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“I hope I can encourage more women to enter the STEM fields.”

“Why pay so much more for your general education when TCC is right in your own backyard?”

That was the question high achiever Brooke Marcia asked herself.

That led her to choose Tidewater Community College.

A 2020 graduate from the international baccalaureate program at Princess Anne High, Marcia was accepted into the engineering program at Old Dominion University. Instead, she will begin her journey at TCC.

 “One of my goals in going to college is to graduate debt free, and TCC seemed like a cost-effective option,” Marcia said. “It was also close to home, and I could still see my family and friends and go to church.”

Marcia received a scholarship from TCC and will serve as a student ambassador on the Virginia Beach Campus. She is hoping the experience will help polish her public speaking and leadership skills.

“I’m excited to promote community college, especially during COVID-19, and to those who don’t see themselves going to college at all,” she said.

 “Some of my friends have joked me about starting at community college, but I think it’s time to break that stigma.”

 Marcia will transfer to Old Dominion after earning her Associate of Science in Engineering. She plans a career as an electrical engineer and has set her sights on NASA, where she recently completed the Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholars program.

The  interactive online science, technology, engineering and mathematics learning experience is highlighted by a seven-day residential summer academy at NASA Langley Research Center.

Marcia with astronaut Roger Crouch.
Marcia with astronaut Roger Crouch who flew two NASA Space Shuttle missions.

“Engineering has been my passion since I was little and is the only thing I can see myself doing,” she said. “I hope I can encourage more women to enter the STEM fields.”

TCC is a family affair for the Marcias. Brooke’s father, Art, started at TCC and later earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in engineering from Old Dominion. Her mother, Kathleen, earned her associate degree at TCC and a bachelor’s in education from Regent University.

“My parents, uncle and family friends all started at TCC and now have successful careers,” Marcia said. “It feels good to be following in their footsteps.”

TCC’s fall classes begin Aug. 24. For information on how you can get started at TCC, email enroll@tcc.edu or call 757-822-1122.

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.

Virtual information sessions will be held:

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.

Visit our Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach campuses virtually through our online videos and learn more about campus-specific services.

Need help? Email enroll@tcc.edu, call 757-822-1111 or visit our Help Center for answers to frequently asked questions.

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.

Among them:

Battle Royale: Make your first Fortnite-style video game

Unreasonable Kids: A social entrepreneurship program for teens (separate camp for tweens)

YouTube Content Creators: (A Black Rocket camp)

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.

 For information, contact us at 757-822-1234 or email summercamps@tcc.edu.

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.

TCC inviting all to community night on its Virginia Beach Campus on Nov. 15

Tidewater Community College will host a community night on its Virginia Beach Campus on Nov. 15 from 6 to 9 p.m.

Festivities will take place all over campus that evening, including planetarium shows starting every half hour in the Science Building.

Here’s a sampling of the offerings, which begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted:

  • TCC Talks, a takeoff of “Ted Talks,” will feature topics that range from conflict resolution to marketing yourself to the art of persuasion. Talks will be held in the Pungo Building in rooms 125, 145 and 147. Art will be on display in the hallways and foyer.
  • Ethnic food, courtesy of the Foreign Language program, will be available for sampling.
  • The Virginia Beach Student Center will host a Middle Eastern dance performance in the cafeteria starting at 7 p.m.
  • The student center Room K-304 will host the film “Fail State,” which focuses on the for-profit college industry. A panel discussion led by business faculty will follow. Showings are at 6:30 and 7:30 p.m.
  • Barnes & Noble will be open and feature giveaways.
  • The Maker Space will be open in the Advanced Technology Center. The space allows students and community members to bring their ideas to reality using electronics, 3D printers, laser cutters and power tools.

 For additional information on the event, contact Professor Monica McFerrin at mmcferrin@tcc.edu.

Find one-on-one help applying for financial aid on campus

Tidewater Community College is making it easier for students to complete the FAFSA by partnering with the Educational Opportunity Center to offer in-person assistance with the application.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first step toward getting student loans in addition to federal, state and college-specific scholarships and grants. The FAFSA is required to qualify for federal student loans like Direct Subsidized Loans, Direct Unsubsidized Loans, and PLUS Loans. The information in your FAFSA can also qualify you for need-based financial aid like federal Pell Grants.

The time to start the process is now.

An EOC representative will be available on the Norfolk and Virginia Beach campuses through September for those who need one-on-one help applying for financial aid.

Norfolk Campus

Andrews Building, First Floor
300 Granby St., Norfolk

Thursdays & Fridays
9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
2:30 to 4 p.m.

Virginia Beach Campus

Princess Anne Building, Room A104
1700 College Crescent, Virginia Beach

Tuesdays & Thursdays
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

No appointments are required; these services are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Before coming to campus, contact the Educational Opportunity Center at 757-683-2312 for information on required paperwork.  

