HCC

HCC commencement scheduled for Friday Howard Community College will hold commencement exercises for its 36th graduating class at 4 p.m. Friday on the campus, 10901 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia. Padraic M. Kennedy, former president of the Columbia Association, will give the Boyd Commencement Address. In recognition of their contributions to the HCC community and students, honorary degrees will be conferred upon Joanne T. Davis, former chairwoman of the Commission on the Future of Howard Community College; her husband, Michael W. Davis, who served on the HCC Educational Foundation's board of directors; and U.S. Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski.

HCC savors growing gains Launched in 1957 with a $10,000 grant from the county government, Harford Junior College - as it was known back then - opened its doors with 119 students and 16 staff members. The college offered night courses at $7 per credit hour in classrooms at Bel Air High School. "When I first started teaching, I had a classroom that I shared with the other part-time instructors," said Dorothy Dare, 84, an Aberdeen resident who taught math in the school's inaugural year. "The rooms were sparsely furnished with a teacher's desk, a chalkboard and desks for the students.

The National Council of Instructional Administrators has awarded Howard Community College's Step UP program its 2007 Exemplary Initiative Award for student retention and success. Step UP, a mentorship program established in 2005, offers coaching, support, encouragement and listening. The program serves about 100 students each semester. Information: Sue Frankel, 410-772-4826. HCC cookbook goes on sale for $15 A cookbook featuring favorite recipes from students, staff and faculty at Howard Community College is on sale at the HCC Bookstore in the Rouse Company Foundation Student Services Hall.

John F. Haggerty and James J. Valdes recently were sworn in at the Harford County Courthouse as new members of the Harford Community College board of trustees, after being appointed by Gov. Martin O'Malley. Haggerty fills the vacancy created by the end of Bernard Barnes' term. His five-year term runs through June 30, 2012. Valdes will complete the term of S. Fred Simmons. His term will end June 30, 2008. Haggerty, who has a bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland and a master's in education from the University of Florida, served on the HCC staff for 35 years as associate dean of the health, physical education and recreation division, and as athletic director.

Howard Community College will offer new-student orientation sessions from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Jan. 22 and 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Jan. 24. First-time HCC students are encouraged and expected to attend; parents are welcome to attend a parent session that will be held during their child's orientation program. The sessions include refreshments, information packets and interactive workshops, campus tours and prizes. Information: 410-772-4896. Reservations: 410-772-4430. Or sign up online at www.howard cc.edu/nso.

HCC to christen Duncan Hall Mary Ellen Duncan, the third president of Howard Community College, will have a building on the college campus named in her honor. She retired in May. The building, the English, Languages and Business (ELB) building, will be renamed Mary Ellen Duncan Hall. A dedication ceremony is scheduled at 5:15 p.m. Oct. 24 in the lobby. A reception is planned for 4:30 p.m. The building was the first of three constructed under Duncan's leadership to complete the landscaped center of the campus known as the Quad.

Melissa Karras does her best to be both a single mother and a Howard Community College student.But it isn't easy -- especially since HCC, unlike most other community colleges in the state, does not have an on-campus day care center for its students.That will soon change; in January, HCC officials expect to break ground on a $1.7 million child care center that they hope to open by next fall for more than a hundred children."For a community college, it is one of the ways to open the door and give people opportunity," said Mary Ellen Duncan, president of the college.

Denyse Wright-Thissedau, a premed student at Howard Community College in Columbia, doesn't have anything against basketball, or basketball players, or even, specifically, NBA star Robert "Tractor" Traylor of the Milwaukee Bucks.But she wonders why HCC officials invited Traylor, of all people, to speak at the orientation for new students last Friday, considering that he never graduated from college."You're trying to give these people motivation to move on, and this gentleman has not completed college," said Wright-Thissedau, 38, of Columbia.

Howard Community College plans to celebrate the installation of its third president, Mary Ellen Duncan, with a series of free luncheon mini-classes called the Festival of Learning. The 45-minute classes, which begin Oct. 29, will be conducted by HCC faculty members on topics such as philosophy, baseball history, computers, acting and health care.All classes take place on the campus at 10901 Little Patuxent Parkway and include lunch. To attend, call 410-772-4828. Space is limited.The courses include:For the Love of Wisdom -- The Telecourse: What do Solomon, Confucius, Winnie the Pooh and HCC's Helen Mitchell have in common?

IF MARY ELLEN DUNCAN arrives at Howard Community College next summer the way she is departing the State University of New York system, the Columbia campus will not starve for the resources it needs as it moves into the 21st century.Dr. Duncan, who was named Tuesday as HCC's first permanent female president, spent the day of her selection lobbying state legislators in Albany for money to support her SUNY campus at Delhi. In seven years at the 1,800-student campus southwest of Albany, she has gained a reputation as an active fund-raiser and imaginative administrator.

