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Black History Month 2020

Tidewater Community College celebrates Black History Month 2020 with a keynote address by Vernon J. Hurte, associate vice president and dean of students at Iowa State University, on Feb. 28 at noon in the multi-purpose room at the Portsmouth Campus Student Center. Pre-registration is required. To save your spot click here.

Vernon Hurte is the keynote speaker for TCC’s Black History Month celebration.

Hurte formerly directed the Center for Student Diversity at William & Mary. He was senior pastor of the historic New Light Baptist Church in Richmond for nearly a decade.  Hurte was awarded William & Mary’s Chambers-Reid Award for Professional Excellence and named one of Inspire Magazine’s Top 40 inspirers in America.

The national theme for Black History Month is “African Americans and the Vote.”

At TCC, the month includes an assortment of free, public activities throughout February with speakers, discussions and entertainment at campuses in Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach.

For more information, contact intercultural@tcc.edu or 757-822-7296.

Events, which are subject to change, are on a first-come, first-served basis. For the most up-to-date listing of events, visit www.tcc.edu/black-history.

Each year, Tidewater Community College honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during Black History Month with a distinguished service award to a TCC faculty or staff member, and provides a scholarship to a TCC student. To view the winners of the 2020 awards visit www.tcc.edu/black-history.

Campus Events

Chesapeake Campus

Feb. 5

Black History Month Movie: “Get Out”
12:30 – 2 p.m., Chesapeake Campus Student Center, Veterans Lounge
“Get Out” is written and directed by Jordan Peele. This story about racism isn’t a drama or comedy. Instead, it’s a horror film.

Black History Month Movie: “42 – The Jackie Robinson Story”
2:30 – 4 p.m., Chesapeake Campus Student Center, Veterans Lounge
The film chronicles the life of Jackie Robinson, the first African-American to play Major League Baseball.

Feb. 13

Thinkfast Gameshow Black History Month Trivia
12:30 – 1 p.m. and 1-1:30 p.m., Student Center, Chesapeake Bay Room
Test your knowledge of black history and pop culture for a chance to win up to $200! Student ID required to participate.

Feb. 19 & 20

Black History Cultural Festival – Day
12:15 – 1:30 p.m. – Student Center, Chesapeake Bay Room and Academic Building
Explore cultural dance, fashion, arts, storytelling, music, food and education as it relates to black history.

Black History Cultural Festival – Evening
6 – 7 p.m. – Student Center, Chesapeake Bay Room and Academic Building
Explore cultural dance, fashion, arts, storytelling, music, food and education as it relates to black history.

Feb. 26

Black History Month Movie: “House Party”
12:30 – 2 p.m., Chesapeake Campus Student Center, Veterans Lounge
The comedy “House Party” stars the rap duo Kid ‘N Play.

Black History Month Movie: “A Wrinkle in Time”
2:30 – 4 p.m., Chesapeake Campus Student Center, Veterans Lounge
After the disappearance of her scientist father, three peculiar beings send Meg, her brother and her friend into space to find him.

 Norfolk Campus

Feb. 6

African American Artist Showcase
Noon – 1 p.m., Norfolk Campus Student Center, lobby
Meet student artists and view their work.

Feb. 19

The Divine 9 Greek Fest
Noon – 1:30 p.m., Norfolk Campus Student Center, 5th floor
Join us for a conversation about the history and significance of black Greek fraternities and sororities.

Feb. 20

Financial Empowerment in Black America
Noon – 2 p.m., Norfolk Campus Student Center, 5th floor
Learn about ways to leverage your cash to build wealth by engaging with black business owners and community leaders. Special guests include Ron Lewis with LTC2 Consulting; Will Randolph with Legacy Banking; and Vivian Oden with Hampton Roads Community Foundation. 

Feb. 25

Entrepreneurship in Black America
Noon – 1:30 p.m., Norfolk Campus Student Center, 5th floor
Join us as we view “BOSS: The Black Experience in Business.” Stay for a panel discussion as black business owners share their experiences of barriers, challenges, successes and key factors that led to their success.

Portsmouth Campus

Feb. 7

First Fridays: Vocalize (open mic) 
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Portsmouth Campus Student Center, The Commons
Share your talent and creativity with a focus on black history, heritage, culture and life.

Feb. 13

Race to the ballot – a conversation with faculty and leaders
12:30 -1:30 p.m., | Portsmouth Campus Student Center, E124-126
Join the conversation with a panel of faculty and community organizers to discuss the 2020 elections as they pertain to issues impacting African Americans.

Feb. 20

A stage production of “Abolitionists’ Museum” 
12:30 -1:30 p.m. Portsmouth Campus Student Center, The Commons
JuneteenthVA Theater company presents “Abolitionists’ Museum,” a play written by Sheri Bailey about Harriet Tubman, Abraham Lincoln, Sojourner Truth, John Brown, Nat Turner, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Beecher Stow and David Walker as wax figures in a museum in a debate moderated by the museum curator.

Virginia Beach Campus

Feb. 4

Black History Month kickoff event
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Virginia Beach Campus Student Center, 2nd Floor Breezeway
Celebrate Black History Month with food, drinks and activities.

Feb. 6

Black History Month Movie: “Lincoln”
10 a.m., Virginia Beach Campus Student Center, TV Lounge While the Civil War continues to rage, President Lincoln struggles with the continuing carnage on the battlefield as he fights with many inside his own cabinet on the decision to emancipate the slaves.