Computer science student earns prestigious Eisenhower Fellowship

As a youngster Anastasiia Melnikova delighted in her first train ride when she sipped tea while trekking south to the Black Sea in her native Russia.

A career in transportation is a natural fit for the Tidewater Community College student studying computer science.

Her future is certainly moving in the right direction. She recently received a Dwight D. Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship from the U.S. Department of Transportation, one of just a few community college students afforded the honor.

This program advances the transportation workforce by helping to attract the nation’s brightest minds to the field of transportation, encouraging future transportation professionals to seek advanced degrees, and helping to retain top talent in the U.S. transportation industry.

Melnikova spent a weekend last month in Washington attending a research showcase highlighting innovations in transportation. One that stood out: riding on a fully self-driven mini bus.

Anastasiia Melnikova and Alesia Wroten
Anastasiia Melnikova with CMVE staffer Alesia Wroten

“It also caused a bit of anxiety, as I had to fully entrust my safety and well-being on a machine that operates on its own,” Melnikova said. “One company had a virtual reality set-up. I put on the glasses and it simulated me walking in the factory with incredibly advanced robots.”

Melnikova grew up wanting to study abroad and visited Virginia Beach as a high school exchange student. That heightened her interest in starting at TCC.

“TCC was a great option for me because it’s more affordable than a four-year school, and I also like the small class setting,” she said. “It’s helped me get a lot more out of the education I’m getting.”

She will graduate from TCC in May with an Associate of Science in Science with a Specialization in Computer Science and plans to make a career exploring how software engineering can be developed to make mass transportation safer, more economical and efficient. She’s currently researching advanced anti-lock braking systems for trains.

Candy Land in college? You’ll get creative and be inspired by occupational therapy program

Don’t be surprised to walk into Amanda Leo’s college classroom and see Candy Land along with Twister and Bopit and some Legos scattered on the floor.

Creativity is one of the chief reasons Leo gravitated toward occupational therapy as a career. She also embraced the notion of helping people improve their everyday lives by learning, or in some cases, relearning, practical, meaningful skills.

As head of Tidewater Community College’s occupational therapy assistant program, she introduces a field she loves to students who feel the same way.

One of her happiest moments — watching a second-grader she had worked with since preschool write her name for the first time.

“That was one of my most memorable experiences,” said Leo, who started at TCC as an adjunct professor in 2006. “I started to cry right there.”

Leo has a mug sitting on the desk inside her office in the Regional Health Professions Center on the Virginia Beach Campus. It reads “Tears of my students,” in reference to just how emotional working as an occupational therapy assistant can be.

Occupational therapy assistants work with occupational therapists to help their clients, who range from babies to the elderly, develop and recover activities of daily living. That might include getting dressed, brushing teeth and cooking in an older population. When working with children, the focus is often on developmental delays as they affect education.

Leo’s use of toys and games in a recent lab was to demonstrate how play could be incorporated to promote appropriate motor skills and stimulate imagination. It’s the sort of hands-on activity students earning TCC’s Associate of Applied Science in Occupational Therapy Assistant can expect.

Leo, a Duquesne University graduate, has been an occupational therapist for 15 years, with a pediatric background in early intervention, outpatient and school-based practice. She has served as president of the Virginia Occupational Therapy Association and presented internationally on the needs of children with disabilities.

The same approach occupational therapy embraces – treating a person holistically – applies to how she treats students in the program.

“We do everything we can do to support the whole person,” she said. “It’s important to recognize it’s a community college – some students juggle full-time jobs or newborns. The life balance can be overwhelming. I like to help them figure out how we can help make everything work together.”

Occupational therapy often isn’t the first health profession people consider when searching for a first-time career or a career change. Leo initially thought she would be a nurse like her mother but her “no needles” criteria made her look elsewhere.

She’s glad she found occupational therapy. Husband Tony is also an occupational therapist. The two met at Duquesne and have two daughters, Juliana, 11, and Addison, 8.

Applications for TCC’s associate program that begins in fall 2019 semester will be accepted through March 19. Find information online or contact Leo at aleo@tcc.edu.

An associate degree is all she needed to land dream job at Armada Hoffler

Amanda Mills didn’t want to cripple herself with student debt and needed a flexible class schedule to balance three kids, two jobs and a husband on deployment.

She turned to Tidewater Community College to explore her options and after completing an associate degree and a certificate landed a dream job shortly after graduation.

“I love what I do,” said Mills, database administrator for Armada Hoffler Properties in Virginia Beach’s Town Center.

Information technology was a natural field for Mills, even if she didn’t initially realize it.

The Oscar Smith High graduate started working at Union Mission Ministries as a teen, first at its summer camp and later in the office doing data processing. After high school, she considered physical therapy, but the TCC program was too demanding given all her outside responsibilities. She also considered becoming a teacher until she was directed toward the college’s information technology degree.

