FCC student Rachel Noor was recently highlighted in the Children of Incarcerated Parents Partnership (COIPP) Annual Report. Rachel shared her story of enrolling at FCC after being encouraged by Shari Ostrow Scher, COIPP executive director.

A mother of four, Rachel met Shari after serving time in a jail for driving under the influence. Shari and COIPP “were a huge catalyst in both recovery and pursuing a new career path in my life,” Rachel said. Read below to hear more of Rachel’s story and her advice for anyone else who may be struggling with mental illness and/or addiction.
 

“I am currently enrolled at FCC pursuing my second associate’s degree specializing in addictions counseling and mental health. I already have an associate’s degree in nursing and have been a registered nurse (RN) since 2003. I am a mom to four wonderful kids. I left a 20-year marriage due to domestic violence that was exacerbated by alcohol. I had to start a new life from scratch. I am in recovery as well. I was addicted to alcohol. My passion is to help other addicts recover and build a new life. I want others who have experienced incarceration, who have fought the battles of mental illness and addiction, and have broken families known that there is a better way and not to give up hope that they can have a happy and productive life. Together we can stop this legacy of domestic violence, depression, and abuse.
 

Miss Shari told me this one time and I’ve never forgotten it: ‘You can’t go to college unless you fill out the application.’ Set the goal of changing your life, but don’t let it overwhelm you. One day at a time. Small steps over time become miles traveled. I started at FCC in the spring of 2020. I’ve completed six classes and have received an A grade in all of them. This semester I am taking four classes. I did it one day at a time. You can too.”
 

COIPP is a volunteer-run non-profit organization that provides support, resources, and services for the children impacted by the incarceration of a loved one, as well as their caregivers and present and formerly incarcerated family members in the Frederick region. To learn more about COIPP, click here.

When FCC student Kaitlin Wachter and her family organized a mask-making endeavor in their neighborhood at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, it wasn’t the first time she had taken on a large-scale sewing project. After graduating from high school in 2010, Kaitlin ran a non-profit sewing business for seven years, the funds from which went to support F.R.I.E.N.D.S., a local Down syndrome support and advocacy group in Frederick. In addition to offering a variety of services including alterations and tailoring, Kaitlin created and sewed a stuffed owl named Henry. For every Henry owl that was purchased from her business, another owl would be donated to Children’s National Hospital (formerly Children’s National Medical Center), where a geneticist would distribute the owls to patients. In addition, half of the profit from the owls was donated to F.R.I.E.N.D.S.
 
The oldest of nine children, Kaitlin began studying communications at FCC in 2018. Both of her parents are FCC alumni and encouraged their children to attend the college. “They play a role in everything we do,” said Kaitlin. “FCC is a great way to earn credits, stay home, explore, and feel out what we want to do later. It’s a great and a natural step.”
 
After graduating from FCC, Kaitlin plans to attend the University of Maryland and earn a master’s degree so she can serve Frederick County as a speech pathologist.
 
“I wanted to go to school with a purpose in mind,” said Kaitlin. “When my brother was born with feeding issues, we had to travel out of state to get him the specialized therapy he needed. Very few people are certified. Our family was separated, with some of us living in Pennsylvania for a week out of every month for nine months. It was extremely challenging.”
 
Kaitlin hopes to be able to help other families by bringing to Frederick some of the services that helped her brother. “I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else,” she said.
 
At FCC, Kaitlin is involved with the Honors Student Association and has served as communications officer for the Biology & Pre-health Club. This year she begins her term as president of the Honors Student Association. Her younger sister Emma also attends FCC and has served on the SGA as vice president of administration and is currently the SGA president. They have another sister, Brianna, who graduated from FCC in May 2019 with a degree in STEM. Brianna founded the Biology & Pre-health Club at FCC and served as its president for two years. She is currently a physics major at the University of Maryland.
 
In addition to being the inspiration for her future career plans, Kaitlin’s close bond with her family also played a role in their recent mask-making endeavor. With her brother being immunocompromised, being able to provide the community with masks took on special importance.
 
“My mom put out a call for volunteers and materials,” said Kaitlin. “Neighbors would drop off materials. Some did pattern cutting, pinning, drop off and pick up materials. We assembled them, and our pastor distributed the completed masks.”
 
Most of the sewing was done by Kaitlin’s 12-year-old sister and 15-year-old brother. The efforts resulted in nearly 750 masks being donated to help emergency workers in Frederick County.
 
“My little sister kept a white board in the kitchen and every day she would update the number of masks we had made,” said Kaitlin. “So many people were willing to rise up and help in any way possible. It gave me hope.”

Photo credit: Susan Schmidt Photography, @justphotosbysusan
 

When FCC student Jared Andrews graduated with an Associate Degree in Business Administration, he joined a distinctive group of alumni. Jared followed in the footsteps of his father and seven older siblings who are all FCC graduates.
 
Jared and his siblings were home schooled in Brunswick, Maryland and attended FCC as Open Campus students during their senior year of high school. Jared’s parents saw the value in the program and encouraged their children to take advantage of it. Jared was able to earn 18 credits by the time he completed high school.
 
“We all knew the plan was to attend FCC before transferring to a four-year school,” said Jared. “Money was a big factor. Our parents knew better than we did.”
 
Jared and his siblings were all happy to attend FCC, encouraged by their parents and the success of each sibling who had completed the same path before them.
 
“Once they saw the benefits of not being in debt, they were happy to do it,” said Jared. “My siblings were all mentors in different ways, who always pushed me toward success.”



Jared is the second-youngest in his family. The last sibling, a sister who is currently a high school junior, also plans to follow in her family's footsteps and attend FCC.
 
“She knows it works,” said Jared. “I’m going to be helping her get enrolled in dual enrollment for her senior year, maybe recommend some of the classes I took, some instructors I liked.”

Max grew up in California and enlisted in the United States Army after graduating from high school. He was soon recruited to the Washington, DC area where he was stationed at Fort Myer in Arlington, Virginia for service within the 3^rd U.S. Infantry Regiment “The Old Guard” (the U.S. Army’s premier ceremonial unit).

After completing his military service in 1994, Max decided to stay in Maryland to begin a career in law enforcement, starting out as a sheriff’s deputy. He now serves as a division captain for the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.

Earning a degree has always been on Max’s to-do list, but that goal was put off over the years as he continued his career path, which included time as an instructor at the police academy, and raised his two children. In 2017, inspired by his daughter’s college attendance, he took the first step toward earning a degree and enrolled in Frederick Community College (FCC) in pursuit of a Police Science A.A.S.

Max chose FCC because he was able to receive credit for coursework he had already completed in the police academy, which will ultimately reduce the amount of time and money required to earn his degree. Law enforcement officers who have graduated from a Maryland police academy can be awarded 29 credits at FCC for coursework taken during their academy training.

“That was a big selling point, to be able to lock those credits in,” said Max. “Other local colleges don’t offer that option.”

Another selling point for Max was that FCC offers hybrid and online options, which has made it easier for him to work those classes into his busy schedule.

“The nice thing is, once you take 15 credits at FCC you can take the remaining credits through FCC or transfer credits from another school,” says Max. “That makes FCC appealing.”

Officers must take a minimum of 15 credits at FCC to receive the associate degree from FCC. Credits earned at another institution can be transferred to FCC, provided they are accepted by the FCC registrar.

Max has already felt the benefits of the classes he has taken at FCC and anticipates even greater benefits upon completing his degree.

“It has already helped me professionally because I do a lot of writing in my job,” said Max. “I’ve been able to apply what I’m learning along the way, and once I have my degree I’ll be better positioned for a promotion. In addition to the benefits it provides for my current job, attaining a degree will assist me in any future careers I may pursue after retiring from the Sheriff’s Office. The opportunity that FCC provides for professional and personal growth is tremendous.”

In 2009, FCC student Jeremy Westbrook suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) while playing football that halted his educational plans. As he fought through years of recovery, his goal of attending college eventually reemerged as a possibility. Still, he needed to pay for college expenses while continuing in his role as a caretaker for his mother.

Jeremy enrolled at FCC as a full-time credit student in 2019. The demands of his class schedule require frequent and reliable transportation to and from campus, something Jeremy does not have. He recognized that public transportation was his best option, but still came at a cost that was out of reach.

Jeremy sought help from the FCC Foundation to overcome this financial barrier. He was awarded a Student Success grant to offset the costs of daily bus fares, and also discovered that he was eligible to receive a Building Trades Scholarship. He now maintains exemplary attendance and is positioned to graduate in 2021.

“FCC has been a source of positivity and support for people like me looking to get back into education,” said Jeremy. “My life has turned around and changed for the better since I’ve enrolled. The amount of opportunities that help students here is amazing, and I personally haven’t lived anywhere with this much community support.”

The road that led Jeremy to FCC has been a challenging one. He developed PTSD and bipolar disorder as a result of his TBI, and spent years struggling to be successful in school and the various jobs he held. His mental health conditions made it difficult to focus, which was often misinterpreted as him not trying hard enough, or simply not wanting to accomplish his goals.

“I tried to go to school in the past and I didn’t do well at all,” said Jeremy. “There wasn’t a lot of help for mental health back then, and it was a massive disadvantage.”

After a particularly challenging year in 2017, Jeremy realized that he needed to take time to focus on himself in order to get better. “I had a hard time adjusting to medicines, my doctor changed three times, and my therapist twice,” said Jeremy. “I told myself I would take my mental health more seriously in 2018.”

Jeremy spent the next year focusing on his mental health, knowing it was vital for him to understand and believe in himself in order to regain the confidence he needed to be successful. In June 2019 he enrolled at FCC- a decision he hasn’t looked back on since.

“I have been working really hard this semester; I take four to five busses a day and I make sure I’m able to go to all classes,” said Jeremy.

“Sometimes it is hard because of my disorders. This school, however, taught me that it is ok to take care of my mental health so I can succeed in the best way that I can.”