Feb. 10

Black History Month Movie: “Black Panther”
3 p.m., Virginia Beach Campus Student Center, TV Lounge
In the hidden but advanced kingdom of Wakanda, T’Challa must step forward to lead his people into a new future and confront a challenger from his country’s past.

Feb. 12

Poetry Slam
2 p.m., Virginia Beach Campus Student Center, Cafe
Step up to the mic and let your creativity flow!

Feb. 19

Black History Month Movie: “13th”
Noon, Virginia Beach Campus Student Center, TV Lounge
The film takes an in-depth look at the prison system in the United States and reveals the nation’s history of racial inequality.

Feb. 20

Make your own “I have a dream” vision board
1 -2:30 p.m., Virginia Beach Campus Student Center, Cafe
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr., make your own vision board to reflect the values he held dear.

Feb. 25

Trivia Night
5:30 p.m., Virginia Beach Campus Student Center, 2nd-floor Breezeway
Test your knowledge of black history.

Feb. 27

Black History Month Movie: “Mudbound”
3:30 p.m., Virginia Beach Campus Student Center, TV Lounge
Based on the story of two men who return home from World War II to work on a farm in rural Mississippi, where they struggle to deal with racism and adjust to life after war.

Student speaker was always ahead of the rest

If you’re Lauren Lewis, why wait?

That’s her secret to graduating from Tidewater Community College at 18 years old. A month after walking in the college’s 69th Commencement Exercises on Dec. 16, she’ll transfer to Norfolk State University where she’ll be awarded junior status. Lewis, graduating with her Associate of Science in Social Sciences, is the student speaker for the graduates.

“We all have assignments we want to wait until the last minute to complete,” she’ll tell the class of 2019. “The key is don’t procrastinate.”

“With TCC as your foundation,” she says, “you can go anywhere,” — Lauren Lewis

Let’s just say Lewis comes by this wisdom naturally. Her parents had her reading by the time she was 2 years old. She devoured one Junie B. Jones book after another, adding the “Wimpy Kid” collection to her shelf in middle school.

“I’m really goal-oriented,” she admits, offering a snapshot of her thought process from her phone. It’s one of many to-do lists with deadlines. This particular one is academic-related with due dates for applications for NSU’s nursing program and summer classes. The final sentence from the checklist:

‍ GRADUATION in Summer 2022 but can’t walk until December 2022

Lewis’ accelerated academic path started in the most inauspicious of ways. She didn’t want to dress out for gym at Churchland High, so her family agreed to pay for her to take it during her eighth-grade summer. That made Lewis realize how much she could achieve by using her summers wisely. She completed First College on the Portsmouth Campus and entered TCC with 16 credits.

She was 16 years old.

Lewis received the Outstanding High School Graduate Award Scholarship from the Portsmouth Campus. That pays the full cost of tuition and fees; in return, Lewis is a student ambassador. She will graduate from TCC without any student debt.

Lewis considered being a pediatrician but wants to be more hands-on with patients. “Being a pediatric nurse will allow me to do that,” she said.

Not surprisingly, Lewis is already looking ahead to 2020, planning out her class schedule so it balances with a part-time job. Another to-do list holds her accountable for a rare splurge: She’s saving for a Caribbean cruise in May. She makes sure she contributes to that fund on the 5th day of every month.

That might mean forgoing a latte or two, but Lewis is intent on nothing impeding her path once she sets her mind to it.

“It’s good to be different,” her mom always told her. Lewis lives by those words and can’t wait to get started with the next step of her journey.

“With TCC as your foundation,” she says, “you can go anywhere.”

Thanksgiving comes early to the Portsmouth Campus

Thanksgiving came a week early at Tidewater Community College’s Portsmouth Campus with a pop-up market full of everyone’s favorites for the holidays.

Students took home overflowing bags of staples, including – collard greens and apples, sweet and white potatoes, onions, stuffing, apple sauce, mac cheese and even fresh poultry. Food was supplied by the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, a new partner in an initiative with TCC to eliminate food insecurity among college students. TowneBank donated $250,000 toward what is a five-year plan.

Student Miciah Owens took part in the pop-up market on the Portsmouth Campus.

The pop-up market is one of several scheduled for the Norfolk and Portsmouth campuses. A campus-based Pantry and Food Scholarship Program will open in both student centers in 2020. Qualifying students will be able to access a consistent source of food as long as they continue to pursue their TCC degree or certificate.

But Wednesday’s pop-up market only required students to show their TCC ID; all were welcome.

“Having all this fresh fruit and vegetables is amazing,” said Jordan Robinson, one of an army of students lugging several bags to the parking lot.

Fresh foods were part of the fare at the Portsmouth Campus pop-up market

Some students talked about using the food for tonight’s supper. Others said they will save the food to prepare a healthy Thanksgiving meal for their families.

Michelle Woodhouse, provost of the Portsmouth Campus, said when life happens – bills and tuition payments are due and unexpected expenses arise  – students have to sacrifice something and often it’s their next meal. Pride often forces them to remain hungry rather than seek assistance. Grades plummet and some students are forced to drop out.

Tackling the stigma that interferes with asking for help is one of the reasons she wanted this pop-up market to be inclusive.

“We wanted to create this themed event around Thanksgiving,” she said. “We want to bring happiness to students and give them something positive around the holidays.”

Volunteers from the Foodbank teamed with TCC students and staff to assist with distribution.