It turned out to be the ideal fit.

“I liked math,” she said. “It’s all logic. Everything I was learning made sense to me.”

Night and online classes allowed her to continue to work two jobs while going to school and Pell Grants paid for most of her tuition. Instructor Mary Gable, in particular, helped her navigate all the material.

Mills graduated with her Associate of Applied Science in Information Systems Technology along with a Career Studies Certificate in Database Specialist in May.

By the end of the summer, Mills was hired by Armada Hoffler, where the skills learned at TCC directly apply to her job, particularly the SQL coding. She builds, updates and maintains the property company’s database.

“I didn’t know SQL before I came to TCC,” she said. “Now that’s my bread and butter.”

Mills toys with the idea of getting her bachelor’s but the foundation she got at TCC and professional experience will allow her to advance in the field.  “Eventually, maybe I’ll go for my bachelor’s,” she says. “But I have a great job with an associate degree.”

Interested in earning your Associate of Applied Science in Information Technology or your Career Studies Certificate in Database Specialist? Contact Bill Clement, dean of the Division of Information Technology and Business, at wclement@tcc.edu or 757-822-7124.

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TCC’s natural gas training program recognized for its positive impact

Tidewater Community College’s partnership with Virginia Natural Gas and Virginia Gas Operators Association to train veterans and transitioning military will be recognized for outstanding achievement in October.

The award from the state’s Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy’s Division of Glass and Oil acknowledges a joint venture or partnership that made a positive impact on the natural gas industry in the Commonwealth of Virginia. TCC will receive the award at a dinner in Abingdon.

TCC developed the workforce development initiative last year that connects transitioning military and their family members to meaningful employment in the natural gas industry.

The SkillBridge-approved weeklong training program on the Virginia Beach Campus is in collaboration with Virginia Natural Gas, the City of Virginia Beach and Virginia Gas Operators Association member companies.

The expansion of pipeline infrastructure replacement programs across the state requires gas companies and their contractors to hire skilled labor to advance pipeline modernization efforts. Two cohorts of 11 students each have graduated with a third group beginning on the Virginia Beach Campus on Sept. 24. GI Bill® funding is offered through TCC’s Center for Military and Veterans Education (CMVE).

“Everyone who has completed the course has had a face-to-face job interview from one of the employers supporting the program,” said Chris Blow, project coordinator, military contract programs for the CMVE. “Our regional partners have contributed to the overall success of this program.”

Taught by experienced utility professionals, the curriculum focuses primarily on natural gas pipeline safety, code compliance and operations. It is designed to provide veterans with basic working knowledge that will be useful in helping to prepare them for employment in the natural gas industry.

For information on the program and eligibility, contact Blow at cblow@tcc.edu or call 757-822-7725.

How a personal training certificate turned Navy vet’s passion for fitness into a dream job

At 38 years old, Ann Scott retired from the Navy and needed a new career.

GI Bill benefits in hand, she explored a plethora of options at Tidewater Community College, which played to her love of learning by offering so many versatile programs.

That explains why Scott has an Associate of Science in General Studies to go with an Associate of Applied Science in Accounting along with her Career Studies Certificate in Accounting Technician. She also took classes toward an Associate of Applied Science in Physical Therapist Assistant, but then stumbled into a career field that was the natural fit all along.

Scott and husband Jeffrey are fitness buffs who would rather be in the gym than anywhere else.

“I’ve got 20,000 steps today, which is about normal,” she says, glancing at her Fitbit.

In addition to the physical benefits, both needed the social aspect the gym offers given the challenging transition from military to civilian life.

“Body pump and doing yoga really helped me adjust,” said Scott, whose final deployment in Iraq involved working for Gen. Petraeus’ Boots on the Ground operation.

Ann Scott student center
Scott works out at the gym in the Virginia Beach Campus Student Center.

When Scott discovered TCC’s Career Studies Certificate in Personal Training and Fitness, she was thrilled. She and Jeff both completed the 24-credit program on the Virginia Beach Campus that stresses anatomy, weight lifting, nutrition, health, communication and marketing together. Instructor Rachel Thompson became a mentor.

“I love how the human body works and you can apply it to anything you do – any sport, any physical activity,” she said. “Something as simple as good posture can impact having a strong core.”

They graduated in 2016, and while Jeff went on to be certified in massage therapy, Ann went to work in Virginia Beach Public Schools. While working as a substitute physical education teacher, she was hired as a cross country and track coach at Salem High. She did some substitute teaching, too, and was inspired when she saw the interaction between the kids at Old Donation School in Virginia Beach and Thompson, who works there as a physical education instructor.

“She was so good with them and they loved her,” Scott said. “I realized that would be a pretty good job.”

Scott got hired to teach physical education at Pembroke Elementary, where she has spent the last two years.

