When we collect things, we tell a story. What story do our collections tell and how do they apply to the wider community? Students in Introduction to Anthropology got to answer that question during a cabinet of curiosities workshop.
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Pauline Smith worked in human resources and protocol in the Air Force for years. After leaving the military, she stayed in the administrative world. But deep down? “I always wanted to study art,” she said. Her post-9/11 GI Bill gave her just that chance.
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A realization of wanting to do more, paired with the COVID-19 pandemic, spurred a career change into nursing for 2023 Commencement valedictorian Samantha Navarro.
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As a Transfer Studies student, Maggie Nester was able to build a degree that suits her interests and needs.
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Sometimes a career path can have roots as humble as a coloring book.
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Wingspan — Spring 2023 — We’ve all seen the signs in storefronts or experienced a delay in services due to staffing challenges. There is no denying it – our community and nation are facing critical labor shortages. Nowhere is this more pronounced than in skilled trades and health care professions. AACC is meeting the needs of our community to advance the future careers of students in these essential fields.
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Wingspan — Spring 2023 — Maybe you’ve seen headlines about the burden of student loans. Perhaps you’ve been wondering what a college professor can teach you that online videos can’t? Education beyond high school remains one of the best methods for economic mobility and increased lifetime earnings. But not all colleges are created equal.
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Zack Newman used an internship he gained through AACC to land a full-time job.
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Two years ago, Hannah Granito was balancing classes toward a bachelor's degree in public health at the University of Maryland College Park and the baking and pastry arts associate degree at Anne Arundel Community College.
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A former student shares how the Maryland Promise Scholarship helped her get to her nursing degree.
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A guest demonstrates how to make a gum paste rose.
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Nicole Adams is living proof that there is a light at the end of the dark tunnel of drug addiction.
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Originally from Bangladesh, Mohammed Reza moved to the United States in 2008 with the belief that America would open the door to great opportunities and a wonderful educational experience.
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Going away to college to "find yourself" is a bit of a cliché that also happens to be true for many students. Not for Nick Nadeau. His sights were always on identifying a career that would allow him to utilize his scientific mind and creativity.
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Kurt Peter played lacrosse and earned a sports management degree at Lynchburg College. After graduating, he landed a position in his chosen field… and was miserable.
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The path to success rarely follows a straight line. That's certainly proven true for Nyia Curtis.
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Heather Most was terrified about coming back to school. But without a degree, the single mother of four young children knew she had probably gone as far as she could in her career.
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Tina Newton was working as a flight attendant with a regional airline when she realized she wanted something different. The solution became clear—go back to school.
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When Christopher Pineda arrived at AACC, he was quiet, shy and worried about how to pay for classes. The first in his family to attend college, he also had no idea how to navigate higher education or what to expect.
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Giant hamster balls, Riverhawks and board meetings - It’s not exactly what comes to mind when you think of a community college, but this is the range of experiences Michelle Moore has managed to have as a student athlete at Anne Arundel Community College.
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For Rashad Ferguson, dance is a powerful way to express himself with no need for words.
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Francheska Salazar loved the sense of community and purpose she had in the Navy. But when she left after 13 years of service, she felt alone and unsure of her next steps.
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A former student discusses the benefits of AACC's Learning Communities
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As artistic director of a modern and contemporary dance company and co-founder of a Ghanian dance company, Adjetey Klufio understands the need for range.
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In AACC's Homeland Security Management program, Silas Baker learned the critical skills needed to view the world for its truths.
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As an Aspiring Leadership Academy (ALA) alumna, Francheska Salazar continues to utilize the methodology and skills she learned while participating in the program.
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Wingspan — Fall 2022 — Are you wondering how you can afford to pursue an associate degree or workforce development certificate at AACC? AACC's private scholarship program, funded through charitable contributions to the AACC Foundation, is one great way to make your academic dreams a reality. About 700 AACC students receive approximately $1 million in private scholarships every year!
