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MLK scholar plans a career in nursing
Hakeem Folahan Akinleye was inspired by the work of Dr. Marin Luther King, Jr. while growing up in Nigeria. He relocated to the United States with his parents in the fall of 2021 and started at Tidewater Community College the following spring.
“The ideals of Dr. King influenced me greatly. He was a great man who knew that if you want change you have to let your voice be heard,” Akinleye said. “He is one of the reasons I study hard and keep my grades up. I want to have an informed voice and help bring change where I can.”
Hakeem, 20, is the 2023 recipient of TCC’s Martin Luther King Jr. student scholarship, which will be presented during a ceremony on Jan. 17 at the Portsmouth Campus Student Center. The award, now in its 21st year, is designed to recognize a student who best exemplifies Dr. King’s vision and philosophy in his call for unity and equality for all.
“This award is going to have a huge impact on my life. It instills an even greater desire to do more for the next person,” he said.
“One thing I learned from Dr. King is that there is always a chance to do better. All it takes is determination and hard work and togetherness and we can make things as right as we want them to be.”
Hakeem helps his classmates as a science and math tutor. He also serves on the Student Government Association and helps with Portsmouth Campus events.
Future plans for Hakeem include nursing school and career dedicated to making a difference in the community.
“I have always been invested in the health sciences since I was little, and my interest only grows by the day. Also, considering how there are very few black male nurses in the country, I wish to try and change that,” Akinleye said. “I also feel like I’m representing my family by pursuing a career dedicated to helping people.”
Hakeem says his family is his biggest supporter. “My mom has always believed in me and pushed me. My brother also helps me and my dad motivates me to do better,” Akinleye said. “My extended family supports me, too, and they are all very proud. I am humbled and honored by it all.”
Thomas awarded college’s MLK service award
Chuck Thomas has a gift for inspiring students. He is the fitness, recreation and special events coordinator at the Portsmouth Campus Student Center. He is also the unofficial cheerleader for anyone who comes through the doors.
Thomas grew up learning the values of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from his mom. “She did her best raising me and my seven sisters on her own,” Thomas said. “Mom didn’t have much money, but she taught us important lessons that have carried me further than anything else ever could have.”
Thomas is TCC’s 2023 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Distinguished Service Award honoree. The college marks the anniversary of the birth of Dr. King by presenting this award to a staff or faculty member who best exemplifies King’s teachings and example. Thomas will be recognized during a ceremony on Jan. 17 at the Portsmouth Campus Student Center.
“Growing up in Georgia, mom would have us listen to Dr. King and then give a report on what we learned. The things I heard were non-violence, peace, love, respect, dignity and equality,” Thomas said. “As I got older, I realized what those words meant and that’s how I treat anyone walking through our doors – with dignity, respect, customer service and getting them what they need.”
Thomas joined TCC in 2014. Prior to coming to the college, Thomas was with the recreation department for the City of Virginia Beach for 25 years. He is also a proud Navy veteran.
The reason he gives back to the community is that he remembers when he was on the receiving end of people’s kindness. “My teachers and mentors were my guides because I didn’t have a father,” Thomas said. “Now I’m paying it forward and inspiring students to do their best in school and to be active with their physical fitness because that’s a key to reducing stress.”
Thomas is affectionately called “coach” by the many students he mentors and all those who seek him out for life advice.
Thomas with MLK scholar Hakeem Akinleye
He was instrumental in helping to launch the Community Feed at TCC on the Portsmouth Campus. Thomas worked from the ground up preparing the space. “Launching the Community Feed was the proudest moment in my career,” he said. “There is such a need for food and TCC is on the front lines meeting urgent needs.”
Thomas also developed “Fit to Feed,” a program that combines fitness with the benefits of the Community Feed. He also participated at “Champions for Change,” a program for young men that provides resources, connections to jobs, and a lot of conversations about dignity and respect.
When he is not mentoring students, Thomas helps senior citizens with their fitness. He started a chair exercise program in his neighborhood and even helped one resident recover from a knee replacement.
“What my mom instilled in me all those years ago has paid off in my adult life. I’m humbled and honored by this award,” he said.