When Jennifer Moxley was getting ready to graduate from Urbana High School in 2007, she wasn’t sure at first where she wanted to continue her education. She knew she wanted an institution that would allow her to take her time and explore different career paths, continue to play basketball, and get a quality education without incurring significant debt. She soon decided Frederick Community College (FCC) was the place that would provide all of that and more.

Jen now works at FCC in the Center for Student Engagement as the Coordinator of Student Leadership and Service Learning. As an FCC student, she started working in the Admissions Office. She jokes that after completing her degree in General Studies in 2009, she never really left FCC. She continued working at FCC while attending Shenandoah University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology in 2011. She later earned a master’s degree in human sciences from Hood College. After 10 years in the Admissions Office, Jen transitioned to her current position in the Center for Student Engagement in November of 2018.

Jen’s sister and two brothers also attended FCC. Her older brother, Chris, is now a deputy sheriff in Montgomery County. Her younger brother, Jason, works as a government contractor for the U.S. Department of State. Her sister, Lindsey, transferred from FCC to Shepherd University this fall, where she is studying education.

How did your time as an FCC student contribute to your success now?

My experience as a student at FCC helped me grow and prepare for life at a four-year university. I wouldn’t have been as successful if I hadn’t attended FCC. It gave me a foundation that helped me become a stronger student. There is so much value to the services and resources we offer here that I benefitted from as a student, and now am a part of as a staff member. FCC offers a quality education at an affordable cost along with enriching co-curricular experiences. We help students find their passion and build skills to use in the workforce and their everyday lives to make our community stronger.
 
What do you think makes FCC special?

I always tell people what I love most about FCC is that it’s truly a place that has something for everyone, from our Kids on Campus program to the Institute for Learning in Retirement. We have credit courses, workforce development courses, and everything in between. There is a real sense of community at FCC. I love the people I work with. The faculty and staff are outstanding and go above and beyond to help students succeed. We have amazing students, who motive and inspire me every day. I love hearing their stories. This is a special place – I owe so much of my success to FCC.

When Vanessa Smith heard about an art contest to create a temporary mural on a storefront in downtown Frederick near Carroll Creek, she immediately knew she wanted to enter.  

Vanessa, an FCC alumna who worked in IT and graphic design before becoming a tattoo artist in Hyattsville, is always looking for ways to share her artwork.

The Ausherman Family Foundation, which funded the temporary mural, reviewed many submissions for the project, ultimately choosing Vanessa’s proposal and her vision to depict Frederick’s diversity as the winner.

Vanessa soon got started on the mural, working long days outside in hot temperatures, even getting stuck in an unexpected hailstorm.  

When it was completed, the mural, painted across multiple window frames on S. Market Street, depicted a variety of different types of community members. The faces were kept blank so people passing by could seem themselves in them.

“When you’re walking past this project, you can see the reflection of yourself in it, which is meant to symbolize that we’re all the same deep down,” Vanessa said. “It was one of the most exhausting things I’ve ever done but it’s been amazing to see the positive reactions from so many people.”

The mural is still up and can be seen at 69 S. Market Street. 

Photo courtesy of the Ausherman Family Foundation

Anne Hofmann, FCC associate professor of English, recently attended a Capitol Hill briefing that discussed a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on college students who are parents.

The briefing included a panel discussion and highlighted key findings from the report, titled “Higher Education: More Information Could Help Student Parents Access Additional Federal Student Aid.” It discussed ways in which higher education institutions could better support student parents.

The primary recommendation of the report is for colleges to make sure students are aware of the federal childcare allowance that can be calculated into their total cost of attendance on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Hofmann, who leads the FCC Parents Lead program for students who are parents, said she was encouraged to see that FCC is already doing many of the other recommendations put forth in the report.

Hofmann said the report highlighted the need for student parents to have predictability of classes, wrap-around support services, and assistance with paying for childcare, all of which FCC offers.

In the Parents Lead program, students are able to take their classes at the same time on the same day for each of their semesters, which is vital when planning for and scheduling childcare. FCC also looks specifically at the needs of each student parent, offering advising and mentoring and connecting them to community services that can help them stay committed to their education. Additionally, FCC works to mitigate financial barriers to childcare through a variety of ways, including specific grants to cover childcare expenses.

“There are also many things we do beyond the recommendations to ensure student parents have success,” Hofmann said. “The Parents Lead program follows a cohort and hybrid model, and leads to a general education degree that allows for more transferability. That’s all very innovative and a critical part of helping students succeed. It’s great to see that FCC is on the leading edge of this issue and on the map nationally for our approach to serving student parents.”

Hofmann said removing barriers to education for students who are parents is especially important given the significant impact that a parent earning a college degree has on his or her family.

“The Parents Lead program is open to both fathers and mothers, but the majority of our students right now are mothers,” Hofmann said. “Research shows educating mothers is the single greatest factor in upward financial mobility for a family, providing positive long-term benefits for the entire family. It also sets an incredible example to a student parent’s children on the importance of education.”

For more information about the Parents Lead program, click here.      

For six semesters, students in Dr. William Buckley’s PSYC 207 Death and Dying class have had the opportunity to visit the second oldest funeral home in Frederick, a course highlight they will likely never forget.

Funeral directors at Keeney & Basford Funeral Home give Frederick Community College (FCC) students a guided tour and discuss topics including the history of funerals, end of life services for deceased and survivors, caskets, cremation, burial, and memorial services. Students have the opportunity to ask questions, and then take a tour of a local cemetery and learn how a local church memorializes the dead.

The popular psychology course is not a graduation requirement for any degree program at FCC, but is one that students of all backgrounds elect to take for a variety of reasons.

“Students in the course come from psychology, nursing, social work, sociology, liberal arts, religious studies, STEM, and general studies, as well as undeclared and non-traditional students,” said Dr. Buckley.

Offered at FCC in spring semesters through the Social Sciences Department, the Death and Dying course emphasizes that “death is not the enemy.” It introduces students to the origins and development of death attitudes and behaviors, covering topics including euthanasia, suicide, grief and mourning processes, the funeral system, legal rights, and coping strategies.

“The emphasis is on death as a normal developmental event,” said Dr. Buckley. “The course looks at death as a “cultural performance,” not just a biological occurrence. It enables this kind of thing where you may not have thought about death and dying as something to sit down with someone who you’ll one day be a caregiver for and talk about.”

Matthew Donahue took Dr. Buckley’s course as an FCC student pursuing a psychology degree with the intention of becoming a counselor. He is currently a graduate student in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Hood College.

“The course helped me see the broader scope around death and how we as mental health professionals need to help the dying person and their family before the death, which was a practice often overlooked by the general public,” said Matthew. “So little of this is talked about in the wider medical community. We focus so much on preventing and combating death that we neglect the inevitability of it. And because of this neglect, so many people are unprepared for dying.”

Students in the course enjoy the opportunities to share stories, gain new perspective on the topic of death and dying, and get out-of-the-box experiences including the funeral home visit and participation in a cancer panel discussion at the Stockman Cancer Center.

Each student takes away something different from the experience, just as each student has his/her own reasons for taking the course. FCC graduate Earl Clark also took the Death and Dying course while a student at FCC.

“I decided to take the class because I was interested in developing better quality of thought towards my own mortality,” said Earl. “My biggest takeaway was the five stages of grief and how these steps are one potential response to a death but not guaranteed reactions.”

Earl graduated from FCC in 2016 and will start a media arts graduate program focused in cultural technology this fall at New Mexico Highlands University.

According to Dr. Buckley, students in his course go on to careers in many different professions- counseling, health care, nursing, medicine, social work, humanities, philosophy, arts, cinema, and further undergraduate and graduate work.

FCC graduate Fathuma (Amina) Ismail is still frequently spotted around the FCC campus, even after completing her A.A. in Business Administration last fall. Just last week she was giving a campus tour to two Frederick County Delegates.

Amina spent the years she was working toward her associate degree at FCC not just as a busy student, wife, and mother. She was also greatly involved in campus life, a role she hasn’t entirely given up since graduating with the FCC class of 2019.

Born and raised in Sri Lanka, Amina first moved to Frederick when she married her husband, who was from the area. She has been living in the United States for seven years, and for most of that time, she has been a student at FCC.

“We live five minutes from FCC, and I knew I needed to go to school so I could get a job here,” Amina said. She began taking classes but soon took a break when her son was born.

“At first I wasn’t sure if I would go back to school, or how I was going to do it after I had my baby,” said Amina.

After finding childcare, she came back to FCC and completed her associate degree by taking daytime classes while her son was in daycare. Her busy life at home didn’t keep her from finding ways to get involved in student life at FCC. While working on her degree, Amina served as the president of Phi Theta Kappa, the national honor society for two-year colleges; president of the Muslim Student Association; and the vice president for finance on the Student Government Association. In addition, she was selected as the 2018 student Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award winner.

“I enjoyed every moment,” said Amina. “Every day I had a learning opportunity, meeting new people. I enjoy interacting with different people of different cultures, and I was really interested in getting involved in activities and clubs.”

Amina credits a classmate at FCC for first encouraging her to get involved, and says she is glad she did.

“I didn’t think when I started that I would get this involved,” said Amina. “I had a family to take care of, and school, but it was a big activity to have and it helped me with my personality and I became a better leader. Interacting with people helps you learn new things.”

Amina now works part-time for the City of Frederick Budget Department and is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in accounting at Mount St. Mary’s University, Frederick campus. She also continues to take classes at FCC. Through an agreement between FCC and Mount St. Mary’s, students can transfer in up to 75 credits, and Amina graduated with 64 credits for her associate degree. This gives her the option to continue to take classes at FCC, saving money while working toward her bachelor’s degree, and her ultimate goal of becoming a Certified Public Accountant.

Amina thanks her academic advisor at FCC for helping her select classes that would all transfer to Mount St. Mary’s, ensuring a smooth transfer. She also thanks the FCC club advisors who helped her adjust to life as a student in the United States.

