Thomas Nelson Community College would like to thank Newport News Shipbuilding for their generous donation made in September in honor of the Newport News City firefighters as well as the Newport News Shipbuilding firefighters.
The Newport News City and Newport News Shipbuilding firefighters utilized their extensive training during an incident on an aircraft carrier under construction. This event motivated Newport News Shipbuilding to invest in the firefighters of the future by contributing to Thomas Nelson. Thomas Nelson hopes to use Newport News Shipbuilding’s gift in either our Fire Science Program or establish a new program that will assist in training local firefighters. The funds provided by Newport News Shipbuilding will ensure that Thomas Nelson EMT and Fire Safety students are getting the best training and equipment possible. In doing so, this allows for individual and community safety moving forward.
Newport News Shipbuilding is a long-standing partner and investor in Thomas Nelson as well as higher education in general. Last year, Newport News Shipbuilding supported Thomas Nelson’s Educational Foundation in the College’s 50th Anniversary through a generous gift that provided scholarships to 50 students over a two-year period.
“Like Thomas Nelson, we are committed to helping our youth reach their full potential. Like our community college partners, and others here today, we believe in the power of partnership. We are committed to providing opportunity,” said Xavier Beale, vice president of trades at Newport News Shipbuilding, during Thomas Nelson’s Annual Scholarship and Donor Luncheon. “These scholarships open doors for talented students to realize their potential and these 50 for 50th scholarships provide Newport News Shipbuilding an opportunity to give back to the community in a meaningful way.”
The Thomas Nelson Community College Educational Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation founded to generate support for Thomas Nelson Community College by raising funds, increasing visibility, and strengthening partnerships between the College and state and local communities. In 2018-19, the Foundation awarded its highest amount in recent history with private scholarships totaling $196,830 to 313 Thomas Nelson students enrolled in academic and workforce training programs. Of those students, 124 were supported by contributions from Newport News Shipbuilding.
It is important for Thomas Nelson to have the backing of Newport News Shipbuilding, the region’s largest private employer, to fill workforce demands on the Peninsula. The Thomas Nelson Educational Foundation is so grateful for all that Newport News Shipbuilding does for the College.