TCC graduates celebrated during virtual ceremony

With “Pomp and Circumstance” playing and shout-outs from faculty and staff, Tidewater Community College celebrated its Spring Semester graduates with a virtual ceremony held on May 10.

The full stream of the ceremony is available here.

“This celebration demonstrates the tenacity and strength of our students and the TCC community,” said TCC President Marcia Conston, presiding over her third virtual commencement. “Today I acknowledge you – the class of May 2021. You have reached a significant milestone and I am very proud of you and your achievements.”

President Conston acknowledged the college’s military-related students, who make up one-third of enrollment. She also highlighted the college’s 48 Governor’s Medallion recipients who earned TCC associate degrees and certificates while still in high school.

President Conston commended faculty and staff for their role in student success. Several faculty and staff members recorded shout-out videos applauding the resilience of graduates and offering congratulations.

The ceremony featured five student speakers — Athena Jones, Eva Cole and Emmanuel Abuah earned Associate of Science degrees. Steven Dunbar and Dasha Chaney earned Associate of Applied Science degrees.

“The lessons I learned at TCC will follow me for the rest of my life and be a guide for how I live,” said Cole who hopes to one day be a physician.

“My growth at TCC has not just been educational. Being from a different culture, I struggled with my accent and my lack of social integration,” Abuah said. “TCC provided the cushion I needed to help me settle in and keep me on the path to my degree.” Abuah hopes one day be an astronaut and explore space.

Dunbar, a Culinary Arts student added, “Learning that you can meet deadlines is pretty gratifying and looking back and saying, ‘Yes! I did that,’ just feels so good,” Dunbar said. “If I could speak to students coming after me, my message is finish what you start. It’s never too late to accomplish your goals.”

Michelle Woodhouse, TCC’s vice president for academic affairs and chief academic officer, presented the 1,470 graduates. President Conston conferred the degrees.

Prior to the ceremony concluding with a benediction, Sara Hair, the college’s coordinator of leadership and development and a TCC alumna, welcomed TCC’s newest alumni.

Sara Hair, TCC’s coordinator of leadership and development.

“Welcome to our association of more than 100,000 alumni. We are embedded in the fabric of the community and are proud of you for persevering and finishing your degree,” Hair said. “Consider this your official invitation to attend our networking events and embrace all the opportunities offered by the TCC Alumni Association.”

All graduates had their names and corresponding degrees or certificates scroll on screen.

TCC grad hopes to one day explore space

Emmanuel Abuah emigrated from Nigeria to the United States to join his parents about a year before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He set his sights on studying engineering at Virginia Tech, but quickly realized that he needed to stay closer to home and start at a more affordable school.

He applied and was accepted into Tidewater Community College’s STEM Promise program, which covers the full cost of tuition for up to four semesters.

This May, he is one of the student speakers during the virtual commencement and will talk about his journey to earning an Associate of Science in Engineering.

Emmanuel Abuah at Virginia Beach Campus.

Abuah was recently named one of 18 honorees of the inaugural Academic Excellence and Service Award, a new recognition for exemplary TCC students.

“As one of our top performing scholars, I’m impressed with Emmanuel’s drive and work ethic. Having maintained a perfect GPA every semester, he takes his course work very seriously and has a plan to tackle his academic goals,” said Jaedda Hall, the STEM Promise program advisor.

While at TCC, Abuah worked in the Engineering lab on the Virginia Beach Campus, a job that opened doors for other work in the area. He also obtained a Virginia driver’s license, an accomplishment that gave him even more options for jobs.

He made lifelong friends through the Virginia Beach Campus Engineering Club and the STEM Promise program.

“The community of TCC has been so beneficial for me. From the friends I’ve made for keeps, to the instructors and advisors who supported, encouraged and challenged me,” he said.

For other students his message is simple. “Have a plan and seek advice. Make friends and get connected,” Abuah said. “Do more than just attend class. Get involved in all TCC has to offer.”

Abuah now plans a career in aeronautics/astronautics. He would like to be an astronaut and one day explore space.

