News

Rochelle Pleasant has devoted decades to early childhood education, wearing many hats along the way. From her role as an adjunct faculty member at Virginia Peninsula Community College to serving as a passionate mentor and advocate, she has built an impressive career. Pleasant has worked steadily since entering the field with diverse experience that includes everything from childcare assistant and center director to writing grants and conducting training here and abroad. She has no plans to...

Chris Moore recalls being limited to 30 minutes a day for video games when he was a child. Now, as the athletics director at Virginia Peninsula Community College, he has added gaming as a sport and will be helping recruit students to fill out the team, many of whom spend much more than 30 minutes a day in front of their consoles. “I tell parents all the time (gaming) can actually help them matriculate through college. If it pays for a scholarship, let them keep doing it,”...

With its involvement in the Newport News Early Childhood Development Center, Virginia Peninsula Community College continues efforts to reach out to residents in the city’s southeast section. The project, a collaboration among the College, the Peake Childhood Center and the City of Newport News, was more than two years in the making. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Jan. 16. at the facility at 1500 Jefferson Ave. “This moment marks an incredible significant step forward...

Photo: College President Brannon is flanked by Truist Bank executives, Michael Glover (vice president commercial banker Virginia region), Thomas Ransom (Virginia region president) and Mark Johnson (senior vice president, community development manager).  Virginia Peninsula Community College welcomed Truist Bank officials to the Hampton Campus on Jan. 23 for the presentation of a $50,000 contribution and an informative discussion aimed at inspiring students to achieve financial success...

Virginia Peninsula Community College welcomed Truist Bank officials to the Hampton Campus on Jan. 23 for the presentation of a $50,000 contribution and an informative discussion aimed at inspiring students to achieve financial success and other goals.      Thomas Ransom, president of Truist Bank’s Virginia region, accompanied by Truist executives, Michael Glover and Mark Johnson, presented the generous check to VPCC President Towuanna...

Virginia Peninsula Community College is excited to present The Homage Exhibit on Feb. 5 at the Historic Triangle Campus in Williamsburg and Feb. 6 at the Hampton Campus. Free and open to the public, the exhibit runs 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in room 110 at the Historic Triangle (4601 Opportunity Way) and the Peninsula Workforce Development Center in Hampton (600 Butler Farm Rd.).  The Homage Exhibit showcases more than 650 items from the private collection of Nia and Morris McAdoo of North...

Virginia Peninsula Community College baseball coach Shane Harrison said the success of the 2025 season will come down to numbers, and he likes his numbers. “We're looking at 35 or 36 guys, which is up nine or 10 guys from last year, which is huge for having backups and subs,” Harrison said on the eve of his third season in charge. “Our strength comes in numbers.” He likes his starting nine, the next nine and the nine after that....

The Virginia Peninsula Community College men’s basketball team’s four-game winning streak ended Saturday, Jan. 18, with a 73-68 loss at Patrick & Henry Community College. The Gators (11-5 overall, 3-1 in Region 10) held a 38-30 halftime lead, but an injury and an illness caught up with them in the second half. They played without forward Keshaun Johnson (Nansemond River High School/Suffolk), who was sick, and D’Cameron Haynes (Munford/Memphis,Tenn.), who...

When Virginia Peninsula Community College men's basketball team defeated Sandhills Community College, the third-ranked team in NJCAA Division III, on Jan. 13, it was regarded as an upset. But not to Gators coach Chris Moore, who said on the eve of the game he had a good feeling about his team’s chances. “I always trust our training,” he said one day after his team’s historic 102-96 victory. The Gators were 7-4, including a three-game losing streak, in...

The Virginia Peninsula Community College men's basketball team, which had been off since Dec. 20, finally returned to the court. The long rest didn’t adversely affect the Gators, as they rolled to a 99-66 victory over Oxford College of Emory University (Ga.) on Sunday, Jan. 12., their first game in more than 20 days. Sincere Moore (Matoaca High School in Chesterfield) had 22 points and five steals for the Gators, who improved to 9-4 overall and 2-0 in Region 10. It was...

The Virginia Peninsula Community College men's basketball team, which has been off since Dec. 20, was scheduled to return to action Jan. 7. However, due to expected inclement weather, the Gators' home game against Washington Adventist's junior varsity squad has been postponed until Jan. 15. Game time is 7 p.m. at the SafeHaven Empowerment Center. The Gators (8-4) have  a pair of upcoming Region Ten road contests, Saturday, Jan. 11 at Sandhills (N.C.) Community College and Sunday,...

The Virginia Peninsula Community College men's basketball team, which has been off since Dec. 20, was scheduled to return to action Jan. 7. However, due to expected inclement weather, the Gators' home game against Washington Adventist's junior varsity squad has been postponed until Jan. 15. Game time is 7 p.m. at the SafeHaven Empowerment Center. The Gators (8-4) have  a pair of upcoming Region Ten road contests, Saturday, Jan. 11 at Sandhills (N.C.) Community College and Sunday,...

As the winter chill takes a firm hold, College officials are offering tips to help you stay safe. Whether you’re at home or on the road, it’s important to be prepared. Here are some pointers for surviving the cold weather: Personal & Family Safety Bundle up: Make sure all family members have extra blankets and warm clothing. When heading outside, layer up with hats, gloves, and mittens for maximum warmth. Multiple layers of loose-fitting clothing are highly...

The Virginia Peninsula Community College men’s basketball team went into the holiday break on a winning note after defeating Monroe University of the Bronx 83-72 on Dec. 20. Sincere Moore (Matoaca High School/Chesterfield) led the Gators with 21 points, nine rebounds and four blocks. Asa Fehrenbach (Lafayette/Williamsburg) had 14 points and seven boards, Jayden Sepulveda (Landstown/Virginia Beach) scored 11 points, and Keshaun Johnson (Nansemond River High School/Suffolk)...

Deon Moore, who has led Kecoughtan and Phoebus high schools to numerous state titles, has been named the track and field/cross country coach at Virginia Peninsula Community College. Moore had a simple explanation for his interest in the position with the Gators. “After coaching high school for so long and winning, I was looking to move up to the next level,” he said. That desire is exactly what VPCC athletics director Chris Moore, no relation, said is so important to a...

Virginia Peninsula Community College’s pinning ceremony Dec. 17 recognized 26 graduates of the nursing program. It was the largest cohort in recent memory, said Jenni Jones, the director of the College’s Allied Health programs. However, a more impressive number is 80% of the students in the class accepted positions as registered nurses before receiving their pins. “It’s exceptional to have that many,” Jones said. She added the program has a...

Faith Dry was one of four Virginia Peninsula Community College students awarded an internship for the annual Virginia Theatre Association Conference in late October. She enjoyed it so much she hopes to experience it again next year but would prepare for it differently. “If I go back, I would like to do strength training because there’s a lot of heavy lifting. I was sore for a week,” she said. “I definitely broke a sweat.” Katie Orlowski had a...

Peter Berquist, an assistant professor of geology at Virginia Peninsula Community College, has been selected as a 2025 Outstanding Faculty Awards recipient by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) and Dominion Energy. Berquist and 11 other recipients will receive a $7,500 gift from Dominion Energy during a March 4, 2025, ceremony in Richmond. Since 1987, these awards have recognized faculty at Virginia’s institutions of higher learning who exemplify the highest...