“They told me how things work here; things are so different here than in Sri Lanka,” said Amina. “They really encouraged me.”

Frederick Community College (FCC) graduate Tomas Aker earned an associate degree in information technology as well as a Network Engineer Certificate and a Computer Studies Certificate, all before his 19th birthday. Tomas graduated from high school with 31 college credits under his belt, earned through a combination of Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) articulation, advanced placement, and the FCC Dual Enrollment program. Earning these credits as a high school student helped propel his pace of completion, and he hasn’t slowed down since.
 
As a senior in high school, Tomas began taking FCC classes through the high school based Dual Enrollment program, which he learned about while he was a student at the FCPS Career and Technology Center (CTC). Through the program, FCPS students are able to enroll in FCC courses that are taught at their high school.
 
While in the Dual Enrollment program, Tomas earned 10 college credits. The following year he became a full-time FCC student and earned 31 more credits.
 
Tomas graduated from FCC in spring 2017 and transferred to University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) where he is now in his junior year. “It’s a great school for STEM,” he said.
 
Tomas expects to graduate with a degree in information systems next year. He estimates that he saved around $30,000 by participating in the Dual Enrollment program and attending FCC before transferring, and will likely continue his cost savings. “I plan to come back to FCC for J-Term and summer to take Spanish classes,” he said.
 
Dual Enrollment helps high school students by introducing them to college level courses while still in the comfort of their high school and with teachers they may already know. Perhaps the most beneficial advantage of the program is the cost savings. Students in the high school based Dual Enrollment program are able to earn college credit for less than half the cost of taking open campus courses at FCC or enrolling after high school graduation.
 
FCPS students interested in the Dual Enrollment program can find more information here.

Dawson Nash and Felix Maqueda are fiber optic technicians serving in the Army. Both are originally from out of state but have been stationed in Frederick- Dawson for 10 months, and Felix for two years. This semester they both started the Electrical Certificate program at Frederick Community College (FCC).

Both Dawson and Felix are recipients of a Building Trades Scholarship to help cover tuition and fees for the program, which can be completed in two semesters. They are looking forward to completing the Electrical Certificate program because it will help them in their current roles in the Army and get them moving on the right track for future careers.

“Career-wise, this has been a kick-start because I’d be more hesitant to start school if the financial stability wasn’t there,” Dawson said. “It’s definitely made an impact and helped cover tuition and fees.”

Without financial assistance, completing the program at this point may not have been as attainable of a goal.  “I would have to think about coming for a second semester,” said Felix. “It would have been much more difficult.”

The Building Trades Scholarships they received have enabled both students to enter the program with confidence, and they say they are extremely thankful for the assistance.
 

Justin Longerbeam is thriving as a second-year student in the cybersecurity program at FCC. He recently became a member of Phi Theta Kappa and is in the Honors program. He has an unmistakable passion for learning, but he hasn’t always felt that way.

Thirteen years ago, when he realized he was about to be held back in 11th grade, Justin decided he would rather drop out of high school and get a job.

It wasn’t long before he realized how much that decision was limiting his future both professionally and financially. “Years went by and I was starting to realize the importance of education,” said Justin. “I felt like I was never really breaking through the ceiling.”

During this time, Justin met his wife Susana, who had also dropped out of high school, but for different reasons. She had enjoyed school and was a good student, but dropped out in order to help her family.

Together, Justin and Susana are in the midst of a new adventure together- they are going back to school.

At age 29, they decided to get their GEDs. Justin tried using a GED preparation book but soon realized that it wasn’t working for his learning style- he needed a face-to-face environment. Not certain where to turn for help, he and Susana visited the Office of Adult Services at FCC and found out about the GED preparation classes that FCC offers.

“We came back and we kind of just jumped right in, just dove right into it,” he said.

The GED preparation staff at FCC provided the guidance they needed to complete their GEDs, and encouraged them to continue on with their educations. Justin credits the GED preparation staff with giving them the confidence to start college.

“Without them I wouldn’t have even gone back to college, because someone was there pushing me,” said Justin. “One woman told me ‘you’re never too old to go back to college,’ and that was it right there.”

Justin and Susana completed the Partnership to Student Success Program (PASS) program at FCC, a two-week summer session where students work on their reading, writing, and math skills and participate in workshops on career exploration and test taking skills. They also learn about services on campus and, at the end of the session, are able to retake placement tests and register for the fall semester.

Going back to school has given Justin the opportunity to see what he is capable of as a student. This semester he is taking honors classes and is a member of Phi Theta Kappa. Susana is in the surgical technology program.

“I never thought that this would be something that I could do,” said Justin. “I would always doubt myself, my wife would always doubt herself. But I’m here, and I’m really happy to be here, and I’m glad I was able to go back and get my GED and that led straight into college.”

Justin plans to transfer to Mount St. Mary’s University as part of an articulation agreement for FCC cybersecurity students who wish to complete a bachelor’s degree. The agreement also provides an option for students who want to continue on to earn a master’s degree from Hood College.

“I am so happy that I was able to discover a newfound love for education,” said Justin. “I am extremely grateful for the time that I have spent and will continue to spend at FCC. I consider this to be my second chance.”

Teaching Hybrid Courses

FCC faculty members continually work to improve the way they teach in order to provide the best opportunities for student success. Dr. Julie Shattuck, FCC associate professor of English, had this in mind as she prepared her upcoming course: Teaching and Designing Hybrid Courses. Dr. Shattuck’s course will focus on technology, teaching, and innovation, and is designed for faculty who teach or plan to teach hybrid courses.

Hybrid courses, which combine online and in-person instruction, are becoming more popular among students due to the added flexibility of being able to learn remotely while still maintaining some traditional face-to-face instruction. Dr. Shattuck’s course will give faculty members the opportunity to experience a hybrid course as students, better preparing them to design and teach their own hybrid courses.

“If you think about faculty, most of us got our education in the traditional face-to-face environment, and to teach online I think the best thing you can do is be an online student,” said Shattuck. “It’s showing the faculty different ways that they can interact with their students by interacting with each other, and me, in that training course in these different ways.”

The course is being offered as part of the Faculty Scholars Program at FCC, which gives faculty experts the opportunity to create and deliver courses for other faculty members who wish to earn Teaching and Learning Hours. Dr. Shattuck is one of four faculty scholars selected for the 2018-2019 program.

“I was interested in participating because I really enjoy working with my colleagues and I have an interest in training,” said Shattuck. “I’ve worked in the past on a statewide program that trained faculty who were making the transition to teaching online, and I felt that there was a need for a similar kind of training for faculty who are making the transition to teaching hybrid courses.”

Hybrid courses are a desirable option for students, making it necessary for more faculty to be prepared to teach in this format. The new Parents Lead program at FCC, which is designed for financially-eligible parents of young children, relies on hybrid courses. Students in this program are provided a specialized curriculum and advising services as well as funding to offset the costs of childcare while they attend classes.

“The Parents Lead program was just starting, and we knew there was a need to design hybrid courses for that program and also help faculty get ready to teach those courses,” explained Shattuck. “We wanted to make sure the program would have courses that have gone through a design process that faculty had been able to access training for."

Dr. Shattuck first researched and designed her course last year, teaching it in both spring and summer. Due to continued demand, she will be training another faculty member to facilitate the course in addition to teaching it herself in the coming spring.

“I like working with faculty who are making the transition, because it is different,” said Shattuck. “I think what makes a good teacher in any of those environments is the same things, being responsive to students, but you do it in a different way. So I think it’s particularly good to have the experience of being an online or hybrid student yourself.”
 
Other faculty scholars for 2018-2019 include:
 

• Cynthia Baush, assistant professor of art, who will focus on professional development for adjunct faculty
• Dr. Andrea Dardello, assistant professor of English, who will focus on teaching with dignity
• Dr. Susan McMaster, professor of business and economics, who will focus on open education resources development

When she was 12 years old, Kat Hogan’s father woke up one morning and told his family, “It’s time to go sailing.”

This wasn’t just a spur-of-the moment trip. It was the start of a new life.

Kat lived on the sailboat- named Invincible- with her parents and six siblings for close to five years. The family, who except for Kat’s mom, had no previous sailing experience, first spent time traveling through the intercoastal regions of the United States, then through the Western and Eastern Caribbean.

“It was kind of awkward being a teenager on a boat in such close proximity. It was a little bit of an adjustment, especially as a teenage girl,” laughs Kat. “We traveled to over 19 separate countries throughout the Caribbean.”

The family eventually became close with others in the boating community and learned that they could trust and rely on each other, whether that meant keeping an eye on each other’s children, or occasionally bartering skills to help fix each other’s boats. And while other kids her age might have been making extra money babysitting, Kat and her siblings would earn their money by going boat to boat asking others in their “community”  if they needed their hulls scraped, or the inside of their boats cleaned.

When she was 15, her family was anchored off the coast of Puerto Rico when they met a family who was vacationing from the Frederick, MD area. Their children became instant friends, and soon the families were keeping in touch and reconnecting whenever they had a chance to sail and meet up.

Kat had shown an early interest in biology and she always knew she wanted to go to college, but being homeschooled on a boat, wasn’t sure if she would be prepared. When she was 16, the family friends offered to have Kat come and visit them at their home in Jefferson, MD. This visit provided an opportunity for her to take her PSAT at Brunswick High School, and she ended up extending her visit so she could learn more about Frederick Community College (FCC) and take her placement tests there.

By 17, Kat was living in Maryland and taking classes at FCC as an open campus high school student. “I told my parents I could always come back on the boat if it didn’t work out,” she says.

But it did work out. Kat is now a full-time student at FCC, studying biology and working two jobs. She recently purchased her first car and is thinking about transferring to University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) after she graduates with her associate degree. After growing up on a crowded boat in such close proximity to her family, she has successfully navigated the challenges of applying for financial aid, enrolling in classes, and planning her academic path, much on her own.

