Larry Dotolo has a Ph.D. in English, taught at Old Dominion University, and spent about 40 years as the president of the Virginia Tidewater Consortium for Higher Education. Formal education is important to him, but he also knows the importance of the skilled trades.
“For the kids who go to a four-year school, God bless them. I think that’s the way to go for a lot of people,” he said. “But I think those students who are not terribly interested in academics, but would do very well in the trades, that is a very good occupation.”
He recently presented Virginia Peninsula Community College with a $2,000 scholarship check on behalf of the International Longshoremen’s Association Local 1624. It’s not the first time he has done that, and each time it’s meaningful.
“I guess what it shows you is they are very much interested in education,” he said of the Longshoremen’s Association.
So much so that the scholarship is open to VPCC students on academic and workforce tracks. The College determines who receives the award.
His decades-long work with the consortium brought Dotolo in contact with many colleges and businesses throughout the state. He first formed a relationship with the Longshoremen’s Association many years ago, and it’s still going strong today, which is why he regularly presents the scholarship check to VPCC.
“My colleagues, and sometimes myself, look at one aspect of the four-year degree, and one thing I think is important is graduate school,” he said. “But the other part is we need people who can work in the trades.”
If you don’t believe Dotolo (pronounced Dote-o-lo), try finding a plumber, electrician or someone to install an irrigation system, he said. Add in Hampton Roads is home to one of the largest ports in the country and has a huge military presence and it all adds up to endless opportunities.
“God knows we need those individuals,” he said. “They’re an important part of the economy, and I think it’s important for the community.”
Dotolo, as president emeritus of the consortium, says it goes beyond providing money for a scholarship.
“To me, it’s a relationship between higher education and the community, but especially with the longshoremen, who do some good things,” he said.
He has grown particularly fond of community colleges, which he added often provide individuals with much-needed assistance, financial and otherwise. He called it a low-cost investment.
“The end result is always good,” he said. “Things are changing now. Higher education is broader than it used to be, and the workforce is becoming very important.”
Years ago, when he was on President Obama’s apprenticeship committee, the president said promoting the trades often is a public relations matter; parents have to be convinced trades are a viable and lucrative option.
“I think everybody needs some form of postsecondary education, but not everybody needs a four-year degree,” Dotolo said.
When he taught English at ODU, he often had students in his night classes who worked at Newport News Shipbuilding during the day.
“That really speaks to a very important point. The four-year degree is very important, but sometimes you can do it along the way or after,” he said.
He shared another story about a friend’s son, who earned a degree from a four-year institution but couldn’t find a job in his field after graduation.
“He went back to community college, got an HVAC degree and is doing very, very, very well,” Dotolo said. “There’s always that option.”
For a list of scholarships available at VPCC, click here.
