A student-driven effort at Eastern Shore Community College (ESCC) is transforming a simple idea into a meaningful resource for the campus community. The ESCC Clothing Closet, created by members of the Alpha Phi Chi chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, was developed as part of the organization’s “College Project.” What began as a student-led initiative has quickly grown into a collaborative effort aimed at addressing a real and often overlooked need among students.

The inspiration for the clothing closet came after a “Dress for Success” campus fashion show and a partnership with Virginia Career Works. Through these experiences, students recognized that many of their peers lacked access to appropriate professional attire for interviews, internships, and job opportunities. Understanding how important appearance can be in building confidence and making strong first impressions, the group set out to create a solution that would directly benefit ESCC students.

The closet’s primary purpose is to provide free clothing, particularly professional wear, to help students feel prepared and self-assured as they pursue their academic and career goals. Located in the student lounge, the closet will initially be available exclusively to ESCC students. There is also a “Pop-Up” Clothing Closet Event on Tuesday, 4/14 from 12pm-4pm, to help students prepare for the ESCC Career Fair on campus April 22^nd, from 11am-1pm at the Workforce Development Center.

This initiative would not have been possible without strong support and collaboration across the college and community. ESCC leadership, including President Dr. Daryl Minus, along with faculty, Career Services, and student clubs, played a key role in bringing the project to life. In addition, generous donations from community members filled the closet with a wide variety of clothing, exceeding expectations and ensuring that students will have access to diverse options. One awesome donation came from the family of former ESCC President, the late Dr. Richard Jenkins, who provided a variety of his professional business attire for the closet.

Looking ahead, students are exploring ways to sustain and grow the project, including the possibility of running a café to help fund and maintain the closet. The success of the initiative has already earned the Phi Theta Kappa chapter a five-star rating, highlighting its impact and effectiveness. For those involved, the project represents more than just a campus resource—it reflects teamwork, dedication, and a shared desire to leave a lasting, positive mark on ESCC before graduating. The clothing closet stands as a testament to what students can accomplish when they come together with a clear purpose.

Eastern Shore Community College is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Ramzi Ockaili as the the full-time Vice President of Academic and Workforce Programs. Serving as interim VP since March of 2025, Dr. Ockaili took part in interviews for the permanent position this spring and was chosen for the role.

Dr. Ockaili brings more than 25 years of distinguished experience in higher education, teaching, leadership, and research. He served as the Department Chair of Anatomy & Physiology and Biology at Reynolds Community College and has an extensive background in faculty development, student mentoring, curriculum innovation, and institutional effectiveness. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a strong commitment to academic excellence, innovative teaching, and supporting students and faculty alike.

Dr. Ockaili holds a B.S. in Biology from the American University of Beirut, an M.S. and Ph.D. in Physiology from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), and a Post-Baccalaureate Graduate Certificate in Medical Education from VCU’s School of Education. He also completed his postdoctoral training in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, at VCU. 

With deep knowledge of the VCCS and a strong record of innovation and partnership, his strategic vision aligns with ESCC’s mission and will continue to be essential in guiding the college’s goals under the leadership of college president Dr. Daryl Minus.

In his year as interim, Dr. Ockaili has been instrumental in guiding growth both in Academic and Workforce programming at the college. In addition to leading ESCC faculty, he has worked to prepare the college for the launch of its new Engineering program for Fall 2026, designed to meet growing regional demand and expand educational opportunities for students across the Eastern Shore.

ESCC Career Services presents the 2026 Spring Career Fair for job seekers on Wednesday, April 22nd, from 11:00am-1:00pm at the Workforce Development Services Building on campus in Melfa.  Attendees are encouraged to bring copies of their resumes and dress for success as they will have access to over 40 local and regional employers. The event is open to the general public in addition to students.

Employers Attending:

• VA Career Works
• Veteran Employment with Virginia Works
• Northampton County
• Northampton County Public School
• NASA
• Eastern Shore Rural Health
• Northampton County Police Department
• Didlake
• The Maryland Department of Safety and Corrections
• Riverside Memorial Hospital
• DARS
• Accomack County Public Schools
• East Coast Migrant Head Start Project
• Eastern Shore Community Services Board
• VIMS
• Worcester County Police Department
• The Nature Conservancy
• Accomack and Northampton County Probation and Parole
• ESS
• Virginia Army National Guard
• ANEC
• US Marines
• Perdue
• Pocomoke City Police Department
• Sentinel Robotics Group
• QS LLC–Northampton General Contractor
• Telamon
• US Air Force
• Salisbury PD
• VIP Salon
• Broadwater Academy
• Virginia Spaceport Authority
• WIOA
• Valkyrie
• City of Salisbury
• Eastern Shore Yacht and Country Club
• Coastal Shore Sales and Vacations
• Wilmington University
• Rayfield Mechanical
• Tidal Health

In accordance with Section 23.1-307 (D) of the Code of Virginia, the State Board for Community Colleges provides notice that at its regular business meeting on May 21, 2026, it will consider tuition and mandatory educational and general (E&G) increases for Virginia’s Community Colleges, effective fall semester 2026. The May 21 meeting will occur at 9 a.m. at the Virginia Community College System, System Office, 300 Arboretum Place, Richmond, VA 23236.

