I I 11 i-t~~1~E~~j1r

11111~.~~□ ~

Architectural renderings of the Tech Building’s exterior and interior lobby.

TENNIS, ANYONE?

Winter 2018/2019

REIMAGINED SPACES

In 1975, Springsteen was fooding the airwaves with “Born to Run” while Jaws was instilling fear in beach-goers everywhere, and Allegany Community College was constructing a state-of-the-art Technology Building.

While some classics should stay as they are, it was clear by 2015 that the beloved Tech Building desperately needed a facelift.

The overhaul, which began October 2017, is expected to cost approximately $14.7 million and be completed by 2021. Improvements include a natural gas-

continued on page 3

WHAT’S INSIDE… Letter From the President ............................... 2 From Student to Trustee ................................... 3 Moving to the Front of the Class .................. 4 Heroes Without Capes ................................... 4 Grant Puts Auto Tech Program

into Overdrive ........................................... 5 Alumni of the Year........................................... 6

A ribbon-cutting and celebration for the newly renovated Tennis Courts Complex was held on Friday, October 5. The courts, originally erected in 1969, are open to the general community for play. The Tennis Courts Complex features seven regulation tennis courts, a pickleball (a paddle sport which combines elements of table tennis, badminton, and tennis) court, newly installed lights and fencing. The updates were funded by the State of Maryland’s Board of Public Works’ Program Open Space funds, ACM Foundation private donor funds and College funds, and cost approximately $130,000.

Tennis Complex, ACM Cumberland Campus

Inner Bob Ross..........14 Join the Alumni

Association.........16

Risking It All...................................................... 7 Its Own Reward............................................... 8 Future ACM Alumni to Watch. ...................... 9 Learning to Engage....................................... 10 Miss Represent(ative) .................................. 10 A Wonderful Class. ....................................... 11 Campus Updates.........................................11 League for Innovation............................12 Calling the Shots..................................12 From University to Community

College to Career.....................13 Bob Kirk Memorial

Scholarship......................14 Campers Channel Their

ALLEGANY COLLEGE ==of MARYLAND==

FOUNDATION

► e

Winter 2018/2019Letter From the President

Dear Trojan Alum and Friends,

In our 57th year of classes, we fnd ourselves

thinking of you – our alumni – and the trust you

placed in us when you attended our college.

Whether it was last year or 1961, one class or

sixty credits, in-person or online courses – making

us your college of choice was a risk you took. And

we’re glad you did.

In this edition of our Alumni Association

Newsletter, we’re focusing on risks and rewards.

You’ll fnd short interviews with alumnae like

Ashley Miller ’14, Professor Annette Clark ’00, new ACM Board of Trustees

Member Linda Buckel, and Stefan Keiser ’18. You’ll read what it took for them

to begin their college career or take a career 180.

You’ll hear from professors helping students taking creative risks both in and

outside the classroom, from an award-winning adjunct professor to the director

of service learning and civic engagement who walks the talk.

We’ll fll you in on the risks that our college – your college – is taking to stay

competitive and responsive to students’ needs. You’ll go behind-the-scenes to

learn about an Auto Tech diesel program that puts students in the career fast-

lane, and hear about our new Computer Technology Professor Derek S. Jones

and his role in ACM’s cyber pipeline program.

We’ll look at Stories Behind the Stats. In this edition, we’ll take a glimpse into

our Adult Education programs where the risk and reward go hand in hand.

We remain, as we were in 1961, proud of our alumni and current students,

grateful to our faculty and staff, and indebted to our community. We are

honored to be your college of choice.

Go Trojans!

Cynthia Bambara, Ph.D.

President

CONNECT WITH US!

www.allegany.edu 2

PRESIDENT Dr. Cynthia S. Bambara

VP OF ADVANCEMENT AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ACM FOUNDATION David R. Jones

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS AND MARKETING Shauna McQuade

MARKETING AND ALUMNI SPECIALIST Joshua Getz

COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST Kristin Kehrwald

DIRECTOR OF DESIGN, PRINT AND MAIL SERVICES Shannon Redman

DESIGNER Shannon Burnside

ADVANCEMENT AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS DEPARTMENT 12401 Willowbrook Road, SE Cumberland, MD 21502-2596 301-784-5200

A Gift of Education

12401 Willowbrook Road, SE | Cumberland, MD 21502 301-784-5200

Please consider making an investment in our community by supporting the Allegany

College of Maryland Foundation.

Here are some options that you may want to consider:

PROVIDING AN ANNUAL GIFT

CREATING AN ENDOWED AWARD

CONTRIBUTING TO AN EXISTING FUND

ESTABLISHING A PLANNED GIFT

If we can help you in any way, please contact the Allegany College of Maryland Foundation Office. Your gifts are tax

deductible to the extent allowed by law.

1 2 3 4

FROM STUDENT TO TRUSTEE: LINDA BUCKEL

#Giv\ngMadeEasv

“Like many of ACM’s students, I was a parent working full-time when I took my very frst class at ACC.”