“Everyone here cares about you and they’re willing to help you learn,” says Kat. “You’re an adult, and treated with respect, but they’re willing to help you through the process because they know you’ve never done it before.”

She has already told her younger sister that when the time comes for her to start thinking about college, she will be here to guide her along the way.

While it was a difficult adjustment at first, Kat’s upbringing has greatly shaped who she is today. She says the experience of traveling and living on a boat made her really appreciate diversity, and helps her be better able to understand people and where they come from.

“When we first moved onto the boat I told my mom I would never forgive her for taking me onto a boat, I was so upset. And I remember her telling me that one day I would thank her,” she says. “I think it was last year sometime when I went to go visit them over my winter break, I actually thanked my mom and said yeah, I’m really glad you took me onto the boat.”

Two Veterans. Two Stories.

Hans Palmer, United States Marine Corps Veteran

Hans Palmer served in the United States Marine Corps from 2003 to 2007. He fought in Iraq twice, was stationed in Pendleton, CA, and was part of a Marine expeditionary unit (MEU) that served in different countries in southeast Asia, where he helped train foreign military members.

What did you gain from your military experience? I gained an insight that people are the same all over the world. It doesn’t matter where you’re from, we all want the same basic things. We all want security and love, and to have our family be happy and be able to go about our lives.

How does that experience help you now as a student? I learned a lot about discipline from the Marines. The Marines are very goal orientated. You set up a goal and you need to accomplish that goal no matter what. That mindset helps me as a student now.

Why is it important for FCC to have a Veterans Center? It’s really comforting to be around other veterans who speak the same military language and have similar experiences. When people get out of the military, there are of course things they miss, so it’s nice to be able to talk about that with others and feel a little bit nostalgic.

What are your academic and career plans? I’m majoring in STEM and I plan to transfer to a four-year university and study mechanical engineering. My end goal is to work at NASA.
 

Peggy Trujillo, United States Navy Veteran

Tell us about your military experience. I spent 20 years in the Navy as a journalist and mass communications specialist. I’ve served in Bahrain, Japan, Sicily, on a ship in Norfolk, VA, and at Fort Meade.

How does that experience help you now as a student? The military gives you the discipline and maturity you lack coming straight out of high school. It also taught me self-confidence. I dealt with so many challenges while I was in the Navy and I learned to overcome them. Now when I face a challenge, whatever it is, I know I can handle it.

Why is it important for FCC to have a Veterans Center? Having the Veterans Center on campus is great. I was a military BRAT growing up and then joined the Navy. For the first 39 years of my life, that’s all I knew. When I got out of the military, it felt like that had been sort of ripped away from me, so being able to talk to other veterans makes a big difference.

Callie M. Gorgol, a Frederick Community College (FCC) student pursuing an Associate Degree of Applied Science in Emergency Management, has been selected to participate in the White House Internship Program.

The White House Internship Program provides a unique opportunity to gain valuable professional experience and build leadership skills. This hands-on program, designed to mentor and cultivate today’s young leaders, strengthens the participant’s understanding of the Executive Office and prepares them for future public service opportunities.

Looking forward to her first day as a summer intern in the Administration Office of the Chief Logistics Officer for White House Continuity of Operations, Gorgol says she is “honored to be selected to perform the duties for this internship. This confirms what hard work and dedication can provide for anyone.”

During this prestigious opportunity, Gorgol plans to apply the skills and knowledge she is gaining at FCC to her role in the Office of Administration while garnering valuable insight into emergency management and continuity planning for all components within the Executive Office of the President (EOP).

Gorgol is excited to share her experiences when she returns to FCC this fall, adding, “I intend to use this learning experience to humbly benefit my fellow students so that they too will be inspired to do their best.”

The White House Internship Program is a public service leadership program whose mission is to make the “People’s House” accessible to future leaders from around the nation. About the Mid-Atlantic Center for Emergency Management (MACEM) at Frederick Community College MACEM provides educational opportunities, career training and innovative programming to emergency management professionals in every phase at every level in the industry. Contact MACEM/FCC at 240.629.7970 or [email protected]. Learn more at www.Frederick.edu/EM.

After leading students on a thought-provoking and thrilling trip to Costa Rica this past January, Professor Lora Diaz is now making plans for another course trip to the same location in January 2019.

The course, titled Global Scholar Experience in Costa Rica, will run January 4 through January 22, 2019. The group will travel between January 3 and January 12, 2019.

The Central American country – known for its stunning national parks and extraordinary biodiversity – is an ideal location for a global scholar experience, Diaz said.

"The diverse geography of Costa Rica gives us the opportunity for so many adventures,” Diaz said. “We zipline through jungle canopy, swim in volcanic hot springs, ride horseback through gorgeous mountains, visit a coffee plantation, and go whitewater rafting in brilliant waters – just to name a few."

Throughout the adventures, Diaz leads her students through discussions on different concepts of cultural competence, which develop their ability to interact and communicate effectively and respectfully with people of other cultures and nationalities. Students learn to listen, gain sensitivity to the verbal and nonverbal cues that people give, and how to be culturally responsive. Diaz said the trip helps students expand their world, appreciate different cultures, and learn that everyone perceives things with a different lens.

“Toward the end of the trip, the students were starting conversations and building off previously learned concepts while showing respect and appreciation for other perspectives as they discussed life in Costa Rica and shared from their own lives,” Diaz said. “It was a clear indication they were applying what we were learning and starting their journey of cultural responsiveness.”

FCC student Kaitlyn Scott was one of those students. She said the trip helped her become more culturally aware.

“Before I went on the trip, I had never been outside of the United States, so when I arrived in Costa Rica, I was surprised how different the lives of Costa Ricans were,” Scott said. “Despite this, the experience also allowed me to see how similar we are. I would recommend this experience due to the social involvement and the experiences available.”

After the 10-day trip, students return home and work on a final project, which can focus on any topic of Costa Rican culture that piqued their interest during their travels. Students on the previous trip delved into topics such as the country’s ecotourism industry, the vibrant colors of the culture and what they represent, and why the term “Pura Vida” – which means “pure life” – is such a commonly used term among Costa Ricans.  

“I heard from several students during their final projects that they realized this isn’t a class that you walk away from and are done with,” Diaz said. “For them, it’s the beginning of this cultural awareness. It’s the beginning of a journey that they will continue. The skills they learn will help them be successful wherever they go.”

For more information about the January 2019 trip, visit www.explorica.com/Diaz-2239 or contact Lora Diaz at 301.846.2551.

 

Frederick Community College partnered with the Boys and Girls Club of Frederick County and the Housing Authority of the City of Frederick to give middle school students the opportunity to explore careers through a six-week summer program. 

The full-day program, which ran in July and August at FCC, exposed the students to two different areas of study each week. Students were immersed into culinary, coding, lyric writing and audio production, carpentry, architecture, gaming, and more. Classes were taught by FCC instructors.
 
Lisa McDonald, Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Frederick County, said it was clear how much the students loved the program because of their excitement and engagement in each class.
 
“We focus on career development and exploration,” McDonald said. “[This program gave] opportunities to children who might not have the opportunities to come learn about culinary, coding, architecture, and a lot of fun things.”
 
Student Camari Wars said the culinary classes were his favorite because he learned to make new recipes he can share with his family.
 
Melanie Hoff, who led one of the culinary classes, said she was impressed with the creative dishes students came up with when given basic recipes and the chance to add their own style. During her class, the students learned to make homemade ricotta and carrot ravioli, roasted vegetable potpie, cinnamon sugar butternut squash, pizzas, and more.
 
During the culinary lab, Hoff said the students learned more than just cooking.
 
“They’re definitely learning teamwork,” Hoff said. “They have to work with different people every day and get along and they’re learning how to plan out a meal and use their critical thinking skills to do so.”
 
During an architecture class led by Sarah Malette, the students learned how to make a blueprint and size things to scale before building a model house of their own.

We thank the Boys and Girls Club, the Housing Authority, and the Ausherman Family Foundation for funding and supporting this program. We thank our FCC instructors for lending their expertise to the students.

When asked if they were nervous for their first day of college, three incoming first-year students all gave the same answer: no.

The students – all recent high school graduates – said completing the Partnership to Student Success Program (PASS) helped them gain confidence, familiarize themselves with the FCC campus and services, make new friends, and overall, ease any nerves they had about their first day of college classes. 

“This was a great opportunity to get my brain going before college starts,” said Cassidee Grunwald, a Linganore High School graduate. “It’s nice to feel like I already know a lot about the campus before classes even start.”

The PASS program, which was started in 2011, works to reduce the number of students in developmental courses by providing recent high school graduates who have tested into at least one developmental course the chance to work closely with faculty and staff during their transition into college. It is run by the Office of Multicultural Student Services and led by Director Chianti Blackmon and Assistant Director Persis Johnson.

The program starts with a two-week summer session during which students work on their reading, writing, and math skills and participate in workshops on career exploration and test taking skills. They also take part in team building projects that connect them to services on campus. At the end of the session, students are able to retake placement tests and register for the fall semester. 

Throughout the year, participants will continue to meet with their PASS advisor monthly to develop goals, track their progress in classes, and discuss any issues they are having as a new college student. They will also participate in continuing workshops and are encouraged to become actively engaged with campus events and activities.

For Middletown resident Kaylee Shipley, the program helped her get ready for the academic rigors of college.

“The program was a way to find out what college assignments are like, and see that I could do them,” Kaylee said. “I also really enjoyed getting support and advice from faculty on how to be successful in college.”

Amy Lee, Associate Professor of English, is one of those faculty members and has been involved with the PASS program since its beginning. One of the students in the very first class now has his master’s degree, she said. Getting to work with these students each year inspires her.

