TCC to provide tuition-free education through Gov. Northam’s “G3” program

Tidewater Community College will offer tuition-free education to low- and middle-income students through Gov. Ralph Northam’s “Get Skilled, Get a Job, Give Back” initiative, or “G3” program, which was signed into legislation on March 29, 2021.

The “G3” program includes $36 million to cover tuition, fees, and books and provide wraparound support for eligible students at the Commonwealth’s two-year public institutions.

“This is a phenomenal day for TCC and the students we serve,” said Dr. Michelle Woodhouse, interim vice president of academics and chief academic officer. “This program will help many students retrain for new careers in high-demand industries and expand the pipeline of talent for Virginia’s businesses.”

The “G3” program connects students with training and resources so they can secure jobs in high-demand fields and support their families without incurring high levels of student loan debt.

“G3” program areas include health care, information technology and computer science, manufacturing and skilled trades, public safety, and early childhood education. On average, students in these high-demand degree programs increase their wages by 60 percent upon program completion.

TCC alum Marcus Moody teaches welding at the Portsmouth Campus.

TCC alum Marcus Moody teaches welding on the Portsmouth Campus, which is home to the area’s largest welding lab. He came to TCC in 2012 to retrain for a new career after being laid off from a job in the banking industry. “A program like this would have been helpful to me. I would not have been able to improve myself and learn a new skill without the financial aid and the lower tuition rates at TCC,” Moody said.

“I encourage anyone to take advantage of the opportunities at TCC, including the skilled trades. I talk with my students about the options for welders, from working at the shipyard to owning your own business. Once you learn the skill, it’s yours for life.”

The “G3” program is one of the first in the nation to provide wraparound financial assistance to help students at the lowest income levels with expenses such as food, transportation, and childcare. Students who qualify for a full federal Pell grant and enroll full-time will receive student- support incentive grants on a semester basis. These grants will be in an amount up to $900 per semester and up to $450 per summer term.

Students interested in “G3” programs at TCC should call the Virtual Student Support Team at 757-822-1111 or email info@tcc.edu.

From TCC to working around the world

A day at the office is never the same for Austin Burrow. He travels around the world working for the State Department.

The Navy veteran is an electrical project coordinator for State’s Bureau of Overseas Building Operations.

He maintains the electrical systems in U.S. Embassies and keeps the staff and diplomats safe.

“This is really a dream job,” Burrow said. “I never thought I’d be doing this work and sometimes I still can’t believe it.”

Burrow started on this journey after earning his engineering degree at Tidewater Community College.

A former nuclear electrician’s mate for the Navy, Burrow, 30, was stationed in Hampton Roads when he began his studies at TCC in 2017.

Newly married at the time, Burrow’s wife Kristen also began retraining for a new career at TCC.

“I knew I was going to transition out of the military and TCC was a cost-effective way to explore career options,” he said. “I took a variety of classes before settling on engineering.”

Burrow says the college’s small classes enabled him to ask questions and get to know the faculty.

“I’m very grateful to have started at TCC and found it to be the best college experience,” Burrow said. “I’m definitely a fan of community college because I got to know my professors and they knew me.”

He also credits his engineering faculty with preparing him for the work because of their own on-the-job experiences. “All of my TCC professors were working in the field and that really added another dimension to the learning,” he said.

Another highlight for Burrow was the STEM Club on Chesapeake Campus. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the club represented TCC at the air show at Naval Air Station Oceana.

“It was amazing sharing my love of science and technology with kids and demonstrating everything from a 3-D printer to an electric bike,” Burrow said.

Burrow began his career as a field engineer for InPwr, Inc. He worked at Norfolk Naval Station preparing engineering drawings and doing electrical engineering.

“It was long hours and hard work, but my TCC degree prepared me, especially the AutoCAD and engineering classes,” he said. “I still remember the lessons from my favorite teachers, Edward Morris (engineering) and Kenneth Jones (calculus).”

Newly located to Northern Virginia, Burrow is working on his bachelor’s in electrical engineering online through Arizona State University. When he is not globe-trotting, he works at the State Annex in Arlington.

Ongoing learning is important to Burrow, a master electrician, who also holds industry certifications in Certified Construction Manager and Certified Associate in Project Management.

Recognition for his work came quickly for Burrow who was named an Independent Electrical Contractors Emerging Leader in 2020. He was also one of the Electrical Construction & Maintenance magazine’s “30 under 30” for 2020.

As for Kristen, she now has a job she loves. A TCC nursing graduate, she found her calling as a frontline health care worker. She works in the neurological step-down unit at a Washington D.C. hospital. Kristen also holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from University of Tennessee.

Burrow used his GI Bill benefits to pay for college and says his time in the Navy and at TCC launched him into a rewarding career. “I enjoy going to work every day and encourage others to find work that fits them well,” he said.

TCC’s Virtual Student Support Team can help you get started at TCC. Email info@tcc.edu or call 757-822-1111. Military-related students receive specialized support through the college’s Center for Military and Veterans Education.

Priority partnership with TCC offers nonviolent offenders a second chance

Two years ago, TJ Sexton and Ahmad Bilal lived in jail. Today, both are employed full time making more than $50,000 annually.

They are two of the inaugural graduates from the Priority Technical Training Center (PTTC), a program launched in 2018 by Tidewater Community College, Priority Automotive and the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office to give nonviolent offenders a new lease on life.