Linda Buckel still remembers reading Greek mythology with her sister as part of independent study with Professor James “Jim” Zamagias in the late-seventies. Her sister, Juanita Andrews, was a staff member at then Allegany Community College and Buckel was working in the Clerk of Circuit Court’s offce where she served for 18 years. Little did she know that 40 years later, she’d be overseeing the administration of that humanities program and the College as one of its trustees.

She attended the College part-time from 1975-1979 before transferring her credits to Frostburg State University where she graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. in Political Science in 1987. After that,

Reimagined Spaces

Cyber students like David will enjoy updated amenities.

Buckel earned her J.D. from the University of Baltimore in 1990 before specializing in workers’ compensation, personal injury, civil litigation, and estate administration law.

While a partner at Levasseur & Buckel (which later evolved into Buckel, Levasseur & Pillai), she served as a part-time assistant county attorney for Allegany County from 1999-2002. Today, she’s a senior partner with Buckel, Levasseur & Pillai, LLC. A resident of LaVale, she serves on the Trial Courts Judicial Nominating Commission for District 5, Allegany and Garrett Counties, and is a member of the Frostburg Soroptimist Club and the Midlothian Trinity Assembly of God.

Throughout her career, Buckel has

continued from page 1

powered heating and cooling system, energy efficient windows, a new frst-foor lobby, a two-story atrium, and renovated restrooms and an elevator for Americans with Disabilities Act compliance.

The project is 69% funded by the State of Maryland with the balance shared by Allegany County and the College. In September, Allegany County Commissioners approved an additional allocation of $1 million to support Phase II of the renovation. That act of generosity allows ACM to receive an additional $2 million of funding from the State.

Upon completion, the Tech Building will house

information technology, telecommunications, and technologies-based academic programs such as the new Allegany County Public Schools/ACM PTECH/Cybersecurity collaboration.

continued to be part of the ACM community – as an adjunct professor, Offce Technologies/Paralegal Program Advisory Committee member, and Joseph P. Rowley Memorial Scholarship donor.

Buckel was appointed to fill a trustee vacancy on the College’s seven-member, governor-appointed board, an appointment she views as an honor and privilege.

We’re excited to announce the launch of a new on-line giving platform called GiveCampus. In less than two minutes, you can make a tax-deductible gift to the ACM Foundation. Right from your phone, iPad, laptop or desktop computer, other mobile device or shoe phone. Visit www.givecampus.com/schools/Allegany-CollegeofMaryland to get started making your secure donation today!

3

MOVING TO THE FRONT OF THE CLASS: ANNETTE CLARK, ‘00

For Annette Clark, the Dot Com bubble bust in 2000 was the least of her concerns. As a student in ACM’s Human Service Associate program, she was focused on school. She was being mentored by Cherie Snyder and Tim Rowan, and preparing to become an addictions counselor.

Sixteen years later, Clark found herself re-entering a classroom at ACM as an associate professor in the Human Service program. Talk about a surreal experience.

Clark, a licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor, admits it was a gamble to leave working as a practitioner, but it’s a risk that’s paid off. “ACM helped me to recognize the person that I am and the abilities that I have to become more than I ever thought possible,” explained Clark.

Now, as the clinical coordinator for the Human Service program and professor, Clark helps others see their potential and attain the skills they need to work in a human service profession.

“When you work with individuals struggling with sobriety, you see people who are afraid to ask for help. As I tell my students, no situation is permanent and no situation is without a solution,” said Clark. “This college is an environment where your achievements will be celebrated and if you fall, someone will be there to help you get back up,” explained Clark.

Like many of her students, Clark was on the transfer track when she attended ACM. After earning her A.A. in 2000, she transferred to Frostburg State University where she received her B.S. in Psychology in 2002. She received her M.S. in Human Services from Capella University in 2009.

HEROES WITHOUT CAPES

As part of National Recovery Month, ACM’s Human Service Associate program hosted a Frontline Heroes: Celebrating Area Addiction Professionals program on September 27. The event honored professionals in addictions counseling, prevention, and treatment with special recognition to seven Human Service program alumni. More than 45 community members, elected offcials, and students attended the reception and awards ceremony. Local DVM News (WHAG) was also present.

Stefan Keiser, ’18, an addictions counselor and person in recovery, delivered a touching tribute to those working in the feld. “Without you, I wouldn’t be here today. My life is full of love because of the work you do every day.” His experiences in counseling inspired him to enroll at ACM with the intent of becoming a certifed supervised alcohol and drug counselor (CSC-AD).

He described how he found the courage to live a sober life in November 2013, and credited the support of his counselor. “Counseling was voodoo to me. I didn’t understand what the counselor was doing. But I knew that every time I walked out that door, I was getting better,” explained Keiser.

