Thomas Nelson Community College once again partnered with Dominion Energy in the 2018-2019 academic school year. Their generosity has provided support to the Grove community in James City County, an area with a large underserved population.
The funding has provided an abundance of community benefits to the area, including an annual dental clinic, community health fairs, STEM summer camps and Thomas Nelson scholarships for over a two-year period.
With this grant, the Foundation will also have an opportunity to provide scholarships to students from the Grove community interested in associate degrees, industry credentials or career certificate programs. This contribution will provide members of the Grove community with an opportunity for success they may not have otherwise known without Dominion Energy’s beneficence.
Dominion Energy has continuously supported Thomas Nelson and our endeavors to give back to the community. In 2017, Dominion Energy contributed to a new research vessel in the Geology department known as the “investiGATOR.” The boat, along with related scientific, navigation and safety equipment, has enhanced hands-on learning and student-led research ventures.
“The RV Investigator has had an overwhelmingly positive impact on hundreds of Thomas Nelson students and in some ways beyond what we anticipated,” stated Pete Berquist, Assistant Professor of Geology and Geology Department Chair at Thomas Nelson. “The initial draw for a research vessel was to support our Oceanography program and broaden the learning and research opportunities available for our students. To that end, students every semester have planned research trips, collected data, and presented on their findings for a wide range of marine environments within the Chesapeake Bay. These learning opportunities have helped make the course content more tangible and facilitated students making connections between the science they learn and relevant topics within our communities. In particular, students have acquired technical skills and a more intimate understanding of the connections between our community’s economic, social, and environmental interests.”
This partnership, and Dominion Energy’s generosity would not be possible without the support of Community Affairs Manager Melanie Rapp Beale, who served as President of Thomas Nelson’s Educational Foundation in 2011 and 2016 as well as a member of the Grove Christian Outreach Center Board of Directors.
"Dominion Energy is always proud to partner with Thomas Nelson in offering high quality educational opportunities to the localities we serve. Through our partnership, Dominion Energy looks forward to helping each individual who takes advantage of the various opportunities available to them," stated Rapp Beale.
Thank you to Dominion Energy for impacting so many lives within the Thomas Nelson Community College family and beyond.