Scott stressed more than jogging and jumping jacks to her students. At Salem, she’d spy the high school athletes filling up on burgers, fries and soda before a meet and cringe. So she started showing up with a cooler of her own snacks – granola bars, pretzels, chocolate milk – healthy options that provided fuel instead of sugar. She also introduced high protein options to run clubs at the elementary level, and soon had youngsters more cognizant of what goes into their bodies.

Next month Scott is primed to start a new position as a physical education instructor at Old Donation. She’s realized her joy comes in impacting youth at an early age.

“You want health and fitness to be a lifelong thing,” she said. “If they find it and love it, they’ll do it for the rest of their lives.”

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TCC annual award winners to be honored on Aug. 16

Tidewater Community College will recognize six faculty and staff members from across the college with annual special awards on Aug. 16.

Selected by their peers, the honorees will receive their awards at TCC’s 2018 Fall Convocation at the Chesapeake Campus Student Center.

Professor of the Year

Manisha Trivedi, who teaches biology, anatomy and physiology and microbiology, is TCC’s Professor of the Year, an award established by the Faculty Senate to recognize excellence.

The Virginia Beach resident got her start doing research and development in the biotechnology industry but found herself training colleagues and hosting workshops. When her company left the area, she changed course and began teaching at TCC’s Norfolk Campus.

“I’m very proud to be working in a place that allows me to be creative and nurturing of my students,” Trivedi said. “My greatest joy is seeing the ‘lightbulb’ moments when students grasp difficult concepts.”

Trivedi often holds weekend office hours and meets with students before lectures and labs.

Student Olivia Brichter credits Trivedi for helping her succeed in college.

“After multiple attempts to pass anatomy and physiology, Professor Trivedi offered to spend one hour with me every morning before class reviewing class lectures and breaking down the information for me,” she said.

Trivedi is co-founder of the Senior Citizen Club for Asian Indians of Tidewater and volunteers annually at the International Children’s Festival in Hampton. She is a faculty mentor and serves on TCC’s Global & Intercultural Learning Committee.

She holds master’s degrees in life science from Gujarat State University and in biotechnology from Old Dominion University.  She earned a bachelor’s in biochemistry from St. Xavier’s College. She also completed a course in recombinant DNA methodology at The Catholic University of America.

Trivedi and husband Nikunj have two adult sons. The younger, Ajay, is an adjunct science instructor at the Norfolk Campus.

Faculty Special Achievement

For the second time since starting at TCC in 1989, Jacque Dessino is the recipient of the Faculty Special Achievement Award.

As the college-wide electronic services librarian, Dessino contributes to every aspect of library services to benefit users onsite and online. Dubbed “the rock of the libraries” by a colleague who nominated her for this award, Dessino, as TCC’s library system liaison with Virginia’s Community Colleges, is transitioning TCC’s libraries to an integrated management system that will replace multiple software products. It’s an enormous undertaking.

“But it’s what I love about my job,” said Dessino, also recognized by the college in 2005. “My job is never boring, never static.”

Dessino leads a team of four staffers who provide support to library patrons. While she works largely behind the scenes, she covers several online reference service shifts, providing on-demand assistance to students.

“I enjoy the idea of serving a group of people who might not necessarily have the opportunity to use the resources TCC has if the college weren’t here,” she said.

Dessino holds master’s degrees in library science from Louisiana State University and in humanities with a certificate in women’s studies from Old Dominion. She earned her bachelor’s in computer science from Nicholls State University and in English from Shippensburg University.

Dessino and husband Eric Matherne reside in Portsmouth and enjoy boating and motorcycle sidecar trips.

Outstanding Adjunct Faculty

Nancy Pettigrew, who has taught art history at TCC since 2010, is the Outstanding Adjunct Professor. The Long Island, N.Y., native embraces discussion-centered classes that connect her students to artists from the past and present. She has appreciated art since visiting her first museum as a 5-year-old.

“There are so many things I love about TCC students,” she said. “You get this incredible melting pot of people. If you listen to them, you learn so much about them and the world and other people’s points of view.”

Pettigrew holds a discussion series monthly open to all students and faculty at the Visual Arts Center that tackles topics ranging from censorship to copyright. An active supporter of the Student Art League, she touts the dedication of her students, many of whom makes great sacrifices to be in class.

“I’m always amazed by students I talk to who take public transportation for two hours to take my class,” she said. “Their level of commitment is extraordinary.”

Pettigrew received master’s and bachelor’s degrees, both in art history and archaeology, from the University of Maryland.

She and husband Neil have two adult children, Emily and Laura. The couple resides in Chesapeake.

Administrator of the Year

Diane Ryan is the Administrator of the Year selected for her leadership and efforts to advance TCC’s mission and goals.

Ryan initially joined the college in 1991 as an adjunct instructor in public speaking and transitioned into a professor of communications and English. She became dean of Humanities and Social Sciences on the Chesapeake Campus in 2015.