For over 30 years, ACM’s Human Service Associate degree program has prepared entry-level addictions counselors and professionals for diffcult, but essential, positions in our community.

L-R: Professor Cherie Snyder, ACM President Cynthia Bambara, Karl Glocker, Chris Delaney, Chris Hoppert, Les Walker, Theresa Sutherland, and Annette Clark. Not present: Maggie Gatian.

Honorees • Annette Clark, ’00 • Chris Hoppert, ’97 • Chris Delaney, ’79 • Theresa Sutherland, ’13 • Maggie Gatian, ‘04 • Les Walker, ’92 • Karl Glocker, ’07

4

GRANT PUTS AUTO TECH PROGRAM INTO OVERDRIVE

' - -, ' ' ' ' ' ' : -------- : ' ' '

L-R: Maryland Department of Planning Special Secretary for Smart Growth Wendi Peters, ACM Automotive Technology Pro-gram Director Ray Hunt, and ARC Federal Co-Chair Tim Thomas.

For Program Director Ray Hunt, adding diesel to ACM’s automotive technology program is like going from 0 to 60. It’s invigorating and it gets you where you need to be.

Tim Thomas (center) learns about A federal Appalachian ACM’s Advanced Manufacturing

Regional Commission grant activities from Program Manager allows the program to add Mike Chronister (right). diesel service training and widen the employment options of its graduates. The $107,000 ARC grant funds equipment that augments existing auto tech degree and certifcate programs, and qualifes graduates for an increasing number of jobs in diesel vehicle maintenance.

“There’s an unmet need in the region for diesel tech training,” explains Hunt. “If the jobs are there, we owe it to our students to offer this service. The ARC grant makes it happen.”

According to Hunt, the two diesel engines and related equipment will allow him and his faculty to expand seven existing program courses to be diesel training-ready. The equipment (which is currently on order and pictured above) will be housed in the College’s state-of-the-art automotive technology lab facility. The machines provide students with crucial hands-on engine training.

Employment opportunities are expected to increase by 9% through 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The agency predicts opportunities for the estimated 25,800 job openings for those with post-secondary training.

The transportation industry attributes increased demand for new technicians to vacancies created by the retirement of longtime employees and the recent added complexity of heavy duty trucks, buses and other diesel powered vehicles. Technology to meet more stringent diesel emission requirements accounts for much of this complexity, according to industry analysts.

ACM offers an associate degree and two certifcate programs, one of which can be completed in one semester of full-time study. All three curricula carry certifcation by the ASE [Automotive Service Excellence] Education Foundation, formerly NATEF.

You are invited to show your

ALLEGANY COLLEGE of MARYLAND (Allegany Community College)

PRIDE.

A L U M N I

PRIDE

Submit your photos with a brief

description to jgetz@ allegany.edu.

Some former players, friends and supporters of Allegany College of Maryland Trojan baseball recently visited the campus to watch the team practice this fall. Maybe it’s time for an alumni baseball team?

L-R: Howard Reynolds, Dick Sterne, Coach Steve Bazarnic and Tom Keyser.

ON DECK

5

ALUMNI of theYEAR NOMINATE SOMEONE TODAY

The ACM Distinguished Alumni of the Year award is given to outstanding graduates of Allegany Community College/Allegany College of Maryland in recognition of their excellence in their career, dedication to their communities, and support of ACM. The nomination deadline is February 28, 2019, so enter your favorite ACC/ACM alum today. You can even self-nominate! The award shall be given to a graduate of ACM who meets the following criteria:

• Must have completed an accredited degree or certifcate program at ACM.

• Must have documented evidence of a distinguished record in their chosen profession and/or occupation.

• Must have documented evidence of contribution and service to their community.

• Must not be a current employee of ACM.

Submit your nomination online (www.allegany.edu/alumni) or use the form below and mail it to: Joshua Getz, Marketing and Alumni Specialist, Allegany College of Maryland, 12401 Willowbrook Road, SE, Cumberland, MD 21502-2596.

~---·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·- ··

Nominee’s Name: Date:

Address:

City: State: Zip:

Phone: Fax:

Email:

Nominee’s Current Position:

Company Name:

Is nominee a member of the Allegany College of Maryland Alumni Association? Y N

Is nominee aware of the nomination? Y N

Please indicate how nominee photo will be submitted:

Physical copy included (Return the photo Y N) Electronic copy sent to jgetz@allegany.edu

Please include the following on additional page(s).

Nominee’s educational background (including dates attended and degrees/certificates received).

Nominee’s professional background (including professional affiliations and outstanding achievements in chosen field).

Nominee’s community service background (including volunteer service awards or recognition received, as well as service to ACM).

Summary Statement from nominator:

Nominator’s Name: Phone:

Address:

City: State: Zip:

Email:

6

RISKING IT ALL

ALUMNI It’s a good day at Allegany College of Maryland when

Heather Grim gets a moving email. For Grim, ACM Workforce Experience (WEX) Program’s Milestones

coordinator, one of those days came last fall when a program participant emailed her. “I wanted to let you know that I got the job. I start training on October 2,” began the note.