For in-state and out-of-state students, the State Board will consider tuition rate and E& G increases of between $3.50 per credit hour and $8.00 per credit hour. The State Board will also consider mandatory non-E&G fee increases of no more than $0.50 per credit hour for select colleges.

The tuition and fee increases are necessary to pay for additional costs of operating Virginia’s community colleges, including costs associated with state-mandated compensation and benefit increases, technology costs, insurance premiums, and inflationary cost pressures.

Current tuition and mandatory fees at Virginia’s Community Colleges are: $168.30 per credit hour for in-state students, and $385.40 for out-of-state students. You can see details about tuition and fees on the VCCS website.

Virginia Community college tuition remains less than one-third the cost of attending public four-year baccalaureate institutions.

Written comments from the public will be accepted until 5 p.m. on May 20 and will be made available to the Board before action on tuition is taken. Written comments may be sent to Andrew Kachur, Executive Coordinator for the Chancellor, at akachur@vccs.edu, or they may be mailed to the attention of Andrew Kachur at:

Office of the Chancellor
Virginia Community College System
300 Arboretum Parkway, Richmond VA 23236

The 55th Annual Commencement at your Eastern Shore Community College in Melfa, will be held on Wednesday, May 13th at 5:00pm (rain date is Thursday, May 14th). The college is excited to announce our commencement speaker for this momentous occasion is Jeannette Edwards, Chief Executive Officer of Eastern Shore Rural Health (ESRH).

Edwards officially assumed this permanent role in July 2023 after serving as interim CEO since January of that year. With a career at ESRH spanning over two decades, she previously served as the Chief Human Resources Officer starting in 2000. Her long tenure has been marked by a deep commitment to the Eastern Shore community, where she has led significant fundraising efforts, capital campaigns, and outreach programs aimed at expanding healthcare access. She was honored in 2010 by being named the ESRH Employee of the Year.

Under her leadership, ESRH has undergone a major expansion of its physical facilities and services to meet the region’s growing needs. In 2023, she oversaw the opening of the Express Care facility in Onley, which provides urgent care services, and the acquisition of the Atlantic Community Pharmacy in Oak Hall. Continuing this momentum, she spearheaded the opening of the Onley Community Pharmacy in March 2024. Her strategic initiatives focus on “polishing the apple” by improving customer service, including a new streamlined system for patients to voice concerns and an aggressive recruitment drive for new medical providers.

Edwards is also a prominent figure in Virginia’s public and civic life. In 2023, she was appointed by Governor Glenn Youngkin to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission. Her professional accolades include being named the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce Small Business Person of the Year in 2016 for her role as co-owner of Edwards’ Seafood, and receiving the Distinguished Service Award from the Chamber in 2022. Additionally, she has been recognized with the Soroptimist Club’s Ruby Award and the Rotary’s Paul Harris Fellow and President’s Award for her extensive volunteer work, which includes 13 years coordinating the Onley United Methodist Church’s coat closet.  Years of fundraising experience also led to her being honored as 2014 Campaign Chair by the United Way of Virginia’s Eastern Shore.

In recent years, Edwards has led ESRH to significant organizational achievements, including the Virginia Rural Health Association Best Practices Award in late 2025 for its school dental program. The health system was also named to the Winter 2025 Serve Virginia Honor Roll for its contributions to the community’s quality of life. A graduate of Salisbury State University with a degree in biology, Edwards continues to advocate for rural healthcare in Richmond and Washington, D.C., focusing on securing federal funding and protecting programs like the 340B drug discount program.

The ESCC Commencement is a ticketed event with a limited number available for students to share with family and friends. The event will be broadcast live and streamed on WESR-FM 103.3 (elasticplayer.xyz/wesr/) and can be seen on Facebook Live on the Eastern Shore Community College Facebook page.

Program includes 2026 graduates, as well as 2024 and 2025 high school grads and those who recently completed their GED!

Program Application Deadline is Friday, May 15th, 2026

ESCC launched a program for the summer 2021 term called Take Two. It was designed to allow 2021 high school graduating seniors to enroll in 1 or 2 classes for free, including all tuition, fees, and instructional materials. All academic and Workforce classes were available to students to choose from. This program was generously funded by our ESCC Foundation Board.

We are thrilled to announce that ESCC Foundation Board has elected to continue to fund the program for the summer 2026 Semester that begins on June 8, 2026.

