News

With a strong finish to the season and almost every player returning, the Virginia Peninsula Community College volleyball team is in great position to continue the program’s growth. The Gators, in just the third year of existence, went 4-15 overall and 2-8 in Region 10, but three of those wins came in the final six matches. VPCC came in fifth in the six-team conference but couldn't participate in the postseason tournament because injuries left the Gators with just five players....

Taking the fast track fits Wyatt Tinsley on his educational journey as well as in his recreational pursuits.  He dreams of becoming a meteorologist. The quickest way to get there, he has decided, is to attend Virginia Peninsula Community College and then transfer to George Mason University. After graduating from Bethel High School in 2024, he enrolled at VPCC, planning to take as many required science classes as possible so he can jump right into his meteorology classes when he gets...

Staying close to home was important to Hampton resident Iyana Barber when it came time to choose a college. With Virginia Peninsula Community College just a short commute away, Barber found the right fit. She enrolled at the College in 2024 fresh out of Bethel High School, majoring in Engineering. Her choice for a major was inspired by her love for building things and solving complex problems. In addition to her studies, Barber is one of five students selected as a Presidential Ambassador for...

In terms of wins and losses, the men’s soccer season at Virginia Peninsula Community College didn’t go as well as coach Kevin Darcy would have liked. However, in other ways, he was pleased with what his team accomplished in just its second season. “The core players that attended training and attended the matches, the core players that were committed helped us in an effort move a young program forward,” he said. “I was happy with the commitment...

For Inessa Salas Virginia Peninsula Community College is the first step in her drive to become a lawyer. While on the way to that goal, she is taking advantage of all the College has to offer, including the chance for leadership development. A Newport News resident, Salas is working toward an Associate of Applied Science degree in Paralegal Studies and is one of five students serving as a Presidential Ambassador for the 2024-2025 academic year. The Presidential Ambassasor program allows...

Virginia Peninsula Community College student Jess Montgomery received an Impact Award for significant contributions to the 2024 Virginia Government Simulation. Organized by Virginia Commonwealth University’s Institute for Democracy, Pluralism, & Community Empowerment (IDPCE), the Virginia Government Simulation took place Oct. 3-5 in Richmond, offering students hands-on experience role-playing as sitting state lawmakers. The Impact Award acknowledges the individual selected by...

When Brianna Ruff was the cheerleading coach at Hampton University, the team at Virginia Peninsula Community College often attended its events to learn what goes into making a successful program. Now, Ruff has the chance to have more of an impact on the VPCC team after being name the College’s new cheer coach. “She did a good job of coaching at Hampton University, and I’ve been impressed by the work that she’s done,” said Chris Moore,...

The Virginia Peninsula Community College volleyball team earned its third win of the season and second consecutive with a sweep of host Rockingham Community College on Saturday, Oct.12. The scores were 25-17, 25-19, 25-17. However, the Gators’ winning streak ended with a three-set loss later in the day to Caldwell Community College. The scores of that match, which also was held at Rockingham Community College, were 25-11, 25-12, 25-15. Soccer The Gators dropped two matches last...

With a bright future in sight, Brooke Diggs turned to Virginia Peninsula Community College as the springboard for reaching her college transfer goals. Enrolling in fall 2023, she discovered an enriching student experience that opened doors to valuable leadership opportunities.  The Poquoson High School graduate is one of five students serving as a Presidential Ambassador for the 2024-2025 academic year. The program not only lets her engage with the College community through...

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...