Ryan considers herself a connector, helping students solve problems by directing them to the correct resource or staff member. She has been involved in the college’s textbook-free Z-Degree initiative, recruiting 18 faculty to adopt Open Educational Resources in their curriculums, thereby saving students thousands of dollars.

“I love the amount of resources we’re able to offer students, companies and the general public,” she said. “That’s one of the reasons I’m proud to work at TCC.”

Ryan volunteers and raises funds for Pennies for Prescriptions, Go Rescue Pet Adoption and Judeo-Christian Outreach Center.

She holds a master’s in speech communications and a bachelor’s in mass communications from Western Illinois University. She is currently working toward a doctorate in community college leadership at Old Dominion.

Ryan and husband, Sean, reside in Virginia Beach and have three adult children.

Classified Employee of the Year

Alumna Rhonda D’Amore is the Classified Employee of the Year. She initially began working at the college in 1998 and graduated from TCC with an Associate of Science in Science. In 2005, she earned a full-time position as an academic support specialist.

D’Amore enjoys working with campus contacts to keep curriculum content current.

“If you request Rhonda’s assistance, you can be assured the task will get done correctly and in a timely manner,” said Bill Clement, Pathway Dean for Computer Science and Information Technology.

D’Amore is responsible for building the base for classes, so that campuses can schedule them. She also enters all of the program data in i-INCURR. Moreover, she works closely with Visual Communications to produce the college catalog.

D’Amore said her favorite part of the job is assisting students. “I love being there to help them solve problems,” she said.

D’Amore and husband Lee have two adult children. In her free time, she enjoys gardening at her Chesapeake home and spending time with her cats, Floyd and Ziggy.

Wage Employee of the Year

TCC student Steffan Watts, an operations support specialist for student activities on the Virginia Beach Campus, is the Wage Employee of the Year.

The 2015 graduate of Kellam High School is humble about his contributions, but supervisor Bobby Bennett touts Watts’ accomplishments that ensure any event inside the Virginia Beach Student Center runs smoothly.

“Steff, as we call him, really is the heartbeat of our team and he always goes over and beyond what is asked of him,” said Bennett, coordinator of events and special projects for student activities at the student center. “When he is not in class, he is working in the student center, engaging with students or assisting a community partner.”

Watts is pursuing his Associate of Science in Science with a Specialization in Computer Science. He anticipates graduating in May 2019 with plans to transfer to either Old Dominion or Norfolk State University. He hopes to make a career in video game design or software development.

“I’ve learned a lot about myself working here,” he said. “I’m a quiet person. This job really gets me out of my comfort zone.”

The byte-by-byte breakdown of a career you can jumpstart with just a certificate

Look around you or better yet, stare at your phone. It’s full of data. So is the grocery store you shop in, the college you attend and that company you hope to work for. Check your social media accounts and you’ve no doubt noticed advertisements targeted to your tendencies – that’s information gleaned from mining data.

Now imagine making a career in data. Pursue a Career Studies Certificate in Database Specialist at Tidewater Community College and you’ll be part of a growing field that relates to data management in any industry.

Business databases store vast amounts of information and rely on it to make smart decisions. Database specialists are proficient in designing, implementing, maintaining and troubleshooting all that information into an efficient, usable form. They are also responsible for ensuring that data is protected in an age where hacking is prevalent.

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Instructor Mary Gable with student Jessica Tate

Lemuel Taku earned his database specialist certificate last spring and is already employed as an Oracle application developer for a resort in Alabama. While he is working toward his Associate of Applied Science in Information Technology from TCC by taking online classes, he is happy by how fast he was able to earn the certificate that led to his job.

The 27- or 28-credit certificate, dependent upon which elective you choose, can be earned in as little as two semesters. Classes are either in the evening at the Virginia Beach Campus or online.

Key for Taku and for any student looking to get a leg up, said instructor Mary Gable, are the industry certifications that the certificates prepares students for.

“That’s what employers are looking for,” Gable said. “Every course in this program is 100 percent hands-on.”

Graduates of the program are prepared to sit for Oracle Database 11g Administrator Certified Associate (OCA Administrator); Oracle Database SQL Certified Expert; and Oracle PL/SQL Developer Certified Associate (OCA Developer).

Taku passed all of them. He got a boost from taking advantage of free software TCC provides that allows students to answer practice questions to prepare for the exams.

TCC students also receive discounts on each of the exams.

Lamuel Taku

During the program, students will learn to install an Oracle Database and have access to it throughout the semester. One of the electives covers installation and the study of other databases, both MySQL and SQL Server. Gable also encourages students to install the database on their laptops so they can work on assignments at home.