As students passed through the line on the crisp fall afternoon, they juggled their knapsacks with multiple bags of food. They couldn’t say thank you enough in response to:

“Fresh greens?”

“How about another bag of carrots?

“Would you like a chicken?”

“For a lot of people, this is their only food,” said student Yvette Funney, mother to four children. “I’ve got chicken, potatoes, collard greens, vegetables. This is all such a blessing.”

The Portsmouth Campus will host additional pop-up markets from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. on Dec 3 and Jan. 29, 2020.

The Norfolk Campus will host pop-up markets from 11:30 p.m. until 1 p.m. on Dec. 2 and Jan. 23, 2020.

TCC celebrates first-generation college students & graduates

First-generation college students often have no one in their household to help them overcome the educational challenges they face.

“I almost quit,” said Shannon O’Conner, a first-generation success story who started by earning her associate at Tidewater Community college before moving to Old Dominion University for her bachelor’s and Norfolk State University for a master’s in criminal justice. “We’ve all gone through the same story. Hard times. Not sure what we’re going to do.”

TCC makes sure first-generation college students – or those whose parents or legal guardians did not complete a bachelor’s degree – don’t travel the road alone. The college’s Norfolk and Portsmouth campuses celebrated their first-generation students, faculty and administrators in events held in early November. The days were selected to coincide with the signing of the Higher Education Act of 1965.

Dymend Woodley, De’Jonae Hayes and Courtney Brown are first-generation students at the Portsmouth Campus.

The cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth each issued special proclamations recognizing first-generation college students. Along with popcorn, cotton candy and hot dogs, each event included inspiring speeches, banners for students to sign and “first gen” buttons. Students received free books titled “Every Student Has a Story.”

TCC’s Open Door Project received grant money earlier this year toward helping raise awareness of the accomplishments of first-generation students and staff. The federally funded program helps low income, first-generation students by providing free academic, career and cultural counseling.

“If you don’t have the support at home, remember you have it here,” said Dana Hathorn, dean of student services at the Portsmouth Campus and a first-generation college graduate.

On the Portsmouth Campus, 53 percent of graduates are first-generation; Jeanine Anderson was one of them when she graduated last year.

“It’s never too late to start,” said Anderson, 45, who earned two associate degrees from TCC and works part time at the Open Door Project office in Portsmouth. “It’s never too dark. You can always come here and find the light and be the light.”

Like Anderson, alumna Cynthia Felton had to overcome homelessness to start college at the Norfolk Campus.  “Thanks to Open Door, I’m a success,” she said. “There’s no words when you actually succeed.”

At TCC Norfolk, 51 percent of graduates are first-generation.

Willette Hackney-Davis walked in the doors at TCC, working three jobs and relying on food stamps. The tools she learned through Open Door, where she now works as an academic advisor, helped her graduate from TCC and complete an advanced degree. “You have to find your open doors and then walk through them.”

Eligible students for Open Door receive free tutoring, study skill workshops and specialized financial aid advising. They can qualify for a laptop loan program. The students also can participate in cultural trips; this weekend the group is traveling to Washington, D.C., to visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

WTKR reporter Margaret Kavanagh talks with Norfolk students Nathan Quarles and Cynthia Felton.

Portsmouth student Shanice Mills is among those planning to go. “It’s hard being a first-generation student; you don’t have the support system at home,” she said. “Being part of the Open Door Project, everybody’s helped me find support no matter what I do.”

For more information about the Open Door Project, contacts its director, Kay Williams, at kwilliams@tcc.edu.

There’s still time to apply to TCC Accelerated Degree Program

While most of us think of it taking at least two years to receive an associate degree, Tidewater Community College offers an accelerated option that allows you to complete all of your credits in just one year.

TCC is accepting applications for students interested in earning an Associate of Science in General Studies or an Associate of Science in Business Administration through its Accelerated Degree Program (ADP).

Accelerated Degree may be your fast track to a bachelor’s

The ADP satisfies freshman and sophomore general education requirements at most Virginia public colleges and universities. Students who complete the degree and meet the GPA required for admission at their transfer institution will likely be admitted as juniors.

The application deadline is July 26; learn about all the documents necessary to apply here.

The business degree is offered both on campus and 100% online. On campus students must attend classes on either the Norfolk or Portsmouth campuses. They received dedicated advising, including monthly check-ins.

Meredith Pollard, lead counselor and ADP advisor, recommends the program for:

*High achieving students with a clear career path

*Students who already have college credits

*Active duty military and dependents who are stationed in Hampton Roads

Nargis Martin graduated with her accelerated degree in May. “I learn a lot better when it’s going faster, and I’ve appreciated the extra help provided by my ADP teachers and advisor,” she said. Even the monthly check-ins are great because I could express concerns and keep on top of everything.”

Meredith Pollard in the advising area on Norfolk Campus.

Pollard is happy to help. She got her start as an earth science teacher at Booker T Washington High, and while there, found her passion helping students find their career paths. She returned to school for her master’s in high education administration and joined TCC’s advising staff in 2012.

“My greatest joy is to see students graduate after they’ve been told that they can’t do it,” she said. “I see so many small successes day by day, and that’s what excites me about my work. Every day there are new challenges and a chance to change someone’s future.”

For more information, email accelerated_degree@tcc.edu.

Pollard’s top tips for all students:

*Come to campus well before the semester starts. Giving yourself two or three weeks of lead time will help when applying for financial aid and ordering books and supplies.

*Meet with an academic advisor from the start so you don’t waste time taking classes outside of your degree track.