At that point, Grim found herself smiling with pride. This student’s success is exactly what Grim’s program is designed to do: build skills and develop potential.

“I am excited and very proud of myself. I worked so hard for this. I also found an apartment for my daughter and me….It is going to feel so good to get back on my own and standing strong and being independent for my daughter and me. The route I took was my last choice, but I’m so glad I did because it got me to where I am now.”

WEX is a job readiness program for parents receiving State assistance. ACM administers the program through its Continuing Education and Workforce Development department.

“Her note shows frsthand the difference we’re making in our community and in the lives of area families,” explained Grim.

With 135 employer-partners, WEX is built on individual assessment and community connections.

In 2017, WEX administrators evaluated 145 individuals for frst-time assessment and referred 123 clients to employer-partners for worksite or volunteer placements and possible employment. It enrolled ten individuals in higher education at ACM and FSU and seven individuals in driver’s education courses. The program partners with ACM’s adult education programs. Approximately 126 program participants reported receiving part-time or full-time jobs.

The program’s enrollment was a major contributing factor in the 20% increase in ACM’s continuing education and workforce development programs in FY 2018, as was ACM’s adult education program. Adult education experienced a 60% increase in enrollment.

“We’re seeing more adults and out-of-school youth looking to escape the cycle of unemployment and underemployment,” noted Adult Education Program Director Melanie Chapman. “Part of our challenge is helping them recognize the value of the skills they already have but WorkKeys [assessments] and the National Career Readiness Certifcate is changing that.”

Adults or out-of-school youth earn their GED or high school diploma, take basic education and workplace skills classes and participate in adult and family literacy classes through ACM’s downtown Cumberland location. ACM offers assessments to help individuals gauge their strengths and address their skills or educational challenges.

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION!

JOIN US on Facebook to keep up to date on Alumni Association activities.

Class of 1979 Kristina Whitehead, an alumna who took additional

courses from 2000-2003, is now a Travel Assistant with the Federal Air Marshals Service of the Department of Homeland Security. With fond memories of playing basketball for ACM from 1978-1979, Whitehead says her education at ACM “was great the way it was.”

Class of 2017 Human Service Associate graduate Lisa Readd reported

that her oldest son, C.R., is deployed for a year overseas. Her middle son, Samuel, graduated from ACM in 2018 with a certifcate in Automotive Technology. Lisa’s youngest son, Elijah, graduated from Frankfort High School in 2018 and currently attends WVU.

Patricia Couter gave birth to a girl, Ellie Marie, in May. Patricia is a graduate of ACM’s Pharmacy Technician program.

Do you have a milestone you’d like to share with your ACM family? Email Joshua Getz at jgetz@allegany.edu or call him at 301-784-5129. You can even mail him your good news at:

Joshua Getz Marketing and Alumni Specialist

Allegany College of Maryland 12401 Willowbrook Road, SE Cumberland, MD 21502-2596

Alumni Survey You can take our alumni survey online at

www.allegany.edu/alumni.

We’d love to hear about your ACM experiences and your life after college.

7

ITS OWN REWARD: TEACHING THE NEXT GENERATION TO TEACH WELL

“To see a child reading for the frst time is life-changing; it’s an

incomparable moment.”

Starting her college studies while in her late thirties was a risk for Maureen Brown. But one she never regretted. In her mind, it taught her empathy in spades.

Whether she was teaching children or adults, Maureen’s compassion for students never faltered. “Sometimes new students are very apprehensive about whether they are going to succeed. And they turn out to be wonderful students,” explained Brown. “To see their growth and confdence is very rewarding.”

After earning her bachelor’s degree in 1990, Brown worked as a reading and special education specialist and a frst grade teacher in Berkeley County schools. As a teacher who delighted in teaching the very young, she thought her permanent calling was working with frst-graders.

But risk has a way of offering rewards.

Brown wasn’t seeking to make a career change when she saw the College’s classifed ad seeking a director of its teacher education program. The job description for the new position refected ACM’s commitment to strengthening the preparation that students receive before

L-R: Senior Vice President of Instructional and Student Affairs Dr. Kurt Hoffman, Professor Maureen Brown, and ACM President Dr. Cynthia Bambara.

they transfer to a four-year institution. So she took another risk and applied.

She was hired in 2001. Brown served as director of ACM’s

teacher education program until 2018. During her tenure, she expanded the program’s areas of concentration, added course offerings, and built feld experiences [in school classrooms] into education students’ frst semester. “Having students conduct their feld experiences early in their educational path was key,” added Brown.

In May, Brown was honored in a heartfelt ceremony as the 32nd

recipient of the Miriam Sanner Award for Outstanding Teaching. The Sanner Award, which is based on teaching excellence, guidance to advisees in pursuit of their goals and demonstrated human relationship skills, is a faculty-nominated honor. For Brown, the ceremony was her last All-College [ACM’s gathering of all college faculty and staff] meeting before her retirement from teaching.

