Interested in fall scholarships at TCC? It’s time to apply.

Whether you’re a woman studying STEM, a recent high school graduate or a military-related student returning to school, we have scholarships to help you pay for classes.

Don’t miss out on free money to further your academic goals.

Applications for Tidewater Community College’s 2020 fall scholarship cycle are being accepted April 15 through June 5.

Thanks to the contributions of individual donors and organizations, TCC’s Educational Foundation is able to provide scholarships to support students’ academic studies and achievements. Awards may be used for tuition, books and fees at TCC.

Most TCC Educational Foundation scholarships are worth $500 or more. They do not need to be repaid. Depending on your unmet need, you may be awarded more than one scholarship.

Student Olivia Brichter earned the Tryntje and Norman Willcox Endowed Memorial Scholarship for $1,000 and a $600 Norfolk Campus General Scholarship in 2019.

“TCC allowed me to figure out what I want to do, without going into any student debt,” she said. “I’m really grateful.”

Brichter was selected to the 2020 All-USA Academic Team and is a New Century Transfer Pathway scholar for Virginia. She will receive a total of $7,250 in scholarship funds to pursue her bachelor’s degree at her next stop.

Emeakama Favour at TCC’s Chesapeake Campus.

Emeakama Favour came to TCC to study cybersecurity. She received the Mary Ferrell Flickinger and E.C. Wareheim scholarships, both from TCC.

“These scholarships helped me experience the joy of learning,” she said. “They covered most of my tuition for one semester and helped me stay in school.”

Start by completing the 2020-21 FAFSA to determine your eligibility for financial aid. Find the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. List TCC as your school of choice by using code 003712.

Use your myTCC login and password to sign in to the scholarship application system. From there, browse scholarship opportunities and apply for ones that fit you best. The system will recommend scholarships that are right for you.

Registration is currently open for fall classes, which begin Aug. 24.

For more information, visit www.tcc.edu/scholarships. To learn about establishing a scholarship at TCC, contact the TCC Educational Foundation at foundation@tcc.edu or 757-822-1080.

There’s still time to apply for scholarships and get money for school

TCC offers a variety of program-specific scholarship opportunities, including unique awards geared towards students studying fields like automotive technology, engineering, culinary arts, and early childhood education!

Nate Parker and Omar Lezcano at the Regional Automotive Center.

Nate Parker and Omar Lezcano never met Jordan McNair, but they are grateful for his life and passion for Hondas. They were the inaugural recipients of the Jordan McNair Memorial Honda PACT Scholarship, sponsored by Priority Automotive. The $12,000 scholarship covers half the cost of tuition for two students in the Honda PACT program for two years.

“I never thought I’d go to school, but once I saw this facility with the instructional bays and vehicles, I knew I was supposed to be here,” Lezcano said. “The program has fast-tracked me at my work and been a great experience.” Lezcano credits the Honda program with increasing his knowledge “through the roof” and providing opportunities even before graduation.

It’s not too late to apply for a variety of scholarships in automotive and diesel technology, including:

Carter Machinery Company and Caterpillar, Inc.’s Diesel Technology Scholarship
David Aldridge Memorial Scholarship (Toyota T-TEN)
Ford ASSET Scholarship
Hampton Roads Automobile Dealers Association Scholarship
NAPA Auto Care Annual Expendable Scholarship
Tidewater Area Fleet Manager’s Association Scholarship

Students can also find scholarship opportunities in STEM.

Ramon Veal, a Daniel C. Pettway Scholarship recipient, originally came to TCC to study music, but after experimenting with engineering classes, he fell in love with mechanical engineering technology.

Ramon Veal poses with the STEM Club robot.

“The scholarship has made a difference,” Veal said. “This funding has helped fill the gaps from my grant money and allowed me to buy my supplies and books,” he said. “It’s been a boost for my self-esteem. Knowing someone notices that I’m doing something good and wants to help me go even further? That’s cool!”

There are dozens of other program-specific scholarship opportunities available, including the Ann Peele Ambrose Scholarship, established for Administrative Support Technology students at the Portsmouth Campus, the Norfolk LOGISTXGAMES Scholarship, for students pursuing course work related to the logistics and warehousing industry, the TIFSEA C-CAP Scholarship, for students in the culinary arts or hospitality management program, and the Suffolk Smart Beginnings Early Childhood Development Scholarship, which supports Suffolk residents studying early childhood education.

We even offer an Electronics Engineering Scholarship for high school students pursuing dual enrollment course work in electronics!

How to apply

Interested in these or other scholarships? The time to apply is now! Scholarship applications are accepted through Nov. 15.

Start by completing the 2019-20 FAFSA, which determines your eligibility for financial aid. Find the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. List TCC as your school of choice by using the code 003712.

If you already have an active FAFSA on file you do not need to submit a second one.

