News

Workforce shortages and talent gaps are present on the Peninsula and throughout the commonwealth. As one of the leaders in the community, Virginia Peninsula Community College aims to be part of the solution. On Friday, Dec. 15, the College held a seminar called “United for Impact: Bridging Higher Education, Communities and Businesses.” More than 100 people attended, and they represented local businesses, school systems and nonprofits. “As with most challenges, we...

The men’s basketball team dropped two games on the weekend to fall to 4-6, but coach Chris Moore isn’t about to panic. “The one thing I told these guys is we just have to keep getting better,” Moore said after a 76-63 loss to Patrick & Henry Community College on Sunday, Dec. 17. “And we’ve shown progress.” Moore purposely put together a tough schedule at the beginning of the season. “This first half of the...

Twenty-one students from the Historic Triangle cohort participated in the Dec. 5 nursing pinning ceremony at the Peninsula Workforce Development Center in Hampton.

Virginia Peninsula Community College held a groundbreaking ceremony Monday, Dec. 11, for its new theater. The roof collapsed on the old theater, the Dr. Mary T. Chrisian Auditorium, in April 2021. No one was injured as the College had been closed because of the pandemic. “This endeavor is more than just a construction project. It’s a commitment to our community’s cultural enrichment and educational excellence,” VPCC President Dr. Towuanna Porter Brannon...

Virginia Peninsula Community College basketball teams dropped a doubleheader to Frederick Community College of Maryland on Sunday, Dec. 10. The men lost 74-69 in overtime, and the women lost 84-53. In the men’s contest, Kenny Page led the Gators with 25 points and 10 rebounds. Chris Hayes added 12 points and 10 rebounds. D’Cameron Haynes chipped in 11 points, and Chauncey Gilliam had nine rebounds. The Gators have two home games this weekend (Dec. 16 at 3 p.m. vs. Monroe...

Charles Glazener, a member of the Rotary Club of James City County, is blunt when explaining why the organization donates to the Virginia Peninsula Community College Educational Foundation. “Education is the key to the kingdom,” he told nearly 100 donors and recipients in attendance at the College’s annual donor recognition event Nov.14. He knows from firsthand experience. “It happened in my own family,” he said. “My father came from...

John Wyatt described his son as tall, good-looking and a hard worker. “He liked people. He had a good personality,” John said of Mark, who died in an auto accident in 1997 at the age of 28. “He just sometimes didn’t use all his assets to his full advantage.” To help others not fall into the same traps, John and his late wife, Alma, established the Mark Daniel Wyatt Memorial Scholarship. The $1,500 annual scholarship first was awarded in 2014....

Virginia Peninsula Community College was named to the 2023 Best for Vets list by Military Times.          The Times combines public data from the Department of Education and Department of Veterans Affairs with a survey that each institution receives. The comprehensive survey explores the graduation rate of veterans, how many veterans each college serves, how many are active duty, tuition rates, facilities, and other services or opportunities other...

Virginia Peninsula Community College men’s home basketball game scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 3, against Washington Adventist University was postponed. “Our team has come down with a ‘sick bug’ that has taken down the majority,” Gators coach Chris Moore wrote in an email. “Thankfully, only one of them has contacted COVID and he is remaining in quarantine until he is fully cleared.” A makeup date has not been announced, but...

Virginia Peninsula Community College marked a successful 2023 Veterans Week themed “Honoring Those who Paved the Path.” The Military and Veterans Services team presented a slate of activities last month in recognition of Veterans Day. The Nov. 6-9 activities allowed all who are veterans and military-affiliated throughout the College to engage with the campus community. Activities included volunteering at the Foodbank of the Virginia Peninsula, an art show, a banquet, and...

A’Keen White has a sharp vision of his purpose on the Virginia Peninsula Community College Educational Foundation board. “I see my role as bridging the gap or assisting with bridging the gap between the manufacturing world from an employer standpoint and bridging the gap to the College with their, I’ll say curriculum and or people,” he said. As the general manager of Greystone, a manufacturing giant in Toano, he’s able to help that come into...

Community college education provides a solid foundation for success. Anyone who knows Rebecca Holmes will confirm she is living proof. Today, she enjoys an impactful career with the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment focused on ensuring equitable access to clean drinking water.  Holmes, who lives in Denver, relishes her job as a drinking water projects and outreach strategist, and it all started at Virginia Peninsula Community College. She runs a grant...

Tony Van Pelt has gone from an associate degree in photography to the skies, thanks to the Small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS, or drones) program at Virginia Peninsula Community College and a unique internship opportunity at the NASA Langley Research Center.   His story began in California, where he grew up, and extends to Wills Point, Texas, where he finished at Wills Point High School. Van Pelt joined the U.S. Navy in 1995, ultimately came to  Hampton...

The Virginia Peninsula Community College men’s basketball team fell into a big hole at halftime Tuesday, Nov. 21, at the Apprentice School and eventually lost 84-51. Chris Hayes (14 points) and D’Cameron Haynes (10) were the only players for the Gators (4-2) in double figures. The Gators, who had been on a two-game winning streak, trailed 44-21 after the first 20 minutes. The Gators shot just 34.4 percent from the field (21 of 61), making just one of nine 3-point attempts....

As the holiday season has arrived, College safety officials remind everyone that roadways will likely become increasingly busy. They offer tips that can make holiday road trips safer. Drivers can protect themselves and their passengers by taking a few simple precautions. *Make sure your vehicle is tuned up and in good condition for travel before your trip.*Use seat belts and child safety seats properly. The rear seat is the safest place for children.*Be flexible in setting your travel plans....