The program has now been expanded to include 2024, 2025 and 2026 Eastern Shore High School Graduates of public and private schools, and those who have recently completed the GED program as well!

The completion of a 2025-2026 Financial aid application is necessary to ensure eligibility for the program.

Students interested in taking advantage of the Take Two Program must complete the interest link below to ensure eligibility:

Summer 2026 Take Two Interest Form

This is an invitation only event. Formal Invitations will mail in July.

Location: Historic Place Theater, 305 Mason Avenue, Cape Charles, VA

For lodging, we have reserved blocks of rooms at a discounted state rate at the following:

Hampton Inn & Suites – Exmore

Reservations

Alternatively, guests can call 1-800-HILTONS and use code 90E to reserve by telephone.

Holiday Inn Express – Exmore

Hotels in Exmore, VA | Holiday Inn Express & Suites Exmore – Eastern Shore

There are also many options available in Cape Charles:

Stay | ESVA Tourism Commission

For questions or inquires, please contact Bria Moody bmoody@es.vccs.edu or 757-789-1774

ESCC Acknowledges Visual Art Luminary and Poet Laureate Finalists

In November 2025, Dr. Carla Kimbrough, Director of Organizational Care and Leadership Development within the Virginia Community College System (VCCS), once again launched the Visual Art Luminary & Poet Laureate 2026 Competitions across all twenty-three community colleges in Virginia. This competition, in its second year, aims to “provide students the opportunity to express themselves creatively, verbally and visually.” As a matter of fact, “I Dream” is this year’s (2025-26) notable theme.

The two chosen winners (one for Visual Art Luminary—as headed by Professor [of English] Bill McCarter, and one for Poet Laureate—as headed by Professor [of English] Christina Duffman) from ESCC will head to Virginia Western Community College (in Roanoke) to compete on the larger stage against twenty-two other students within the VCCS toward the end of March—where they will be judged in order to win the ultimate recognition—to the Poet Laureate and Visual Art Luminary of the VCCS!

The coordinators were tasked with finding judges not associated with the college to ensure non-biased assessment as well as provide a sense of anonymity amongst the entrants of this competition; for the Poet Laureate competition part, there were four judges in charge of reviewing poems as according to the VCCS-issue rubric—and these judges (members within our ESVA community): Ann Marie Brown, Pedro Gonzalez, Jamaal Tankard, and Sandra Lewis.

After an arduous couple of weeks of reviewing poems (prose poems, to be more exact), the judges finally decided upon their winner (after listening and watching to their performative readings) for the Poet Laureate competition—Abigail Fluhart claimed the FIRST PLACE slot, Steven Lamprinos claimed the SECOND PLACE slot, and Ryshekia Allen claimed the THIRD PLACE slot (all pictured top of page, along with the Visual Art Luminary, and with Dr. Daryl Minus, ESCC President).

Ma’Lique Gray is the Visual Art Luminary of ESCC. His watercolor painting depicts the epitome of the noted theme of “I Dream”—as presented here:

ESCC’s 2026 Commencement Newsletter

If you have not already applied for graduation, follow these directions:

How to Apply for Graduation

1. First, see your advisor and they will work with you in completing an initial review of your graduation readiness. You must certify on the graduation application that you have consulted with your advisor.
2. Next, if it is determined that you will be ready to graduate by the upcoming semester, submit an online graduation application by the deadline.

To access the online Graduation Application

1. Go to the ESCC website by clicking HERE
2. Click on “MyESCC”
3. Enter your username and password
4. Click on VCCS SIS: Student Information System
5. Click on the “Academic Records and Progress” tile, then select Apply for Graduation. (This is at the bottom left on your screen)
6. Click on the “Proceed with Making Application” button and follow the prompts, answer the questions, and click “I agree” and then “Submit.”

Once your application is received, the college will officially review your academic record, and the registrar will send you an email informing you of your graduation status.

Commencement 2026

Congratulations on completing your program—now it is time to stand and be recognized! Commencement will be held on the campus of Your Eastern Shore Community College on Wednesday,May 13 at 5:00 p.m. The event will be outdoors with no tent. The rain date is Thursday, May 14th, at 5:00 p.m.

Guests

You may invite up to 3 guests to the ceremony. All guests aged 3 and above need a ticket to the event. You can pick tickets up from Student Services Monday-Thursday, April 20-April 23, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Friday, April 24 from 8:30am-12:00pm. If there are additional tickets, you will receive an email on Monday, May 4^th. For additional assistance, email Amy Shockley at ashockley@es.vccs.edu or call (757) 789-1720.

Rehearsal

Commencement Rehearsal will be held on Monday, May 11th, 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. on campus in the Great Hall of the Workforce Building. Please plan to attend. 