Two classes she touts are ITD 132, Structured Query Language, and ITD 251, Database Systems Development. In the 132 class, students learn SQL, a generic language that Gable said is transferrable to multiple databases in the information technology fields. The 251 class is a capstone project course that allows students to work together as a team to complete a project to apply what they’ve learned to a real-world problem. Both Dominion Enterprises and a local cybersecurity firm, G2OPS, have served as former clients.

“I was able to bring that up in my interview, and it helped me a lot,” said Taku, whose project focused on security compliance.

For information about the program, contact Gable at mgable@tcc.edu or Bill Clement, dean of the Division of Information Technology and Business, at wclement@tcc.edu.

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).

Ernest T. “Bo” Buchanan Scholarship awards money to deserving students

Ernest Trezevant “Bo” Buchanan IV was just two months shy of graduating from the University of Virginia (UVA) when he died in a car accident.

Bo’s father, Joe, was provost of Tidewater Community College’s Virginia Beach Campus at the time and had been a dean for 21 years before that.

Faculty and staff on that campus banded together to honor Bo with a scholarship in his name. The Ernest T. Bo Buchanan IV Memorial Scholarship recognize young men demonstrate exceptional leadership and service while maintaining a commitment to academic excellence.

Nimpare Nantob Bikatui and Kevin Fraser are the most recent recipients of the scholarship. Bikatui is earning his Associate of Science in Engineering; Fraser is working toward his Associate of Science in Business Administration.

Buchanan graduated from Cox High School in 2000 after serving as student government president and captain of the volleyball team. The Eagle Scout was recognized as an outstanding male student-leader-athlete in his class.

Bo Buchanan

Buchanan received a full Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) scholarship to continue his education at Virginia to work toward a history degree and his dream of joining the Navy.

By 2004, he had worked his way up to the UVA NROTC Battalion Commanding Officer. He lost his life just shy of his 21st birthday.

Maj. Fritz Pfeiffer, UVA NROTC MOI called Bo “a superb leader.”

“He was well liked not only by his peers but by the other active duty officers here as well. He was an example to us all.”

David Wattenmaker, an NROTC Marine, said, “Everyone who knew Bo learned something from him. He set an example that people could learn from.”

Joe Buchanan donated more than $10,000 to his son’s scholarship fund in honor of his wife, and Bo’s mother, Susan, an award-winning English and journalism teacher and department chair. Joe was president of the National Association of Student Personnel and received national, regional and state leadership awards for his service. Susan leads the women’s ministry of her church and serves as president of a local chapter of Philanthropic Educational Organization, a philanthropic sorority that supports female students in higher education.

An international student pursues a future in engineering

When Bikatui came to the United States from Togo in West Africa, he didn’t know English. His first language was French.

“Before I started my engineering courses, my fellow country people were telling me that English was too hard,” said Bikatui. “They said ‘The material is in English. The instruction is in English. The language is English. You’re going to have trouble!’ But I didn’t see it that way. I didn’t want to be underestimated because I speak another language.”

As an international student at TCC, he found a common language in mathematics – and one-on-one support from his professors encouraged him to keep going.

“Chemistry is the same. Math is the same. Once you know them, you can find your way to science,” Bikatui said. “My TCC professors have always appreciated me. One of my teachers comes in every Sunday for students like me who want help with the material. I spend my Sundays over there with her.”

Winning the Ernest T. Bo Buchanan IV Memorial Scholarship encouraged Bikatui – who used the money to help cover his expensive engineering textbooks and tuition.

Bikatui will graduate next spring with his engineering degree and transfer to Old Dominion University to pursue a bachelor’s in chemical or biomedical engineering.

A local small business owner finds his passion

 Fraser was a father of three with a full-time teaching job when he enrolled in TCC’s business administration program.

A Navy veteran with eight years of service, Fraser had always dabbled in areas, such as corporate taxes and accounts payable with his small businesses. He knew he needed a formal education in the field to grow his companies and follow his dream of working in accounting.

TCC was a smart financial choice for the money-conscious entrepreneur, who already had a daughter in college and a career when he came back to school.

“The first time I went to college, I had access to the GI Bill,” said Fraser, “so that degree was paid for. But this second degree – I was on my own. I knew I would be paying out-of-pocket. Once you go two semesters on student loans the money starts piling up.”

Scholarships didn’t even occur to Fraser as a possibility until he got on his daughter about applying for her own scholarships her junior year at Liberty University. “I’m on the phone encouraging her to look for scholarships, when the light dawned and I realized I should be looking for my own scholarships!” he said.

A quick web search led him to TCC’s scholarship page, where he realized he could qualify for awards through the school. He won the Coca-Cola Enterprises Scholarship and was shocked when the award amount of $500 hit his student account.

“I had no idea how large these awards are,” Fraser said.

When he won the Ernest T. Bo Buchanan IV Memorial Scholarship, Fraser realized his final semester would be paid for in full. “My scholarship awards were almost to the penny perfect. I had $80 leftover, which I used to buy a book. To know my entire last semester was paid… it was such a blessing.”