For a woman who once described herself as a “late-bloomer,” Brown’s mark on the College’s elementary and secondary education programs is indelible.

The ACM Alumni Association Board has open positions. If you are interested in becoming a board member, please contact Joshua Getz at 301-784-5129 or jgetz@allegany.edu. The board meets twice a year as well as the annual meeting, which is open to all members.

8

FUTURE ACM ALUMNI TO WATCH

□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□

ALLEGANY COLLEGE = of= MARYLAND

“We’re proud to partner with PTK to make it possible for

more deserving students to achieve their educational goals,

and support tomorrow’s leaders of the global community.”

— Jane Hale Hopkins, Executive Vice President &

President-Elect of Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation

You only have to know Syully Koroh for two minutes before you realize that she knows everyone on ACM’s Cumberland campus. For someone who moved to Cumberland from Michigan in 2013 and started taking classes in the spring of 2017, that’s a signifcant accomplishment. She’s a natural born networker.

With her contagious enthusiasm, grounded sense of humor and exemplary

grades, she’s our Future ACM Alumni to Watch and a true leader in the making.

And we’re not the only ones who believe in her potential.

Koroh was named a 2018 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholar. One of only 207 Phi Theta Kappa members to attain this honor, she received a $1,000 scholarship towards her studies.

A non-traditional student and Human Service Associate program major, Koroh

is slated to graduate from ACM in spring 2019 with long-term plans of becoming a career or education counselor. She expects to transfer her associate degree credits to Frostburg State University, where we are certain she’ll know everyone on campus there too.

A memorial or honor bench offers a unique way to remember family members, honor friends, loved

ones and colleagues, and celebrate special occasions. This project also provides a valuable contribution to the

College and community that will be enjoyed by all.

Funds will be used toward the purchase and installation of a new bench as well as a permanent bronze plaque (10.5” x 3”)

to be installed on the back of the bench. Remaining funds will be used for campus beautifcation and bench maintenance.

Complete this form and return to: Allegany College of Maryland Foundation | 12401 Willowbrook Road, SE | Cumberland, MD 21502

Direct further inquiries to 301-784-5200.

Donor Information: Name_______________________________

Phone___________________ Email ________________________________

Address____________________________________________________________

City_____________________________________ State______ Zip _____________

Plaque Text 4 lines of up to 24 characters (sample below)

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

JOHN W. DOE

DEDICATED PROFESSOR

1937 - 2016

Cost: $900

Memorial & Honor Gift Bench

9

LEARNING TO ENGAGE

It starts with a simple piece of paper: a registration form. But without it, you lack a voice.

That’s the picture that Service Learning and Civic Engagement Center Director Dr. Diane McMahon paints for ACM students. And it’s the reason she applied for a grant to build momentum and civic understanding for the fall mid-term elections.

ACM was awarded a $1,850 grant for participation in Engage the Election: 2018 through Campus Compact’s newest community college engagement initiative, The Democracy Commitment (TDC). As part of Campus Compact, TDC is dedicated to the advancement of civic learning and engagement at community colleges. Founded in 2011,

the initiative ensures that millions of community college students graduate with an education in democracy and civic responsibility.

“Our students care deeply about issues that matter to them: student debt, jobs, access to health care, the addiction epidemic, poverty, racism, mass incarceration, gender-based violence, veterans’ services, etc.,” said McMahon. “This grant encourages them to head to the polls or cast an absentee ballot so their voices can be heard.”

Under McMahon’s leadership, students participated in a deliberative dialogue forum on September 21 focused on the Parker Palmer book “Healing the Heart of Democracy,” registered to vote as part of TDC’s National Voter Registration

Day Contest, and joined the SL/CE staff and ACM family for an Election Day party on campus on November 6.

According to the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement (NSLVE), only 45.6% of college students at two-year higher education institutions voted in the 2016 election. Nearly 10 million students participated in the NSLVE study, of whom 22% attended community colleges.

For McMahon, whose academic specialization is in race, class and gender studies, helping students recognize their immense value in society is key to creating a better world. Like many ACM faculty and staff, she’s an active volunteer and advocate for human rights and social justice within her community.

MISS REPRESENT(ATIVE)

Chatting up students from behind a Voter Registration table in ACM’s College Center, Samantha Vega doesn’t appear shy. But that’s where she’d tell you that you’re wrong.

Vega, an ACM Human Service Associate major, is one of ten national ambassadors chosen by the Coalition on Adult Basic Education (COABE) to advocate for adult basic education on the state, local and federal levels.

For Vega, being selected was overwhelming. But in a good way.

It forced her to set aside old fears to focus on a new goal: helping other adult education students find their unique voice in our political system.

