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CNU and Hampton City Schools launch "Hampton Captains" student leadership partnership
Summary
Christopher Newport University and Hampton City Schools unveiled the Hampton Captains partnership to expand leadership opportunities, K–16 connections and career experiences for students, including an inaugural program day that hosted about 70 students and plans for scholarship support.
Christopher Newport University President Bill Kelly told the Hampton City Council that CNU is partnering with Hampton City Schools on a new initiative called Hampton Captains to amplify student voice, leadership and post‑high‑school pathways. "We are also here today to share some great news and say thank you for the support we've received," Kelly said, framing the effort as part of CNU's five‑year strategic plan and regional engagement.
Brandon Jones, CNU's senior director of school partnerships, described three prongs of the work: BizTalk (an annual career event for sophomores), an expanded Hampton Captains leadership track (an evolution of a lead ambassador model) and a K–16 task force to build a cradle‑to‑career pipeline. Jones said the pilot program's first day hosted 50 lead ambassadors plus five younger “buddies” from each school — about 70 students total — and that the programming emphasizes public speaking, teamwork and networking. "We're developing these young people to elevate student voice as a whole in Hampton City Schools," Jones said.
Shamika Pollard, chief of secondary school leadership for Hampton City Schools, said the district's partnership engagement framework rates CNU as a "fully immersed partner," noting shared accountability and plans for office space for partnership staff. On scholarships, Jones said CNU is pursuing funding and already has a PIV grant that can provide scholarships for Peninsula students; he said scholarship programs are not fully funded yet but are a stated priority. Pollard and the city manager also clarified that dual‑enrollment coursework earned through Virginia Peninsula Community College transfers to public Virginia institutions, which may ease students' pathways.
Council members praised the partnership and encouraged continued collaboration. The presentation did not include a binding financial commitment by the school division or a formal scholarship guarantee; Jones and Pollard described funding as a work in progress.