Fraser is currently enrolled in a master’s program in taxation accounting at Liberty University. His favorite part of running his businesses is being able to give jobs to people looking for flexible work – and employing his ex-students.

A legacy of giving

In addition to the TCC scholarships, the Buchanan family also offers scholarships in Bo’s honor at the University of Virginia and Cox High School.

For more information about available scholarships at TCC, visit www.tcc.edu/scholarships. To learn more about establishing a scholarship at TCC, contact the TCC Educational Foundation at foundation@tcc.edu or 757-822-1080.

Alumnus flying high thanks to EMS degree

From here, Daniel DeStefano has soared.

The Smithfield native earned Tidewater Community College’s Associate of Applied Science in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in 2005, and today he is a flight paramedic working for VCU LifeEvac in Richmond. The helicopter that doubles as his office has all the same capabilities of an intensive care unit, a necessity to transport patients often in the direst circumstances.

“I love my job,” said DeStefano, who has also taught EMS classes at the college. “A lot of people don’t realize the decisions paramedics have to make. In a hospital setting, you have doctors, nurses and lots of oversight. In EMS, we have resources we can utilize, but largely it’s you managing all aspects of patient care.”

DeStefano considered a career in forensic science – “Then I took a chemistry class and that was the end of that,” he laughed.

He gravitated toward becoming an EMT after joining his local rescue squad, where he combined his interests in the health profession with helping his community. He was just 20 when he graduated from TCC, initially working for fire departments in Yorktown and Suffolk.

DeStefano continued his education at Old Dominion University, earning his bachelor’s in health sciences.

The dream of flight medic was always an aspiration.

“Who wouldn’t want to fly?” he asked.

Daniel DeStefano and flight nurse Monica McGee

Five years of experience in critical care is required prior to completing the rigorous application process that led to DeStefano being hired by VCU. These days he works one 24-hour shift and one 12-hour shift weekly, a flexible lifestyle that makes room for him to pile his beagle Gus and lab Abby in his Jeep and head for the outdoors during his leisure time.

On the job, he travels with just a pilot and flight nurse, typically 30-minute trips where every second counts.

While flight medics are called to the scene of accidents and other traumas, DeStefano said most of his work involves transporting patients from one facility to the next, a rural location to a more metropolitan one, for example. Teamwork is a vital part of the equation.

Much of his role is ensuring that calm, clear thinking prevails in the most chaotic of situations.

“It’s not just the flight crew; it’s the ambulance, hospital – every person in that patient’s care right down to the person cleaning the room is really important to that patient’s outcome,” he said. “Managing logistics is a big part of what I do.”

Communication skills are essential to anyone wanting to work in pre-hospital medicine, he said. “You have to be able to talk to people when you’re frustrated, mad, upset. You might even have a patient and not approve of them or their views, but that’s your patient and your job is to give them the best possible care.”

Continuing education is required for a flight medic. DeStefano regularly completes online modules every quarter and participates in several in-person education days.

He is also in nursing school at Rappahannock Community College and concurrently working toward his bachelor’s in nursing at Old Dominion. He graduates from both in May; the additional education will make him eligible to be a flight nurse.

He’s appreciative of the foundation he received as a graduate of TCC’s EMS program, which he stressed isn’t easy. Given the demands of the profession, he’s glad it wasn’t.

“If you have the determination and the background and you put your time into it, it’s absolutely doable,” he said. “If you’re doing it just for a pay raise, I don’t advise it.

“If you want it, you have to earn it.”

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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.

“A civil engineering degree is a game changer,” says TCC alumna from VDOT’s Richmond Division

Karen Kee had a slate of marketable skills. She just needed the college degree to go with them.

So she turned to Tidewater Community College, earning her Associate of Applied Science in Civil Engineering Technology.

Today the construction program analyst for the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) in Richmond teleworks from home one to three days a week.

“A civil engineering degree is a game changer,” she said.

After graduating from Greenville County High, the Emporia native skipped from job to job, including a stint in consumer collections. She signed on with VDOT Hampton Roads initially as a fiscal assistant, where her duties ranged from processing financial transactions to monitoring budgets to coordinating emergency response teams when appropriate.

After more than four years, she longed for another challenge and applied for a contract administration position at VDOT. She got rejected three times.

Kee moved into a fiscal technician position but wasn’t satisfied.

“I was stuck,” she said. “I felt like I had bottomed out.”

For Kee to advance, she realized she needed the credibility a degree offered.

Husband Jerry encouraged her to attend TCC, pushing its business program. But he had earned the civil engineering associate, and given her background with VDOT, Kee considered that associate a better fit.

“It’s not going to be easy,” warned Jerry, an assistant residency administrator, who will mark his 40th year with VDOT this year.

