News

Talented professionals looking to share their expertise in the classroom can explore teaching opportunities at Virginia Peninsula Community College’s Adjunct Faculty Job Fair on Oct. 24.   The 4 – 8 p.m. event at the Peninsula Workforce Development Center (600 Butler Farm Rd.) will give industry experts and educators who seek fulfilling part-time positions an inside look at VPCC’s adjunct faculty offerings. College leaders, faculty and...

Jeffrey (J.J.) Bonavita is the new director of Institutional Research at Virginia Peninsula Community College. Bonavita, who had been the interim director since September 2023, assumed his new role Oct. 1. In his interim role, Bonavita led several major initiatives related to the College’s effectiveness initiatives and reaffirmation of accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).  Steven Felker, VPCC’s vice...

Virginia Peninsula Community College’s volleyball team ended a 10-match losing streak with a sweep of Rockingham (N.C.) Community College on Monday, Sept. 30. The Gators used strong serving and defense for their second win of the season. The scores were 25-7, 25-12 and 25-12. Berkeley Stenger (Peninsula Catholic High School) had 18 assists, 14 aces and five digs. Maddie Mahone (Denbigh Baptist) had six kills, six aces and four digs, and Kingsleigh Guinn (Kecoughtan) added five kills...

Katelyn Peters is in her second semester at Virginia Commonwealth University after transferring from Virginia Peninsula Community College. The transition has gone smoother than she could have imagined. She knows why: The first few weeks of every class at VCU is a refresher of what she learned at VPCC.             “Being able to tackle the assignments and the studying that was given to...

When Melissa “Mel” Wrona enrolled at Virginia Peninsula Community College in the fall of 2023, she knew she made the right choice with her major. She was also eager to find leadership opportunities and discovered an ideal fit – the College's Presidential Ambassador program. The Business Administration major is among five students serving as Presidential Ambassadors for the 2024-2025 academic year. Being an ambassador is more than a title. It’s a...

Virginia Peninsula Community College's search for the ideal addition to its engineering faculty led to hiring Dr. Daimei Zhu. The lengthy search was time well spent in Scott Stauble’s view, calling the move a major success. “For engineering, bringing Dr. Zhu on is a huge move,” said Stauble, the dean of VPCC’s STEM division. “Now that we have Dr. Zhu on board, along with Dr. (Nina) Mun, we’ve got an outstanding faculty in this...

Volleyball The women had a busy three-day stretch last week, beginning with a trip to Sanford, N.C., on Thursday, Sept. 26, for dual match against Central Carolina Community College. Two days later, the Gators hosted a tri-match at the Boo Williams Sportsplex against Cheney University and Chesapeake College. Despite not coming away with any wins, the Gators put forth good efforts. The week started with a three-game sweep by Central Carolina. In the tri-match at home, the Gators lost in five...

Volleyball The women had a busy three-day stretch last week, beginning with a trip to Sanford, N.C., on Thursday, Sept. 26, for dual match against Central Carolina Community College. Two days later, the Gators hosted a tri-match at the Boo Williams Sportsplex against Cheney University and Chesapeake College. Despite not coming away with any wins, the Gators put forth good efforts. The week started with a three-game sweep by Central Carolina. In the tri-match at home, the Gators lost in five...

After serving in the military, Colton Warkenthien made a sharp career turn. The move led him to influence a new generation of welders in the classroom. A former U.S. Coast Guard machinery technician turned welder, he is big on craftsmanship and mentorship and firmly believes in education as a game changer. Warkenthien grew up in the northern suburbs of Chicago, where he graduated from Niles North High School. Raised “on the water,” he said a love for boating made the Coast...

After serving in the military, Colton Warkenthien made a sharp career turn. The move led him to influence a new generation of welders in the classroom. A former U.S. Coast Guard machinery technician turned welder, he is big on craftsmanship and mentorship and firmly believes in education as a game changer. Warkenthien grew up in the northern suburbs of Chicago, where he graduated from Niles North High School. Raised “on the water,” he said a love for boating made the Coast...

The Peninsula Sports Club honored Angela Jackson, a former player, coach and administrator at Virginia Peninsula Community College, for her many years of service to the College. Jackson, who began her association with VPCC in 1979, received a “Milestone” award from the club at a banquet Monday, Sept. 23, at Hampton Seafood Market and Restaurant. Also honored were John “Buster” Jackson, the director of facilities and athletic support at Hampton...

The Peninsula Sports Club honored Angela Jackson, a former player, coach and administrator at Virginia Peninsula Community College, for her many years of service to the College. Jackson, who began her association with VPCC in 1979, received a “Milestone” award from the club at a banquet Monday, Sept. 23, at Hampton Seafood Market and Restaurant. Also honored were John “Buster” Jackson, the director of facilities and athletic support at Hampton...

The Virginia Peninsula Community College women’s volleyball team had a busy week with two dual matches and one tri-match. The Gators opened the week with a three-set loss to visiting Central Carolina Community College on Monday, Sept. 16. The scores were 26-24, 25-13, 25-20. Kingsleigh Guinn (Kecoughtan High School) had 13 kills and eight digs for the Gators. Berkeley Stenger (Peninsula Catholic) added 22 assists, 12 digs and three solo blocks. JuZiea Barton-Green (Bruton) added 10...

For Keith Utsey, community service is a passion that drives his decision-making. Since enrolling at Virginia Peninsula Community College in the fall of 2023, he has immersed himself in campus life, aiming to create a lasting impact in his community. As one of five students serving as a Presidential Ambassador for the 2024-2025 academic year, the Social Science major enthusiastically embraces the role. The program allows participants to volunteer at events and engage with the college community...

For Keith Utsey, community service is a passion that drives his decision-making. Since enrolling at Virginia Peninsula Community College in the fall of 2023, he has immersed himself in campus life, aiming to create a lasting impact in his community. As one of five students serving as a Presidential Ambassador for the 2024-2025 academic year, the Social Science major enthusiastically embraces the role. The program allows participants to volunteer at events and engage with the college community...

Photo courtesy of the Virginia Peninsula Literary Consortium An exciting evening of literary inspiration is on the horizon. Virginia Peninsula Community College, in collaboration with the Virginia Peninsula Literary Consortium, brings New York Times best-selling author Omar Tyree to the area for an author talk and book signing event on Oct. 17. The 7 p.m. event at the David Student Union at Christopher Newport University will give community members a chance to hear from Tyree, renowned for...