TJ Sexton at the Priority Technical Training Center — TJ Sexton

“Teaching nonviolent offenders to make a good, honest living and put their past in the rearview mirror is good for our communities, good for our law enforcement agencies, and good for Priority,” said Dennis Ellmer, chief executive officer and president of Priority Automotive. “This may seem like an unlikely partnership, but it just makes perfect sense.”

Built and funded entirely by Priority, the state-of-the-art automotive training center opened with dealerships across the country scrambling to find highly skilled auto technicians to service vehicles that grow more technologically advanced by the day.

Program participants were incarcerated at the Norfolk jail and bused to the facility five days a week for classroom instruction and on-the-job training. The year-long program boasts 27 graduates from the first two cohorts. Twenty four of those graduates, after their release from jail, are employed full-time at Priority dealerships.

Ray Mattox, the fixed operations director at Priority Chevrolet in Chesapeake, recalls a time when the PTTC grads working there now couldn’t turn a wrench.

“When they started, I paired them with a mentor technician to be sure they were learning the skills correctly,” Mattox said. “Today, they are high performers in our service centers, and I absolutely don’t know what I would do without them.”

Program graduate Sexton notes that his living situation is 10 times better now, calling the program the biggest blessing of his life.

“This is my second chance,” he said. “I didn’t know how I was going to get to this place that I pretty much dreamed about. I live in a nice apartment. I’m building my credit and I have three cars. But the best part is that I have a job I enjoy and stability like never before.”

Troy Clifton, executive director of Priority Toyota Charity Bowl, is the program coordinator and unofficial cheerleader.

“Make no mistake, these are my guys. I may wear a suit, but they know they can trust me, and I’m going to go to bat for them,” Clifton said. “I’m gratified at how well the trainees bought into the program and how well the mentors and coworkers have supported them.”

“I didn’t think I’d have this life, and I have no idea where I’d be without the program,” added program grad Bilal. “Every day, I can take what I’ve learned and pay it forward. That means a lot to me.”

Upon completion of the program, PTTC graduates have the opportunity to continue their education, earn new certifications and an Associate of Applied Science in Automotive Technology from TCC.

A state Senate joint resolution recently commended Ellmer for initiation and execution of the PTTC. Ellmer and Priority Automotive invested more than $2 million to establish the inmate training program. The program is on hold due to COVID-19 but is expected to resume in the future.

Priority Automotive CEO Dennis Ellmer (center) was recognized with a Senate joint resolution for creating the Priority Technical Training Center.

Live! Inside a Physical Therapist Assistant lab

In this series, we provide a closer look at hands-on learning during COVID-19.

While COVID-19 means online learning for most Tidewater Community College students, some are back in the classroom for hands-on training. In fact, more than 400 sections of classes in interior design, automotive, health professions, welding, veterinary technology, culinary arts, visual arts, electronics technology and other programs have on-campus components.

Learning skills together

Inside the Regional Health Professions Center on the Virginia Beach Campus, physical therapy assistant students engage in multiple role-playing scenarios as part of their hands-on learning. Ever had an ankle taped following a sprain?

Sarah Hamm and Linda Bishop practice ankle taping.

Second-year students practice on each other to prepare for their upcoming clinical rotations, which begin in November. The simulation labs for the fall also include cervical pain due to whiplash, lower back pain due to lifting and anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. The students will be tested on 11 patient scenarios before they head to a clinical setting.

Student voices

Students practice administering
ultrasound treatments during the lab.

“I researched PTA programs in the area, and TCC’s was the best one,” said Naomi Nevarez. “The graduation rate was super high, so I applied and here I am!”

“The hands-on aspect and being able to learn patient scenarios is my favorite part about this program,” said Cassie Noe. “The professors are always here to listen to you. If you are struggling, they are here to help you.”

“This feels like less of a program and more of like a family,” said Phillip Leonard. “We are trying to make it through this program together, and that’s what brings us closer. The connections you make with the students and professors make it worth it.”

“TCC has the best reviews out of everyone that I talked to,” said Celeste Gilley. “The ones who really want to be a PTA do their research when looking for a program, and TCC’s PTA program had it all.”

About the instructors

Melanie Basinger, program director, has been with TCC for 24 years. Basinger holds a bachelor’s in physical therapy from Ithaca College, a master’s in physical therapy from Old Dominion University and a doctorate in physical therapy from Shenandoah University.

Caitlin Culver at work taping a classmate.

“I love the energy of the students and the spark in their eyes when they get it,” said Basinger. “I love watching their success.”

Katie DiSanto, associate professor, earned a bachelor’s from Virginia Tech and a doctorate in physical therapy.

“Seeing it come full circle in a clinical setting is my favorite thing about this program,” DiSanto said. “All the sacrifices and the hardships that you endure over the years are completely worth it when you can change people’s lives.”

Instructor Katie DiSanto with Melanie Basinger, program head.

Good to Know

Admission is competitive for TCC’s nationally accredited Physical Therapist Assistant program, as only 32 spots are available. Five pre-requisite programs are mandatory; Basinger also recommends applicants complete BIO 142 and a humanities elective. While the program requires 40 observation hours for admission, applicants with 200 hours or more put themselves in a better position to be accepted. Applications must be submitted by April 15.

“When you graduate from this program, you are going to be highly sought out by employers. This program is better than any other program in the area, and I would put my students up against anybody,” Basinger said. “We have high expectations of our students and this is a program of excellence not average.”

Sign up

The program offers a one-hour virtual information session the third Thursday of every month at 4 p.m. Email Basinger at mbasinger@tcc.edu to receive the link or for further information.