I don’t expect it to be,” Kee said, who continued to work full time while taking evening classes. That meant driving twice a week from her Franklin home to the Virginia Beach Campus for her civil engineering coursework.

The 64-credit associate, taught by civil engineering professionals who incorporate real-world experience into instruction, teaches the fundamentals of surveying, construction materials and testing and computer-aided drafting and design.

Kee had never taken calculus, but given her aptitude for math, she enjoyed the challenge, using apps and books from Barnes & Noble to help with formulas.

The hydraulics component of the program was her favorite. “It’s amazing, the power of water,” she said. “I probably would have pursued that part of civil engineering more in depth had I been younger.”

She chipped away at the degree, graduating in 2012. Kee, 51, intended to transfer into the bachelor’s program at Old Dominion University, but raising two children and managing a multitude of projects consumed the bulk of her time.

With her degree and numerous certifications, Kee became a more attractive job candidate and left VDOT to work in consulting as a management analyst in construction services, a position that doubled her salary. She also was given a vehicle to help with the commute from Franklin to Richmond.

“The degree was the icing on the cake to help with the skill set I had,” Kee said. “It made me a lot more valuable.”

She returned to VDOT four years ago, this time working in the Richmond District Construction office, though she only makes the long drive a few times a week given how computerized her work has become.

Kee, who is president of the board of directors of Cypress Cove Country Club in Franklin, is an avid crafter, passionate golfer, wife and mother of two daughters.  She encourages others to consider the civil engineering field given its versatility.

“There are so many different avenues,” she said. “You can go survey; you can go geotechnical. You can do drafting or hydraulics engineering. There aren’t many women in the civil engineering field because it’s been deemed a man’s world. I had to fight to earn the respect from co-workers and peers.”

“Now I can sit around the table and be part of the conversation with engineers alike.”

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She came to TCC without a plan but will leave with an associate degree, a full-time job and no student debt

When Christine Dela Cruz immigrated to this country five years ago from the Philippines to join her father in Virginia Beach, she didn’t know what was next.

Word-of-mouth led her to Tidewater Community College, and with the help of academic advising on the Virginia Beach Campus, she discovered a career path she had never considered.

Dela Cruz will graduate this week with an Associate of Applied Science in Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT). She’s already been hired at Sentara Virginia Beach General as a lab technician. She has no student loan debt thanks to two scholarships she received from TCC in addition to her financial aid.

You can bet she’ll be savoring all of it during commencement on May 12 at 2 p.m., at the Ted Constant Convocation Center.

“I’m the first in my generation to graduate college,” Dela Cruz said. “You could say my dad is pretty proud.”

Christine Dela Cruz looks through a microscope at TCC's clinical laboratory.
Christine Dela Cruz is the first in her family to graduate from college.

Dela Cruz, 24, considered nursing, but her fascination working with machines and preference to work indirectly with patients made her a better fit for working in a lab. Rapid job growth is projected for the medical laboratory technology field, where technicians assist physicians in the diagnosis and treatment of disease by performing tests on tissue, blood and other body fluids.

It’s an ideal match for a lab rat like Dela Cruz.

“Mycobacteria look like galaxies under a microscope,” she said. “There’s so many awesome things to see. It’s fascinating how minute organisms have a gigantic effect on the body. I also like working behind the scenes and solving the unknown organisms we had in microbiology. I felt like I was an investigator on ‘CSI.’ ”

Dela Cruz stresses that MLT is a rigorous program, particularly given that the Philippine dialect Tagalog is her native language. She also worked full time initially, enduring 12-hour shifts starting at 5 a.m., then napping in her car before heading to class. Professor Angela Bell is demanding of her students, Dela Cruz said, but also supportive and mentoring.

“Always, always, always she’s available,” she said. “All of the professors help you all the way through and they keep pushing you. They help you. That’s what I really like about the program. They don’t leave you hanging.”

Once Dela Cruz started the clinical portion of the program, she realized why the demands were necessary. She felt completely prepared for her three clinical rotations, where, she said, expectations are high.

“We compete with universities and other colleges, but all I’ve heard from my rotations is how TCC students excel,” she said.

Dela Cruz is also grateful for TCC awarding her the Alexsandria Manrov Scholarship, given on behalf of the late science professor, and the Barnes & Noble Scholarship.

“TCC helped out my family big time,” she said.

The MLT program boasts a pass rate of 100 percent the last three years on the state board exam that Dela Cruz feels well prepared to take in June. Bell also said 100 percent of those students have found employment in the field. Dela Cruz is actually among a selected few who is paid for her work during clinicals.

“She is such a hard worker,” Bell said. “She’s one of those students who’s all about helping others. In lab if anyone is having difficulty, she jumps in and tries to explain.”

Dela Cruz plans to work toward her bachelor’s in medical technology, an online program she can complete at Old Dominion University. She would eventually like to become a pathologist.