About TCCTCC provides flexible, affordable education options to over 30,000 students each year, both online and on campuses and centers in all major cities in South Hampton Roads.Learn More
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TCC’s in-person summer camps are back on all campuses
Are you looking for summer fun with a purpose for your kids? Check out Tidewater Community College’s in-person summer camps with offerings for budding engineers, entrepreneurs, outdoor enthusiasts, computer wizards and more.
TCC’s has more than 80 camps, offered over eight weeks, geared for youth ages 8-15.
New Black Rocket Computer camps include YouTube Content Creators, Cyber Spies and Video Game Animation. Other new offerings include Beekeeping, Backpacking and Social Equality camps.
Spark your child’s imagination with interactive and fun programs tailored to their interests and age.
TCC’s week-long programs are affordable and conveniently located on the Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach campuses, and at the Center for Workforce Solutions in Suffolk. Limited enrollment size ensures students receive personalized attention.
Camps begin June 21 and run through the week of Aug. 8.
For a complete listing and to register, visit tcc.edu/camps.
Registration is now open. To receive a $5 discount per camp, register by May 31.
For more information call Emily Richardson at 757-871-7871 or call TCC’s Workforce Solutions Center at 757-822-1234 or email summercamps@tcc.edu.
Learn about everything TCC offers at two open houses, May 21 and June 25
Find your future at Tidewater Community College.
Learn about the gamut of TCC’s programs, including cybersecurity, culinary arts, health sciences, maritime technologies and the many other potential career paths and transfer opportunities the college offers.
Take the next step by visiting one of TCC’s open houses on May 21 and June 25 between 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
On May 21, visit TCC’s Virginia Beach or Portsmouth Campuses.
On June 25, visit the Norfolk Campus, Chesapeake Campus and the Regional Automotive Center.
To learn about the academic programs to be represented at each campus visit here. Visit our website for a complete listing of programs.
There is plenty of time to enroll for fall classes, which begin on Aug. 22.
All are invited, especially:
2022 high school graduates and their families;
adults who want to start or finish a degree, learn a new field, or advance in their careers;
active-duty military and veterans, their spouses and dependents.
You will be able to apply to TCC; learn about financial aid, grants and scholarships; explore academic options; tour campuses; and learn about campus life at all locations.
If you have an eye on a four-year college, TCC can help get you there, too. Transfer agreements allow a student to complete the first two years of a bachelor’s degree at TCC and gain guaranteed admission to most Virginia colleges and universities.
Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made by May 19 and June 23, to the Office of Educational Accessibility by emailing oea@tcc.edu or calling 757-822-7751.
Allison Wilson got her start at Tidewater Community College while still in high school.
She participated in Early College and was part of the cohort from Churchland High School. “Making connections with people I’ve been in class with since third grade was definitely a highlight,” Allison said.
Allison is one of the 45 dual-enrollment students earning associate degrees before graduating from high school this summer. In addition, 98 high schoolers are earning TCC certificates this year.
She credits her mom, Lisa Wilson, with encouraging her to get a head start on college.
“I remember spending hours in the kitchen with my brother as we attended the Lisa Wilson ‘school of public speaking,’” Allison said with a laugh. “That was where we learned to organize our thoughts, project our voices and represent the family, whether it be at church or school.”
All those lessons paved the way for Allison to be selected as the Speaker for the Graduates for TCC’s 74th Commencement Exercises, to be held on May 9, 2022 at the Chartway Arena on the campus of Old Dominion University.
“I started classes at TCC with an aspiring funeral director and one of my mother’s coworkers. Even though I was considerably younger than the others, they treated me like every other student. We quickly became family and our differences didn’t matter,” Allison said.
Allison holds a 3.9 GPA and is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the honor society for two-year schools.
“Coming to TCC while still in high school was a great way to get started on college and save money. I had a great support system with my parents and grandparents,” she said. “I gained study skills that will take me through all of my years in college.”
Continuing to learn during the pandemic brought unique challenges. “Virtual learning forced us to deal with barking dogs, crying babies and spotty internet service,” Allison recalled. “But it also made time for different classes to fit into our schedules and provided unique ways to connect with classmates online.”
While at TCC, Allison remained active in her high school class serving as president of the National Honor Society, vice president of the Student Council, head delegate of the Model UN Team and a participant in the Scholastic Bowl. She also enjoyed spending time with friends and just being a teenager.
In the fall, Allison is transferring to William and Mary where she will study English and pre-law. She hopes to attend law school on the grounds as well, and one day be a state prosecutor.
Allison’s mom, dad, brother and grandparents will gather to celebrate with her at TCC’s Commencement exercises as she shares a message of encouragement.
