Two local students at Tidewater Community College’s Portsmouth campus have been chosen for the All-Virginia Academic Team.

Matthew Naneville of Windsor and Christina Parker of Suffolk were among six students selected from TCC campuses. The All-Virginia Academic Team winners will be honored today at a luncheon to be held in Richmond.

The team is a compilation of the best of the best students from two-year colleges across Virginia.

TCC Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs Daniel DeMarte said it is an honor for both Naneville and Parker, as well as for the college, to be named to the team.

“It’s a moment of pride for us to have these students representing us at each of the campuses,” he said.

In order to be named All-Virginia Academic, the students had to be nominated and meet certain criteria, including a grade point average of at least 3.5 and outstanding achievements both in and outside the classroom.

DeMarte said students named to the team have demonstrated excellent academic aptitude.

Parker, who graduated from Nansemond River High School, decided to go to TCC because she felt it was a good fit for her.

She keeps busy with several activities, serving as secretary of both the Rotaract Club and the Baptist College Ministry Club, and she is a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Club.

Parker also tutors in the Learning Assistance Center at TCC. As a volunteer through YWCA, she helps families dealing with domestic abuse and violence.

She has a 3.9 GPA and plans to graduate in December with an associate’s degree in science.

After graduation, Parker said, she wants to attend Old Dominion University to double major in psychology and biology with a goal of one day becoming a psychiatrist.

Naneville, a Windsor High School graduate, said being named to the team makes him feel his hard work is appreciated.

Naneville holds a 3.8 GPA along with being an active member in the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, the honor society for two-year colleges, and tutoring other students in math and science.

The keys to keeping up with coursework and his activities are time management and knowing his strengths and weaknesses, Naneville said.

When he graduates in May with an associate’s degree in science, Naneville plans to complete a second degree at TCC in respiratory therapy.

He said he hopes to pursue a bachelor’s degree in health science at Old Dominion University and eventually become a respiratory therapist at a children’s hospital.

Naneville said he wants to work with children, because it’s a chance to help people who cannot defend themselves.

He said he hopes “to give children a chance to live their lives.”

In 37 participating states, all-state academic teams are sponsored by Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, community college presidents and state associations.