Spring 2013 HCC Alumni Newsletter

SPRING 2013

CONNECTING WITH OUR ALUMNI & FRIENDS

Continuing Our Commitment to a Green Harford

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Dear Alumni and Friends,

From the

President

We are in the midst of exciting times here at Harford, and I am delighted to share updates on the many projects and initiatives taking shape on campus.

Construction for both the Towson University in Northeastern Maryland initiative and Darlington Hall, Harford’s new state-of-the-art nursing and allied health building, is proceeding. On May 30, we will join Towson University in celebrating the groundbreaking for its new building on Harford’s campus. Towson will offer baccalaureate courses for select programs to students who earn their associate’s degree from either HCC or Cecil College as part of a 2+2 articulation agreement, the first of its kind in the state.

Soon after, we will lift our shovels again and celebrate the start of construction for Darlington Hall.

Community college completion rates continue to be a major focus of federal and state policymakers. From 2008 to 2012, total degrees awarded at HCC increased from 630 to 864 – a 37 percent increase over five years. To strengthen our ongoing commitment to providing high quality and innovative educational offerings and continue this positive trend, a Student Engagement, Retention, and Completion Committee (SERC) has been formed to coordinate and document a comprehensive, College-wide plan to increase completion.

I would also like to take this opportunity to recognize and applaud our scholar-athletes. The Athletics Department celebrated its 2012 Athletic Director’s Honor Roll. A recordbreaking 80 student athletes earning a 3.0 GPA or higher were honored for their academic achievement. Congratulations are also in order for the women’s volleyball team for winning the Region XX Championship, the men’s lacrosse team for earning their first NJCAA National Tournament bid, and the men’s and women’s basketball teams for their many accolades, which you will read about later in the newsletter.

The new APG Federal Credit Union Arena is buzzing with activity. We recently hosted billboard sensation Andy Grammer, and on June 15, we will welcome disco kings KC and the Sunshine Band. The Arena has also served as the venue for other region-wide exhibitions, athletic tournaments, and high school graduations. We are very pleased to have this wonderful space to offer to our students and the community.

As another academic year comes to a close, we will welcome our latest group of graduates into the Alumni and Friends Association. The Association continues to grow and enhance its offerings, and we appreciate input and participation from our former students. Please share with us your ideas for how we can make the Association most beneficial for you.

Sincerely, Dennis Golladay, Ph.D. President 2

Spring 2013

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New Partnership Aims to Increase the Number of Students Pursuing STEM Degrees Recognizing a need for increased emphasis on fundamental mathematics foundations for students pursuing science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) degrees, HCC, SAIC and Towson University have created a new 2+2 initiative.

The program’s goal is to leverage a strong college and private industry partnership to ultimately increase the number of students pursuing STEM degrees. HCC and Towson will work to ensure that core courses are provided and the curriculum is aligned, and SAIC will provide a connection for students and industry subject matter experts to acquaint the students with real-world experiences.

SAIC, a long-time partner of HCC, very generously donated $60,000 to help fund the initiative.

Professors Honored for Teaching Initiatives Christopher W. Jones, Assistant Professor of Transitional Mathematics, and Susan Muaddi Darraj, Associate Professor of English, are recipients of the 2012 John and Suanne Roueche Excellence Award.

The award recognizes outstanding contributions in higher education by community college faculty and staff. Both Jones and Muaddi Darraj were nominated for their advocacy and leadership in developing initiatives to improve the academic success of academically at-risk students. Jones led the redesign of the Developmental Mathematics curriculum, and Muaddi Darraj was instrumental in the development and implementation of the College’s First Year Experience Program, which helps students adapt to college-level expectations.

WINTER 2012

Owl Magazine Receives National Honors In March, the National College Media Association honored Owl Magazine with two awards in its Apple Awards Competition. The Winter 2012 issue earned second place for Best Magazine Cover (Two-Year School), and “Crash Course in Counter-Culture,” an article from the Summer 2012 issue, won second place for Best Magazine Spread (Two-Year School).

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Continuing the Commitment to a Green Harford

Updates

For more than 20 years, the College has been proactive in identifying opportunities to employ green and sustainable methods in campus operations and construction projects. Guided by the Sustainability Committee, a group of students, employees, and community members, the campus works to ensure that protocols for green purchasing, housekeeping, and efficient and environmentally sound building practices are employed whenever possible.

“We have a responsibility to look at using environmentally sustainable practices in all of our building and land use decisions. The positive impact on the environment is priceless, and the College realizes an incredible cost savings from the use of green systems,” said Steve Garey, Director of Capital Projects.