*Review class offerings and understand the difference between taking classes on campus and online.

*Know how you are going to pay for college. TCC is one of the most affordable options.

*Do a little bit of research on possible fields of study and think about where you may like to transfer.

*Don’t worry if your path is unclear. Community college is an ideal place to find your path.

*Know that TCC offers different class offering with 16-, 12- and eight-week classes.

Norcom salutatorian, a TCC grad at just 17, bound for prestigious NSU program

Boudnoma Convolbo knows the road to be an orthopedist is a long journey.

The West African native values expediency, the prime reason why earning an associate degree while still in high school appealed to her so much.

Norcom High’s salutatorian will graduate from Tidewater Community College first with an Associate of Science in Science. The 17-year-old will enter Norfolk State University’s Dozoretz National Institute for Mathematics and Applied Science this fall and major in chemistry.

The rigorous honors program, which includes a scholarship and grant, addresses the shortage of minorities in the basic and applied sciences.

“It takes a lot of years to be an orthopedic surgeon,” she said. “I was thinking if I can cut out two years by doing part of college in high school, why not?”

Convolbo is one of six students from the Portsmouth Campus who will receive the Governor’s Medallion, awarded to those who complete associate degrees by taking part in a dual enrollment program where they earn four semesters of college credit while in high school.

“You have to find the balance that works for you,” said Convolbo, who also works 20 hours a week at the Portsmouth City Treasurer’s office. “I took a lot of AP classes at my high school knowing that the credits would transfer if I did well in the AP exam.” Boudnoma Convolbo

Her accomplishment is even more remarkable as Convolbo spoke no English five years ago. Her father’s Navy orders brought the family to the United States from her home, Burkina Faso, a land-locked nation near Nigeria.

A psychology class was a favorite and chemistry was a struggle, but Convolbo enjoyed her entire experience at TCC.

“I like the community here; the staff are amazing people,” said Convolbo, grateful for the help applying to the NSU program from Katina Barnes, coordinator of Dual Enrollment Academies on the Portsmouth Campus.

Convolbo chose a future in medicine because she is fascinated by the human body. She poignantly recalls her grandmother buying and selling groceries back home. “When she came home at night, she was tired and had aches. I used to massage her. I liked it. That’s why I chose orthopedic surgery.”

“I didn’t speak the language and we didn’t know anyone here,” said Convolbo, fluent in French and her native dialect. “I learned English by myself. I spent most of my time in the library reading novels.”

Joining ROTC at Norcom advanced her learning curve.

“I was second in command, so I actually had to give orders and speak in front of the whole platoon,” she said. “That helped me a lot.”

Convolbo will walk in the TCC graduation in front of her parents,  four younger siblings and friends. “If you have a clear goal and know what you want to do, TCC is the way to get to it faster,” she said. “My life goal is to open a hospital in my native country.”

Original member of Black Lives Matter movement to speak at TCC on Feb. 22

Scholar, activist and playwright Funmilola Fagbamila is the keynote speaker for Tidewater Community College’s 2019 Black History Month celebration. The adjunct professor of Pan African Studies at California State University, Los Angeles, is an original member of the Black Lives Matter movement.

She will speak on Feb. 22 at noon in the multipurpose room of the Portsmouth Campus Student Center. Her remarks are titled “Justice Too Long Delayed is Justice Denied: Black History Now.”

Reserve your spot for this free event at www.tcc.edu/BHMkeynote

Dana Singleton in the Portsmouth Campus Student Center.
Dana Singleton
Shanice Mills sitting on the seal in the Portsmouth Campus Student Center.
Shanice Mills

TCC will also honor the recipients of the college’s 2019 Martin Luther King Jr., Recognition Program that afternoon. Dana Singleton, dean of Student Services at the Portsmouth Campus, won the College’s Distinguished Service Award. Nansemond River High School graduate Shanice Mills, who is studying funeral services at TCC, is the scholarship winner.

Both were chosen for exemplifying the teachings and ideals of King.

The national theme for Black History Month, “Black Migrations,” tracks the continuous movement of African Americans from the south to the industrialized north and beyond.

TCC will sponsor an assortment of free, public activities with speakers, films and entertainment at each of its campuses in Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach.

Events are subject to change and are on a first-come, first-served basis. For the most up-to-date listing of events, visit www.tcc.edu/blackhistory.

For more information, contact intercultural@tcc.edu or 757-822-7296.

For maps and directions, visit www.tcc.edu/locations.

Finding a way to give back a way of life for Portsmouth’s dean of Student Services

Dana Singleton lives by a simple mantra.

We can all get along, and we can all give back. Service to others isn’t reserved for the wealthy. If you don’t have money to give, you have time or knowledge.

The dean of Student Services at Tidewater Community College’s Portsmouth Campus doesn’t just talk the talk. She walks it, daily, in fact, connecting with students about their classes and concerns.

Fitting that the mother, grandmother and soon-to-be newlywed is the recipient of the college’s Martin Luther King Jr., Distinguished Service Award.

Singleton 58, will be recognized at a Feb. 22 ceremony at the Portsmouth Campus Student Center. The Emporia native expects her parents, Alice and Eddie Moore, brothers, Daryl and Kenneth, and her longtime soulmate, Stan Hathorn, to be in attendance.

“I am so humbled and so honored,” said Singleton, who has been with the college since 2006, first as an adjunct instructor and later as a full-time administrator. Singleton said in addition to the admiration she holds for King, she is honored to join Portsmouth Provost Michelle Woodhouse and Norfolk interim Provost Emanuel Chestnut, both former winners of the TCC award.