He intends to attend Virginia Tech or Stanford University to pursue a bachelor’s in aerospace engineering.

“TCC has laid the perfect runway for my ascent to the stars,” Abuah said. “As we leave TCC with our goals in view, we are proving that it’s true – from here you really can go anywhere.”

TCC grad achieves lifetime goal of a college education

Debbi Gilbert always thought about going to college and knew that one day she would. It was just a matter of time.

Gilbert has worked as a bookkeeper for 25 years and she came to Tidewater Community College to prepare for a new career.

This Monday, May 10, Gilbert will graduate from TCC with an Associate of Applied Science in Business Management. Next year she will begin work on a bachelor’s degree in human resources at the State University of New York (SUNY), thanks to a matriculation agreement between TCC and SUNY.

“I always wanted to go to college and get a degree,” Gilbert says, “But I was a B and C student in high school. However, I’ve had straight A’s at TCC—only one B!”

Gilbert credits her son Tyler’s experience at TCC as the push she needed to get started. Tyler completed an associate degree in engineering at TCC in 2016 and then transferred to Virginia Tech, earning a bachelor’s in aerospace engineering in 2019.

Convenient scheduling, easy access to four campuses for classes, and top-flight professors and advisors have made Gilberts’ experience at TCC all she could have hoped for. A personal shout-out from Gilbert goes to Angela Slaughter, professor in the Business, Computer Science and IT Pathway, who put together informal meetings for her students, giving them a forum for ideas and business-related interests.

And Gilbert knows a thing or two about business, with over two decades in the workforce and most recently as an intern in the human resources office of United States Coast Guard Community Services Command.

Besides her studies at TCC, Gilbert is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the honor society for two-year schools. She also shares her time with the Community Feed at TCC. To date, she has collected over a thousand pounds of food and a few hundred dollars in donations.

The Gilberts near their home in Norfolk.

As TCC’s commencement ceremony will stream live on YouTube on May 10 at 6 pm, Gilbert and her family will gather to witness her achievement.

TCC to hold its 72nd Commencement Exercises virtually

Tidewater Community College will hold its 72nd Commencement Exercises virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On May 10 at 6 p.m., the college will recognize the achievements of its graduates with an online ceremony that will include messages from President Marcia Conston, student speakers, faculty and staff, and community leaders.

To participate, students need to apply for graduation by March 22.

Graduates will have the opportunity to see their photos and names displayed during the virtual ceremony. Photos should be submitted by March 26 by using this form.

Parents, family, faculty, alumni and community supporters are also encouraged to send greetings to graduates. The deadline is April 2.

Also, all May graduates will receive celebratory items for the day including their diploma case, a letter from President Conston, commencement program and alumni pin.

The exercises will be available as a recording afterward.

The decision to conduct this ceremony online honors guidelines announced by Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam and is in line with CDC regulations for social distancing to deter the spread of COVID-19.

TCC’s May graduates should visit this page for more information about graduation regalia (if desired), yard signs and to join TCC’s alumni community.

TCC to hold its 71st Commencement Exercises Virtually

Tidewater Community College will hold its 71^st Commencement Exercises virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Dec. 21 at 6 p.m., the college will recognize the achievements of its graduates with an online ceremony that will include remarks by President Marcia Conston, student speakers and a conferring of certificates and degrees.

Graduates will have the opportunity to see their photos and names displayed during the virtual ceremony.

Graduates are encouraged to send in a personal photo, video, or message to be included in the virtual event. Parents, family faculty, alumni and community supporters are also encouraged to send greetings to graduates. To participate, visit here. The deadline is Dec. 11.

Also, all December graduates will receive celebratory items for the day including their diploma case, a letter from President Conston, commencement program and alumni pin.

The exercises will be available as a recording afterwards.

The decision to conduct this ceremony online honors guidelines announced by Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam and is in line with CDC regulations for social distancing to deter the spread of COVID-19.

TCC’s December graduates should visit this page for more information about graduation regalia, yard signs and to join TCC’s alumni community.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ESL faculty offered “congratulations” in multiple languages.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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