He added, “We are at a time when there is a lot of separation with people. Dr. King made sure we worked through differences and brought people back together. This message is more important now than ever. His work is paying off generations later.”
Thomas sends a shout-out to his mom, Mary Lue, and his wife, Keri Anne, for their part in his success. “When everything is good at home, you feel like you can conquer the world and I’m grateful for all they have done for me.”
TCC announces 2023 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards
Tidewater Community College honors the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by presenting annual awards to those who embody his teachings and spirit.
The 2023 recipients are:
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Distinguished Service Award: Chuck Thomas — Fitness, recreation and special events coordinator at the Portsmouth Campus.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Award: Hakeem Folahan Akinleye, a TCC student working toward an Associate of Science in Science.
The two will be honored during the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Awards event on Jan. 17 at 9 a.m. at the Portsmouth Campus Student Center. The event theme is “It Starts with Me: Cultivating a Beloved Community Mindset to Transform Unjust Systems” and the guest speaker is Dr. Kelvin E. Turner, pastor of the historic Zion Baptist Church in Portsmouth and a member of TCC’s MLK steering committee.
Chuck Thomas Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Distinguished Service Award
Chuck Thomas has a gift for inspiring students. He is the fitness, recreation and special events coordinator at the Portsmouth Campus Student Center. He is also the unofficial cheerleader for anyone who comes through the doors.
Thomas grew up learning the values of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from his mom. “She did her best raising me and my seven sisters on her own,” Thomas said. “Mom didn’t have much money, but she taught us important lessons for life.”
As TCC’s 2023 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Distinguished Service Award honoree, Thomas has dedicated his life to service.
“Growing up in Georgia, mom would have us listen to Dr. King and then give a report on what we learned. The things I heard were non-violence, peace, love, respect, dignity and equality,” Thomas said. “As I got older, I realized what those words meant and that’s how I treat anyone walking through our doors – with dignity, respect, customer service and getting them what they need.”
The reason he gives back to the community is that he remembers when he was on the receiving end of people’s kindness. “My teachers and mentors were my guides because I didn’t have a father,” Thomas said. “Now I’m paying it forward and inspiring students to do their best in school and to be active with their physical fitness because that’s a key to reducing stress.”
Thomas was instrumental in establishing the Community Feed at TCC on the Portsmouth Campus. Thomas worked from the ground up preparing the space. “Launching the Community Feed was the proudest moment in my career,” he said. “There is such a need for food and TCC is on the front lines meeting urgent needs.”
Thomas also developed “Fit to Feed,” a program that combines fitness with the benefits of the Community Feed. He also participated at “Champions for Change,” a program for young men that provides resources, connections to jobs, and a lot of conversations about dignity and respect.
When he is not mentoring students, Thomas helps senior citizens with their fitness. He started a chair exercise program in his neighborhood and even helped one resident recover from a knee replacement.
“What my mom instilled in me all those years ago has paid off in my adult life. I’m humbled and honored by this award,” he said.
He added, “We are at a time when there is a lot of separation with people. Dr. King made sure we worked through differences and brought people back together. This message is more important now than ever. His work is paying off generations later.”
Thomas sends a shout-out to his mom, Mary Lue, and his wife, Keri Anne, for their part in his success. “When everything is good at home, you feel like you can conquer the world and I’m grateful for all they have done for me.”
Hakeem Folahan Akinleye Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Award
Hakeem Folahan Akinleye was inspired by the work of Dr. Marin Luther King, Jr. while growing up in Nigeria. He relocated to the United States with his parents in the fall of 2021 and started at Tidewater Community College the following spring.
“The ideals of Dr. King influenced me greatly. He was a great man who knew that if you want change you have to let your voice be heard,” Akinleye said. “He is one of the reasons I study hard and keep my grades up. I want to have an informed voice and help bring change where I can.”
MLK scholar Hakeem, 20, continues a long tradition of service to others. The award, now in its 21st year, is designed to recognize a student who best exemplifies Dr. King’s vision and philosophy in his call for unity and equality for all.
“This award is going to have a huge impact on my life. It instills an even greater desire to do more for the next person,” he said.
“One thing I learned from Dr. King is that there is always a chance to do better. All it takes is determination and hard work and togetherness and we can make things as right as we want them to be.”