Some recent examples of the College’s green building and land projects in the ongoing effort to support sustainability include: •

Installing LEED Certified white TPO roofing on the Chesapeake and Student Center buildings.

TPO roofing is a thermoplastic polyolefin membrane that is attached to a traditional roof.

It helps reduce energy consumption by reflecting heat, and the white membrane is resistant to ultraviolet rays, which limits heat damage from the sun.

• Placing solar voltaic systems on campus buildings. These systems are a linked set of solar panels that convert sunlight into electricity. The initiative began last year with the installation of an 11,000 watt array on the roof of Aberdeen Hall, a project that was made possible with the help of a grant from the J.M. Huber Corporation. Beginning in May, 3,700 additional photovoltaic panels were installed on the roofs of the Chesapeake Center, the APG Federal Credit Union Arena, the Student Center, and Joppa Hall.

• Incorporating sustainable features into the Susquehanna Center renovation and the APG Federal Credit Union Arena construction project, including a TPO roofing system, energy efficient heating and cooling systems, low-flow Foundation receives Matching water fixtures, and native species landscaping • Installing cisterns at Havre de Grace and Joppa Halls to capture rooftop rainwater runoff for flushing toilets • Planting three green roofs on Joppa Hall. These help to slow rainwater runoff and lower heating and cooling costs by adding an additional layer of insulation.

The three rainwater collection systems have saved over one million gallons of water. The new photovoltaic project will provide 16 percent of the College’s electricity needs, saving over $30,000 per year in energy costs. A new high energy efficient condensing boiler installed at the Student Center is saving over $5,000 per year in energy costs.

Did You Know?

Over 40,000 cubic yards of earth were moved from the Susquehanna Center renovation site to the College’s practice fields. Hauling the dirt off site would have been the equivalent of more than 2,000 dump truck loads, which are generally not clean air vehicles. By relocating the dirt to the practice fields, the College helped to decrease the amount of vehicle emissions on nearby roads and provided more “even playing fields” for the College’s practice fields.

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Grant From CareFirst BlueCross/BlueShield

The Harford Community College Foundation received a $25,000 matching grant from CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield in support of the Harford Community College Emerging Technologies Project: Electronic Health Records.

“The Foundation’s number one priority is our students, and we are proud to offer resources and support for innovative programming and equipment that will make them leaders in the health care profession,” said James Welch, HCC Foundation Chair. “I applaud CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield for their commitment to education and the communities they serve.”

Electronic health records are the future for medical record keeping and will help increase the quality and accuracy of patient data. Expanding the training opportunities for electronic health records ensures that the College’s Nursing and Allied Health students remain in the forefront of their profession.

The grant funds will be used to purchase tablet computers for use in electronic health records instruction in the College’s laboratories and for student use in clinical placements.

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The Learning Never Stops No matter our stage in life, we all find that we must continue to learn and grow to keep up with the ever-changing world around us. Lifelong learning helps better prepare us for opportunities and challenges in our personal and professional lives, and it has long been a part of the College’s mission to foster continuing education opportunities for our students and the community.

“Our students enroll for a variety of reasons – to earn a degree or certificate, employment training, or personal enrichment. To help our students have the best opportunities to succeed, the College is committed to ensuring innovative and highquality courses are available to meet their needs,” said Annette Haggray, Ph.D., Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Value In Real-Life Application Jeff Stagnoli, general manager at American Residential Services/ Blue Dot, took classes at Harford after he graduated from high school, but it was his return to the College years later that made a lasting impact.

“You can always learn – there are no excuses for not,” Jeff said. “Don’t let fear get in the way. It will hold you back if you don’t push it away.”

Jeff started his career in heating and air conditioning by working in the field and gradually moved into the front office. When his company was purchased, he was promoted to general manager. He had not had any formal accounting training, so he enrolled in Accounting 101.

“After class, my professor would go through financial statements with me, and give me advice and suggestions for key indicators and information to watch for,” he said.

“People don’t realize we have an educational institution in our backyard where you can get a world-class education.

It’s an underappreciated gem.”

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Persistence Pays Off For Amos Allen, being persistent and never giving up has helped him reach a long-standing goal of working in the medical profession.

Having retired from the Social Security Administration after 38 years of service, Amos enrolled at Harford to pursue degrees in sociology and medical assisting. Ultimately, he focused on sociology and graduated in 2008 with his associate degree. He transferred to the University of Maryland Baltimore County and received his bachelor’s degree. Unfortunately, finding employment after graduation proved to be a challenge, so rather than giving up, Amos returned to Harford and finished his medical assisting courses.