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Wingspan — Fall 2022 — AACC programs meet students where they are and get them where they want to go. Check out six stories of Riverhawks who chose their own adventure.
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He had a degree in aerospace engineering, but when Mario Gozum moved to the United States from his native Philippines, he couldn’t find a job in his field and bounced around different positions to pay the bills. Years later, going through some struggles, he felt too far removed to return to aviation, and decided to make a change.
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When she didn’t make it into a local dental hygiene program this past spring, Courtney Paris was discouraged. But discouraged doesn’t mean deterred, and a determined Paris started looking into AACC’s Dental Assisting Program.
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Eric Collyer opened a personal training studio in 1999 and was happily working when 9/11 rocked the country. Soon after, he closed his business and joined the Marines. Now, after a long journey as a sniper and later a teacher in the military, a contractor traveling the world, and private security, he’s back home.
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It is an employees’ market, which means you don’t need the experience you once did to be hired for in-demand business careers with big prospects for growth. And with AACC, there are numerous degrees and certificates offering a fast, clear path to a new career that uses your natural talent with newly gained skills.
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Demand for health care jobs is skyrocketing. Come to AACC, complete a brief program supported by a network of faculty and staff dedicated to your success, graduate and start earning immediately!
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If you want to be working in tech by this time next year, it’s possible. If you want to start a career, switch a career or build your career, well, that's possible too, with Anne Arundel Community College.
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Wingspan — Spring 2022 — Like swapping applesauce for eggs, sometimes life calls for a substitution. Nicole Luecke never planned on having a career in baking and pastry, but when her family needed a stay-at-home parent, she gave up her 30-year career as an obstetrician and gynecologist. She joined AACC’s culinary program to try something different and was surprised by how much she had to learn.
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Wingspan — Spring 2022 — AACC is celebrating 60 years! Sure, we’re recognizing big milestones from when we were chartered in 1961 to now: buildings, presidents, championships, alumni in the news and national accomplishments. But we also wanted to share some of the quieter, impressive moments that make us who we are today.
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Wingspan — Spring 2022 — When AACC’s Fighting Pioneers started hitting the court in the 1960s, the only athletics team for the school was men’s basketball and the court was the Severna Park High School gym. Much has changed since then.
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As a high school student, Mateo Escobosa applied to four-year schools like most of his classmates. He wasn’t sure what he wanted to study though and didn’t want to spend a ton of money to figure it out.
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After her experience as a caregiver for her father, Courtney Gregory decided to return to school to pursue a degree in nursing.
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In March 2020, Jasmine Pratt was enjoying her job as a project manager for a Maryland translation company, working with linguists from around the world. When COVID hit, she was laid off.
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Carlos Angelo Guino enrolled in the Early College Access Program (ECAP) so he could take college classes at a lower price while still in high school.
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Johnny Garcia-Ventura took advantage of the opportunities at AACC.
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By the time Devin Valko graduated from high school, he was halfway through completing an associate degree in Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics at AACC.
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Our Stories — Teddy Strong credits AACC's HVAC apprenticeship program with increasing his confidence.
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Our Stories — Vinnie Hager got his start at AACC and now his art is being featured across the country.
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Our Stories — AACC grad, Ric Conn uses his art to advocate for gender equality.
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Our Stories — Jesse Tubb uses the skills he learned in the Engagement Coaching program in both his professional and personal lives.
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Our Stories — Three students share their stories about how AACC gave them a start, helped them save money and prepared them to transfer to a four-year university to continue their education.
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Our Stories — Learning to speak a new language in a new country can be daunting, but Fatma Ebaid stuck with it and is proud of her success.
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Our Stories — The three-story, 175,000-square-foot Health and Life Sciences Building at AACC can evoke a lot of feelings: excitement, awe, and for some, a little bit of dread.
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Before I came to AACC, I was a shy kid with average grades. Now I am more confident and accomplished. I've had pretty much all A's.
