicians is anticipated to grow by 60 percent in TCC’s service region in the next decade, according to EMSI, an economic indicator for higher education.

Veterinary technicians assist veterinarians in diagnosing and treating animals. Their duties include working with veterinarians during examinations and surgeries, conducting routine procedures, such as immunizations and dental cleanings, and educating pet owners about the health care of animals.

Graduates are prepared for employment in a multitude of settings, ranging from animal, equine and food animal practices; biomedical research facilities; pharmaceutical companies; zoos; and specialty and emergency practices.

The program is geared toward those with some experience in the veterinary field. Those who haven’t worked in a professional setting can gain experience by completing TCC’s 17-credit Career Studies Certificate in Veterinary Assistant.

Visit tcc.edu/vettech for admission requirements and an application. The application deadline for the cohort that will begin this fall has been extended to June 15.

Contact Taliaferro for more information at mtaliaferro@tcc.edu or 757-822-7264.