Virginia Peninsula Community College and its partners from the Hampton Roads region were honored at the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) Hire Ed Conference 2024.
The conference, which took place Oct. 23-24 in Roanoke, Va., is a platform for educators and business leaders to meet to align training programs with the evolving needs of Virginia's employers.
The College was part of the team that received the Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Achievement through Collaboration or Consortia of Partners. The award acknowledges the team’s significant workforce development contributions across Hampton Roads.
The winning nomination highlighted the Marine Trades Training (MTT) program – a collaboration formed in 2017 involving VPCC, Paul D. Camp Community College, Tidewater Community College and the Virginia Ship Repair Association (VSRA). The MTT program has trained approximately 3,400 participants across six trades, achieving an impressive 90% hire rate for program completers.
Further, according to the nomination, Newport News Shipbuilding has been crucial as an employer partner since the MTT program's inception, while VSRA has provided essential administrative support and certification for the training pathways. The Hampton Roads Workforce Council joined the partnership in 2021, leading regional initiatives to establish the Regional Maritime Training System, with MTT as a cornerstone.
Additionally, VPCC, TCC and Camp received the Best Showcase Award at the conference for their joint display that highlighted the achievements of the Community College Workforce Cooperative (CCWC). Since creating the CCWC in 2021, the three institutions have demonstrated the power of collaboration over competition in their shared goals.
Todd Estes, VPCC’s vice president for Workforce Development and Innovation, is proud of the College’s many partnerships and the progress those relationships bring.
“This recognition underscores the vital role of collaboration in transforming lives and ensuring the economic vitality of our region. Together, we are creating pathways to success for our students and strengthening the workforce that supports our local industries,” said Estes.