Woodhouse and Singleton are longtime friends in addition to being professional colleagues. They met when Woodhouse was assistant principal at Hugo Owens Middle School, where Singleton taught business and technology.

Woodhouse compares their bond to that of Meredith and Cristina from “Grey’s Anatomy.”

“She is my person,” Woodhouse said. “She is so deserving of this award. She found her passion in the school system because the kids loved her.”

Singleton followed Woodhouse to Norfolk State, where the pair worked together for two years, and finally to TCC, where Singleton started as an adjunct instructor and later became the inaugural coordinator of First Year Success in Portsmouth. She started the summer bridge program there, which allows incoming freshmen to earn college credit and participate in orientation during the summer.

Singleton recently spearheaded “Dean’s Dynasty,” a mentorship program for female students at the Portsmouth Campus. The group meets Wednesday afternoons and tackles personal development issues, which include etiquette, health and wellness, healthy relationships and work-school balance.

“After talking to so many young ladies, I realized they needed something like that,” said Singleton, who also mentors high school students as a leader in her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc.

Singleton earned her bachelor’s in business administration from Norfolk State and her master’s in education from Regent University.

Singleton will marry Hathorn, on April 20 in Las Vegas; he will attend the Feb. 22 ceremony. She has one daughter, Codie, and a grandson, Kingston, 2. She is expecting a granddaughter in early February.

“I’m at a good point in my life,” she said. “I like what I do; I love what I do. I’m just blessed.”

Hokie engineer with TCC roots bound for Taiwan

Kenneth Moody is a graduate of Virginia Tech’s engineering program headed for a transformative year in Taiwan.

His road started at Tidewater Community College.

Five years ago Moody was directionless until he started at TCC, where he worked his first job, met professors who remain mentors and graduated with an Associate of Science in Engineering.

“I had so much support at TCC – the support of just about every professor I had, which, if you think about it, is amazing,” Moody said. “The foundation and preparation I got were strong, without a doubt.”

Moody navigated hard times that began when his father lost his job the day after Kenneth graduated from Green Run High. The family lost their home and took refuge in a small car with little to eat beyond fast food and saltine crackers. A house in Portsmouth without heat, a refrigerator or furniture became home and the reality of an education became real when he visited the Portsmouth Campus.

Moody was a math whiz – imagine scoring a 5 on an AP calculus test – and financial aid covered his tuition. He became president of Mu Alpha Theta, the math honor society, and reveled in tutoring struggling students at TCC’s Learning Assistance Center.

“That was the first job I ever had,” he said. “I never knew what it was like to communicate with coworkers and build that rapport and then, at the same time, I learned to communicate with students I was helping.”

Those were skills that he found immeasurably helpful at Virginia Tech, where initially he was stumped by a more formal environment with faculty than the community feel he found at TCC.

“I’m not that social and at Tech I learned I needed to take the initiative,” Moody said. “Once I started building relationships and networking, I was successful.”

Moody went to Tech with the intention of working as a mechanical engineer in automobile safety. He also pursued his love of languages by learning Mandarin Chinese, a skill he serendipitously realized could impact his career.

While completing a postgraduate summer research project in material science, he found his Mandarin skills useful in translating documents. When the opportunity arose to study Mandarin for a year at National Taiwan Normal University, Moody jumped at it. What he thought was little more than a hobby evolved into a marketable skill to potential employers with business ties abroad. A partial scholarship will help cover costs.

“I’m really excited for the opportunity,” Moody said.

Moody, who just arrived in Taipei, said TCC will always be special a special place for him, noting, “I definitely have TCC roots. There was so much going on around me when I was going to TCC. Going to class, I always had a cloud of doubt around me. The support TCC gives students is really invaluable.”

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TCC’s Early Childhood Education program earns national accreditation

Tidewater Community College’s Early Childhood Education program has achieved first-time national accreditation from the world’s largest organization working on behalf of young children.

TCC is one of only two associate programs in the state accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Northern Virginia Community College is the other.

TCC’s Early Childhood Education program prepares students in the care, supervision and education of young children from birth to age 8. The college offers a 62-credit Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education and certificates in Early Childhood Instruction, Child Development, Preschool and Educational Support.

Graduates are prepared for work in settings that include preschools, child care centers, Head Start programs, private schools, public schools and before- and after-school programs. Students who graduate from the associate program are equipped to transfer to four-year programs.

TCC holds transfer agreements with Norfolk State University and Bellevue University.

“National accreditation benefits us in many ways,” said Jeanne Hopkins, department chair and assistant professor of Early Childhood Education on the Portsmouth Campus. “We are intentional in creating a comprehensive program for our students that makes them attractive candidates for employment upon graduation.”

Programs accredited by NAEYC demonstrate that they:

  • Align to NAEYC’s Professional Preparation Standard
  • Respond to the unique needs of their degree candidates and communities
  • Provide intentional learning experiences for their degree candidates to obtain the knowledge and skills needed to be effective early childhood educators

Founded in 1926, the NAEYC is the largest and most influential advocate for high-quality early care and education in the United States.

Fall classes at TCC begin on Aug. 20.

For more information about TCC’s Early Childhood Education program, visit www.tcc.edu/academics/professional-services/programs/early-childhood-development-degree. Contact Hopkins at jehopkins@tcc.edu (Portsmouth Campus), Cassandra Andrews at candrews@tcc.edu (Norfolk Campus) or Maggie Charlton at mcharlton@tcc.edu (Chesapeake and Virginia Beach campuses).