“I went straight to work after high school and didn’t go to college. I didn’t start [college] until I was 56! I’m amazed at how many older people have been forced to return. I try to encourage everyone that it’s never too late,” he said.

Amos will graduate again this May with a degree in medical assisting. He recently completed a 160-hour externship and was offered a full-time position with the Chesapeake Pain Center.

“I am excited about the work, and I see so many opportunities in the health care field. I believe the sky’s the limit.”

Spring 2013

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Alumni Stories

It All Comes Full Circle Jan Stinchcomb, HCC graduate, returns to campus as the newest member of the College’s Board of Trustees.

Like embarking on a career journey that began in the arts and progressed to higher education and organizational management, one must always remember that the skills we are taught are transferrable in ways we will never anticipate.

“This is the last thing I ever imagined or anticipated,” Jan Stinchcomb said with a smile. “I am always surprised at what great opportunities present themselves in life.”

In December 2012, Governor Martin O’Malley appointed Jan to the Harford Community College Board of Trustees.

The College’s governing board comprises nine trustees who are appointed by the Governor for a term of five years; members may serve up to two consecutive five-year terms. Six members represent the Councilmanic Districts and three are appointed from the county at large.

Jan’s relationship with the College began when she was a student. While taking general studies classes, she found herself gravitating toward the arts. It quickly became evident that this was the path for her to take. Upon earning her associate degree and at the encouragement of her professor, Nancy Klapp, and advisor, the late Nancy Sterner, she followed her passion and went on to earn her bachelor’s degree

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from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). She also received a master of fine arts from Queens College, City University of New York.

She joined MICA as a faculty member in 1986. From 1985 to 1989 Jan found herself back at Harford – this time serving as adjunct faculty. Simultaneously, she was teaching part time and then full time at MICA, where she was later promoted to Chair of the Foundation Department, Assistant Dean, and then Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Faculty. She currently serves as the vice provost for undergraduate studies at MICA and oversees the comprehensive management and coordination of MICA’s undergraduate programs and faculty.

A Harford County resident, Jan’s history with the College offers her a unique perspective as a Trustee – that of a student, a teacher, and a community member.

“The College is such an asset to the community. All of the expansion has been done thoughtfully and with a clear-cut mission and understanding of the role it has in the community.”

At the time she was a student, she was amazed that a school of Harford’s size had such a sense of community, with faculty who were not only experts in their professions but who understood the importance of being engaged with their students. Upon her return to campus in her latest role, she has found that sentiment remains true today.

“I will always remember how it felt and what it meant to be a student. The faculty at Harford are some of the best and most dedicated – many who have given their whole career for the students and the community. That brings a richness that you can’t undervalue.”

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Class N O T E S 1972 James Clark, Business Administration, retired as a Director from the Defense Commissary Agency where he received a Meritorious Commendation and Award for 30 years of outstanding service. He is currently a licensed real estate agent with the Curry Agency in Aberdeen, Maryland.

James is married to Greta R. Clark, and they have two sons, Jordan and Mitchell. Mitchell is a freshman at HCC.

1994 Mary Ann Bogarty, Business Administration, was a nominee for the 2013 ATHENA Award.

She is a Vice President, Business Banking at PNC Bank.

1996 Mark Echols, Business Management, is a Family Team Conference Facilitator at Abbott House in New York. He is working toward earning his Ph.D. in Human Behavior from Capella University.

Basketball Reigns Supreme Kudos to the Fighting Owls men’s and women’s basketball teams for their strong showing during the 2012-2013 season The women’s basketball team experienced a stellar season of firsts with a long list of accomplishments including:

• Winning 25 games – this set a school record and made Head Coach Ashley Sammons the winningest coach in Harford history

• Regular season Maryland Junior College Athletic Conference Title Champions

• NJCAA Division I Region XX Champions

• Maryland JUCO championship runner up

• Coming within one game of a trip to the

NJCAA National Championship Sophomore guard Tiffany Taylor became the first player in Harford’s history to score 1,000 career points. She finished the season averaging 22 points per game, ranking second in the conference and fifth in the nation. Freshman guard Capree Garner was the team’s leading scorer, finishing with an average of 22.5 points per game. This earned her the conference’s top spot, and she ranked fourth in the nation.

The men’s team saw great improvement, with the shining moment being their unexpected and first-ever appearance in the MD JUCO Conference championship game. Sadly, they lost at the buzzer to Hagerstown Community College.