Vega is now trained in representational leadership, thanks to a multi-day training conference she attended. She trains others to represent their common interests and to speak publicly about their own adult education experiences.

She and her fellow ambassadors from across the nation are the first group to receive this training from the national organization, which seeks to develop student voice and leadership in advocating for adult basic education.

Melanie Chapman, who directs

Allegany County’s Adult Basic Education Program for ACM, accompanied Vega to the COABE national conference in late March. With Chapman serving as vice president of the Maryland Association for Adult Community and Continuing Education, which advocates for adult basic education statewide, Vega has ample student contacts.

COABE National Ambassador Sam Vega.

“She’s our success story,” said Chapman, who helped Vega complete her secondary education in fall 2015. “Sam worked her tail off, set her goals and enrolled at the college in January [2016]. She’s an example of guided pathway, where a student gets in touch with herself and the resources available to her.”

10

A WONDERFUL CLASS

Cast aside your image of a staid English teacher when you think of Susan J. Nolan. This is a professor who exudes a sense of ease, and likes to ZUMBA® with none other than ACM’s President Cynthia Bambara.

“Cindy and I take Zumba together,” explained Nolan when gathered for a formal photograph with President Bambara and Dr. Kurt Hoffman.

“Can I call you Cindy, here?” asked Nolan before talking with Bambara (who smiles wholeheartedly and replies that anyone can call her Cindy) about her new group of students. “You can tell it’s going to be a wonderful class already.”

After almost 30 years as an adjunct professor of English and speech communication at ACM, Nolan is still genuinely excited.

Nolan began teaching off-site English and speech communication courses for ACM in 1989. She instructs at ACM’s Cumberland campus where she also serves as a test reader and writing coach, and is well-known for her openness and dedication to her students. Radiating a kind demeanor, Nolan is lauded for her ability to connect with students.

Dr. Patsy McKenzie described Nolan as “an asset to both the College and our students…the type of instructor who genuinely cares about helping students succeed.”

In a college-wide ceremony in May, Nolan received the College’s 2018 Adjunct Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award. McKenzie nominated Nolan for the Adjunct Award, noting that Nolan is renowned for instructing in an accessible manner and motivating students to fnd and utilize their strengths. “A true teacher at heart,” explained McKenzie.

L-R: Senior Vice President of Instructional and Student Affairs Kurt Hoffman, Professor Susan Nolan, and ACM President Cynthia Bambara.

The annual award is given to part– or full-time adjunct faculty who demonstrate teaching and learning excellence in the classroom, foster an environment conducive to student learning, offer service to their department or institution, and demonstrate strong interpersonal relationship skills.

CAMPUS Updates The Welcome Center, ACM Cumberland Campus

Working with Murphy-Dittenhafer Architects and The Belt Group, the College expects to have a fnal building design for a Welcome Center this winter. The building, funded through the generosity of Dottie and Danny Thomas, will create a contemporary, high-tech environment for prospective students and their families.

Softball Field Construction, ACM Cumberland Campus

ACM’s Board of Trustees has approved a bid for the construction of a softball field. The project, approved by the Cumberland City Council last fall, is funded by a $120,000 State grant from the Community Parks and Playgrounds Program. The field, adjacent to the athletic complex, is expected to be ready for play by the spring.

Soccer Field Resurfacing, ACM Cumberland Campus

Without a home playing feld ft for competition, Allegany County Public Schools and the Board of Education granted permission to ACM Soccer for the use of artifcial turf felds at two of its stadiums while ACM’s home feld was resurfaced fall 2018. Additional improvements will include new goalposts, seating, and a scoreboard.

11

Three ACM faculty and staff members were recognized as recipients of John and Suanne Roueche Excellence Awards for 2018. Sponsored by the League for Innovation in the Community College, the Roueche award honors outstanding contributions and leadership excellence in higher education. ACM’s three awardees include (seated L-R): Continuing Education Health and Human Services Director Kathy Condor, Athletics and Physical Education Technician Chris Ruppenkamp, and Nursing Professor and Nurse Managed Wellness Clinic Director Cheryl Nelson. Also pictured from L-R: ACM President Cynthia Bambara, ACM Trustee Chair Kim B. Leonard, and ACM Trustee Vice-Chair Jane A. Belt. The League for Innovation in the Community College has more than 800 member institutions in a dozen countries.

LEAGUE FOR INNOVATION

CAN WE BE

of Assistance? There are several ways to contact the

ACM Foundation. Please feel free to stop by and visit any time or call us at 301-784-5200.

You may also write to us at: David Jones, Vice President of Advancement

and Community Relations & Executive Director of the Allegany College of Maryland Foundation

It would be our pleasure to meet with you and discuss any of your questions.

ALLEGANY COLLEGE of MARYLAND 12401 Willowbrook Road, SE | Cumberland, MD 21502

CALLING THE SHOTS

You may not think “sports announcer” when you meet Dr. Derek S. Jones. But one call to his ACM Bedford Campus voicemail will convince you otherwise: the man’s blessed with a voice for radio.