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When I arrived here, I had no idea where to start. I found amazing people at AACC, and I got help everywhere.
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This is a second career for me. I needed a boost. It was probably the best decision I've made in my life.
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I learned I'm capable of so much more than I thought; I can really do anything as long as I put my mind to it.
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I met a welcoming and supportive community. I learned my purpose. Now, I'm more confident and more engaged.
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Our Stories — The Ambassador Campus Team is a group of outstanding student leaders who represent AACC at various events and share their experiences with incoming students. While AACC has been operating remotely, they have stayed active, volunteering in virtual reading nights and craft events with local organizations, collecting donations for Baltimore Washington Medical Center Foundation, and helping other students navigate AACC’s website and the online student portal.
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Wingspan – Fall 2020 – Students come to AACC with a drive to succeed. For many, that means balancing school work with one or more jobs while juggling family responsibilities. Even in the best of times this can be difficult, but COVID-19 added its own challenges.
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Wingspan – Fall 2020 – Despite the impact of coronavirus on in-person student services, AACC counseling didn’t skip a beat. They made a quick transition to provide online support.
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Wingspan — Fall 2020 — In the wake of nationwide protests around racial inequality, AACC recommitted to combat systemic racism through its strategic plan that places equity at the center. Throughout the summer, faculty and staff came together to listen, learn and educate one another. This will all culminate on Aug. 17 with a virtual presentation by "White Fragility" author, Robin DiAngelo.
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Wingspan – Fall 2020 – When web design major Tom Ostrye started his internship with Annapolis Home Brew in January, he thought he found the perfect way to hone his skills and gain academic credit at the same time. What he didn’t know was that he would help the small business during a global pandemic.
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Wingspan – Fall 2020 – Each March, Laboratory Manager Donna Earley and Clinical Lab Coordinator Melissa Vogel usually prepare AACC’s health sciences labs for a new term. This year, they entered the empty building to retrieve PPE intended to help current health workers instead of future ones.
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Wingspan — Fall 2020 — When engineering transfer student Pat Geballa first used a 3D printer in Associate Professor Tim Callinan’s class, he had no idea his newfound interest would quickly become a much-needed skill.
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Wingspan – Fall 2020 – When we pivoted to 100% online in the face of COVID-19, AACC converted more than 1,250 classes from face-to-face to online. Student services transitioned as well. Those resources once found on campus remained available to protect students’ academic, financial, social, physical and mental well-being. From the library to student engagement to financial aid to advising, staff found ways to connect students to the same resources they have always had.
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Wingspan – Fall 2020 – In January, AACC offered 524 online courses. In April, that number skyrocketed, as 1,250 additional face-to-face credit and noncredit courses were converted to remote in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fortunately, the college already had a few decades of remote learning knowledge to lean on.
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Our Stories — It’s a thought on many high school students’ minds. They’ve watched older siblings, friends and cousins go to college only to graduate with a degree and thousands of dollars of debt. And for those in families falling in the awkward financial position of have too much income for many need-based grants, like the Pell Grant, but not enough to outright pay for college, they’re left looking to take loans. The Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship was created to fill that gap.
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Our Stories — Standing in front of a classroom and giving an eight-minute speech while being critiqued is a nerve-wracking experience for anyone with a fear of public speaking. But looking back, Wendy Kush counts "Foundations of Oral Communication" one of the best courses she's taken.
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Our Stories — Esther Kuhnert wanted to become a makeup artist and, after graduating high school, completed a five-week beauty school program. After working two years in her field as a freelance makeup artist, she realized she didn’t want to open a shop of her own. Uncertain about her future, Kuhnert turned to AACC.
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Our Stories — When tasked with finding a service-learning volunteer opportunity as part of an AACC business course, Ramses Gerais chose a unique path: volunteering with the Sarbanes Center that was connecting his classmates with their dream gigs. His time with the Sarbanes Center made him realize how important investing in the community was to him and how his time there had equipped him for his next step.