“My message for my classmates is simple,” Allison said. “As we go to our four-year schools or start careers, we will take the lessons learned and apply them to our daily lives. We will remember the respect shown to us and replicate it. When things get hard, we push forward. Congratulations graduates!”
Father and dual-enrolled daughter graduate together
Marvin Fletcher and his daughter SaNayah Hill were surprised to find out they are graduating from Tidewater Community College at the same time.
“I never thought my daughter and I would be wearing a cap and gown together. I’m utterly speechless,” Marvin said.
SaNayah added, “I feel like it will be a fun experience and not something a lot of people can say.”
“As parents, we want a better start for our kids,” Marvin added. “To see SaNayah graduate with a certificate at 17, I’m really proud. A lot of kids don’t aspire to do all that.”
A military veteran, Marvin served in both the United States Marine Corps and the Army. He spent 12 years doing transportation and logistics, with overseas tours in Afghanistan and Kuwait. “Serving in the military slowed down my studies as I moved around the country and did multiple deployments,” Marvin said.
Marvin credits TCC veterans’ advisor Howard Darden for helping make his graduation possible. “I needed my official transcript from the military so I would get credit for my PE class, and he made that happen.”
He added, “The help I received from the start from TCC’s military center has been monumental to my success and has everything to do with where I am now.”
A native of Portsmouth, Marvin remembers his family living paycheck to paycheck. “My sister Sonya and I would go outside and cut wood, so we’d have a fire in the stove and heat in the house. We had a very humble childhood,” he added.
Marvin also remembers failing at least two classes every year since sixth grade and having no one invested in his education. He attended summer school annually to pass each class and graduated from I.C. Norcom High School.
“I wanted different for my daughter,” Marvin said. “And that’s happened largely because of her mom and my support, and because of her hard work.”
SaNayah decided to pursue the EMT certificate because of her interest in medicine. She hopes to one day be a general practice physician.
SaNayah’s program included ride-alongs with area firefighters, something she called “intense,” but worth it. “I craved the experience and wanted to get out there and do it,” she said. “People often doubt themselves. But I say get out there and do the work and see what doors will open.”
Marvin added that he found a good fit at TCC. “I liked the teachers and the challenge of it all,” he said. “I enjoyed in-person classes then being able to go to faculty and staff and get the help I needed.”
Marvin plans to use his degree to open and manage group homes for disabled adults and veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, something he suffers from as well. He says that it’s a confidence booster earning this degree and a motivator to continue to serve.
“Life isn’t about where you start, but where you finish,” Marvin said. “There were times when I thought I couldn’t do it, but the staff at TCC motivated me and my family support systems made all the difference.”
“Now that I’ve been at TCC for two semesters, I can say it was the best decision ever.” — Rachel Dunn, TCC student
Rachel Dunn is proud to be a Tidewater Community College Student Ambassador and Outstanding High School Graduate Scholar.
“I never really considered community college until my godmother encouraged me to apply,” Rachel said. “Now that I’ve been at TCC for two semesters, I can say it was the best decision ever.”
As an Outstanding High School Graduate Scholar, Rachel is earning her associate degree in two years and paying zero for tuition and fees.
“I started at the community college understanding that it would be a slower pace and I could gather myself and get ready for my four-year school,” she said.
Rachel Dunn at the Portsmouth Campus Student Center.
This scholarship includes required volunteer hours on campus, but Rachel sees this as another benefit. She engages prospective and current students during campus events and also works in the Portsmouth Campus Students Center.
“In the time I’ve known Rachel, I’ve seen how well she manages multiple responsibilities from maintaining a high GPA, to serving as a student ambassador, to caring for younger siblings and working a part-time job,” said Charlene Taylor, Student Center staff member. “I’ve never seen her shy away from a task and she is always willing to serve.”
The student ambassador program also includes leadership training, mentoring and public speaking. All of these opportunities add to the learning curve, especially the soft skills necessary for many careers.
Rachel got her start at the college while she was still in high school. She took dual enrollment classes as a senior at Churchland High. “I was nervous about college, but all that changed after my first class,” she said. “My professor was supportive and encouraging. It helped with my confidence and was just what I needed.”
Rachel is enthusiastic about animals and hopes to one day be a veterinarian. Her work at TCC gave her the courage to begin shadowing a travelling veterinarian in the area.
“I tell everyone no matter how uncomfortable you may be, get out there and give TCC a try,” Rachel said. “The people will be kind to you and the school is like a family. You can’t go wrong coming here.”
