After leaving Russia in 1999 and immigrating to the United States with her American husband and then 13-year-old son, Ivan, Olga Rehn is on her way to living the American dream.

            This year, Rehn, 42, has earned valedictorian honors at Anne Arundel Community College's 45th commencement at Siegert Field on the Arnold campus.

            In 2003 she moved from Virginia, where she'd taken her first English as a Second Language class, to Edgewater. In January 2004, she decided to continue her education at AACC.

            Rehn, who works part time in cost control for a local firm and part time as a hair stylist, said that while she had experience with the American college environment in Virginia and thought she knew what to expect at AACC, she was completely surprised.

            "Anywhere I'd go here I'd meet people who were concerned about my needs. They were helpful and supportive. I feel like I'm part of a family here."

            It started with the admissions process. "I felt from that simple phone call that something unusual is going on here. But I eventually realized it's not just the one person who was accidentally nice to me. All the people here are creating an environment for the students to help fulfill their needs," she said.

            Learning in the American education system was, for Rehn, a different experience. Unlike when she grew up in Cold War-era Russia, Rehn had to become accustomed to a classroom where opinions and opposing ideas are welcome.

            She learned American history, and says the classes were an eye-opening experience and those she will remember the most. "I also took chemistry and biology, thinking about nursing, but then I didn't feel like that was my direction. I found accounting very interesting. It's very challenging."

            A member of the academic honor society Phi Theta Kappa, Rehn completed her associate degree requirements in general studies with a focus on accounting and with a 4.0 grade point average. She received no scholarships, but said she did have financial aid. "I don't think I would have been able to do what I did without support," she said.

            Rehn's immediate future lies at the University of Baltimore, where she's been accepted and plans to major in accounting. "We'll go from there. I really, really would like to pursue this career."

            Wherever Rehn goes, she'll never forget AACC.

            "The professionalism, the kindness, the humanity, the system - this college has everything."