Hakeem helps his classmates as a science and math tutor. He also serves on the Student Government Association and helps with Portsmouth Campus events.
Future plans for Hakeem include nursing school and a career dedicated to making a difference in the community.
“I have always been invested in the health sciences since I was little, and my interest only grows by the day. Also, considering how there are very few black male nurses in the country, I wish to try and change that,” Akinleye said. “I also feel like I’m representing my family by pursuing a career dedicated to helping people.”
Hakeem says his family is his biggest supporter. “My mom has always believed in me and pushed me. My brother also helps me, and my dad motivates me to do better,” Akinleye said. “My extended family supports me, too, and they are all very proud. I am humbled and honored by it all.”
TCC alum launches non-profit focusing on mental health
Drew Ferebee found her purpose at Tidewater Community College.
“I never imagined that studying Human Services would be the most influential experience of my life,” she said. “My time at TCC helped me discover my passion and the faculty inspired me to walk in my purpose.”
The TCC alumna earned an Associate of Applied Science in Human Services in 2019 and went on to earn a bachelor’s in Human Services with a minor in children’s rights from Old Dominion University in 2021.
“I’m super thankful to my grandma who believed in me. She paid for my first semester at TCC,” Drew said. “I didn’t do well in high school, but once I got to TCC and found Human Services everything changed. I got super passionate and motivated and for the first time enjoyed learning.”
Drew credits Program Head Ivory Warren with keeping her on track and her advisors at TCC for connecting her with Human Services in the first place.
“Drew was a remarkable student and knew her purpose was to become that ‘Change Agent’ in people’s lives so that they could move toward the ultimate goal of becoming self-sufficient,” Warren said. “While pursuing her degree in human services, learning the applicable skills to add to her toolbox, she was unstoppable and always gave excellent insight, input and feedback during class discussions.”
While at TCC, Drew completed her program internship hours at Teens with a Purpose where she served as the community outreach coordinator. That experience sparked her interest in community service.
“I learned how to study and be a student at TCC. The college gave me a great foundation,” Drew said. “My professors were really patient and created a very personal experience for me.”
After graduation, Drew worked as a crisis intervention specialist for the YWCA and other agencies. Those experiences showed her that her goal was to find creative solutions for mental health challenges.
That’s why the 25-year-old Norfolk native recently launched INJOY, a non-profit with the mission of improving the quality of life for individuals through mental health awareness, advocacy and fun.
It may sound like a tall order, but Drew says she’s up for the challenge.
The group’s first event was a “Feel Good Festival” in May attracting more than 300 attendees. The event marked Mental Health Awareness month and included artists and performers. In addition, community members were able to sign up for mental health counseling if needed.
“We wanted to create something for those who don’t have access to therapy,” Drew added. “My goal is for people to be okay where they are and to bring them hope and joy.”
This fall, INJOY offered a workshop on “Understanding Black Mental Health – A Community Wellness Event” in October, and in November they are hosting a “Healing Your Inner Child” event.
Drew’s other professional involvements include serving as an advocate for mental health at the Virginia General Assembly. In addition, she presented at the Mental Wealth Expo in New York and a Self-Care conference in Norfolk.
“My message is simple for those who come to INJOY events and others,” Drew said. “You don’t have to be that strong person doing everything alone. When you experience mental health issues lean in, don’t fall back. The best thing is to reach out for support.”
She added, “I am forever thankful for the foundation TCC set for me to be successful and serve my community.”
Students and faculty provide hands-on help for Portsmouth senior
Tidewater Community College faculty Melanie Basinger, a 20-plus-year veteran physical therapist, started the non-profit, Therapy on the Move, to honor a close friend who spent the last four years of his life in a nursing home following multiple falls.
Basinger says her goal is to “stop seniors from falling and to allow them to live every day to their full potential, in their own homes with people they love, doing things that bring them joy.”
During one of the sessions, Basinger met Rosetta Man. The pair formed a bond and later Basinger and her students “adopted” the senior. The group meet at Rosetta’s home and complete service projects that enable her to continue to live independently.
Rosetta primarily uses a motorized wheelchair to get around, and therefore needs extra help with household maintenance. More than 15 TCC students and Basinger spent Saturday, Aug. 27, at Rosetta’s doing yard work, painting, cleaning, repairing a wheelchair ramp and even washing windows.