In her free time, Rachel spends time with her dog, Cody. She also enjoys hanging out with friends, bowling and helping the Churchland High softball team with their training. Rachel is a former player and was captain of the team during her senior year.
The deadline to apply for the Outstanding High School Graduate Scholarship is April 8, 2022. For more information, contact TCC’s Virtual Student Support Team at 757-822-1111.To learn more about TCC’s dual enrollment program, visit here.
“It’s easy to think it’s too late and you’ve missed your opportunity. But it’s never too late.” – Angi Wood, TCC student
Angela “Angi” Wood says the most important thing she’s learned at TCC is how to be a compassionate nurse.
She credits her nursing skills instructor, Catina Davis, with inspiring her to be an excellent nurse, while also teaching her the nursing process and critical thinking on the job.
Angi is an adult learner who returned to TCC to earn her nursing degree, after spending more than a decade as a stay-at-home mom with her daughter, Adelaide, who is now her biggest cheerleader.
“I hear my daughter telling her friends that I’m in nursing school and she’s really proud,” Angi said. “It’s easy to think it’s too late and you’ve missed the opportunity. But it’s never too late.”
Angi, 41, selected TCC’s nursing program because of its strong reputation in the community and the resources available for students.
“I like the challenge and rigor of the program,” she said. “And TCC has the equipment and simulators to help you gain the skills needed to be a great nurse,” she added.
Angi says that at one point the pressure of adding school to her already busy life was really challenging. “I was dealing with family demands, the pandemic, along with school and work. When I heard about the mental health counseling offered at TCC, I jumped at the opportunity.”
She signed up through TimelyCare, a service provided through Virginia’s Community Colleges. “I worked with my counselor on interventions for stress management and coping skills. At first, we met weekly and now we talk every other week. It’s made a big difference,” she said.
TCC’s nursing program includes clinical rotations in area hospitals, and that’s where Angi found her fit in the Intensive Care Unit. She hopes to land a full-time position after graduation and when she becomes a registered nurse. “It takes a lot of skill to care for critical care patients, and TCC’s program has prepared me well for the task ahead,” she said.
Angi is on track to earn her Associate of Science in Nursing in December 2022. She is earning her bachelor’s in nursing from Old Dominion University concurrently.
Angi’s family, including her husband Randall, and their daughter Adelaide, will be there to cheer her on when she graduates from TCC.
“I got a great education at TCC that’s going to translate into a rewarding career,” Angi said. “I’m ready for the work and looking forward to serving my community.”
For more information on TimelyCare and the other student support services available through the Student Resource and Empowerment Center, visit here.
TCC is hiring adjunct faculty
This is an exciting time to be part of the higher education community in Hampton Roads. Tidewater Community College is currently hiring adjunct faculty to help prepare students for the future.
TCC will host adjunct faculty job fairs as follows:
July 13, 2021 Joint-Use Library – Virginia Beach Campus 4:30 – 7:30 p.m.
July 14, 2021 Portsmouth Campus Student Center 4:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Prospective employees will have an opportunity to meet with pathway deans and faculty from all four campuses. Staff from TCC’s Human Resources office will be on hand to provide information about opportunities available at the college. Adjunct instructor positions are available for face-to-face instruction in the following areas:
Arts and Humanities Art, Music
Engineering, Science and Math Chemistry, Engineering, Environmental Science, Geology
Health Professions Nurse Aide, Nursing (Clinical)
Professional and Public Service Horticulture
Manufacturing and Transportation Automotive, Diesel, Machining, Marine, Mechatronics
Maritime and Skilled Trades AC and Refrigeration, Electrical, Engineering for Natural Science, Maritime, Safety, Trucking, Welding
The Joint Use Library is located at 1700 College Crescent in Virginia Beach. The Portsmouth Campus Student Center is located at 120 Campus Drive Portsmouth. Prospective employees should bring their resumes.
To apply for the positions online visit tcc.edu/jobs.
TCC and JenCare Medical Center to offer COVID-19 vaccine at Portsmouth Campus
Tidewater Community College and JenCare Medical Center will offer a drive-through COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the college’s Portsmouth Campus on May 28 from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
All TCC students, staff and faculty who have not received the COVID-19 vaccine are eligible to attend. The clinic is also open to Portsmouth community members.
Practitioners will administer the first dose of the Moderna vaccine. The second dose will be administered on June 25 from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. in the same location.
There is no cost, but pre-registration is required. Visit here to register and for more information.
Join TCC for Open House on all campuses, May 15
Recent high school grad? Transitioning military? Looking for a promotion? Discover all that community college offers.
Tidewater Community College is opening its doors on all campuses for Open House on May 15 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Advisors will be on hand to help students choose a pathway, apply for admission, get financial aid help and tour the campuses.
