Kathleen Turner became a student at Eastern Shore Community College in 2010 for the first time. She had attended a four-year university for three years but moved home to be close to her family because she was expecting a child. But she didn’t want to stay stagnant. She decided to see what her local community college offered and decided to pursue licensure as a medical assistant. She got a job at the Riverside Oncology Center and, in 2018, decided to go back to ESCC to become a licensed practical nurse (LPN). Currently, she’s enrolled at ESCC, finishing her degree to become a registered nurse ..read more

Masyn’s journey from Connecticut to Virginia signaled a significant shift in her pursuit of a career centered on helping others. Her story, intertwined with her experiences at Germanna Community College, offers valuable insight into the impact of Virginia G3. After completing her undergraduate studies at Radford University and immersing herself in a career, Masyn was drawn to a deeper calling. Germanna’s nursing program emerged as her path forward, supported by the G3 funding initiative. “My experience has been amazing,” Masyn said. “The program was two years. I was at the Locust Grove campus ..read more

Deidra was no stranger to higher education. She had two advanced degrees, a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in psychology, but she always had a passion for the intersection of mental health and nursing. “After five years of working in a clinic helping individuals learn the behavioral skills they need to live normal lives I wanted more,” Deidra said. “I got hired at CHKD in its mental health inpatient hospitalization unit and I love it. It was an eye opener. I decided I wanted to do nursing and nothing was gonna stop me. I enrolled with Tidewater Community College, but I had no financia ..read more

LaTonya first enrolled at one of Virginia’s Community Colleges in 2014, but life got in the way and her road back to school wasn’t the smoothest. Before re-enrolling at Tidewater Community College in 2022 to pursue an associate degree in human services, LaTonya served time in jail. Upon her release, she started a cleaning business, only to once again face a family crisis when her nephew was shot and killed by the police in 2021. She needed a change, a change that would help her do good in her community, so she turned to her local community college for answers. She went through all the processe ..read more

Jordana Luck—a Smithfield, Virginia native— was surprised when her educational journey took an unexpected turn after completing her master’s degree in 2005, raising five children and working as a teacher. Around four years ago, Jordana began volunteering in grief support groups within her community. This experience ignited a desire for further training and knowledge in bereavement counseling. However, the prospect of returning to school seemed daunting, considering her familial and financial responsibilities. Jordana was surprised when she stumbled across the G3 program while researching educa ..read more

Jordan got a head start as a dual enrollment high school student, but he still had to navigate financial barriers when he started community college. Fortunately, he discovered that he was eligible for G3, which allowed him to focus on his studies, earning him the role of commencement speaker at his TCC graduation. Jordan shares more on his inspirational story below. Why did you choose TCC? I have studied cybersecurity through TCC ever since I was in the Advanced Technology Center program through the Virginia Beach City Public School system. After graduating high school, I decided to come to TC ..read more

Embarking on a career in healthcare is an exciting and rewarding pursuit, one that requires a strong foundation of knowledge and skills. Pursuing a healthcare G3 program through Virginia’s Community Colleges gives you the opportunity to engage in a wide array of fascinating and stimulating courses. These courses offered won’t just expand your horizons, they will pave the way for a future dedicated to the well-being and betterment of others. Here are some classes you may take if you pursue a degree or certificate in the healthcare field through one of Virginia’s Community Colleges. If you find ..read more

JaLena grew up loving everything to do with technology, computers and robotics. Thanks to G3 tuition assistance, she was able to turn that passion into a career. She chose to study information technology at Patrick & Henry Community College and has found success after success along the way. Here’s her G3 story: How has G3 impacted you? Without G3, I wouldn’t be in college at all. My first year in college, I had to pay a lot. I ended up taking courses that I didn’t like and that didn’t fit me, and I wasn’t successful. When the opportunity to enroll in a G3 program came around, I was able to ..read more

You don’t have to travel far to understand the critical role skilled trades play in our infrastructure. From heavy equipment to commercial trucks, these operators help move goods and build and maintain our roads, bridges and tunnels. At Camp Community College, there are several of these training programs available, but one that isn’t that common is the crane operator program. Launched last year, the crane operator program at Camp is one of only two crane programs at Virginia’s Community Colleges that helps to fill a growing number of jobs in the construction industry. Students learn how to ope ..read more

The Virginia G3 program has been around for a little more than two years and has helped thousands of students pursue a degree or certificate without worrying about the cost of tuition. To close out 2023, we’re sharing just a few success stories from students who took the leap and made their dreams come true with the help of G3 tuition assistance: I am a 37-year-old mom of four. I began working as a substitute teacher in the fall of 2022 and quickly fell in love with being in the classroom. The realization that our students need help was also impactful. There are so many children who are behind ..read more