For over 20 years, Jones has been a public address announcer, calling everything from baseball for the Johnstown Steal and Front Royal Cardinals (a summer program for minor league players) to football and basketball for Warren County Public Schools. He’s even done play-by-play announcing for women’s basketball games online for Shenandoah University.

While it’s been a few years since his last side hustle (calling football games for the Hollidaysburg Area Youth Football Association while his daughter performed on the cheerleading squad), he doubts his public address announcing days are over. For Jones, who wanted to be a sports announcer as a child, it’s never say never if the right opportunity comes along.

For ACM’s Computer Technology Department, fnding Jones was an undisputed call. No video replay needed.

Jones, who joined the faculty at ACM’s Bedford County Campus in Everett this fall, adds depth to its computer technology programs, in particular cybersecurity.

“Derek brings 16 years of hands-on IT experience to the table. He knows the challenges that students encounter after graduation,” explained Jim House, ACM’s Computer Technology program director. “And he’s preparing them to solve real-world security threats.”

He relates easily to his college students, many of whom are working full-time jobs while raising families. Formerly a high school math teacher, Jones worked an IT Helpdesk while earning his graduate degree. He holds a Ph.D. in Communication Media and Instructional Technology from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Master’s degree in Computer in Education from Shenandoah University.

“As instructors, we provide the foundational knowledge that students need for whatever portion of the IT feld they wish to explore,” explained Jones. “We’re also a testing center for students pursuing specialized certifcations.”

With over a decade of instruction experience, Jones teaches a range of courses, including Computer Literacy, Introduction to Cybersecurity, PC Architecture and Introduction to Networking. His PC architecture and networking courses, in particular, help prepare students to secure sought-after credentials such as CompTIA’s A+ certifcation and the Cisco Certifed Network Associate (CCNA) certifcation exam.

“Application to practice is key. Students need hands-on experience to keep companies and consumers safe from security hacks, breaches, and other risks. Even when I’m teaching online classes, I’m making sure to provide virtual labs to provide simulated environment for practice,” added Jones.

ACM offers a competitive one-year cybersecurity certifcate as well as two-year Associate of Applied Science and Associate of Science degree options.

12

FROM UNIVERSITY TO COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO A CAREER

ACM

►

►

Ashley Miller Research Associate

2014 Medical Laboratory Technology

Q. Why did you choose your major? A. I received my BS in biology from a big university, but

struggled to fnd a job. I had no related experience, which was required for every position I applied for. My dad introduced me to the program, and the fast-track option. I wanted to fnish the program in a year or less since I had already been in school for over fve years and needed to start a career. There were days I would have class from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., but it was the best decision I’ve ever made.

Q. What advice would you give to students interested in your career path?

A. Believe in yourself! I was so upset when I could not fnd a job, I was ready to throw away the whole idea of working in the medical feld. When I started the program, I remember the program director telling me no one had fast tracked in less than a year and she didn’t know if it would be possible. I was determined to do it, after all, I NEEDED a job, and one I liked. After my frst exam I realized the program wasn’t going to be as easy as I thought, and I

$1400 S - 2XL

ACM Apparel AVAILABLE

ACM Alumni and other College apparel and related items are now available in the bookstore, with new items arriving monthly. Please call 301-784-5348 for additional information.

learned I would have to put all my energy into doing the best I could to learn everything I could, as fast as I could. I ended up falling in love with learning and, as a result, I fell in love with what I would probably be doing for possibly the rest of my life.

Q. What was your overall experience at ACM? A. ACM was the best decision I have ever made. The

program director and teachers were always on my side to help me succeed any way they could. They took time every day to make sure myself and other students had the resources we needed to learn. They prepared us in every way for what a career would be like, and they assisted us in setting up clinical rotations. After graduating, I was able to walk into a job as a medical laboratory technician!

Q. Who was your favorite ACM Faculty/Staff member? Why? A. Both Stacey Rohrbaugh and Windi Wilson are

amazing!

Q. What is your greatest achievement in your career? A. Walking into a job right after graduating was one of my

biggest achievements. Following my career as an MLT, I took on a new career in an AIDS Monitoring Lab in which I’ve received two promotions and have been able to learn fow cytometry.

Q. Why did you choose to enroll at a community college? A. I loved being at a community college. My classes were

small, the teachers knew my name, they genuinely cared about the success of their students. It was so much more personal! I learned more in one year at a community college than I did in three years at a university. I could have saved myself a lot of time and money if I knew programs such as MLT existed.

ALLOWING THE TRADITION TO CONTINUE

Do you know of a student who could beneft from attending Allegany College of Maryland? If so, there are several opportunities for you to assist in continuing the tradition of academic excellence and accessibility at your alma mater.

PLEASE SUBMIT: Name, address, and contact information of student(s) who could beneft. Call Joshua Getz at 301-784-5129 or email jgetz@allegany.edu.