During his final game of the regular season, sophomore guard Dimitrios Jelen-Joy became the first men’s player to reach 1,000 career points.

“Basketball is one of the most competitive sports in terms of the number of institutions that offer it and the competitiveness of recruiting,” said Athletic Director Ken Krsolovic.

“With the opening of the new arena on campus and the excellent job done by our coaches and staff, we have laid the groundwork for further success in basketball, as well as all of our sports here at the College.”

SAVE THE DATE

Alumni & Friends Association

Deck Party at Ripken Stadium Friday, July 12

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Spring 2013 SPRING 2013

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Aberdeen IronBirds vs. State College Spikes Game Time: 7:05 p.m. • Fireworks Night Tickets: $30 Includes: IronBirds Hat & Ballpark Dinner For tickets and information: 443-412-2563 5/17/13 10:34 aM

on

Gourd Club Combines Annual Festival with Opportunity to Raise Scholarship Funds

For thousands of years, the gourd, a colorful and odd-shaped fruit, has been used for practical purposes like bowls and utensils. Over time, however, artists have discovered that its unique shape and wood-like surface make it an intriguing medium for artistic expression, and gourd art continues to grow in popularity.

The Harford Community College Gourd Club, a group of local gourd art enthusiasts, held its annual four-day festival at the College and hosted a series of workshops to learn and perfect their craft. Artists from across the region gathered to share ideas and knowledge with festival goers in a variety of techniques including carving, sanding, painting and burning.

In 2012, to help foster and encourage art and creativity in young people, the Club established a youth art scholarship through the Harford Community College Foundation. The scholarship provides funding for young artists to attend the College’s summer art camps. This year, the Club proudly raised $1,000 during the festival to support the fund.

For more information about upcoming gourd crafting and other community education course offerings, please visit www.harford.edu/cet.

Cheers to Wine Expo 2013 A great afternoon was had by all who attended Wine Expo 2013. The Association and Wine World Beer & Spirits played host to more than 460 guests at this year’s event.

Guests enjoyed hundreds of fine wines from around the world along with a terrific selection of craft beers in the APG Federal Credit Union Arena.

“The new arena proved to be an excellent venue for the Expo, and we are excited about the possibilities for future expos,” said Joanne Bowen, chair of the Alumni and Friends Association.

The Alumni and Friends Association offers special thanks to the signature sponsor, The Harford Mutual Insurance Companies. More than $30,000 was raised, and all of the event proceeds will benefit the Association’s programs and scholarships.

Class N O T E S 1997 Connie Dausch, Psychology, earned an M.S. degree in Community Counseling from Wilmington University. In 2012, she earned a National Certified Counselor (NCC) certification from the National Board for Certified Counselors.

Heather Ziehl was crowned Mrs. Maryland America 2013. Heather is a marketing consultant and founder of the philanthropic organization True Housewives. She will represent Maryland in the Mrs. America pageant in August.

1999 Kimberly Gregory, Psychology, received her National Board Certification.

She is a second grade teacher at Monarch Elementary School in Simpsonville, South Carolina.

2010 Sarah Zubrowski, Early Childhood Education, is a first grade teacher at Sandalwood Elementary School.

m Send us your news! www.harford.edu/alumni or call 443-412-2563.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Kollman & Saucier, P.A. presents

4032

401 THOMAS RUN ROAD BEL AIR, MD 21015

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

20T H A N N U AL

Summer Swing

Golf Tournament Monday, July 8

Shake Your Booty and Get Down Tonight! with

JUNE 15 7:30 PM

Maryland Golf & Country Clubs 1335 East McPhail Road Bel Air, MD 21014

For More Information

go to www.harford.edu/foundation/golf or call 443-412-2449 Proceeds benefit the

Harford County Chamber of Commerce

APG Federal Credit Union Arena at Harford Community College

Proceeds benefit the Harford Community College Foundation.

Parents:

If this issue is addressed to a son or daughter who no longer maintains an address at your home, please contact the Office of College & Alumni Development at 443-412-2563.

COVER PHOTO:

(Left to Right) Dante Leoni, Courtney Birdsall, Brittany Martin, and David Piccirilli

Stay Connected! alumninewletter_spring_13-0274_v2.indd 8

401 Thomas RUN Road, BeL Air, MD 21015 ALUMNI DISCOUNT: $7 off any seat

Discount Code: ALUM1

This offer is available through June 14, 2013 for advance ticket purchases only and will not be available at the door. The discount is not valid for previous purchases.

443-412-2211 or

13-0274

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Update your email with us at www.harford.edu/alumni.

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