“At the start of each class, I have students introduce themselves and state their academic and career goals,” Professor Lee said. “I am always left speechless since their diverse and noble answers remind me of the reason I am so invested in teaching at FCC—these remarkable students are the future. This year’s group is no exception—this is a special group of students.”

The Foundation generously provided these students with a scholarship to use for the fall semester. If they stay committed to the PASS program and earn good grades, they will also receive a spring semester scholarship.

Professor Lee said the program is successful each year because of the work ethic of the students and the staff and services at FCC that support them.

“The hard work, dedication, and passion from the Office of Multicultural Student Services as well as countless other administrators, faculty, staff members, and student workers involved in the program offer a glimpse into what makes our students successful at FCC and beyond,” she said. 

Frederick Community College (FCC) student Bre Schill graduated from Middletown High School in 2019. She was unsure of what she wanted to focus her studies on and made the decision to attend FCC so she could save money on classes while exploring her options. Bre is currently studying business administration and plans to graduate in May 2021. She hopes to then transfer to the University of Maryland, College Park to study marketing or real estate.
 
Bre is a member of the Honors College at FCC and serves as a second-year student ambassador. “I have loved all of the honors professors and doing honors projects,” said Bre. “I’ve learned about the research process, writing, and presenting, which will all come in handy in the future with school or jobs.”
 
As a student ambassador, Bre is available to assist with College events, participate on student panels, answer questions, and give campus tours, among other things.
 
“I enjoy helping people out, and I like doing volunteer work,” said Bre. “It has been great getting to know people on campus and seeing the different events FCC has to offer and everything FCC does for students and the community.”
 
While Bre admits that the COVID-19 pandemic changed a lot more than she initially thought it would, she says that FCC has handled the situation pretty well. “I like online classes but you have to be more independent and organized,” said Bre. “There’s still online events over Zoom. It makes it feel more normal that stuff like that is still going on.”
 
In addition to the challenging studies and many opportunities for student involvement, Bre views the financial savings of attending FCC as a major benefit for anyone who may be considering it as an option after high school. “Be mindful of your bank account,” said Bre. “And don’t feel afraid to go to community college if you’re unsure about what you want to do. It’s been an amazing experience for me and I think anyone who chooses to go will like it more than you thought you would.”

Samantha Johnson has enjoyed being a student at Frederick Community College (FCC), even though it was a last-minute decision for her to apply. A singer/songwriter, Samantha had received a scholarship offer to attend college in New York to study music production after graduating from high school. Shortly thereafter, she received a call-back to audition for a spot on the reality television singing competition The Voice.
 
After waiting for a couple months to hear back, she finally got word that she hadn’t made the show, leaving her to scramble to figure out what her plan would be after graduating from Middletown High School in 2019. “I applied to FCC late because I thought I was going to be on The Voice,” said Samantha. “I love music but wasn’t sure I wanted to go to school for it, so I decided to go to FCC and explore my other interests as well.”
 
Samantha is studying general studies, and has focused on taking numerous math and music production courses. “General studies gives me a lot of flexibility to do that,” said Samantha. “I’m pretty sure I will end up studying statistics when I transfer.” She will graduate from FCC in May 2021 and hopes to transfer to University of Maryland, College Park because of a transfer agreement between the two schools.
 
Samantha is also a second-year student ambassador at FCC. Student ambassadors help with different events that are sponsored by the College, and even though COVID-19 has impacted things, she has still had opportunities to stay involved. She has been able to help with high school night, which was held over Zoom. She also participated in a virtual open mic night that was organized by the Performing Arts Club.
 
Her time at FCC has provided some lasting memories for Samantha. “My first semester at FCC I had a broken ankle and had to get around campus on crutches,” she said. “My second semester COVID hit. At least I’ll never forget it!”
 
Despite the pandemic, she has had a positive experience as an FCC student. “I have to give credit to the staff for handling it really well,” said Samantha. “Both the online and structured remote class formats have worked well for me.”
 
Samantha encourages others to consider community college as an option after high school. “Don’t close your mind to it,” said Samantha. “There’s a lot of pressure to go to a four-year school. FCC is helpful because it gives you a window in between, and if you’re unsure about what you want to do there are still opportunities to meet people and get involved, and it’s super affordable.”

Joshua Spivey recently completed his first semester as an adjunct professor at Frederick Community College (FCC), where he teaches Public Speaking, Introduction to Communications, and Small Groups Communication courses. Pulling into campus brings back bitter-sweet memories of a decade ago, when fresh out of the Air Force, Joshua would drive his mother to FCC for the continuing education classes she was taking.

“My mom had been taking the bus to get to FCC, but when I returned from the Air Force she asked me to start driving her to campus,” said Joshua. “She was always talking about school. Every time I drove her, she wouldn’t stop talking about it. I didn’t realize it at the time, but she was planting a seed in me.”

Unfortunately, Joshua’s mother passed away in pursuit of her goals. She had been diagnosed with colon cancer, but hadn’t shared her diagnosis with him.

“I didn’t know how much she was suffering,” said Joshua. “She had me walk her into the building because she was limping, but I didn’t know.” No professor, nor students in her classes, knew she had cancer, either, or the great amount of strength it took for her to make it to class each day.

Joshua found out on April 2, 2007 that his mother had cancer, and she passed away two short weeks later. He gained solace in knowing that she died while pursuing her goals. She had always wanted an advanced degree, but had had to put that dream off as she was busy raising two sons.

“She’s on my mind a lot,” said Joshua. “She took classes at FCC for two years. She loved child care- her goal was to open a child care center.”

Joshua’s adjunct faculty office is now located in the same FCC building where he would drop his mom off, and he teaches in the same building where she once took classes. Seeing his mom’s drive to attend FCC, even as her health continued to decline, “most definitely led to my pursuit of advanced degrees.”

After his mother’s death, Joshua was inspired to pursue his own dreams. He earned his undergraduate degree from Bowie State University and continued on to earn his master’s degree from The New School in New York. In addition to teaching at FCC, Joshua is also an adjunct faculty at Bowie State University and has previously taught at Howard University.

“I love teaching; it’s my passion and my purpose,” said Joshua. “When it comes to being a professor, sometimes you’re a mentor, sometimes you’re a parent, sometimes you’re a teacher. I love it all.”

Joshua shows great appreciation for the path his life has taken him. “You never know when things will turn full circle, but it’s bound to happen sooner or later,” he said. “I have an extreme amount of joy in knowing that 12 years later, the son who used to drive his mother to campus is now an adjunct professor at FCC.”

“Sometimes life throws opportunity at our feet, and we may think we are not ready for that. But it doesn’t mean we should not seize it and make the most out of it. That’s what happened to me three years ago when I was given the opportunity to immigrate here in the U.S. I wasn’t ready for that change. In fact, I was scared. But I also knew that it was maybe the only chance I would have to turn my life around.”  –Liz. O. Etouke, FCC Class of 2019
 
Liz O. Etouke graduated from FCC in 2019 with an Associate of Arts Degree in Business Administration. She was recently admitted to the Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants 2019 Student Leadership Academy, and hopes to become a certified public accountant and specialize in forensic accounting. Liz also volunteers at the Housing Authority of Frederick as a grants analyst with the Family Service Department.

When Liz was presented with the opportunity to come to the United States from Cameroon three years ago, she took it. She gave up her job and her belongings, said goodbye to her family, and boarded a plane with her six-year-old daughter and soon-to-be-born son (Liz was eight months pregnant).

Hear her inspiring story.
 

Stacey Celia came to FCC as a single mother of four young children, ranging in ages from 12 years to three months old. She was working full-time at Tranquillity Assisted Living in Frederick as a medication technician, and after realizing her passion in the health care field, had been thinking about returning to school in pursuit of her registered nurse (RN) degree. When Stacey learned about the Parents Lead program at FCC, which provides specialized curriculum and advising, as well as funding to offset the costs of childcare while parents attend classes, she knew it was time to begin.

Now, nearly two years later, Stacey is married and just one class away from entering the FCC nursing program. She is also nearing completion of the prerequisite classes necessary to transfer to the University of Maryland, Baltimore through the RN-to-BSN program, which allows eligible nursing students to complete bachelor’s degree courses through the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) while completing clinical work at FCC.
 
What helped you make the decision to go back to school?

I’ve worked in this field for several years and I’ve found that it’s something I’m really passionate about doing. I wanted to advance my career as I aspire to become an RN. I needed to make a larger income to support my family. I also wanted to be a good role model to my children, as I feel it’s important to have a college education and pursue your passion. When I heard about the Parents Lead scholarship, I decided this would be the time to take a chance and go back to school. Parents Lead definitely gave me the confidence that I needed to go back to school in the sense that they took some of the obstacles out of the way. They assisted with the financial burden. They also assisted with day care expenses.
 
How are you able to balance your responsibilities as a parent and as a student?

I think it’s really, really important to have a good support system prior to coming back to school, whether that be family, friends, coworkers. School is going to be difficult and challenging just like other aspects of your life, and you really need to have someone to turn to for assistance and guidance when you need it.
I want to be a good role model for my children, and I think that if they can look at me and see that I work, I go to school, I take care of my four children, and I can maintain a 4.0 GPA, I think that can help them strive to reach their goals as well.
 
How has your time at FCC met your expectations of returning to school as a parent?

My experience at FCC has been absolutely amazing. I have had the best professors imaginable who have really guided me through my courses and the college experience as a whole, and who have taught me so much. The faculty really embraced me. It can be very difficult and overwhelming to come back to school after being absent for almost 20 years.

The adult services department has been really great in providing a pathway for me. They can break things down into pieces and make things feel less overwhelming. My experiences here at FCC have been life changing and I'm so glad I came back to school. Plus, my children are proud of me. That's a really great feeling!
 
Do you have a message for other women or parents who may be in a similar situation?

I spoke to my children prior to coming back to school…I didn’t know if they thought it was something I could do. But I think I’ve shown them that with a drive and determination you can accomplish anything you really want to accomplish.

