TCC, Portsmouth officials celebrate First College system

PORTSMOUTH

Leaders of the city's public schools and the new Tidewater Community College campus praised their organizations' partnership Tuesday night, pointing to the benefits of a program that allows the city's high school seniors to earn high school and college credits on the campus.

Superintendent David Stuckwisch's and TCC's Portsmouth provost Terry Jones' comments came before an audience of about 60 people gathered for the Portsmouth State of Education Briefing held at the new campus.

Stuckwisch shared with attendees of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce-hosted event how the program, called First College, has grown from 19 students about five years ago to about 100 today.

Many of them, he said, are the first in their families to attend college. About a third qualify for free or reduced lunch, which means their roughly $1,500 tuition is covered by the school division and the Beazley Foundation, Stuckwisch said after his speech.

After the briefing ended, Jones led a tour of the new campus. Among other places, they made at stop at the welding lab, where students were engaged in assignments.

Jones told the tour group that welders can make up to $75,000 within five years on the job.

Portsmouth public school students take welding classes on the campus as part of the division's career and technical program, Stuckwisch said.

Of the school division's partnership with TCC, Dean McClain, Portsmouth division director of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce said:

"This will allow future generations the access and the opportunity to continue the renaissance of Portsmouth and this region."