Basinger, the program lead for TCC’s Physical Therapy Assistant Program, recruited PTA students and even a volunteer from the Occupational Therapy Assistant program.
Student volunteers included: Caitlin Bardenhagen, Kelsey Bohlinger, Maggie Crumrine, Tiara Diamond, Jesse Eisenpress, Timberly Hinton, Chloe Ladi, Tabbi Leon, Jodi Neely, Iris Savant, Dianne Segura, David Sorrells, CJ Ugalde and Alyssa Ware.
Therapy on the Move is a seven-week fall-prevention program free of charge to seniors. The Portsmouth YMCA is their first community location.
PTA Program Lead Melanie Basinger with Rosetta Man.
Basinger’s motivation for the volunteer work is simple. “I love helping others live life to the fullest,” she said. “Making a difference in someone’s life is what gives my life purpose.”
The group plans to return soon to do some minor home repairs and they are working to get a donation of vinyl siding from Home Depot for Rosetta’s home.
TCC Horticulture students give back at “Come to the Bay”
Cloudy skies and cold temperatures didn’t dampen the spirits of Horticulture students and faculty as they worked at “Come to the Bay.” The group volunteered at a planting event sponsored by the City of Virginia Beach and the Virginia Turfgrass Council Environmental Institute.
Andrea Tomlin, Horticulture department chair, with student Whitney Waldo and Horticulture instructor Taylor Treadway
Andrea Tomlin, Horticulture department chair, and instructor Taylor Treadway led a group of nine TCC students as they planted American Beach Grass alongside the Lesner Bridge in Virginia Beach.
“This community service project was very rewarding,” Tomlin said. “We were thrilled to do our part to help protect, beautify and sustain our waterway landscapes in Hampton Roads.”
Participating students spent the morning hours of Valentine’s Day preparing the ground and planting the grasses. In total, 15,000 plants were added to the landscape to help with erosion control along the Bay.
“Not only do these grasses help beautify our beaches, but they are also vital to erosion control by serving as a natural defense against storm surges,” Tomlin said. “This grass helps build dunes along the beaches by extending a deep rhizome root system that holds onto the sand to keep it in place. Eventually, the grasses will fill in and reach a height of about two feet tall and can spread six to10 feet.”
The community service event included a short kickoff program with remarks by Virginia Beach Mayor Bobby Dyer and an educational lunch with experts speaking about environmental and horticulture topics.
TCC recognizes inaugural Academic Excellence and Service Award winners
Tidewater Community College launched the Academic Excellence and Service Awards to recognize exemplary students.
A total of 18 students were honored during a virtual ceremony held on May 2, 2021.
Michelle Woodhouse, vice president for Academic Affairs and chief academic officer, led the event and added her congratulations to the honorees.
“Each of these students has demonstrated exceptional community and academic achievements while enrolled at TCC during a time filled with unprecedented challenges,” she said. “They truly understand the concept of ‘community,’ that we are all part of something larger than the individual, something powerful and deep that touches all of us every day. And for their efforts, we are grateful and proud.”
TCC alumna Rickkita Taylor shared words of encouragement with award winners. Taylor graduated from TCC in 2016 and founded Sisters Healing Sisters, a nonprofit providing help and hope for those in need.
“Selfless scholars like yourselves help to ensure that the Hampton Roads community continues to thrive,” Taylor said. “Thank you again for your commitment to your education and community. We are very proud of each of you.”
2021 Academic Excellence and Service Award winners:
Emmanuel Abuah Jacob Chaney Kouadio Nzi Tiffanie Marie Chantal Jordan L Guynn Aralee Fajardo T’Lia Jahmeelia Miles Shanice Mills Vuong Nguyen Amy L. Paris Joanna Porter Aspen Roadcap Elizabeth Sanborn Jordan Sustarsic Tiara G. Thompson Jaidan N. Williams Brittany Williams Patricia Ann Womack Latisha Lynn Yancey
All award winners are working toward associate degrees or certificates and have earned a cumulative 3.0 GPA or higher. They also have a history of exemplary service to the college and the community.