Find out about TCC program that allows youth 16-24 to earn GED, workforce credential

If you didn’t graduate from high school and have yet to earn a GED, Tidewater Community College can help with the transition into college.

The college’s BRIDGE-Plus Program, launched in January of this year, serves those between the ages of 16 and 24 who are considered Out of School Youth in accordance with the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. High school dropouts, the unemployed, foster children, runaways, homeless children, individuals with disabilities and children of currently incarcerated parents or legal guardians are among those who may meet eligibility requirements.

Two information sessions will be held at TCC’s Portsmouth Campus in Building A. Attend on July 10 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in Room 107 or July 14 from 10-11 a.m. in Room 101.

Participants co-enroll in a GED/Adult Education Program at TCC’s Portsmouth Campus, earning college credit and certifications related to industries, including trucking, certified nurse aide, pharmacy tech, CompTIA A+ certification and medical billing and coding.

The program provides GED prep, a college success skills course, classroom occupational skills training, internships or on-the-job training and a workforce credential to prepare participants for certification and job attainment.

The actual program, with courses and the GED prep, will start around Aug. 1. The program takes about six months to complete.

The inaugural class will graduate on July 26.

For information, contact Shana Owens, program advisor/case manager at ssowns@tcc.edu or 757-822-2205.

Go anywhere but first come to TCC’s open house on June 23

Find your future at Tidewater Community College.

Learn about the gamut of TCC’s programs, including cybersecurity, culinary arts, health sciences, maritime technologies and many other potential career paths and transfer opportunities the college offers.

Take the next step by visiting TCC’s open house on June 23 held on all campuses from 9 a.m. until noon.

There is plenty of time to enroll for fall classes, which begin Aug. 20.

All are invited, especially:

  • 2018 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.

Locations for open house are:

For more information, call 757-822-1111, email enroll@tcc.edu or visit www.tcc.edu/open.

Trio of Portsmouth high-schoolers bound for college as juniors thanks to dual enrollment

Gabrielle Hutchings, Brandi Porter and Jaylyn Richard trade stories about night classes, chemistry homework and not enough hours in a day to complete everything on their to-do lists.

The teenagers also revel in an achievement that will allow them to enter four-year colleges as juniors thanks to already earning associate degrees from Tidewater Community College.

Norcom High’s Richard is 17; Hutchings and Porter, both from Churchland High, are 18. They will receive the Governor’s Medallion, awarded to those who complete associate degrees by taking part in a dual enrollment program where they earn four semesters of college credit while in high school.

TCC’s Norfolk Campus awards its first Governor’s Medallion. Norfolk’s Jay Sellers earns an Associate of Science in General Studies.

Porter is bound for the University of Virginia, Hutchings, deferred at Princeton, is headed to San Diego State, and Richard will transfer to Old Dominion University. The three will wear their medallions as part of their academic regalia when they graduate from high school in June one month after graduating from TCC on May 12.

“My high school approached me for this and thought I was a really good fit,” said Hutchings, graduating with an Associate of Science in Science and planning to be a dermatologist. “I couldn’t deny that being two years ahead going into a four-year school wasn’t a good fit. This was going to be the hardest pathway I could take, and I know that’s what they’re looking for in college.”

Porter is blunt about her reasons for tackling a load that requires year-round and evening classes. “Saving money,” she said. “I had to think long term. If I didn’t do this, I would have looked back at all the money I could have saved.”

Porter, who will graduate with an Associate of Science in Social Sciences, wants to work at the Pentagon and is considering a public policy major.

Richard had an example to follow in her sister, Johnessa, the college’s inaugural Governor’s Medallion winner in 2015. Jaylyn remembers watching Johnessa grind through her challenging schedule and told herself “not me” at the time.

Then the cost savings hit home as did watching Johnessa shine. “At graduation time, I watched her and thought, ‘This is so amazing. I want to do that.’ ”

Richard was able to combine her load at TCC with playing soccer in high school and being active in DECA and Future Business Leaders of America. She credits improving her time management skills with helping her complete an Associate of Science in Science.

“I write to-do lists out every single week,” said Richard, who has applied to a scholarship program at ODU that would allow her to join the Coast Guard this fall.

All of them tout the diversity of ages they found in the TCC classroom and cherish the mentoring relationships they formed with favorite professors, too many to name.

“I have a list,” Hutchings said.

While they will leave for their next step with an associate in hand, they talk most about the confidence gained from reaching that milestone.

Hutchings admits college in California would have daunted her prior to attending TCC.

“I proved to myself I could do this,” she said. “Getting over all the hurdles and proving that I could be successful in college before having to leave my mom and move across the country is huge.”

Plenty of days, they had doubts, but each persevered.

“You have to tell yourself in the end, it’s going to pay off,” Porter said.

“It’s a lot of sacrificing,” Richard agreed. “You have to learn to forgive yourself and treat yourself. Every time I would pass a big test, I would go to Starbucks.”

Added Hutchings, “You’re not always going to see the light at the end of the tunnel when you do this. There’s a little bit of a leap of faith that has to occur. It’s not for everybody. But it’s definitely worth it if you can do it.”

Earn an associate in one year at TCC’s Norfolk or Portsmouth Campuses

Students who want to fast track their education by earning an associate degree in just one year can take advantage of an accelerated degree option on Tidewater Community College’s Norfolk and Portsmouth campuses.