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.
Students who are attending college for the first time or recent high school graduates are eligible to receive a free laptop when they enroll and pay for classes.
Tidewater Community College offers 150-plus programs ranging from engineering to the visual and culinary arts to cybersecurity to a plethora of options in computer science.
TCC is a great option for students looking to transfer to the four-year school of their dreams and want to get those general education requirements out of the way without accruing loads of student debt. Transitioning military and career changers can also learn more about program options.
Open house will be at the following locations:
Chesapeake Campus: 1428 Cedar Road
Norfolk Campus: 300 Granby St.
Portsmouth Campus: 120 Campus Drive
Virginia Beach Campus: Advanced Technology Center, 1800 College Crescent
TCC and the Foodbank announce the opening of the Portsmouth Campus Community Feed at TCC
Tidewater Community College and the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore unveiled the Portsmouth Campus Community Feed at TCC during a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony. The Portsmouth Campus site marks the partnership’s second location of The Community Feed — with the first opening at MacArthur Center in June 2020.
The Community Feed at TCC provides access to fresh fruits and vegetables; and as safety measures lift, will also bring individuals together to connect with one another over great food and conversation; share resources such as recipe cards, books and wellness materials; and participate in workshops and learning sessions led by strategic community partners addressing the root causes of food insecurity, which include lack of access to financial literacy, housing, employment, higher education and healthcare.
“We recognize that many of our students face food insecurity that affects not just themselves, but their family and ultimately, their studies,” said Dr. Marcia Conston, TCC President. “At TCC, we prioritize student success which includes helping our students identify and eliminate the barriers. The Community Feed at our Portsmouth Campus ensures that our students can receive meals, nonperishable foods, and fresh fruits and vegetables to maintain a healthy lifestyle.”
The Community Feed at TCC program was launched with a $250,000 donation from TowneBank to the Foodbank in 2019 to establish up to four campus-based pantries that will serve TCC students. TowneBank is a long-time supporter of the Foodbank and has demonstrated a commitment to addressing community issues, including food insecurity among college students.
“The Foodbank is committed to closing the Meal Gap by 2025 and making measurable progress toward addressing the root causes of food insecurity, including limited access to higher education. We understand that education has a significant impact on an individual’s potential to earn a living wage and consistently put food on their table,” said Dr. Ruth Jones Nichols, President & CEO, Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore.
TCC student Nicole Clarke visited the MacArthur location for first time this month. She was able to pick out produce, meats and some prepackaged meals. She also received a bike lock and a small piece of artwork for her home.
“I absolutely appreciate the Community Feed and I want to spread the word that there are resources out there and it’s for you,” Clarke said. “Go there and get the help you need. It’s the best feeling to be welcomed and served in this way.”
The Portsmouth Campus Community Feed at TCC is open to all TCC students with a valid student ID — with a long-term goal of opening the facility to the community. The Community Feed at TCC is currently available by appointment only on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
First-time participants must register via the online enrollment form, and upon completion, utilize the online scheduling tool to select a time to pick up pre-packaged meal kits to prepare nutritious meals at home. Online reservations for pick-up are highly encouraged.
VNG presented TCC with a $20,000 donation for the Food to Finish program.
Food to Finish program
In addition, the Foodbank and TCC debuted the Food to Finish Program — an initiative to support students facing food insecurity, funded in part by a $20,000 donation from Virginia Natural Gas. The Food to Finish Program gives currently enrolled students access to fresh produce, meats and other groceries at the Community Feed at TCC locations, enabling them to save money for other necessities and to maintain their focus on academics. Students can receive up to 30 pounds of food each week. Students can apply on the online Food to Finish application form.
Student Resource and Empowerment Centers are now on every campus
TCC also launched the Student Resource and Empowerment Center (SREC), a Single Stop site that connects students with a variety of free and comprehensive social services and financial resources to help them stay focused on their academic goals. The college-wide initiative includes case managers on every TCC campus.
The Clothes Closet is just one offering in the new center.
These programs and resources are designed to work together to holistically address the needs of students, ultimately cultivating an environment in which students can focus on their studies and personal development.
“This resource center is the direct result of what happens when the staff dreams and rallies together around a shared vision of engaging our students in their own success and providing the support they need to get there,” said Jeanne Natali, director of the SREC. “Building on the strong foundation of the Women’s Center, this center opens its door today to help students navigate the complex web of campus and community resources.”
SREC case managers Melvilyn Scott and Sophia Tolliver.
Additional information about the Student Resource and Empowerment Center is available by emailing Jeanne Natali at jnatali@tcc.edu.