I still work full time while going to school and raising my four children. I also am a coaching assistant in the spring for my daughter’s softball team. I hope to inspire other mothers like myself who may not feel they are able to accomplish their educational goals due to their own personal situations. I am here to motivate them and tell them that they can do anything they set their mind to.

When Deborah Voso first enrolled at FCC in the mid-1970s, she knew she could only take one class each semester. At the time, she was the mother to a young toddler and pregnant with her second child. Her life was plenty busy already, but Deborah and her husband knew she would help her entire family by obtaining a degree.

Voso quickly did well in her business courses, even having a high enough grade to allow her to miss her final, which ended up being on the same day that she gave birth to her second daughter. Voso earned her associate degree in business about five years later. She then transferred to Shepherd College, now Shepherd University, where she completed her bachelor’s degree in business and accounting. 

Voso soon started working as a certified financial planner, eventually starting her own company, Voso Financial Advisors, which she ran for 30 years in Frederick.

Voso also stayed closely connected to FCC, first serving on the alumni association. She then served on the FCC Foundation Board of Directors and the FCC Board of Trustees, including time as Board Chair. Voso was on the presidential search committee for two past FCC presidents – Dr. Patricia Stanley (1998) and Dr. Carol Eaton (2005). She also funds a nursing scholarship at FCC in memory of her mother. Her daughter, Jennifer Voso Minnick, followed in her mother’s footsteps and attended both FCC and Shepherd College. Jennifer currently works as the housing director for the Habitat for Humanity of Frederick County.
 
What did you gain from your time at FCC?

FCC was a very encouraging environment. My accounting instructor noticed the handle I had on what we were learning in class and told me I belonged in business, which gave me confidence. During my years at FCC, my husband worked as a teacher and I wasn’t employed, so money was tight. The FCC guidance counselors understood that. They found opportunities for me to save money on tuition at Shepherd College, which was a big help. Everyone at FCC assisted me with my goals, and my time there gave me insight on what I was capable of doing in the business world.

Why do you think community colleges like FCC are vital to the success of a community?

FCC offers so many opportunities to so many people. It provides a strong foundation and allows you find your way in your education. It’s also a place where you can get tutoring and other help along the way. I was able to go from FCC student to Chair of the FCC Board of Trustees and it’s something I really enjoyed. FCC has always been near and dear to my heart and it’s been great to see how much it continues to grow year after year.

From a young age, Julie Ane Melhado-Lemes was sure of two things: she wanted to live in the United States, and she wanted to study music.

Born and raised in Brazil, Julie has always had a love of music. First introduced at age six, she began playing the piano and studying music theory before branching out to play other instruments. She immersed herself in English in school, and as an adult began teaching English in Brazil in 2014.

The following year she had what she calls her “first North American experience,” the opportunity to work at a camp in Canada, where she stayed for a little over a year. It wasn’t the U.S., but it was close.

When her work with the camp ended, Julie went back to Brazil and immediately began looking for ways to get to the U.S. to study music. She had researched music programs in Brazil but didn’t want to go the performance route. She knew she wanted to produce music, and hadn’t found what she was looking for in Brazil. A co-worker suggested she enter an au pair program as a way to get a visa and be able to study in the U.S.

As she went through the interview process with different American families for the au pair program, Julie had one specific criteria: the family had to live near a college with an audio production program. She ultimately chose to work with a family in Virginia and to attend Frederick Community College (FCC), based on the variety of courses offered in the audio production program and the lower cost of attending compared to nearby schools.

“I’ve been involved with music my whole life, so I thought I knew music,” said Julie. “But my first day in class everything was so new. I fell in love with it because it was brand new information. I felt blessed to have access to that information.”

Julie has only been able to take a couple of courses due to her responsibilities as an au pair and the higher cost of attending as an international student, but her experience at FCC has inspired her to work even harder to be able to continue her studies.

“The theory, the practical part, and learning by doing- I was impressed with how many opportunities for learning came up not just in class with theory, but outside of class as well with real bands and artists,” said Julie. “Studio sessions were my favorite. It was such a great opportunity to learn and my professor is incredible. I really just felt grateful.”

Julie will likely return to Brazil at the end of the year when she completes her au pair program, and plans to apply for a student visa, which would allow her to return to the U.S. and study full-time. 

Janice Smith, an FCC student and Phi Theta Kappa member, has been named a 2019 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholar and will receive a $1,000 scholarship.

The Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholarship Program helps new Phi Theta Kappa members defray educational expenses while enrolled in associate degree programs.

Scholars are encouraged to assume leadership roles and are selected based on scholastic achievement, community service, and leadership potential. Nearly 900 applications were received and 207 recipients were selected. 

“I am honored to be chosen as a recipient of the Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholarship,” Janice said. “This scholarship will help me with my educational expenses as I continue to work on earning my associate degree in business administration at FCC.  My future plans beyond my studies at Frederick Community College include transferring to University of Maryland University College to earn a bachelor’s degree in business administration."
 
Janice, a mother of three, was part of the first Parents Lead program cohort at FCC, which helps parents earn a college degree by providing specialized curriculum, advising services, and funding to offset the costs of childcare. 
 
“Research shows that Phi Theta Kappa members are four times more likely to complete a college degree than their peers,” said Dr. Monica Marlowe, Executive Director of the Phi Theta Kappa Foundation. “The Leaders of Promise Scholarships recognize students for what they have achieved already and assure that financial need isn’t an obstacle to achieving their academic goals.”
 

Darrick Bowens, a Frederick native who graduated from Thomas Johnson High School, completed his Associate of Arts in Business Administration Degree from FCC in 1990. After FCC, he joined the U.S. Army, serving for five years. He then went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Wayland Baptist University and a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in finance from Strayer University. Darrick is now a franchise owner of Colbert/Ball Tax Service, LLC in Frederick, where he provides tax planning, tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll services. Darrick is the chair of the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur Council Steering Committee and a member of the FCC Foundation Board of Directors.
 
What are some of your best memories from your time at FCC?
I played basketball at FCC and have many great memories from that. It was fun playing with guys from around the county and nearby areas and building team camaraderie. Our team had a lot of support from the student body and professors, as well as the college president at the time, Dr. [Lee] Betts, who all came out to cheer us on during our games. My professors also always made themselves available and were happy to help after class to make sure I succeeded.

What did you gain from your time at FCC?
The importance of time management was the biggest lesson I learned at FCC. I took between 12 and 15 credits each semester, played basketball, and had other responsibilities, so trying to do well while balancing all of that was a great lifelong lesson for me. I also learned about the importance of showing respect for others, and how others will respect you if you treat them with respect. Those are two lessons I still use today.

What do you enjoy most about the work you do now?
I am all about building relationships, and that’s what I do in my work every day. Any time I work with a new client or customer, I tell them “welcome to the family,” and I mean that. Most of my clients treat me like a family member – they text or call my cell phone instead of relying on only an office phone number. They know that I’m easy to get into touch with and ready to help them.

Why do you think FCC is so important to the community?
For one, the education it provides. It’s a great option for students who want to stay local, figure out what career they want to go into, and not have to spend as much money as they would at a four-year college. If they do transfer to a four-year college, they have a high success rate because of the education they get at FCC and the time management skills they learn. FCC also plays an important part in the bigger community through all the events it hosts and sponsors. FCC is always involved in so much in our community. 
 

Frederick Community College (FCC) recently held its Adult Education Graduation Ceremony to recognize the more than 70 students who had either earned their Maryland high school diploma or completed our English as a Second Language (ESL) program in the last year.

This year, the student speaker was Stefanny Alejandra Ramirez, a 20-year-old FCC student from Venezuela, who was receiving her GED along with her father, Osmar Ramirez.

Stefanny moved to the US with her father and mother in 2016 due to political and economic reasons in her home country. At first, she faced challenges adapting to her new home, not knowing the language, being away from her extended family and friends, and having to get used to a new climate and way of life. She decided to take ESL classes at FCC as a way to better herself.

When she completed those classes, her mother encouraged her to enroll in the FCC GED program to earn her high school diploma. Since she had already earned her high school diploma in Venezuela, she found it hard to find motivation to go through the process again. Her father enrolled in the GED program himself as a way to encourage Stefanny to do the same. Together, they completed the program.

During her speech, Stefanny said of her father:

“The fact that my father made the decision to take the GED was a motivation for me. It was an indirect way to hold my hand and pull me out of that moment in my life where I felt hopeless. The push I needed to achieve this goal was given to me by my father and I will always be grateful to him for that. More than grateful. I can also say that I am proud of his self-improvement. For many it may sound impossible or difficult, but at 50, he completed the GED in English. That shows me and that shows us all that nothing is impossible if we really want to achieve it.”

Each year, this is an inspiring ceremony. FCC congratulates Stefanny, Osmar, and all of the ESL and GED graduates, and thanks the dedicated instructors, advisors, and community partners who have supported these students and helped them reach their goals. In this year alone, they have served students from 76 countries.
 

FCC honors student Jake Matthews has been awarded a prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship.

Jake, who will graduate from FCC later this year with an Associate of Arts Degree in general studies, was one of just 61 community college students nationwide and one of three in Maryland chosen for the scholarship, which will provide him up to $40,000 annually for a maximum of three years to complete his bachelor’s degree.

After completing his FCC degree, Jake plans to transfer to College of William and Mary in Virginia, where he wants to earn a bachelor’s degree in economics or government. He also now hopes to attend law school, something he previously assumed was out of reach for him since he was planning to pay for his undergraduate degree on his own.

Jake started at FCC two years ago, after spending a few years after high school working a variety of odd jobs and trying to break into the music industry. After helping support his wife, Laurén, while she earned her bachelor’s degree, he decided a college education was the next best step for him, too.

After enrolling at FCC, Jake quickly got involved with the Honors College thanks to the support from Dr. Bruce Thompson, Honors Coordinator. It was encouragement and advice from Dr. Thompson that motivated Jake to apply for this scholarship.