Sign in to the scholarship application system using your myTCC log-in and password. From there, it’s just a matter of browsing scholarship opportunities and applying for ones that fit you best!

Find one-on-one help applying for financial aid on campus

Tidewater Community College is making it easier for students to complete the FAFSA by partnering with the Educational Opportunity Center to offer in-person assistance with the application.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first step toward getting student loans in addition to federal, state and college-specific scholarships and grants. The FAFSA is required to qualify for federal student loans like Direct Subsidized Loans, Direct Unsubsidized Loans, and PLUS Loans. The information in your FAFSA can also qualify you for need-based financial aid like federal Pell Grants.

The time to start the process is now.

An EOC representative will be available on the Norfolk and Virginia Beach campuses through September for those who need one-on-one help applying for financial aid.

Norfolk Campus

Andrews Building, First Floor
300 Granby St., Norfolk

Thursdays & Fridays
9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
2:30 to 4 p.m.

Virginia Beach Campus

Princess Anne Building, Room A104
1700 College Crescent, Virginia Beach

Tuesdays & Thursdays
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

No appointments are required; these services are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Before coming to campus, contact the Educational Opportunity Center at 757-683-2312 for information on required paperwork.

Need $$$$ for college? Avoid these pitfalls when applying for financial aid

Stressed about paying for college? If you’re planning on college, don’t overlook the important step of applying for financial aid. You might qualify for grants and scholarships – money you don’t have to pay back – work-study jobs – paid part-time work that’s generally on campus – or loans – funds you can repay after graduation.

If you’re attending Tidewater Community College this summer or have plans to be a student in the fall, here are some important tips to remember when applying for financial aid.

Yes, you can still apply for financial aid for summer even if you’re already enrolled in a summer class. Jen Perkinson, enrollment team manager at TCC, stresses she has seen students receive aid as late as their final week of classes. Yes, TCC’s priority deadline to file the FAFSA is April 1, but it is not too late. So if you haven’t filled out your FAFSA, what are you waiting for?
When you fill out your FAFSA, be sure to send the results to TCC by using the code 003712. The form will list that as being “TCC Norfolk,” but it applies to all of TCC’s campuses.
You don’t pay a cent to apply for financial aid or scholarships – FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Complete the form online at fafsa.gov or download paper forms there. Do not go to any other URL to fill out the FAFSA.
The deadline to apply for TCC scholarships is June 1. For more information, visit tcc.edu/scholarships.
If you or your family has filed a tax return in the last two years, the FAFSA has actually gotten easier to complete. Thanks to the IRS data retrieval tool, you can import information directly from the IRS website. This transfers data from a federal income tax return directly to the FAFSA. To see if you are eligible to use this time-saving tool, after you log in to your FAFSA, go to the “Student Financial Information” tab or, if relevant, the “Parent Financial Information” tab and follow the prompts.
Want help with your FAFSA? Consult your high school’s ACCESS counselor, who can walk you through the process. If you are not in school, call the Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) at 757-683-2312 to make an appointment for free assistance. You can also email the EOC at eoc@edufind.org.
Be aware that in addition to tuition, financial aid can pay for child care, meal plans and HRT transportation.
If you are offered loans, make sure you need them as you will have to pay those back. If you are offered a subsidized loan, interest does not accrue until you graduate.
If two weeks have passed and you haven’t heard about your financial aid, reach out to TCC at 757-822-1111. We are always here to help.

Earn an associate in one year at TCC’s Norfolk or Portsmouth Campuses

Students who want to fast track their education by earning an associate degree in just one year can take advantage of an accelerated degree option on Tidewater Community College’s Norfolk and Portsmouth campuses.

By enrolling in consecutive eight-week sessions, students can complete all 61 credits in one year for an Associate of Science in General Studies. Those who complete the degree and meet the required GPA for admission to their transfer institution will likely be admitted as juniors.

“This dynamic initiative is perfect for students willing to make the commitment to take classes consecutively for nearly a full year,” said Michelle Woodhouse, provost of TCC’s Portsmouth Campus. “Students who enroll in the accelerated degree program will receive the support of our dedicated advising staff to ensure a seamless transition to a four-year university or college.”

Classes on both campuses will be offered in five eight-week sessions beginning on Aug. 20 and concluding in July 2019.

Courses for each session are tentatively scheduled for Monday and Wednesday evenings, some Saturdays and online at the Portsmouth Campus.

Students able to attend classes every weekday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., can complete an accelerated degree on the Norfolk Campus. Some classes will be online only.

Recent high school graduates and adult learners, including military-related students, are eligible to apply. Applicants must complete the Virginia Placement Test and schedule an interview with the Portsmouth Campus Advising & Counseling Department.

Anyone with an interest in the accelerated degree program should email enroll@tcc.edu for information and logon to tcc.edu/accelerated.

The application deadline is July 23. Financial aid is available by completing the FAFSA.