Portsmouth dual enrollment students learn a trade that will last a lifetime
Tidewater Community College’s Portsmouth Campus is home to the area’s largest welding lab.
On most weekday mornings, students from Portsmouth Public Schools are transported from their high schools to the Portsmouth Campus, where they are learning a trade that will last a lifetime.
Aurora Finchum
Moody with students in the lab.
Instructor Marcus Moody, a TCC graduate, provides instruction and guides students with their hands-on learning.
“I like teaching welding because we’re giving students a skill that will last the rest of their life. I enjoy seeing that spark when they get it,” Moody said. “Coming from industry, I’m sharing job success skills too. We talk a lot about responsibility, accountability, being on time and safety on the job.”
The Portsmouth Campus is home to the area’s largest welding lab.
Once in the lab, students put on safety gear and head to individual booths where they can safely handle the tools of the trade. During each session, Moody, ever watchful, moves about the lab assisting students with their projects.
“We’ve been delivering hands-on instruction to our dual-enrolled welding students even though Portsmouth Public Schools are still fully remote,” said Thomas Stout, pathway dean for Maritime and Skilled Trades. “We have 22 students, and they were all eager to get back in the lab.”
TCC’s welding curriculum lines up with industry standards. The lab is an official testing facility for the American Welding Society.
Finchum and Ryan Payton
Students who complete the program are sought by employers in South Hampton Road, including shipyards, power plants and private companies. The median pay, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, exceeds $42,000.
What students are saying
“I picked up welding pretty easily. It’s just fun to me. I plan to do nuclear welding on a ship or power station. I’m more confident now and know I will get a job after high school without having to do extra training. It helps that Mr. Moody is a pretty good teacher and very understanding.” – Aurora Finchum, Churchland High
“I want to be an underwater welder. I like being in the water, and I like welding. With this job, I can combine two things I enjoy. Mr. Moody is a great teacher. He won’t tell you the answer but leads you to find it on your own. That’s how you get better. Every day I learn more and more.” – Ryan Payton, Woodrow Wilson High
About the instructor
A skilled technician, Moody has more than seven years of industry experience. He has worked in machine shops and for private contractors, where he built parts for machinery.
Instructor Marcus Moody
More information
Learn about TCC’s welding certificate programs here or contact Dean Stout at tstout@tcc.edu. For information about TCC’s dual enrollment programs for high school students, email enroll@tcc.edu.
Live! Inside a Nursing skills lab
In this series, we provide a closer look at hands-on learning duringCOVID-19.
While COVID-19 means online learning for most Tidewater Community College students, many are 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.
A peek inside a Nursing skills lab
Clinical skills labs offer nursing students the opportunity to be hands-on with what they learned in theory. Because of precautions related to COVID-19, NSG106 is taught in a hybrid format with social distancing measures in place. Simulated labs in Building C on the Portsmouth Campus are lined with hospital beds holding “patients” (mannequins), each with an individualized chart. Today’s skill is wound care. The future nurses practice how to change dressing for a wound while assessing for signs of healing or potential complications related to infection.
They practice wound irrigation and document all findings in a simulated electronic medical record.
“We’re testing their critical thinking skills about how they would a handle a situation due to an abnormal finding,” said Rita Bouchard, associate dean of TCC’s Beazley School of Nursing.
Assistant Professor Catina Davis works with student Will Howard
Additional skills labs in a student nurse’s initial semester include sterile techniques, catheter insertion, dosage calculation and safe medication administration.
The students will be tested on all skills to access their competency prior to Thanksgiving.
Student voices
“I’m a hands-on learner, so this is what I do best.” — Karen Everett
“We do assessments, IV tubing, dress wounds — all the interesting fun staff — in here.” — Montana Chambers
Student Casey assesses a wound under the direction of Davis.
“It’s nice to practice all the hands-on skills here before you have to do them in an actual clinical setting.” — Katie Casey
“The best part is practicing our clinical skills.” — Will Howard
About the instructor
Assistant professor Catina Davis works one-on-one during skills labs to answer specific questions, offer constructive advice and remind the students not to overlook any of the details on their checklist. Davis started at TCC as an adjunct professor in 2016. She holds a doctorate in nursing practice from Walden University, a master’s with a focus in nursing education from Old Dominion University and a bachelor’s of nursing from Norfolk State University. Davis also has maternal newborn and medical surgical nursing experience.
Howard documents his findings.
Good to know
Even first-semester nursing students participate in clinical rotations. Each spends a total of 45 hours at either a Sentara or Bon Secours facility. “Everything they learned today,” Davis said, “they will be ready to do onsite.”
