RICHMOND, Va., Oct. 3, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Thirteen college
students from military families across Virginia will receive full
tuition and other assistance as Dominion Energy Fellows attending
Virginia's Community Colleges. These thirteen students are the
first to benefit from the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation's
grant to the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education
(VFCCE).
The $300,000 two-year grant
establishes the Dominion Energy Fellows Program to support
military-connected students at Virginia's Community Colleges who
are within one year of completing their studies. Active-duty
service members, veterans, as well as their spouses and dependents
are eligible to receive this fellowship.
The inaugural class of Dominion Energy Fellows completes a group
of 43 total Fellows offered through the Virginia Foundation for
Community College Education. Out of more than 280,000 people who
attend Virginia's Community Colleges each year, only a handful of
second-year students are selected for a Fellows program.
This Fellows program provides full tuition, book expenses, fees,
and opportunities to participate in a unique curriculum of
intellectual and cultural activities. A cornerstone of the program
is a commitment to community engagement. Each Fellow will
volunteer 80 hours of service during the academic year to
strengthen their leadership skills and develop a strong foundation
for future success.
The 2019-2020 Class of Dominion Energy Fellowship recipients are
students throughout Virginia who have a wide variety of career
goals and academic majors. They include:
- Corinna Carr of Newport News who attends John Tyler Community College. She is a military
spouse pursuing a degree in Business with a long-term career goal
to serve in hospital administration.
- Ryan Miller of Herndon attends Northern
Virginia Community College and majors in Science. Miller is
a U.S. Air Force veteran pursuing a career in electrical
engineering.
- Katrina Duff of Bumpass attends Germanna
Community College. She is a mother of four and the spouse of
a disabled veteran. She is working on her Nursing degree and plans
to transfer to complete her Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
The Dominion Energy grant will also provide Military Student
Success Funds to support military-connected students with expenses
outside of tuition and standard fees, such as specific program
costs, books, needed materials, and technology. These supplements
can also help with food, housing, and other emergency situations
that may keep a student from attending class. The Veterans Resource
Centers will allocate the funding at seven of Virginia's Community
Colleges: Germanna in Fredericksburg; Reynolds and John Tyler in the
Richmond area; Northern Virginia; Tidewater; Thomas Nelson on the Virginia Peninsula; and Virginia Western in Roanoke.
"Virginia's Community Colleges have a strong support system in
place for our military-connected students, from our Credits2Careers
initiative which translates military service into college credits
to our Veteran Education Resource Initiative for Transition,
Advising, and Success program at seven community colleges. This
grant is a powerful recognition of the growing needs of this
important population to the future of Virginia," said Glenn DuBois, chancellor of Virginia's Community
Colleges. "We appreciate the continued partnership of Dominion
Energy in fueling student success across Virginia."
The application for the 2020-2021 Dominion Energy Fellowship
opens in March, 2020. For more information visit www.vfcce.org.
About the Virginia Foundation for Community College
Education (VFCCE): The Virginia Foundation for
Community College Education (VFCCE) is the supporting arm of
Virginia's 23 community colleges. The VFCCE works to broaden
educational access, support student success, and provide innovative
solutions to workforce needs. Our mission is "providing access to
education to all Virginians," with a focus on expanding access and
programs for underserved populations. To ensure access to
high quality, affordable education, the VFCCE provides statewide
leadership in raising funds for community college education,
supplementing and supporting the activities of the 23 individual
colleges, and securing support for major system-wide initiatives
that could not be undertaken by any single college. For more
information, please visit www.vfcce.org.
About Virginia's Community Colleges: Since
1966, Virginia's Community Colleges have given everyone the
opportunity to learn and develop the right skills so lives and
communities are strengthened. By making higher education and
workforce training available in every part of Virginia, we elevate
all of Virginia. Together, Virginia's Community Colleges serve more
than 241,000 students each year. For more information, please
visit www.vccs.edu.
About the Dominion Energy Charitable
Foundation: Nearly 7.5 million customers in 18
states energize their homes and businesses with electricity or
natural gas from Dominion Energy (NYSE: D). Through its
Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation, as well as EnergyShare and
other programs, Dominion Energy contributed nearly $35 million in 2018 to community causes. The
Foundation supports nonprofit causes that meet basic human needs,
protect the environment, promote education and encourage community
vitality. Please visit www.DominionEnergy.com to learn
more.
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SOURCE Dominion Energy