Free tuition brings up enrollment numbers

Continued from page 1 land community colleges for public high school students. The legislation did not make enrollment free for homeschool and private school students, who get a 50% tuition discount.

Sara Eger, director of instructional pathways and partnerships, said Anne Arundel County Public Schools will pay for students to attend AACC.

Eger said the law is beneficial for students wanting to dual enroll.

“Improving students’ access and expanding stu- dents’ opportunities, I think that’s what people saw in it,” Eger said. “That’s what they saw in the value of the blueprint.”

Audrey Guinn, a Chesapeake High School senior who takes classes at AACC and plans to major in education, said free tuition was a big factor in choosing whether to enroll.

“At some point, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go or not,” Guinn said. “But then since I had that option, it was what motivated me.”

Kolton Tracey, a Chesapeake High School senior who takes history and En- glish classes at AACC, also said free tuition convinced him to enroll here.

“It’s one of the only reasons I’m going,” Tracey said. “If it wasn’t free, I would have gone straight to a university.”

Another student said the free tuition helps him focus on college work.

“Being able to come to community college and not have to worry about paying tuition is a stress reliever,” Nathan Busch, a Chesapeake High School student, said. “It lets me focus on getting my credits and it saves me a lot of money.” rately, without bias.”

Buster said Gauntt is “responsible. He’s like the very definition of an overachiever. He’s got the skill set for [editor-in-chief and] he’s got the experience.”

Journalism professor and Campus Current faculty adviser Sharon O’Malley said Gauntt is “very well prepared to step into Zack’s very big shoes.”

“He’s among the young- est people on the staff, but he’s by far one of the best writers, one of the best reporters, one of the best managers,” O’Malley said. “He’s mature way beyond his age. And one of the things that impresses me the most about him is … his disposition. He never seems to be angry. … He’s just very level, which is a good, calming influence on the newsroom. And it’s a sign of a great leader.”