More information
Learn about TCC’s associate degree program in nursing here or contact enroll@tcc.edu.
Take pre-calc with Mr. Z and you’ll learn more than numbers
Take pre-calculus from Tidewater Community College’s Aziz Zahraoui and you won’t just learn about numbers. You’ll learn how they apply to life.
The adjunct instructor on the Portsmouth Campus is one of two Virginians to receive a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. In addition to teaching at the college, Zahraoui has taught math at Churchland High School for the last 15 years.
“What is this used for?” is the question Zahraoui returns to repeatedly when presenting his students with an equation.
“Most math didn’t fall from the sky,” he said. “You’re solving an actual problem. I anchor all of my lessons in a particular problem.”
Sometimes it’s how to correctly determine the amount of fondant for an awkwardly sized cake. Or how you make sure your $1,000 drone doesn’t fly astray.
“We are learning mathematics, but not because of a problem from a textbook but because we need a real-world solution,” he said.
Moroccan-born Zahraoui, whose students call him Mr. Z, moved to this country at age 22 to pursue his education.
“I’m one of those dreamers,” he said. “I wanted to work for NASA. When I was looking at the U.S. I was looking at schools that had a connection with NASA.”
Zahraoui’s aspirations relating to space initially made him consider enlisting in the Air Force. A trip to King’s Dominion changed his mind.
“It was the first time I had been into a theme park,” he said. His reaction? “Never again.”
He couldn’t stomach the physical effect of being off the ground. He tossed the letters from the military and recalibrated. He took his early classes at TCC before completing a bachelor’s in computer science at Old Dominion University.
Walking to the stage on his graduation day from Old Dominion, a friend tapped him on the shoulder and advised, “You really should consider teaching.”
Something inside him awakened. His parents, still in Morocco, can’t read or write, but education has always been huge for his family. His father took out a second mortgage so Zahraoui could come to the United States to study.
Now Zahraoui’s passion is helping others learn, and he stresses the value of starting at a community college.
“Anybody who is taking higher ed courses, they cannot not think about the advantage of taking classes at such an affordable price,” he said. “TCC was a no-brainer for me, and the quality of education is comparable to the four-year.”
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.
Supplies for the science lab kits
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.
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.
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.
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.
New criminal justice program head on Portsmouth Campus shows students the real side of law enforcement
Kelly Kraynak’s introduction to law enforcement started when she was 16.
“I had my wallet stolen out of my car,” she said.
The ensuing conversation with a police sergeant inspired her to see policing from the inside. Recently retired from a 30-year career with local and state police in her native Connecticut, Kraynak joined Tidewater Community College at the beginning of spring semester as program head of administration of justice for the Portsmouth Campus.
“I can take the book and apply it to real-life situations, and that’s what the criminal justice staff does at every TCC campus,” said the assistant professor. “It’s been a whole gamut of amazing things in my career.”
Bicycle patrol. Chases, births, CPR. She’s even been undercover as a high school student. “I loved the job,” she said.
As a teen, Kraynak signed up for Police Explorers, a career-oriented program that exposes young adults to law enforcement careers. Hired by the Hartford Police Department, she assisted in the detective bureau prior to turning 21, the age required to enter the police academy
Her 10 years on the job as a police officer was followed by 20 with Connecticut State Police.
“I enjoyed the adventure, the high action,” she said. “That’s what makes people watch crime shows. They pack a lot in an hour, but that’s all negated by the paperwork.”
Kraynak is a community college graduate herself, having earned an associate in criminal justice from Manchester Community College, where she also was an adjunct instructor. She completed her bachelor’s at Mountain State University followed by a master’s at Boston University.
“I totally get the fact that community college students might be single moms or military or have family needs,” she said. “As long as I see someone trying, I’m willing to work with them. Community college is here to provide success for people who otherwise might not have the opportunity.”
Kraynak teaches a full course load of classes that she strives to make engaging and interactive. The negativity surrounding law enforcement concerns her enough that she encourages thoughtful discussion about topics that include the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri and the death of Eric Garner in Baltimore.
“In many ways, we’ve reverted back to the 1960s with all the racial issues happening,” she said. “I want to be the voice of change, the voice that educates and explains.”
Encouraging women and minorities to enter the field is important, she said, as recruitment for both in policing is at an all-time low. The former linebacker – yes, she was a football player for the Connecticut Crush of the National Women’s Football League – enjoys being a mentor.
“Women often push other women away because they’ve had it so tough,” she said. “I always found mentorship in the department to be rewarding.”
Now she takes that role at TCC.