By enrolling in consecutive eight-week sessions, students can complete all 61 credits in one year for an Associate of Science in General Studies. Those who complete the degree and meet the required GPA for admission to their transfer institution will likely be admitted as juniors.

“This dynamic initiative is perfect for students willing to make the commitment to take classes consecutively for nearly a full year,” said Michelle Woodhouse, provost of TCC’s Portsmouth Campus. “Students who enroll in the accelerated degree program will receive the support of our dedicated advising staff to ensure a seamless transition to a four-year university or college.”

Classes on both campuses will be offered in five eight-week sessions beginning on Aug. 20 and concluding in July 2019.

Courses for each session are tentatively scheduled for Monday and Wednesday evenings, some Saturdays and online at the Portsmouth Campus.

Students able to attend classes every weekday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., can complete an accelerated degree on the Norfolk Campus. Some classes will be online only.

Recent high school graduates and adult learners, including military-related students, are eligible to apply. Applicants must complete the Virginia Placement Test and schedule an interview with the Portsmouth Campus Advising & Counseling Department.

Anyone with an interest in the accelerated degree program should email enroll@tcc.edu for information and logon to tcc.edu/accelerated.

The application deadline is July 23. Financial aid is available by completing the FAFSA.

Explore your options during TCC’s College Preview Day, April 14

Discover why Tidewater Community College is the best place to earn your degree at College Preview Day on April 14.

Students and their families will get a firsthand look at all TCC offers by meeting program representatives, attending information sessions and receiving one-on-one help. Information regarding every campus will be available.

The event on the Chesapeake Campus, 1428 Cedar Road, is from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

At TCC’s College Preview Day, prospective students can:

  • Explore college programs and career pathways
  • Learn about financial aid
  • Find out about student services, including tutoring and child care
  • Talk with counselors and advisors
  • Prepare to enroll for summer classes and fall semester

Registration is recommended by visiting www.tcc.edu/open.

Summer classes begin May 21. Fall classes will start on Aug. 20.

Questions? Call 757-822-1111 or email enroll@tcc.edu.

On first visit to TCC as governor, Northam meets with women veterans

In February, Gov. Ralph Northam and the General Assembly declared the third full week in March as Women Veterans Week in Virginia. On Friday, the inaugural observance concluded with a roundtable at Tidewater Community College’s Virginia Beach Campus to give female veterans a chance to bend the governor’s ear on issues important to them.

The event was organized by the Office of the Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs and TCC’s Center for Military and Veterans Education.

Northam said his administration will continue efforts from the previous administration of Gov. Terry McAuliffe to improve veterans’ experiences in Virginia.

“We have effectively ended veteran homelessness,” he told the 13 members of the roundtable. “Through our Virginia Values Veterans – V3 – program more than 31,000 vets have been hired.” The goal, he said, is to keep valuable, well-trained former military personnel in Virginia.

He noted that Virginia has the largest percentage of female veterans in the country, and he wanted to hear from the panelists about their challenges.

Oluyinka Adelegan, who served in the U.S. Army as a Medical Service Corps officer, said her transition into civilian life was positive. Given her medical training, she had job offers from several health systems but added, “It’s a tough decision whether to stay in Virginia.”

ralph-northam-women-veterans-roundtable
Gov. Ralph Northam listens to panelist at Women Veterans Roundtable

“No it’s not,” the governor responded with a laugh, adding that he wants to keep medically trained veterans in Virginia by further streamlining the process of getting corpsmen and medics into civilian jobs through Virginia’s Military Medics and Corpsmen (MMAC) Program.

The women made a point that, after 20 years or more of service, veterans are eligible for benefits including health care and mental health counseling. “But if you don’t have 20 years or you don’t have a job, you’re on your own,” said one panelist. Northam said that situation would improve if a state budget is approved with an expansion of Medicaid.

Child care is another hurdle for not only veterans, but also active-duty service members – especially single parents. “If you don’t have income, you can’t find child care and you can’t go to school,” said Cassandra Harris, an on-base TCC representative at Naval Station Norfolk.

Child care providers need to be trained in how to deal with children whose parents are in the military, especially when they are deployed. “They need extra care,” said Dawn Johns, a TCC student. “They need someone to watch and understand their actions and behavior.” She said her daughter attends TCC’s Child Development Center, operated by the YWCA of South Hampton Roads, on the Portsmouth Campus.

Kathy Owens, a retired Navy pilot, said some reciprocity or coordination among states with school calendars, GPA calculations and advanced placement credits would also be ideal.

However, the biggest complaints were reserved for something the governor does not control: VA medical centers, especially the one in Hampton. “They’re swamped,” said Juanita Williams, a Navy vet. “The VA is the primary health care provider for so many.”

Asked what she would do if she were governor for the day, one panelist said, “I would have an easy button.’ I want someone I can call, and if they don’t know the answer they’ll find out, not transfer me 15 times.”

Another said, “We shouldn’t have to call our senators and representatives to get help.”

“Our veterans should be at the top of the queue, not the bottom,” Northam said. “I hear you.  I don’t have the answers, but my administration and I are committed to working with the VA and finding solutions.”

Two new members of the House of Delegates from Virginia Beach, Del. Cheryl Turpin and Del. Kelly Convirs-Fowler, were on hand. Also among those in attendance were representatives for Sen. Mark Warner, Sen. Tim Kaine, Rep. Donald McEachin and Rep. Bobby Scott.