“Jake is a role model for honors learning,” said Dr. Thompson. “His original research on how the Democratic Party maintained power in Maryland got him selected to present at the Northeast Regional Honors Council conference, and his commitment to public service inspires others to make a difference.”

In addition to the monetary scholarship provided by the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, Jake will also receive comprehensive education advising and a connection to other scholarship awardees and program alumni, something he is especially looking forward to. Jake hopes it will be similar to the connections he has with other students in the FCC Honors College, who he says help each other stay motivated and continue to succeed.

He is also grateful to the supportive environment he found at FCC.

“FCC provided me the opportunity, flexibility, and affordability to change my life for the better and I hope others will take advantage of that,” said Jake.
 

FCC student Emily Toth took a chance and purchased a knife set. It was a big investment for the psychology major, who had realized she didn’t want to be a psychologist. But she had always loved cooking.

“My family has always been intrigued with cooking,” said Emily. “My mom used to put cooking shows on for me as I fell asleep for my naps. The Food Network has always been my favorite.”

Emily told herself she would just try it out, and signed up for one introductory culinary class. This spring, she is wrapping up her final semester of the culinary arts program at FCC, and she’s doing it in a big way.

Patrons of 200 Monroe are likely to meet Emily as they dine in the gourmet student-run restaurant. Opening week she was working in the “front of the house” as a server. Those visiting the restaurant over the next few weeks may find her taking her turn in the “back of the house” preparing their meals. When speaking about the experience and what it means to her, Emily’s passion for cooking is palpable.

“I never thought I’d be able to do something as big as becoming a chef,” she said.

200 Monroe restaurant is a capstone learning experience for FCC culinary and hospitality students, and an unexpected treat for community members who happen upon it. Students in their final semester of the program spend weeks preparing for this experience. From learning the ins and outs of dining etiquette, to how to properly set a table, speak with guests, develop a menu, and prepare items, students are prepared for the opportunity to run the restaurant in every regard. “It demonstrates everything we’ve learned over the last four semesters of the program,” said Emily.

The uniqueness of the restaurant is not lost on the students. They are acutely aware of the expectations of their customers and the faculty who are there guiding them. At the end of each evening, in addition to staying to clean up, students spend another 30 minutes with faculty reviewing survey responses collected from the evening’s diners. Patrons are provided survey cards as soon as they are seated and are encouraged to be forthright with their feedback, as this is a vital aspect of the learning experience- and grading- for students.

200 Monroe presents an exciting real-life situation for the soon-to-be graduates of the program. “There’s something so thrilling, it’s a rush you get to prepare so many dishes under a time crunch,” said Emily about what she was most looking forward to on opening night. “It’s a high-pressure industry, and even though it’s stressful at times, it’s a challenge. I’m most looking forward to the challenge.”

Students who may have entered the program with little to no cooking experience are able to prepare gourmet items including smoked mozzarella arancini, Flemish beer braised petite beef tender, chicken roulade, and salmon en papillote upon completion. These are just a few of the selections available this spring at 200 Monroe.

“For people coming to have a dining experience at 200 Monroe, it’s really special for them,” said Emily. “We have a kitchen set up in the dining room so they can see the students working professionally, preparing their meals and working with each other.”

This is the eighth season that 200 Monroe has opened, and it is obvious that the culinary students running the restaurant and the chefs who have prepared them are passionate about what they do. Students get to finish out their program experiencing the excitement of applying what they’ve learned, and community members are able to enjoy an excellent meal while supporting them.

“The biggest thing for us to work successfully is communication,” said Emily. “To perform with excellence in everything we make. I’m going to work as hard as I can to demonstrate what I’ve learned.”

Reservations for 200 Monroe are required and can be made online by clicking here. For more information about the FCC Hospitality, Culinary, and Tourism Institute, click here.

Kristin Hayes is in her second semester at FCC. A pre-nursing student, she plans to transfer to a four-year school to study functional medicine after completing her degree at FCC. She is finally on the path that she had imagined for herself a decade ago, an accomplishment that bears even more significance considering the challenges she has faced along the way.

When Kristin was in the process of applying to nursing school nine years ago, her plans were suddenly put on hold when her seven-year-old son Gavin was diagnosed with stage 4 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. 

Over the next four years, Kristin focused on getting her son better while doing her best to keep his life as normal as possible. While she was in and out of Children’s Medical Center with him during treatments, she applied to Kaplan University and earned an associate degree in medical assisting. “I needed something to distract me at the time,” she said.

The online courses made it possible for her to make progress toward her career goals while taking care of her son. As he went through years of chemotherapy, she made sure, to the best of her ability, that he was able to continue doing the things he wanted to do. “He wanted to play football, so he had his port removed, choosing to have chemo given in his hand so he could play,” she explained.

The treatments worked. Gavin is now 16 years old and a cancer survivor, and Kristin, a mother of two boys, is back on track pursuing her educational and career goals. She is part of the Parents Lead program at FCC, and the recipient of a scholarship that helped cover the cost of her classes and books. She was able to purchase a laptop with the money that was left over, which was an additional help considering her classes are mostly online.

Newly a single mom, Kristin was recently faced with another challenging situation when she had to move out of the home she had been renting. Without the help of a Student Success Fund grant she received, she would not have been able to afford to move into a new home while continuing to attend FCC.

“This Student Success grant helped me through a troubling time as a single mother,” said Kristin. “I was faced with a huge change and without this fund, I would not be able to soar into my academic future. For this I am forever grateful.”

Kristin is thankful for the support she has received and maintains a positive outlook when looking back on the challenges she has faced. “A series of life events led me to a better place in my life,” she said. “It was a blessing, really. Everything is falling into place. I will succeed, and I have this fund to thank for getting me over this unexpected hump.”
 

Discover why faculty, staff, and students appreciate FCC.


 

Former FCC Baseball Player Prepares for Division I Athletics
When Keagan McGinnis graduated from high school in Virginia, he knew he wanted to continue his baseball career. He had heard about Frederick Community College (FCC), and knew that one of his assistant coaches, as well as a number of other baseball players from his high school, had attended the college.

The reputation of its baseball program, along with academics, made FCC stand out to Keagan. “I wanted to continue my baseball career, so I went to FCC,” he said.

The decision to attend FCC, and subsequently George Washington University, wasn’t based solely on baseball. “Academics was the biggest deciding factor,” said Keagan. “My parents and I have always said school comes first, baseball comes second. So I knew I was going to go to a good academic school.”

While earning his associate degree in business administration at FCC, Keagan was also earning recognition on the mound as a pitcher. With the goal of continuing to improve as a player and transferring to a four-year school, Keagan worked with FCC Head Baseball Coach Rodney Bennett to make it happen.
 
After reaching out to the pitching coaches at George Washington University, sending his grades, background information, and video from a game he had played earlier in the season at FCC, Keagan and Coach Bennett were able to arrange for the George Washington coach to come for a visit.
 
“He came to a game and watched me throw,” said Keagan.
 
The George Washington coach liked what he saw, and before the FCC season ended Keagan had made his decision. “I wanted to go to the school that fit me best, where I could also be successful academically,” he said. “I was open to wherever worked out best, and it ended up being a Division I (DI) school.”
 
Keagan credits his time at FCC with helping him develop both academically and as an athlete. “I was able to continue on a path so I could eventually get my master’s, and to get my confidence back where it needed to be to compete at a DI school,” said Keagan.
 
Keagan has fond memories of his time at FCC. “The guys on the team made it what it was,” he said. “I enjoyed being around my teammates and doing what I came there to do which was get on the mound and pitch and get myself seen.”
 
And he wasn’t alone. While he was playing at FCC, there were four other players from his high school on the team with him.
 
More than 175 of Coach Bennett’s players have gone on to play in the NCAA or the NAIA, including 26 all-Americans, four MLB draftees, two MLB free agents, and a national player of the year. Five FCC players from last year are planning to play DI baseball this season.

“It makes me extremely proud that student athletes choose the FCC baseball program to develop and then reach the pinnacle of their abilities by attaining NCAA Division I opportunities," Coach Bennett, who also works as an FCC generalist advisor, said. "I believe the supporting system of our coaches, administration, and facilities all help shape our baseball players by developing them as athletes, students, and good citizens. We give them a structured system that allows them to grow and become better players and people.”

FCC Graduate and Outgoing SGA President Credits FCC with Leadership Development

John-Paul Legare, a recent Frederick Community College graduate and outgoing Student Government Association president, credits his development as a leader to his FCC experience. He describes his role as a student-leader as challenging, formative and illuminating.

“At FCC, I met so many different people and learned so much from them,” LeGare said. “I have been so inspired by the college’s leadership, and that has helped me grow into a more confident and capable leader.”

LeGare’s resume reveals a well-disciplined and motivated student with exemplary test scores, impressive academic grades and roles in the Honors Program and numerous student clubs. n person, he registers as wise and articulate beyond his young age. His confident delivery and compassion reinforce the public speaking awards he’s received over the years. LeGare believes that leadership starts with communication. “I like to talk with other students about their academic and career ambitions,” he said. “This conversation helps students recognize their goals, and it inspires me to support them however I can.”

FCC President Elizabeth Burmaster described LeGare as an excellent representative of the college.

“Throughout his time at FCC, John-Paul has proven himself to be a motivated leader who finds countless ways to get involved,” Burmaster said. “It has been a joy to get to know him and watch him grow as a leader. We are proud to call him an FCC graduate and know he will continue to accomplish great things.”

What is perhaps LeGare’s most striking trait is the earnest pride he shows in supporting the success of others. He values his peers and finds it rewarding to help others grow to their full potential. “In my first semester, I met a student who was going through a lot of challenges in his life that were affecting his studies,” LeGare said. “He particularly struggled with talking to new people. Together, we worked on developing his social skills so he could find a sense of belonging and integrate with his peers. With a newfound confidence, he earned academic success, became the leader of a student club and graduate.”