Caps & Gowns (Regalia)

You must wear the ceremonial cap and gown regalia to participate in commencement. You must order your cap and gown between March 2^nd and April 2^nd from Herff Jones. Click here to order:

https://collegegrad.herffjones.com

Again, you must order no later than April 2^nd. The cost is $36.50 plus tax. All regalia will be shipped to ESCC on May 2^nd.  You will not have to pay shipping costs. You will be contacted when your order is available for pick-up from Student Services.    If you have questions, please contact studentservices@es.vccs.edu or call (757)789-1720.

If you order more commencement materials other than the cap and gown, you will pay a shipping fee, and those items must be shipped to your home.

Day of the Ceremony/Arrival Time

You must arrive at the main academic building no later than 4:00 p.m. to put on your cap and gown, receive your name card, and line up for the procession. Graduates who earned Certificates of Completion and/or Career Studies Certificates report to room 148. Graduates who earned an Associate Degree report to room 147.  Graduates who earned a High School Equivalency Credential (GED/NEDP) report to room 140 (classroom in the Adult Education suite).

Photos

A professional photographer will take a photo of each graduate during the ceremony. If you want a professional photo taken in front of the ESCC backdrop, you should arrive by 3:00 p.m. inside the main entrance to the academic building. Order forms for the photos will be in the diploma cover you receive. Guests may take pictures from their seats but cannot be in the aisles due to safety hazards.

Ceremonial Tips for Graduates

• Wear business clothes (no jeans) with comfortable shoes. You will be walking on uneven ground and up steps to the stage.
• Wear your tassel towards the front on the right side of your cap.
• Remain standing until all graduates are at their seats.
• Be respectful of commencement speakers.
• Get your name card from the ESCC staff in the room. Do not lose it! You must have it ready to hand to Professor Zodun, who will announce your name.
• Once Professor Zodun announces your name, you will receive your diploma from Dr. Minus with your left hand and shake his hand with your right hand. You will then shake hands with the ESCC Advisory Board Chair and exit the stage.
• Your diploma cover will contain directions for ordering pictures taken by the photographer. You will be notified by text when your Academic degrees and/or certificate are available. This does not apply to Workforce students. Please contact Workforce at 757-789-7979 for more information.
• No balloons will be permitted.

Important Dates & Times

Last date to order cap and gown: Thursday, April 2nd at 11:59pm.

• Commencement rehearsal: Monday, May 11^th 5:00 pm on campus in the Great Hall in the Workforce Building.
• Commencement ceremony: Wednesday, May 13th, 5:00 p.m.
• Rain date: Thursday, May 14th, 5:00 p.m.
• You will be notified by text when your Academic degrees and/or certificate are available. This does not apply to Workforce students. Please contact Workforce at 757-789-7979 for more information.

More Information

For more information about commencement, go to ESCC’s website homepage (https://es.vccs.edu/), scroll down to “Important Events” and click on 2026 Spring Commencement.

To launch Black History Month 2026, your Eastern Shore Community College Student Government Association (SGA) provided students with a special event on Tuesday, February 3rd, featuring a delicious plated hot lunch from Sage Diner and a special guest speaker, Stan Pearson II, along with a number of big giveaways at the conclusion of the event. Over 100 students were in attendance and enjoyed engaging with the popular celebrity speaker. 

Pearson, who has been well received with audiences throughout the Virginia Community College System (VCCS), is based out of Atlanta, and is an award-winning motivational comedian, speaker and event emcee who has a gift of being able to connect with a range of ages and backgrounds in his audiences. “Your Time is Now” was the theme of his ESCC appearance and students enjoyed hearing practical messages of building confidence, great friendships, and strong habits that will help them better themselves from the inside out. 

Also a successful author, Stan Pearson II has published a series of self-help books, citing family as inspiration for much of his writing. His books, like his personal appearances, promote personal growth and have helped him continue to better his own communication skills as he traveled the world with various engagements. 

With a background that has included everything from working for a car rental company to having a position at Texas A&M as Associate Director of Student Activities, Pearson has worked for a Governor and a United States Senator on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. He earned his Master’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Management. While working for a consulting firm, he formed his own speaking company, Breathing Diversity. 

When explaining the name of his company, Pearson explains, “There are two things that you cannot live without – you cannot live without breathing and you certainly cannot live without diversity.” His thought provoking and inclusive message helps ignite change in the lives of his audience, and promoting emotional intelligence, leadership and diversity results in success. 

ESCC students were slow to let their guest speaker leave the podium as insightful and well thought-out questions were posed by many. Pearson even stayed longer as event clean-up began, to engage individuals with remaining questions and conversation. 

Several copies of Pearson’s latest book were given away to winning students in addition to a full collection of popular BEATS headphones and portable speakers provided by the SGA Club. ESCC’s SGA organizes multiple popular events for students on campus each year including Back to Campus and End of Year celebrations. Club members are very involved in decision-making on events and provide an important connection to what students may respond to and enjoy.