Veronica Cianetti, director of military student support at the CMVE and an Army veteran, said TCC is unique in its wraparound services for veterans, noting, “It was great to have Governor Northam here today so he could get a little taste of what we do at TCC.”

Make your child’s summer count with TCC’s fun and educational camps

Are you looking for summer fun with a purpose for your kids? Check out Tidewater Community College’s summer camps with offerings for budding scientists, engineers, artists, chefs, interior designers, computer wizards and more.

Spark your child’s imagination with interactive and fun programs tailored to their interests and grade levels.

Students learn to make paninis at the Norfolk Campus.
Students learn to make paninis at the Norfolk Campus.

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. In addition, every camper will receive a free career interest assessment using the Virginia Wizard!

TCC’s has more than 50 camps geared for rising 3rd to 12th graders. For a complete listing, visit tcc.edu/camps

Registration is now open. For information, contact Emily Richardson at 757-822-1505 or erichardson@tcc.edu.

TCC, Norfolk Naval Shipyard continue successful apprenticeship partnership

Tidewater Community College will continue providing the academic component of Norfolk Naval Shipyard’s apprenticeship program after being awarded a new three-year contract in February.

Apprentices accepted into the four-year program learn an in-demand maritime trade, earn college credit and receive a competitive salary, all while building a career with the federal government.

“Norfolk Naval Shipyard wants an educated workforce, which is why the TCC component is so critical,” said Michelle Woodhouse, provost of the Portsmouth Campus. “Apprentices in this program have earned the privilege of having this remarkable opportunity, which allows them to take advantage of the academic resources the college offers to further their career.”

“We are proud to continue our partnership with TCC,” said Colby Tynes, apprentice program director at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY).

Apprentices take classes during regular working hours on weekdays at TCC’s Portsmouth Campus in two nine-week sessions, and upon completion, receive a Career Studies Certificate: Trades Technician. In the last three years of the program, apprentices undergo trade theory training and on-the-job learning at NNSY in Portsmouth, where they earn a wage ranging from $14.03 to $15.46 per hour. Apprentices are eligible for promotions after successful completion of program requirements.

Other NNSY benefits include sick leave, annual leave, federal holidays, health insurance, life insurance and a retirement plan.

Upon graduation, apprentices are eligible to be converted to the journeyman level of their trade.

Apprentices who want to further their education may apply their credits toward TCC’s Associate of Applied Science in Maritime Technologies. Graduates may transfer to Old Dominion University’s Occupational & Technical Studies program.

TCC and NNSY have been partners for the current apprenticeship program since 1996.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens, have graduated with a high school diploma or GED equivalent, meet minimum requirements on the TCC placements tests, be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance and pass medical requirements.

Applications for the 2019 apprentice class will be accepted beginning in November 2018.

For information about the program, email Professor David Steinhauer at dsteinhauer@tcc.edu or call 757-822-2424.

Finding a way to give back a way of life for Portsmouth’s dean of student services

Dana Singleton lives by a simple manta.

We can all get along, and we can all give back. Service to others isn’t reserved for the wealthy. If you don’t have money to give, you have time or knowledge.

The dean of student services at Tidewater Community College’s Portsmouth Campus doesn’t just talk the talk. She walks it, daily, in fact, connecting with students about their classes and concerns.

Fitting that the mother, grandmother and soon-to-be newlywed is the recipient of the Martin Luther King Jr. College Distinguished Service Award.

Singleton 58, will be recognized at a Feb. 22 ceremony at the Portsmouth Campus Student Center. The Emporia native expects her parents, Alice and Eddie Moore, and brothers, Daryl and Kenneth, to be in attendance as well as her longtime soulmate, Stan Hathorn.

“I am so humbled and so honored,” said Singleton, who has been with the college since 2006, first as an adjunct instructor and later as a full-time administrator. Singleton said in addition to the admiration she holds for King, she is honored to join Portsmouth Provost Michelle Woodhouse and Norfolk interim Provost Emanuel Chestnut, both former winners of the TCC award.

Woodhouse and Singleton are longtime friends in addition to being professional colleagues. They met when Woodhouse was assistant principal at Hugo Owens Middle School, where Singleton taught business and technology.

Woodhouse compares their bond to that of Meredith and Cristina from “Gray’s Anatomy.”

“She is my person,” Woodhouse said. “She is so deserving of this award. She found her passion in the school system because the kids loved her.”

Singleton followed Woodhouse to Norfolk State, where the pair worked together for two years, and finally to TCC, where Singleton started as an adjunct instructor and later became the inaugural coordinator of First Year Success in Portsmouth. She started the summer bridge program there, which allows incoming freshmen to earn college credit and participate in orientation during the summer.

Singleton recently spearheaded “Dean’s Dynasty,” a mentorship program for female students at the Portsmouth Campus. The group meets Wednesday afternoons and tackles personal development issues, which include etiquette, health and wellness, healthy relationships and work-school balance.

“After talking to so many young ladies, I realized they needed something like that,” said Singleton, who also mentors high school students as a leader in her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc.

Singleton earned her bachelor’s in business administration from Norfolk State and her master’s in education from Regent University.

Singleton will marry Hathorn on April 20 in Las Vegas. She has one daughter, Codie, and a grandson, Kingston, 2. She is expecting a granddaughter in early February.

“I’m at a good point in my life,” she said. “I like what I do; I love what I do. I’m just blessed.”