Vanessa Christie honored for philanthropic support of TCC

Vanessa Christie of Virginia Beach, vice president at Prevailance Inc., has earned the 2015 Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy given by the Virginia Community College System for her support of Tidewater Community College

The award was given at a luncheon at the Country Club of Virginia on April 21.

Hosted by the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education, the 10th annual event honors leading philanthropists from each of Virginia’s 23 community colleges as well as the statewide foundation. This year’s class of distinguished philanthropy leaders has contributed a combined total of more than $12 million dollars to Virginia’s Community Colleges.

Christie, a member of the TCC Educational Foundation Board, is the vice president of Prevailance, Inc. – a defense consulting firm based in Virginia Beach – and also Prevailance Aerospace, a flight safety academy based in Chesapeake. She is a U.S. Navy combat veteran, having spent the majority of her active duty time flying and instructing in the F-14 Tomcat. She joined Prevailance in 2007 and became a member of the board of directors in 2013. She has a bachelor’s degree from Tulane University in political science and international relations and a master’s of business administration in global management from the University of Phoenix.

The inaugural Prevailance scholarship will be awarded for the Fall Semester 2015 to a TCC student who is affiliated with the military and/or pursuing a degree in science, technology, engineering or math – the STEM disciplines. The scholarship will pay tuition and fees to a student for the two years required to obtain an associate degree. (The deadline for fall scholarship applications is June 1; see www.tcc.edu/scholarships for information.)

During the 2013-2014 academic year, the TCC Educational Foundation awarded scholarships to 168 students, representing more than $165,000 in awards.

“It’s paramount that we individually and collectively support community colleges,” Christie said. “Any contribution will impact the quality of the community in which we’re raising our children and building our businesses and ultimately contribute to the greater good.”

TCC President Edna V. Baehre-Kolovani said supporters like Christie and Prevailance are important to student success. “Even small gifts have a major impact on a student’s ability to attain a degree or certificate,” she said. “Because three out of five TCC students graduate without debt, they are able to pursue their career aspirations without the burden of repaying student loans.”

First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe was the keynote speaker for the event. “I applaud you for being recognized today, but I challenge you to think of this as a beginning, not an end. Like you, I think our community colleges might just be capable of doing anything. But they cannot do it alone.”

VCCS Chancellor Glenn DuBois said, “We pay tribute to fellow Virginians who, through leadership, partnership and wise philanthropy, are helping us address the commonwealth’s unmet needs in higher education and workforce development. These distinguished individuals are sharing with us from their hearts, from their hands, and from their experiences.”

TCC Educational Foundation supporters include individuals, companies, organizations and foundations. For more information on supporting scholarships for TCC students, contact the foundation at 757-822-1080 or foundation@tcc.edu.