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Our Stories — Many students take on summer jobs to help pay for school, but AACC alumnus Jason Burkholder doesn’t spend his summers serving fast food or working retail. He’s a lab technician for Operation Clearwater in the Environmental Center at Anne Arundel Community College.
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Our Stories — Have you met Swoop, our beloved mascot, and his feathered fleet of Road Hawk student drivers? If you’re out bird watching, you might spot a Road Hawk in a neighborhood, shopping center parking lot or on an AACC campus.
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Our Stories — Midshipman, Community College Students Learn Russian Together — AACC’s Morgan Hinrichsen took a Russian course last year just because she needed more credits to be full time. Though the beginning was less than auspicious, Hinrichsen discovered a fondness for the language – a fondness that landed her at the Naval Academy for four weeks.
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Wingspan — Fall 2019 — Trey Anderson, AACC's new student athlete success coordinator, understands the challenges of handling the multiple commitments that come with being a student and an athlete. His experience as student and coach makes this new Riverhawk Athletics Department position a natural fit.
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Wingspan — Fall 2019 — Sabbaticals allow AACC faculty to further pursue their professional expertise and passions and revitalize their teaching with advanced skills and experiences. Afterward, they bring what they learned back to the classroom to the benefit of their students.
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Wingspan — Fall 2019 — One new student is a Coast Guard veteran, another is an event manager and yet another is re-entering the workforce after raising children. Now they’re all part of the first cohort for the Community College Cyber Pilot Program: Scholarship for Service at AACC.
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Wingspan — Fall 2019 — Small business owner and AACC student Heidi Pena knew a lot about interior design, but she wasn’t sure how to bridge the gap between her passion and a viable business.
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Wingspan — Fall 2019 — Tiffany Boykin, Ph.D., Esq., AACC's Chief Compliance & Fair Practices Officer/Title IX Coordinator, was on track to the job of her dreams. She was studying for a master’s degree, aiming to become on-air talent after three years on the assignment desk of a Baltimore television news station.
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Our Stories — Since starting his business three years ago while studying business at AACC, Nick Kiraly, owner and operator of Annapolis Ascents says he’s witnessing a major technological shift. “It's really an amazing time in the world right now with the rise of drones. I can't help but feel like we are writing history,” explains Kiraly.
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Our Stories — Between classes, students could be on their phones, listening to music or doing homework alone, but in some classrooms, students chat and get to know each other and work together on assignments. The difference? Learning communities.
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Our Stories — Growing up with a family captivated by engineering and music, it’s not surprising Matthew Barzal embraced those interests as his own. So much so, that after spending the last two years studying Secondary Education with a focus in Spanish, he included Electrical Engineering in his list of majors at AACC.
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Our Stories — “The one question on my mind when preparing for college was how am I going to afford this?” wondered AACC alumnus, Chris Swift. Working full time and attending the college, Swift was thankful to be awarded the Anna and John Dragun Memorial Scholarship while at AACC.
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Our Stories — Class of 2018 Valedictorian Olumide Fagboyegun didn’t plan on moving to Maryland from Nigeria at age 15, but to his surprise, it was one of the best decisions he ever made. After two years of high school in Maryland, Fagboyegun’s journey brought him to AACC where he excelled academically. “It would be an understatement to say that AACC has not had a profound impact on my outlook on life, on my ideology, and on both my professional and personal life,” said Fagboyegun.
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Our Stories — Starting a career is never easy. Starting a career in dance may be even more difficult, but the AACC Dance Company has seen its alumni do just that. In celebration of the company’s 30th anniversary, many of these alumni will waltz back onto campus to perform in the Alumni Concert at 2 p.m. May 4.
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Wingspan — Spring 2019 — Free, quality child care sounds too good to be true. But for qualified Anne Arundel Community College students, it’s part of an initiative to help students with the full-time role of mom or dad earn their degree.
