2 weeks Ago
April is National Community College Month, a time to highlight the essential role two-year institutions play in transforming lives and strengthening communities. At Virginia Peninsula Community College however, our impact extends far beyond these 30 days. We are making a difference every day of the year.
In January, we proudly opened the Newport News Early Childhood Development Center, a groundbreaking collaboration among VPCC, the city of Newport News and the Peake Childhood Center. This state-of-the-art facility provides our early childhood education students with an unparalleled opportunity to learn, train and teach in one location. They will gain real-world experience working directly with children who need them most, reinforcing the proven link between early exposure to a positive learning environment and long-term success.
What’s more, many of these students will remain in our region, becoming the next generation of educators shaping young minds in our community.That same month, we announced the addition of esports to our growing roster of intercollegiate athletics, bringing our total offerings from three to eight in just a few years. At VPCC, we believe athletics play a critical role in personal and professional development.
The qualities that make an athlete successful — determination, discipline, teamwork — are the same ones that fuel success in the classroom and the workplace. Whether on the field, court or gaming console, our student-athletes are developing the resilience needed to thrive in today’s competitive world.This summer, we anticipate the reopening of our theater, which has been closed since 2021 due to a roof collapse.
More than just a performance space, this theater has long served as a cultural hub for the Virginia Peninsula. It will return just in time to help us celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence. Through a dynamic lineup of performances, documentaries and thought-provoking conversations, we will honor the Virginia Peninsula’s unique role in our nation’s founding, ensuring our community remains a center for creativity, dialogue and engagement.
The college also is seeing incredible momentum in enrollment and student success. After an 8% increase in 2023-24, our enrollment surged another 11% last summer, with projections indicating continued growth of 2-5% for the 2024-25 academic year. Our degree and certificate completion rate has climbed from 19% a decade ago to 31% today, while dual enrollment among high school students has jumped 29%.
Our three-year graduation rate also is rising, demonstrating more students are achieving their academic and career goals faster.A key driver of this success is our FastForward program, which provides short-term, high-impact training in high-demand industries such as health care, information technology and skilled trades. Enrollment in these programs has increased 20% from last year, and the results speak for themselves: The percentage of FastForward graduates securing employment within six months has doubled, and their wages have increased by as much as 125%.
These aren’t just statistics; they represent real people gaining the skills and opportunities they need to build better lives for themselves and their families.Sign up for Viewpoints, an opinion newsletterOf course, none of this would be possible without the dedication and excellence of our faculty and staff. This year, Pete Berquist, assistant professor of geology, was named a 2025 Outstanding Faculty Awards recipient by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia and Dominion Energy.
As the only honoree from Virginia’s community colleges, Berquist’s achievement is a testament to the caliber of educators we have at VPCC — passionate professionals committed to student success.Looking ahead, we continue to build and innovate. By the end of 2025, we will break ground on our third trades center, in Newport News, and a state-of-the-art, three-story Student Success Center in Hampton.
These projects reflect our commitment to creating cutting-edge learning environments that empower students and meet the evolving needs of our workforce.While April may be designated as Community College Month, at Virginia Peninsula Community College, our mission is a year-round endeavor. Every day, we are changing lives, strengthening industries and transforming communities.
And we are just getting started.Towuanna Porter Brannon, Ed.D.
, is president of Virginia Peninsula Community College, which has campuses in Hampton and Williamsburg..