Students who earn associate degrees in criminal justice benefit, she said, from the foundation the program provides. That head start makes graduates competitive candidates, whether they choose to go to work immediately, enter the police academy or transfer to a four-year university.
Kraynak also plans to take an active role in TCC’s Portsmouth-based Criminal Justice Club. A trip to Liberty University for a hands-on learning opportunity at a mock crime scene has become an annual ritual. She’s working on sponsored lecture panels and other opportunities to give students a window into law enforcement.
“It’s important for us to give students a real-life show of what goes on,” she said. “Luckily we’ve got instructors who bring that experience.”
In her free time, Kraynak is on the move. Last summer, she completed her first Ironman in Quebec and is training for another.
Interested in exploring a criminal justice career? Contact Kraynak at kkraynak@tcc.edu
At work on a doctorate at Johns Hopkins, the founder of two nonprofits credits TCC
Ateba Gaines didn’t think she was very smart, but Tidewater
Community College’s Dr. Samuel Lamb told her she would one day have the title
“Dr.” preceding her name.
At the time he was provost of the Portsmouth Campus, and she
was a work-study student in his office.
Back then, she wondered, “What is this man talking about?”
Today the 46-year-old entrepreneur holds a master’s in
international management, touts a resume that includes Nike and a nonprofit
that attracted support from Taylor Swift, Kristen Stewart
and Lea Michele. She’s spoken at Stanford and will talk to an audience at Yale
in April. She’s immersed in a second nonprofit focusing on creativity and
youth.
Ateba Gaines, 46, plans to complete her doctorate before she turns 50.
None of it would be possible, she says, without those first steps she took at TCC, where she earned an associate in business administration and developed the confidence to succeed.
“I like to say TCC refined my street hustle, but really TCC
saved my life,” she says. “If it wasn’t for that school, my socio-economic
level and my potential to be creative would have never expanded beyond the
street.”
Gaines grew up in Jersey City, surrounded by her father’s
abuse and a working mother who struggled to put food on the table. She amused
herself by dreaming up ideas for businesses; one involved singing with a cousin
at an old trash site and charging a quarter for admission. A move to Newport
News didn’t provide the escape she hoped for when her mother started another
unhealthy relationship.
Gaines struggled at Denbigh High School, got pregnant
shortly after and made money selling herself on the street. It was all she
could think of to put food on the table until one-day her wide-eyed son told
her of his plans to be a preacher.
“You want to be a preacher?” she said, staring intently at
the 2-year-old. That led her to find her own church, Calvary Revival in
Norfolk. Her faith motivated her to find a better future. She started classes
at TCC and surprised herself with good grades.
“I didn’t even know what Dean’s List was when they told me I
was on it,” she says.
On a whim, she ran for president of Student Government on
the Portsmouth Campus and won. “I learned how to communicate, how to make
presentations, how to delegate authority and how to become a leader,” she says.
An elective she didn’t want to take, Intercultural
Communication, opened her eyes even more. The textbook, “The Do’s and Taboos of
International Trade,” became her go-to read. The instructor encouraged her to
dream big – graduate school big.
“I didn’t even have my associate degree and she wanted us to
think about graduate schools,” Gaines recalls.
Gaines fixated on Portland State University after reading
about its international management program. She graduated from TCC and after
completing her bachelor’s in international business at Christopher Newport
University, she applied.
Accepted into Portland State, Gaines drove a U-Haul pulling
her beat up Ford across the country, her son in tow.
“We drove cross country and when we got to the Oregon sign,
we got out and danced,” she says.
Achieving her master’s led Gaines to an opportunity at Nike,
where she started in customer service, was promoted in less than a year and
ultimately managed the shoe company’s southeast Asian accounts.
A marriage to a Virginian brought Gaines home to Hampton
Roads, where she’s done a bit of everything. She worked her way up at Old
Dominion University from instructor to chief departmental advisor in
international marketing. She started her own nonprofit, Shoe Revolt, inviting
celebrities to donate used shoes, hence visualizing the initiative of kicking
human trafficking to the curb.
“Instead of seeing scary pictures, I wanted to use
celebrities to bring attention to the problem,” she says.
Gaines was overwhelmed when Swift and Michele donated along
with others including Sarah Jessica Parker and Barbara Corcoran from “Shark
Tank,” now a business contact.
Her world went blank when she suffered a stroke at age 40, told she would not likely be able to walk or talk again or regain her executive leadership functioning. Gaines didn’t let that defeat her. Instead, she rehabbed to the point that she started the doctorate program in entrepreneurial leadership at Johns Hopkins University – making good on those words from Lamb she can recite as if she heard them yesterday.