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Wingspan — Spring 2019 — Dr. Martha A. Smith, president of AACC from 1994 to 2012, was awarded the status of president emeritus by unanimous vote from the college’s board of trustees in November.
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Wingspan — Spring 2019 — As AACC’s chapter president of Student Veterans of America, Shanelle Jones works to make sure student-veterans feel welcome, supported and encouraged from their first experiences at AACC. “It’s hard to go far without help,” she said. “‘Self-made doesn’t exist. You can’t thrive without a community.”
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Wingspan — Spring 2019 — We're celebrating anniversaries for our Turkey Trot, Dance Company and our Department of Architecture and Interior Design.
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Wingspan — Spring 2019 — The most magical place on earth last year – at least temporarily – was AACC!
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Wingspan — Spring 2019 — AACC will construct the Clauson Center for Innovation and Skilled Trades to address the growing need for skilled workers in our community with a scheduled opening in 2021.
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Wingspan — Spring 2019 — Larry Cate and Dan Mathias have shared many experiences since the days of grabbing a chili cheese dog between morning classes at Chesapeake High School and afternoon math class at AACC. But some of the biggest things they’ve shared have been the successes and failures along the way after starting Absolute Fire Protection 30 years ago while still seniors in college.
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Wingspan — Spring 2019 — “What is the most important problem facing Anne Arundel County?” AACC students working at the Center for the Study of Local Issues asked county residents this question during its semiannual survey last fall.
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Wingspan — Spring 2019 — Last fall, AACC welcomed Ken Gonzales-Day as the visiting artist where he discussed his work and experience as an artist.
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Our Stories — John Rosso started Rosso Commercial Real Estate Services in 2016, but his journey to that moment began years earlier at Anne Arundel Community College. A friend from the college set up the initial meeting that led to Rosso’s position with Murphy-Hogan Commercial Real Estate/The Hogan Companies, which launched his career in real estate.
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Our Stories — Heather Howe's love of baking heated up in AACC’s Baking and Pastry program. But even after earning two associate degrees — one in Hotel/Restaurant Management and another in Business Management — her appetite for learning wasn’t satisfied.
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Wingspan — Fall 2018 — The Maryland State Arts Council recently awarded the 2018 Individual Artist Awards to Matt Moore, chair of AACC’s Visual Arts and Humanities department, along with 78 Maryland artists.
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Wingspan — Fall 2018 — Last year, high school student Sarah Noble found herself on staff at a college newspaper, mastering AP style, InDesign, and photojournalism. “I was worried they wouldn’t accept a 16-year-old in to the tightly knit newsroom. But after the first day was over I felt like I belonged,” said the 2018 Broadneck High School graduate.
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Wingspan — Fall 2018 — AACC initiatives help students navigate a positive first year experience. AACC’s strategic plan, “Engagement Matters: Pathways to Completion,” included recommendations from 20 teams and the hard work of many people.
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Wingspan — Fall 2018 — Students win big in Business Pitch Competition; Hatchery redesign embraces maker space. What do a drone footage company, bakery, a food coach and carpenter have in common? They’re a few of the nine local businesses whose entrepreneurs received seed funding from AACC's $100,000 Business Pitch Competition.
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Wingspan — Fall 2018 — Need continues to grow despite state support. The AACC Foundation Inc. faces a new challenge with the advent of the Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship, which the Maryland General Assembly passed and Gov. Larry Hogan signed into law in the spring.
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Our Stories — In October the most recent crop of AACC’s School of Continuing Education and Workforce Development students celebrated its 20th Maryland High School Diploma Student Recognition Ceremony. That night 49 people walked on to a stage and off toward a brighter future with a diploma in hand.
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Our Stories — As the sun set, the voices rose at AACC’s “Rise Above Hate” vigil. They rose with the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Maya Angelou and the reflections of various campus and community leaders at the Thursday, Sept. 7 event attended by around 100 students, staff, faculty and friends of the college.
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