Howard Community College is looking for graduates and former students who have gone on to assume leadership roles or achieved professional excellence. The Development Office will accept nominations for this year's HCC Distinguished Alumni Awards program until March 1. HCC seeks nominations of graduates or former students who have earned 30 or more credits and distinction in areas such as business, community service, education, law, medicine or public service. Final candidates will be chosen on the basis of professional accomplishments, community leadership, continuing education, diversity of experience, interests and successes.

Two schools receive beautification grants Two Harford elementary schools have received county grants that will help volunteers complete several beautification projects. County Executive David R. Craig, who visited both schools last week, commended their PTA volunteers. The program "is an excellent example of an effective government initiative that brings schools, the parent community and businesses together," he said. A $10,000 grant for Riverside Elementary brings to more than $65,000 the funds dedicated to upgrading the playground on the Joppa campus, a project that parent volunteers have tackled for nearly a year.

Lola Tillyabaera shared artifacts from her native Uzbekistan with classmates at Harford Community College at a table set up in the Global Cafe. As students gathered at the table, she donned an ornate gold hat. "This hat is called a duppa," said Tillyabaera, 21. "This is the hat that women wear during their wedding." The hat was one of many things American-born students learned from about 100 international students at the school, who participated last week in International Education Week activities.

Leaping horses, socializing supporters and a family-friendly atmosphere have drawn spectators to Howard Community College's Grand Prix for 20 years. But the true appeal for organizers has always been the scholarship money it raises for students. The equestrians and the entertainment will return to the Columbia campus Saturday, and college officials say the need is greater than ever. Applications for financial aid have risen 19 percent from fall 2007 to this year, said Nancy Santos Gainer, an HCC spokeswoman.

Class registration through Aug. 30 Registration for Harford Community College's Fall 2008 credit courses is being held through Aug. 30 in the student center at 401 Thomas Run Road, Bel Air. Walk-in registration is available from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday. Saturday registration will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 16, Aug. 23 and Aug. 30. The college will be closed Sept. 1. Fall classes begin Sept. 2. Students may also register for courses by mail or fax. Forms and information are included in the Schedule of Summer/Fall 2008 Credit Classes.

With interruptions for work and family, it took April Waskey 30 years to earn an associate's degree from Howard Community College. Waskey, 49, of Ellicott City said she continued to pursue her degree because she wanted to take her career in a new direction, but also as an example to her 13-year-old son and 9-year-old daughter. "I wanted them to know Mom's doing it, they're going to have to do it, too," she said. A shared commitment to higher education drove 701 graduates to complete their course work at Howard Community College this year.

Cecil College is offering a free information session about training options for careers in the allied health field from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday on the North East campus. The college offers full-time and part-time training programs for medical assistants and receptionists, medical coders/billers, dental assistants, certified medicine aides, certified nursing assistants, phlebotomists and medical transcriptionists. Information: 410-287-6060, ext. 641 or ext. 760. HCC to offer pre-GED sessions for adults Harford Community College will offer Pre-GED Advising Sessions for adults who want to improve their basic reading, writing or math skills.

The Harford Community College Library will celebrate National Library Week tomorrow through Friday with events and activities open to the campus community and public. As part of the festivities, the library will offer amnesty on fines for all HCC library cardholders all week. All fees will be waived for overdue materials returned in good condition. Activities are in the library unless noted. Events are: Tomorrow to Friday: A used book sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., including office supplies, DVDs and music CDs. Tomorrow: A poetry reading will be held at 1 p.m. -- share your favorite verse, get a gift and enter a drawing for a Barnes and Noble gift certificate.

Howard Community College will sponsor a weeklong series of events April 21-25 in observance of Earth Day, April 22, when a celebration will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the college's Duncan Hall lobby. Environmental organizations and organic stores and farms will be on hand. Those who attend can participate in a water taste-off, plant flowers and recycle plastic grocery bags. Leonardo DiCaprio's environmental film, The 11th Hour, will be shown at 12:30 p.m. in the Kittleman Room (ELB-100)

Howard Community College invites alumni and their friends, and family to attend a social from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. April 3 on the fourth floor of The Rouse Company Foundation Student Services Hall, 10901 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia. The social will include food, drinks, live music and views of the Columbia skyline. Attendees will get a chance to meet HCC president, Kate Hetherington; HCC Educational Foundation Chair Michael Nagle; and the college's board of trustees. Admission is free.