Ateba Gaines, center, with a group of her “Unreasonable Kids”
Last summer, she started another nonprofit, Unreasonable
Kids, which encourages youth from 7 to 17 to think out of the box in regard to
social issues.
“Where adults see problems, kids see opportunity,” she says.
“I want to teach them young that they have a voice.”
The Yorktown resident, a mother of
three, will teach multiple camps at TCC this summer under the Unreasonable Kids
umbrella. She loves the idea of returning to the college that she credits with
seeing more in her than she saw in herself.
“I learned through TCC to say yes to the process and any
opportunity that presents itself,” she says. “It’s true what they say. You
really can go anywhere from there.”
MLK scholarship recipient: “TCC literally saved my life.”
Jacquelyn Boykins grew up appreciating Martin Luther King Jr.
Today the 66-year-old Tidewater Community College student shares a bond with the legendary Civil Rights leader and reverend.
Visiting the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis where King was assassinated late last year moved Boykins. An unfinished cup of coffee on his nightstand inside the Lorraine Hotel and his parked vehicle out front made news footage she had watched and rewatched more personal.
“I’m no stranger to the struggle,” she said. “I lived in the era where we were not able to sit at the counter at Woolworth’s because of the color of our skin. I was one of three people who attended the seventh grade during the first years of integration. I lived through that era, but when I was at that museum, I became that era.”
Applying for the TCC scholarship was almost a calling for the human services student who offers this, “TCC literally saved my life.”
As a clerk for the Norfolk Redevelopment Housing Authority, Boykins witnessed firsthand how treatment of low-income residents with little or no education often left them frustrated. She had been in public housing herself and often felt on the other end of dispassionate treatment. It was a cycle she vowed to change through her own education.
When she applied to TCC, Boykins had been out of school for 50 years. She didn’t finish high school. Her grandparents raised her after she lost her mother at 17. She endured desperate times, surviving domestic violence and succumbing to a depression that led to chronic health problems, including diabetes.
She found assistance through the Open Door Project on the Norfolk Campus, and from here, Boykins thrived.
The federally-funded program helps students with academic performance while providing support services to keep them in school.
“I had never been to a live play; I had never been to a museum,” Boykins said. “TCC changed all that. My hunger for learning accelerated. What I love about TCC is that they’re there every step of the way to encourage you.”
Pleasantly surprised by her ability to make A’s in the classroom, Boykins is finishing up her associate degree in human services and she’d eventually like to transfer to Old Dominion University to work toward a bachelor’s in social work.
“I’d like to volunteer at facilities that don’t have funds to have a social worker,” she said.
Currently, Boykins is an advocate for Chesapeake Crossing, a senior community. She advises tenants of their rights and assists with any paperwork related to Social Security, social services, fuel assistance and voting.
The Chesapeake resident has three adult children, Lena Benn, Sid Boykins Jr. and Sidni Cooper and two grandchildren, John W. Benn III and Elaina Wilson.
She was accompanying Cooper, an author of historical romance whose pen name is Sidni B, to Memphis for a book signing when she visited the Civil Rights museum. She’ll never forget it.
“The somber atmosphere and reverence I felt for Dr. King while I was there – we clicked,” she said. “When I learned about this scholarship, I had no choice but to apply.
“I will use this money to better educate myself in helping people with their life situations.”
From Fortnite to formulas, TCC summer camps offer something for everyone
Designing your own version of Fortnite? Channeling your inner entrepreneur? Learning to publish original content on YouTube?
Tidewater Community College ramped up its camp offerings for the summer to include a plethora of new options.
Check out all of TCC’s summer camps for budding scientists, engineers, video game enthusiasts, interior designers, computer wizards and more. TCC camps have options for elementary, middle school and high school aged-youth.
Students at work in the STEM camp.
Other popular options:
Junior Veterinarian School encourages campers to explore turning their love for animals into a career.
Creative Writing lets middle school-aged kids explore their creative side by working with college faculty in writing and producing a short play.
Video Game Animation encourages campers to take their game design skills to the next level by creating and animating their own characters and objects.
Interior Design Bootcamp has students explore the design process and tackle a realistic design problems.
STEM Camps exposes campers to careers in science, technology, engineering and math.
TCC’s week-long, affordable programs are located on its Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach campuses, and at the Center for Workforce Solutions in Suffolk. Camps are offered from June through August.
Limited enrollment size ensures all campers receive personalized attention.
Campers from Veterinarian Medicine 101.
There is an early bird pre-registration discount of $5 per camp through May 31. Scholarships are available for some camps, and noted online in the camp description.
For a complete listing of camps, visit tcc.edu/camps. Registration is now open.
