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Close to 200 students participated in a pair of Student Welcome and Club Days, one at Thomas Nelson’s Historic Triangle campus, and the other at the Hampton campus. In Williamsburg on Jan. 24, almost 90 students showed up, according to Kadisia Archer, the College's Student Activities coordinator. The following day in Hampton, more than 100 students participated.

Undergoing a name change is more than doing research, holding focus groups, town halls and meeting after meeting. There are a lot of things that must be done behind the scenes. There, also, are a lot of unknowns. “None of us have ever done this before,” said Ada Badgley, the director of Strategic Initiatives for Thomas Nelson, which is becoming Virginia Peninsula Community College. “We've done branding and rebranding, but we’ve never changed a name.”

Super Saturday, a free financial aid workshop for college-bound and returning students, takes place Feb. 5 at Thomas Nelson (becoming Virginia Peninsula Community College). During the 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. event, the College's Financial Aid team will assist attendees in Hampton at Wythe Hall in the computer lab next to the library and at the Historic Triangle campus in Room 233. Representatives from Admissions, Academic Advising, and faculty from each division will also be on hand.

Thomas Nelson's men's basketball game against Southside Virginia Community College scheduled for Jan. 22 has been postponed because of the weather. A makeup date hasn't been announced.   The Gators (9-1 overall, 2-0 in the New South Athletic Conference) are scheduled to play again Jan. 29 at home against the College of Southern Maryland. Tipoff is at 3 p.m.   Here is the rest of the schedule:  Feb. 5: vs. Carolina Christian, 3 p.m.  Feb. 6: TPLS Christian Academy, 4 p.m.

Having started the first two weeks of its spring semester classes online in an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, Thomas Nelson (becoming Virginia Peninsula Community College) is poised to resume in-person classes Monday, Jan. 24. Conditions permitting given this weekend's weather forecasts, classes will take place on campuses in Hampton and Williamsburg as well as satellite sites.

The 2022 holiday schedule has been approved. Unless otherwise announced, the College will be closed on the following dates:

Sharena Marsh is among four students participating in the College’s Presidential Ambassador Program for 2021-22. She serves as an ambassador at the Historic Triangle campus in Williamsburg.

When not at work, May Carlson can often be found running; the longer the distance the better, too. May Carlson admits to being “a geek” as a youth. She wasn’t athletic or interested in sports. So when she went from running 5ks to half-marathons to marathons, and even longer distances, in about six years, it surprised her. “I never thought I could do it,” she said about finishing a 5k, adding she often wondered why people would run. “Now I'm obsessed.”

The VCCS Student Success Center, in collaboration with the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education, is pleased to offer the only system-wide award specifically for adjunct faculty members.

Thomas Nelson Community College’s Fifth-Year Interim Report to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) earned a stellar review. The news came Jan. 12 when the commission revealed that the College complies with all 22 of its accreditation standards. The Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) Impact Report also met the commission’s expectations, according to Thomas Nelson’s Director of Institutional Research and Effectiveness Steven Felker, who received the SACSCOC letter.

Juwuan Brown's big game against Central International College helped Thomas Nelson's basketball team improve to 9-1 overall. Juwaun Brown, a freshman from Williamsburg, was named the New South Athletic Conference player of the week after leading Thomas Nelson’s men’s basketball team to a 91-77 victory over Central International College. He had 20 points, 14 rebounds, three blocks and one steal as the Gators improved to 9-1 overall and 2-0 in the conference.

Thomas Nelson has all the parts needed for a successful ballroom dance team. Pam Roberts, who works in the business office, is an enthusiastic adviser for the student organization. Students have expressed interest. A time and place for practices has been secured. The College has a great ballroom dance tradition. The only thing missing is a list of events. Unfortunately, there is nothing on the horizon, either. “With the covid guidelines, there have not been any college competitions,” Roberts said.

Thomas Nelson’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for students at two-year colleges, recently conducted a survey regarding online learning. The results taught its members a lot. The survey was conducted last semester, when students had the option of in-person learning, online learning, or a hybrid model. “We thought since campus is open, students would be satisfied with whatever they were taking because they had options to take classes in different manners,” said Lisa Barron, a co-chair of the organization.

Falling temperatures of late prompted Thomas Nelson safety officials to offer helpful recommendations for enduring the cold weather. Personal and family member safety

College officials have approved the 2022 holiday schedule. Unless otherwise announced, the College will be closed on the following dates: