Your Eastern Shore Community College welcomed special guests, Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources Marvin B. Figueroa and Heidi Hertz, Director of Virginia’s Rural Health Transformation Initiative on Friday, August 28^th on campus in Melfa. Traveling with Figueroa and Hertz, were Dr. Felicia Ganther (Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Workforce Services) and Dr. Maurice Jones (Senior Vice Chancellor for Strategic Partnerships) from the Virginia Community College System Office, along with Chief Executive Officer Jeannette Edwards and Dr. Scott Wolpin from Eastern Shore Rural Healthand Virginia Delegate Rob Bloxom.

A brief welcome and introductory discussion at ESCC Workforce were followed by a tour of nursing simulation facilities, where the group discussed the significant nursing shortage on the Eastern Shore and our efforts to expand nursing capacity. These discussions were led by ESCC Vice President, Dr. Ramzi Ockaili, Director of Workforce Scott Hall, and Student Services Director Amy Shockley.  ESCC leadership was able to share the local reliance on travel nurses in our community, and the demand for nursing graduates to help fill these roles.

Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources Marvin B. Figueroa accepts a “YES!” (Your Eastern Shore) lapel pin from ESCC Director of Workforce Scott Hall.

The group also visited space that could potentially be developed into a Dental Hygiene facility, contingent upon funding. The tentative launch of the Dental Hygiene program on the Eastern Shore in Spring 2027 was discussed, and details were shared on ESCC’s partnership with Germanna Community College and Eastern Shore Rural Health. Dr. Wolpin and Jeannette Edwards elaborated on the significant need for dental hygienists in the region and across Virginia, and the resources necessary to establish the appropriate instructional space at ESCC.

Next stop was the ESCC Academic Building and the Practical Nursing (PN) facility where leadership shared the important role the program plays in meeting local healthcare workforce needs. Additional discussion included plans to partner with other VCCS colleges to continue the expansion of healthcare programs at ESCC. Susan Greer of the ESCC Nursing Program joined the narrative.

Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources Marvin B. Figueroa tours the ESCC campus with Vice President, Dr. Ramzi Ockaili and the ESCC leadership team.

The visiting group then traveled to Eastern Shore Rural Health in Onley for lunch, for a conversation focused on regional healthcare workforce needs and how the Commonwealth, educational institutions, healthcare providers, and community partners can work together to expand sustainable healthcare education and workforce pipelines on the Eastern Shore.

Eastern Shore Community College leadership appreciated the opportunity with state leaders on these significant healthcare workforce needs of the Eastern Shore and to introduce the strong partnerships already in place to address them.

For nearly a century, the historic Cape Charles Elementary School was a place where education changed lives. Today, thanks to an expanding partnership between the Impact Center and Eastern Shore Community College (ESCC), that tradition continues as the building once again opens its doors to learners—this time through Adult Education, Workforce training, and Career Services.

For many adults in lower Northampton County, transportation can be one of the biggest barriers to going back to school, learning new skills, or preparing for a better job. By bringing these programs directly to the Impact Center, the partnership makes education and career development more accessible—right in the heart of the community.

Originally built in 1929 as a Washington-Rosenwald School, the building served for decades as the only school for Black children in Cape Charles. Today, after a remarkable restoration, the Impact Center once again fulfills its original purpose as a place where education creates opportunity, strengthens families, and brings the community together.

While these programs are offered through ESCC, they are designed for everyone. You don’t have to be a college student—or even plan to attend college—to participate. Whether your goal is to learn English, earn a GED, prepare for a new career, build workforce skills, or simply gain confidence, there is a place for you.

The Adult Education mission says it best: Adult Education builds skills, creates pathways, and expands opportunities for every learner, regardless of where their journey begins. That belief is at the heart of this partnership.

Beginning this September, residents can enroll in English as a Second Language (ESL) and GED classes at the Impact Center. Workforce offerings this fall include Food Service Management, ServSafe® Food Manager Certification, Hair Braiding & Weaving, Workforce Readiness, and Digital Literacy. ESCC Career Services will also offer workshops on resume writing, cover letter writing, interviewing, and exploring employment opportunities to help participants connect their new skills with meaningful careers.

Nearly 100 years after this building first opened its doors to students, it is once again creating opportunities through education. Together, the Impact Center and Eastern Shore Community College are honoring the building’s remarkable history while investing in the future of our community—one learner, one family, and one opportunity at a time.

For more information please contact ESCC Adult Education at 757-789-1794 or the Cape Charles Impact Center at 757-695-4415.

The 2025–2026 academic year reflected a period of purposeful progress for Your Eastern Shore Community College. Guided by my commitment to listen, learn and connect, three strategic themes emerged that now guide our work: creating a sustainable future, aligning academic and workforce programs with high demand fields, and designing our college to meet the needs of current and future learners. Together, these themes provide a clear framework for decision-making and investment that will shape the next iteration of ESCC’s strategic plan, developed collaboratively with our college community and stakeholders.

Forward momentum defined my first year as President. The college advanced with intention, aligning strategy with purpose and translating vision into action. Enrollment increased in both Fall 2025 and Spring 2026, and ESCC served 1,800 students across academic and workforce programs. Our college realized a 3.2% increase in annual full time equivalent (FTE) enrollment over the previous academic year, signaling continued growth. ESCC proudly awarded 232 degrees, certificates, and career studies credentials. Our May Commencement Ceremony welcomed more than 1,000 attendees and featured an inspiring address from Jeannette Edwards, CEO of Eastern Shore Rural Health System, Inc. and a proud ESCC alumna. The college also made meaningful progress on key goals within the Virginia Community College System Strategic Plan, particularly in credential attainment, adult learner enrollment, and FastForward program completion.

ESCC prioritized revenue diversification through more than $4 million in grant submissions since July 2025. Additionally, we secured significant external investments, including a competitive $788,700 GO Virginia Per Capita Grant to expand unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) initiatives. New and emerging programs in engineering, healthcare, artificial intelligence, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing directly respond to regional workforce needs. We continue to expand strategic partnerships with colleges, universities, and industry leaders, reinforcing ESCC’s role as a talent pipeline and economic driver for our region.

ESCC’s Career Services Center exceeded its five-year service goals, supporting hundreds of students through career guidance, internships, and job placement. We advanced our use of technology and artificial intelligence across teaching, learning, and operations, enhancing student engagement and strengthening institutional readiness for the future. We also continue to engage students in clubs and activities, including Fall club soccer led by championship-winning Coach Chase Baxa.

Throughout all this work, we remain focused on removing barriers, fostering a culture of care, and ensuring that every student is supported from enrollment to graduation and beyond. Our continued emphasis on organizational excellence and accountability strengthened compliance, enhanced institutional effectiveness practices, and expanded investments in data infrastructure.

Collectively, these achievements reflect a year of shared effort and forward progress. This success belongs to our faculty and staff who lead with excellence, our students who trust us with their aspirations, and our donors, businesses and community partners who invest in our college’s future. With a solid foundation and forward momentum, ESCC is positioned to move confidently into its next chapter, expanding opportunity, strengthening regional impact, and fulfilling its mission for the communities we serve.

ESCC President, Dr. Daryl Minus

ESCC President Dr. Daryl Minus (L) enters his second year in the role, leading the college with Forward Momentum into the Fall Semester.  Hayleigh Bradbury is shown (R) assisting student Lakisha Warner James in Career Services, a huge component of ESCC’s always-expanding services.

The Hampton Roads Workforce Council, in partnership with Virginia Works, Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), and Eastern Shore Community College, celebrated the grand opening of the Virginia Career Works Eastern Shore Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday morning, August 24th, on the Melfa campus of ESCC.

Virginia Career Works connects job seekers with employers through its training providers and network of professionals. Services include one-on-one career counseling, skills training, job preparation workshops, and on-site computer access.

A program Monday morning that culminated with the ribbon cutting on the newly located offices at ESCC, also included addresses by ESCC President, Dr. Daryl Minus, Nicole Overly, the Commissioner of Virginia Works, and Shawn Avery, the President and CEO of Hampton Roads Workforce Council.  Guests at the event were treated to refreshments and tours of new offices.

This new center is the seventh location operated by the Hampton Roads Workforce Council and marks the organization’s commitment to expanding services to the business community and job seekers here on the Eastern Shore.

When Chester Jackson and the Eastern Shore Cruisers Car Club approached Eastern Shore Community College about hosting one of their local summer car shows on campus several years ago, a great tradition was started that has quickly become an August highlight each year at ESCC.

On the lot where the original ESCC Academic Building resided until 2020, a wide variety of vehicles converge from all over the Shore, including lower Delmarva from the north and Tidewater to the south.  It’s an atmosphere of community and goodwill that follows the club at each stop through their very busy weekend schedule through spring, summer and fall months.

Through registration, donations and raffles, the club always manages to raise funds that are distributed to various organizations and causes tied to the shows on their calendar.  Annual dispersals are in the thousands of dollars, and at Eastern Shore Community College, this impacts many students who are pursuing careers in nursing and healthcare.

RN, LPN, CNA students and others stand to benefit from the support the car show produces.  ESCC also has other classes and programs like Healthcare Fundamentals, Phlebotomy, and EKG Tech, all offering pathways to healthcare careers.  Through the ESCC Foundation and fundraisers like the Eastern Shore Cruisers Car Show, students can get help covering the expense of their classes and training and position themselves to contribute to the community in a high-demand field.

The 2026 ESCC Summer Car Show with the Eastern Shore Cruisers will be on Saturday, August 29^th from 10:00am-2:00pm on campus in Melfa, at 29316 Lankford Highway.  All are welcome to attend and show their vehicles.  Cars and trucks of all makes, models, vintages, and styles are enjoyed at the event.  Prizes and trophies are awarded in a broad range of categories by the club at the conclusion of the day.

Food trucks and DJ music bring it all together for a fun community day at the end of summer. Whether you bring a vehicle or not, the event provides fun and enjoyment for the whole family and a great display of vehicles that represent much hard work and dedication, in addition to civic-minded owners who enjoy giving back to the community through the Eastern Shore Cruisers Car Club.

For more information, please contact Chester Jackson with the Eastern Shore Cruisers at 757-665-5672 or Bill LeCato at ESCC at 757-789-1797.

Eastern Shore Community College is excited to announce a new Dental Hygiene Associate Degree program beginning January 2027. Through a partnership with Germanna Community College and Piedmont Virginia Community College, students will learn in a distance education classroom at the ESCC campus and receive hands-on instruction at Eastern Shore Rural Health System, Inc. sites, taught by licensed local health professionals.  A dedicated Dental Hygiene coordinator will support and guide them throughout the program. This partnership offers an exciting career path for students and helps meet the growing need for oral healthcare professionals in Virginia.

“This marks a transformative moment for the Eastern Shore,” said ESCC President Dr. Daryl Minus. “Bringing high-demand oral healthcare education closer to home through an innovative partnership expands opportunities for economic mobility, strengthens our workforce, and enhances access to care across the region.”

Jeannette Edwards, Chief Executive Officer of Eastern Shore Rural Health, stressed the importance of this program to residents of the Eastern Shore. “Dental hygienists help keep people healthy, not just their teeth,” stated Edwards. “This program will train more hygienists our community really needs, and give people on the Eastern Shore a chance at a good-paying job without having to move away. That’s a win for our community and for Eastern Shore Rural Health. I am very excited to be working in partnership with our local college to help promote and support this program.”

Working on the mechanics of bringing this program to reality was ESCC VP of Academic Affairs, Student Success and Workforce Development, Dr. Ramzi Ockaili.  Dr. Ockaili remarked, “This partnership reflects what is possible when educational institutions and community healthcare leaders unite around a shared vision. By joining forces, I feel we show how rural colleges can serve as powerful catalysts for innovation, opportunity, and regional transformation”.

Applying to the Program

The application period will open June 1 of this year. Students interested in applying to the dental hygiene program should begin preparing their application materials now, by visiting How to Apply or by contacting ESCC Student Services at 757-789-1720.  Eastern Shore applicants must have applications on file with both Germanna Community College and Eastern Shore Community College.  Application to the dental hygiene program is conducted through the American Dental Education Association Dental Hygiene Centralized Application System. Learn more about this in the online information session that will be published on Germanna’s website in early June. Program details are available at Dental Program (Germanna). 

Important Accreditation Notice

Offering a dental hygienist program at Eastern Shore Community College depends on approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). While the partner schools are optimistic about receiving this approval, acceptance into the program cannot be confirmed until approval from both organizations is received. CODA approval is expected in August 2026 and SACSCOC is expected in late fall 2026. Updates will be shared as soon as they are available.

Questions?

For more information, please contact Germanna Community College Healthcare Academic Advisor, Ms. Stefanie Thompson, at msraymundo-thompson@germanna.edu.

Eastern Shore Community College (ESCC) is proud to announce the launch of its new Engineering Program beginning Fall 2026, expanding academic opportunity for students while helping meet growing regional and statewide workforce demand in high-impact engineering fields.

The launch of the program is made possible through a transformational $1.25 million lead gift from Mrs. Jane Batten, establishing the Batten Engineering Fund at the Eastern Shore Community College Foundation. This extraordinary investment reflects a shared commitment to expanding access to engineering education and creating meaningful career pathways for students on the Eastern Shore.

ESCC’s new Associate of Science in Engineering degree will provide students with a rigorous academic foundation in engineering, mathematics, and science, preparing them for seamless transfer to four-year institutions where they may pursue specialized engineering disciplines. The program is strategically aligned with workforce needs in aerospace, civil engineering, advanced manufacturing, and related technical industries.

With close proximity to NASA Wallops Flight Facility, the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, and growing regional industry partners, ESCC is uniquely positioned to connect students with experiential learning opportunities, internships, and direct pathways into high-demand careers.

The curriculum has received approval from both the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), ensuring students receive a high-quality academic experience grounded in strong transferability and workforce relevance.

Labor market data from the Virginia Community College System, based on Virginia Employment Commission projections, indicate significant projected growth in engineering-related job openings across Accomack and Northampton counties and throughout the broader region.

In addition to preparing students for transfer and engineering careers, the program supports emerging workforce needs in infrastructure modernization, environmental resilience, aerospace innovation, and advanced technology sectors critical to the Eastern Shore’s future economic vitality.

This initiative reflects ESCC’s continued commitment to student success, workforce development, and regional economic transformation. By investing in engineering education, ESCC is helping build the next generation of problem-solvers, innovators, and leaders who will shape the future of the Eastern Shore and beyond.

Students interested in the Engineering Program are encouraged to contact ESCC Student Services, their academic advisor, or career coach for additional information. The Fall 2026 semester begins August 17, and registration is now open.

Prepare for a future in engineering with ESCC’s new program designed for transfer, innovation, and career success, right here on the Eastern Shore.

More information is available by calling 757-789-1720, emailing studentservices@es.vccs.edu or by visiting the ESCC Online College Catalog.

The State Board for Virginia’s Community Colleges voted May 21 to set tuition and mandatory educational and general (E&G) fees for the academic year that begins with the Fall 2026 semester. For in-state students, tuition and mandatory E&G fees will increase $6.70 per credit hour. Out-of-state students will see an increase of $6.70per credit hour. For in-state students pursuing full-time studies (15 credit hours/semester) the 2026-27 tuition and mandatory E&G fees will amount to an increase of $100.50 per semester, or $201.00 per year.

Virginia community college tuition remains less than one-third the cost of attending the state’s public four-year baccalaureate institutions, offering Virginia’s most affordable and accessible pathway to better jobs. 

“The State Board wrestled with a tough decision, but it came down to one question—do we increase tuition rates for students or do we offer them less?” State Board Chair Dr. Michael E. Wooten asked. “We believe that we have adopted modest tuition increases that are necessary to fund the capacity to train more people for meaningful jobs while shouldering the cost increases that we all face throughout the Commonwealth.”

Some colleges have tuition differentials and other mandatory fees covering student activities. Auxiliary operations also vary at the community college level. Check individual college websites for locally-relevant information.

Community colleges remain the lowest-funded higher education institutions in Virginia, receiving less than just 52 cents for every one dollar that goes to support a full-time equivalent student at a public Virginia university. Additionally, expenditures per full-time student at Virginia’s Community Colleges are in the 23^rd percentile in the nation, meaning 77% of community colleges across the country spend more per student.

A breakdown of our tuition & fees can be found at the VCCS Tuition & Fees page.

Additionally, Beginning Fall 2026, Virginia’s Community Colleges will introduce new per-credit-hour course fees for select Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs in healthcare, skilled trades, and agriculture and natural resources.

These fees are designed to partially offset instructional costs and will be used directly to support program delivery. In an effort to help keep costs down for students, these course fees have been discounted 50% for fall 2026. For more details, visit the VCCS Course Fees page.

The Eastern Shore Community College Spring 2026 Commencement was held on Wednesday, May 13th. In addition to the graduation, awards were presented to ESCC faculty members based on voting conducted in the weeks leading up to commencement.

Dr. Ramzi Ockaili, ESCC VP of Academic Affairs, Student Success and Workforce Development announced the awards, while they were presented to faculty members by ESCC President, Dr. Daryl Minus.

Recognition for Teaching Effectiveness  This award is given to a faculty member whose performance in the classroom or other instructional environments best exemplifies effectiveness in promoting student achievement – Kiprop Kibet.

The Faculty Scholarly and Creative Engagement Award  This is awarded to a faculty member who has achieved a significant academic scholarly accomplishment through research, publishing and/or professional presentations, grant activity, or creative works – Dr. William Foxworthy.

The Faculty Community Impact Award  This honor goes to a member of the full-time teaching faculty who has greatly impacted the college’s image through community service and involvement – Christina Duffman.

The Faculty Leadership Award This award is presented to a full-time teaching faculty member who demonstrates leadership and commitment to the college – Tonya Martin.

The Caramine Kellam and Dr. Caramine White Award  This honor is for an ESCC faculty or staff member who has shown extraordinary concern for students and has gone above and beyond in their effort to help students succeed in school or life – Tonya Martin.

The Faculty Reward for Professional Excellence  This the highest ESCC award for which a faculty member may be nominated. These faculty members substantially and demonstrably exceeded performance expectations in one or more of the following areas: Teaching, Scholarly and Creative Engagement, Institutional Responsibility, or Service – Tonya Martin and Susan Greer.

Pictured at top are Dr. Ramzi Ockaili, Tonya Martin, Christina Duffman, Dr. Alex Foxworthy, and Dr. Daryl Minus. (Not pictured: Kiprop Kibet and Susan Greer)