LeGare believes that good leaders are eloquent speakers, but great leaders are also engaged listeners.“So many of my peers achieve amazing things such as attending prestigious honors and STEM conferences, playing in the college World Series and winning technology competitions,” LeGare said. “As a leader, I share pride and excitement for their success. This builds a stronger community where we celebrate achievements together.”

Leaders may receive popular acclaim for visionary changes, but LeGare finds that leaders also exist by bringing dimension and conviction to support roles. He doesn’t think of himself as a leader who needs to make changes. Instead, he would rather inspire others and use his position to help them realize their vision for FCC.

LeGare was moved by how much he learned at FCC, both in and out of the classroom. “The faculty and staff are incredibly dedicated to serving the students and do an exceptional job keeping students at the center of their mission,” LeGare said. “Leadership can be taught in a lot of ways and many places. FCC gave me the chance to experience leadership firsthand, and that’s something I’ll take with me forever.”

FCC Faculty and Staff Bring Students and Employers Together for CIS Career Day
Frederick Community College (FCC) Career Services Coordinator Anne Scholl-Fiedler is dedicated to bringing employers and FCC students together. One of her recent successes is the organization of CIS Career Day at FCC. This event focuses on the computer science, information technology (IT), and cybersecurity industries and connects individuals looking for internships and entry level employment with local employers.

The event, which is held once a semester each spring and fall, was developed with the assistance of FCC faculty member Dr. Andy Yao, who serves as program manager for computing and business technology career programs, as a way to support FCC IT students.

“I reached out to Dr. Yao and was looking for ways we could help support our IT students, and he suggested an event to help students pull together their resumes and prepare for job interviews,” said Scholl-Fiedler. “I suggested turning it into a career fair.”

A number of local businesses are invited to set up for the event held in the FCC Conference Center.

This fall marks the second year of CIS Career Day at FCC. The most recent event, held this past spring, had more than 100 attendees including students and community members.

In addition to local employers, representatives from local four-year colleges and universities are also in attendance. The upcoming CIS Career Day, which will be held Wednesday, October 24, from 3:30-5:30 p.m. in the FCC Conference Center, will include representatives from Mount St. Mary’s University and Hood College who will be available to talk about their programs.

Running concurrently with the career fair are workshops on IT resume preparation, interviewing skills, and trends in the IT industry.

Rod Vasquez, a representative from Intelice Solutions based in Frederick, said his company has attended the past two CIS Career Day events. “We were out here in the fall and saw much talent that is hitting the market,” said Vasquez. “We’re very excited about what FCC is doing in terms of producing high quality technicians looking to hit the workforce.”

“People do get hired as a result of this event,” said Scholl-Fiedler.

Employers are still being accepted for the upcoming CIS Career Day. Those interested in attending are invited to contact Anne Scholl-Fiedler at 301.624.2795. More information is available here.

Studying abroad provides a valuable opportunity for students to continue their studies while experiencing a new place, new culture, and new way of doing things. It’s an opportunity that they might not expect to find available to them when attending community college, but students at Frederick Community College (FCC) are fortunate. They have the opportunity to learn and hone their craft both on campus and on the other side of the globe.

A group of students in the FCC Hospitality, Culinary, and Tourism Institute (HCTI) recently traveled to Italy for an intensive 10-week internship program where they were able to work at different restaurants in different parts of the country.

Austin Lacoste spent his days at a restaurant in the town center of picturesque Amalfi. He started in the pastry department, where he learned to prepare Italian desserts. Once he moved to the kitchen, a large part of his day was spent prepping fresh vegetables and seafood – including shrimp, tuna, squid, and fish – to be incorporated into dishes.

It didn’t take long for Austin to notice differences between cooking in Italy and cooking in the U.S.

“Their seasonings are definitely lighter than what we’re used to [in the U.S.],” Austin said. “It’s more about the freshest of the local fare around there whether it’s seafood or tomatoes or lemons, the quality of ingredients is tremendous.”

Austin’s biggest takeaway from his time in an Italian kitchen was the importance of staff working together and supporting each other. “I definitely learned a few things while I was there as far as teamwork and working as a unit,” he said. “It definitely broadened my horizons as far as what I’ve been exposed to, from what I’ve learned in school to my own personal cooking background.”

While he did take short trips to Pompeii and Capri, there wasn’t much downtime after working 12 to 14 hours a day, six days a week.

Anticipating the hot Italian weather combined with the grueling work schedule made student Shonda Washington apprehensive about signing up for the internship opportunity. After some encouragement from Elizabeth DeRose, HCTI Manager, she decided she was up for the challenge.

“I went there open-minded to learn, open-minded to other people’s culture,” she said.

Shonda worked in a hotel restaurant located on the beach in Positano. She would prep ingredients in the morning and cook dishes in the evening, all while observing the experienced chefs around her.

“I learned my observation was just as important as my hands-on experience,” Shonda said. “All the cooks in the kitchen were wonderful and I learned a lot from each one.”

Shonda received a job offer to be the chef at Pleasant View Nursing Home in Mount Airy soon after returning home from Italy. She credits her internship abroad with giving her the skills and confidence needed to land the job.

“The value of studying abroad for me was being able to come back to the U.S. and be confident in working in the kitchen,” Shonda said. “I was confident enough to put in applications for chef positions instead of line cook positions or prep cook positions. It was a lot of fun, hard work. But hey, I got a job. I’m a chef. That’s what Italy did for me.”

An award-winning filmmaker. An Appalachian Trail finisher. A cybersecurity expert. What do these people have in common? They will be visiting Frederick Community College (FCC) to speak with students and young adults as part of the Moving Mountains Speaker Series.

Moving Mountains is a free monthly speaker series for teens and young adults. Speakers, including local professionals and community members with a unique or interesting story, are selected to cover a wide array of topics, discuss their successes and challenges, and share important life and career lessons.

The series motto is, “Get the most out of life, so life can get the most out of you.”

The concept of Moving Mountains came from FCC Director for Special Projects Mike Pritchard, who realized the value in providing young people with an opportunity to hear from inspirational and successful community members. Part of this realization was based on an impactful experience he had as a teenager.

“When I was a teen, my parents took me to hear someone affiliated with Jacques Cousteau, who was, back in the day, one of the most famous underwater explorers,” said Pritchard. “I was riveted by this presentation and the photos and the film of this underwater world.”

The experience inspired Pritchard to become certified as a scuba diver when he was just 17 years old. When he began developing the Moving Mountains series, he envisioned it as a program that would provide similar opportunities for inspiration for young people in our community.

“That presentation really opened the door for me into this wonderful world, so I am really hoping that things like that will inspire teens if they hear a topic, or it just expands their world in a way that may not be expected,” he said.

The featured speakers encourage young people to set the bar high in all areas of life including career choices, finances, relationships, and more. Each talk includes a 30- to 40-minute presentation, followed by a question-and-answer period.

“We really want teens and young adults to make great decisions,” said Pritchard. “When I plan the speakers, I try to include a wide array of topics from science to technology to finances so that the series appeals to a wide range of teens and young adults.”

FCC works with Frederick County Public Schools in supporting and promoting the series, and partnerships with Frederick County Public Libraries and the YMCA of Frederick County help get the word out.

This marks the fourth year of the series, which continues to gain popularity among community members. Pritchard has received positive feedback from both the teens and the parents who attend. “We can all glean something from the speakers that inspires us, no matter our age,” said Pritchard.

Those who attend three of the six sessions in an academic year have the opportunity to earn a certificate of participation and leadership, which can be used in a number of ways. “The certificate shows they’ve taken the initiative to grow personally, and serves as one more tool that can be used when applying for the National Honor Society, on a job application, on a resume, or college application,” said Pritchard.

The series is free and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. Pre-registration is available here. Each session is held from 7:00-8:00 p.m. in the JBK Theater, Visual & Performing Arts Center, at FCC.

Faculty Scholars Program

Dr. Andrea Dardello, FCC assistant professor of English, will soon expand one of her courses to a new type of student: peers. Later this year, FCC faculty will be invited to participate in a six-week course of universal importance: Teaching with Dignity.

The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) at FCC offers a Faculty Scholars Program that supports the professional development needs of full-time and adjunct faculty. Faculty experts are given the opportunity to create and deliver courses for other faculty members who wish to earn Teaching and Learning Hours. Dr. Dardello has been selected as one of four faculty scholars for this year’s program.

“One of the things I absolutely love about working here is that I have found my niche,” said Dardello. “I have found a place where I can continue to do the work that I’ve always been interested in doing.”

Dr. Dardello is excited about her course, which is designed for teachers and emerging leaders and will enable them to effectively utilize cultural competency skills both inside and outside the classroom.

“In this course, we get to look at ways in which we can help students understand their worth in the classroom,” said Dardello. “One of the ways we do that is through validating their gifts and talents and the strengths they already bring. We get to do that by listening to their stories. We get to do that by holding them accountable, giving them the benefit of the doubt, for believing the best about them and helping to bring that out.”

Teaching with Dignity is designed to help faculty members examine themselves as professors. During the course, faculty participants will complete a project about maintaining dignity as the center of their teaching.

“To teach this type of course I had better have had the experience with it, because you want to talk to faculty,” explained Dardello. “They want to be able to trust that you’re speaking from an authentic space. So the topics we will delve into are in fact conversations that I have had with my students, and from that perspective I bring a lot of theory. I’ve read the books, I’ve studied the concept, but I also bring experience as well. I think you need to bring both in order to facilitate the conversation from an honest and authentic space.”

Other faculty scholars for 2018-2019 include:

• Cynthia Baush, assistant professor of art, who will focus on professional development for adjunct faculty
• Dr. Susan McMaster, professor of business and economics, who will focus on open education resources development
• Dr. Julie Shattuck, associate professor of English, who will focus on designing and facilitating hybrid courses