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    • Virginia Peninsula Community College Timeline

    1960s

    February 1966 COMMUNITY COLLEGE BILLS SEEN AID TO 4–YEAR NEWPORT COLLEGE STATUS – Gov. Mills E. Godwin, Jr. sent bills down Thursday to create a state-wide system of comprehensive community colleges. He is asking for establishment of a Dept. of Community Colleges (two year institutions) and a twelve-member board to direct it. By implication, the Governor’s bill leaves the way open for a move to make Christopher Newport College a four-year school. -- Daily Press, February 4,1966
    THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES BILL – Editorial discussing opposition to Gov. Mills E. Godwin's bill to create a state-wide system of comprehensive community colleges. -- Daily Press, February 13,1966
    March 1966

    COMMUNITY COLLEGE PLAN STALEMATED IN COMMITTEE – Gov. Mills E. Godwin’s bill to create a system of community colleges throughout the state continues stalemated in the Senate Public Institutions and Education Committee, nearly three weeks after its public hearing on the measure which has already passed the House. -- Times Herald, March 7, 1966
    SENATE GROUP APPROVES COMMUNITY COLLEGES BILL –A bill to establish a state-wide system of comprehensive community colleges came out of the Senate Education Committee late Tuesday afternoon by unanimous vote after adoption of an administration amendment.  Effects of the change is to provide no existing branch college will have to leave the shelter of its parent institution’s accreditation until it is judged ready to receive accreditation on its own. -- Daily Press, March 9,1966
    May 1966 COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD TO ASSUME CONTROL OF VOTECH CENTER’S POST HIGH SCHOOL COURSES – Dr. Dana Hamel, head of the newly formed Community College board, Wednesday said the board definitely will assume administration of all post high school programs at the Peninsula Vocational-Technical Center. -- Daily Press, May 19, 1966
    July 1966

    PENINSULA TO GET COMMUNITY COLLEGE.State Community College Board determines that the Peninsula will have a community college to serve Hampton, Newport News, York County, Williamsburg and James City County. Times Herald 7/2016/1966.

    "The newly-formed Community College Board, during a meeting held in Richmond Friday designated the Peninsula as one of three areas in Virginia for location of community colleges.  A survey for a site for the Peninsula college will begin immediately, a spokesman for the board said. The designated area covers Hampton, Newport News, York County, Williamsburg and James City County."        

    -Times-Herald, July 20, 1966
    February 1967

    COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD MEMBERS ARE ANNOUNCED - 10 prominent business and community leaders have been selected. -- Daily Press, February 8, 1967

    March
    1967

    PLANS FOR AREA COLLEGE UNVEILED Architectural and layout details, location, and estimated budgets are described. -- Daily PCollege Plans ress, March 18, 1967

    July 1967

    JENKINS PRESIDENT OF JUNIOR COLLEGE  Dr. Thomas V. Jenkins, age 39, has been selected as the first president of TNCC. July 18, 1967 

    August 1967

    JENKINS WELCOMES CHALLENGE, SAYS NELSON FUTURE IS GREAT.  Dr. Thomas Jenkins discusses the future of Thomas Nelson Community College on his first day on the job. Times-Herald, August 1, 1967

    "In a few years, I think Virginia can have the most outstanding community college system in the nation."

                     -Dr. Thomas Jenkins 

    December 1967

    CORNERSTONE TO BE LAID: NELSON RITES DEC. 15  A formal cornerstone laying and dedication ceremony for the new Thomas Nelson Community College has been set for Dec. 15th. Times-Herald, December 6, 1967 
    February 1968 TECHNICAL COURSES HEART OF ANY COMMUNITY COLLEGE PLAN. TNCC will have 10 major technical two-year courses when it opens this fall, as well as 3 one-year courses and 1 one-quarter course in key punching for data processing.  Also approved by the State Board of Community Colleges is a seven-quarter associate’s degree nursing program with a probable start date of 1969. Times-Herald, February 23, 1968
    June  1968 FIRST NELSON CATALOGS READY FOR DISTRIBUTION. Times Herald, June 21, 1968. See the "Bulletin of Student Information, 1968" here.  
    August 1968

    FIRST NELSON BUILDING OPEN FOR INSPECTION. Thomas Nelson Community College took possession of the first of its three buildings comprising the $1.5 million Big Bethel Road Campus. Times-Herald. August 15, 1968
    September 1968

    1,200 AT TNCC'S ORIENTATION. Daily Press, September 26, 1968 
    September 1968

    NEW COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO OPEN MONDAY: 900 STUDENTS ENROLLED; but applications are still being accepted. Students begin classes on Sept. 30th, 1968. Virginia Gazette, September 27, 1968 
    October  1968

    GOGodwinVERNOR GODWIN SPEAKS AT NELSON DEDICATION. Governor Mills E. Goodwin Jr. spoke at the dedication ceremony. Times-Herald, October 4, 1968 
    November 1968

    sealSWAMP STOMPERS’ PICK SEAL, NAME PAPER – Students voted ("You Named It" in The Nelsonite) and the   results are; Thomas Nelson Community College’s newspaper will be “The Nelsonite”. The nickname is “Swamp Stompers”. The winning design for the TNCC seal was drawn by John Moore, a commercial art student at TNCC. The design includes a copy of the Declaration of Independence silhouetted by the profile of Thomas Nelson and a quill. The parchment and the quill designate that Thomas Nelson was one of the original signers of the declaration.   Daily Press 11/22/1968 
    December 1968 WITH 1,231 STUDENTS, ANOTHER MILESTONE PASSED AS TNCC'S QUARTER ENDS. A milestone has been passed in Hampton's educational history with completion of the first quarter of operation of Thomas Nelson Community College.  Daily Press, December 15, 1968 
    January   1969

    NELSON REACHES NEW POINT: FIRST EX-STUDENTS LISTED - Four women became the first students to complete a course study at TNCC. Certificates indicating completion of a three month course in key-punch operation in the school’s data processing department were awarded to Mrs. Trudy West Mason, Miss Karen Lynn Estes, Mrs. Inge E. Acol and Miss Carolyn Mavis Collier. Daily Press 1/20/1969
    February 1969

    swamp stomper"TNCC students are now officially 'The Swamp Stompers.'  The name was chosen in an election which also decided the school seal and a permanent name for the newspaper."

    "The Student Government is offering a prize of $25 for the best caricature of a "Swamp Stomper."

      Nelsonite student newspaper, Vol. 1, no. , December 11, 1968. 
    March     1969

    TNCC’S LARGEST CLASS YET GRADUATES TONIGHT – The largest single class to complete a course of instruction at Thomas Nelson Community College since it opened in September will receive certificates. Certificates will go to 120 students in an effective study methods course. Daily Press, March 6, 1969 
    October  1969

    DIXIE LAUNCHES NEW NURSING DEGREE PROGRAM -Dixie Hospital, in cooperation with Thomas Nelson Community College, has just launched the Peninsula’s first two-year Associates Degree in Nursing Program.   Daily Press, October 6, 1969