OPEN HOUSE: Please visit us during one of our Open House events throughout the year. More information can be found at www.allegany.edu/openhouse.

13

BOB KIRK MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

L-R: ACM Development and Grants Associate Chandler Sagal, James Kirk, Continuing Education and Workforce Development Dean Jeff Kirk, and Advancement and Community Relations Vice President and ACM Foundation Director David Jones.

Coach/Athletic Director Bob Kirk

Legendary ACM Basketball Coach and Athletic Director Bob Kirk didn’t suffer fools. He simply didn’t have the time.

Known for helping student athletes give it their all on and off the court, he led the ACM men’s basketball team to a record of 927-158, and developed a top-tier athletics program during his tenure at the College.

Friends and the family of Bob Kirk, who also served as ACM’s athletic director, created a scholarship in memory of Coach Kirk, who passed away in 2018. The Bob Kirk Memorial Scholarship is open to full- or part-time students from the tri-state area who maintain a GPA of at least 2.75.

CAMPERS CHANNEL THEIR INNER BOB ROSS STEP BACK IN TIME TO WIN!

Ava Price and Talia Young create happy little trees as part of ACM’s Bob Ross Painting Camp. Five days and fve paintings later, students mastered the Ross method of “wet-on-wet oil painting” while making new friends and touring the Cumberland campus. ACM hosted two classes of the Bob Ross Painting Camp taught by Instructor Dee Sullivan as part of its Summer Time Enrichment Program (STEP).

Can you name these members of the Spring 1973 ACM/ACC Track Team? Email Joshua Getz at jgetz@allegany.edu. First CORRECT submission will receive a special ACM swag bag!

14

tP ,.,.t AP U>Ni.T~ AP U>Ni.T~ AP U>Ni.T~ A 1' ow.l.T~

________________________________________________

Since the College was first established in 1961, we have taken pride in

Providing that Personal Touch that only a small college can deliver.

Dr. Rex Harper and Dr. William Cones Great teachers and great men.

Submitted by: John Divico, Jr.

Ms. Keyoung Gill She had a great teaching skill and made it so you could better understand why things were done the way they were done. Her teaching helped me to make a good impression.

Submitted by: Tracey D. (Muir) Claybaugh

Owen Lancaster Amazing clinical instructor/positioning teacher (Radiologic Technology program). Felt very confdent starting my job after graduating—he always took extra time to prepare us!!

Submitted by: Bethani Hayhurst

Sue Leach and Melinda Hochard When times got hard, trying to hold a job down and attend school, they were my encouragement to keep at it. They assisted in making and shaping me into the person I am today. They never gave up on me.

Submitted by: Kathryn Gnagey

Gary Durr He helped me to grow personally and professionally. Since graduating, I have never had diffculty getting a job! I have worked continuously in my feld since 1983. I thank him for helping me to develop my skills.

Submitted by: Susan Brown

Thank you for the numerous submissions that we have already received. We will continue to share each of these submissions in future editions of the alumni newsletter. Please complete and submit the form below to recognize key individuals at ACM who have provided that personal touch.

Name of the person at ACM who made an impact in your life:

Brief description of the impact that he or she made:

May we publicize this information? q Yes q No

Your Name: _______________________________________

Address: _________________________________________

City:_____________________ State:_____ ZIP: ________

Phone:___________________________________________

Signature: ________________________________________

Submit electronically at www.allegany.edu/alumni/ or send a hardcopy to:

ALLEGANY COLLEGE of MARYLAND FOUNDATION

12401 Willowbrook Road, SE | Cumberland, MD 21502

15

NON-PROFIT ORG.

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

CUMBERLAND, MD

21502

PERMIT NO. 631

ALLEGANY COLLEGE = of= MARYLAND

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION 12401 Willowbrook Road, SE Cumberland, MD 21502-2596

Return Service Requested

Join the MEMBERSHIP HAS ITS BENEFITS… As an Alumni Association member, you will receive:ALUMNI ASSOCIATION! a Free admission to home athletic events a Alumni Newsletter

Dues are only $6.00 per year. Why not let us hear from you? Clip and fll a College Central Network out the form below. Upon receipt of your dues, you will receive a membership

a Invitation to Annual Meetingcard. Also, you will be placed on our mailing list and will receive the alumni newsletter.

ALLEGANY COLLEGE of MARYLAND ALUMNI ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

Name________________________________________________________ Maiden Name _______________________________

Address ____________________________________________________________________________________________________

New Member q YES q NO Phone ____________________________ Email ______________________________________

Spouse________________________________________________________ Class Year __________________________________

CONSIDER A GIFT TO ALLEGANY COLLEGE OF MARYLAND THIS YEAR – IT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

q Enclosed are my dues of $6.00

q Enclosed is my Scholarship gift of: _____$10 _____$25 _____$50 _____$100 _____Other ( $_______________ )

Make checks payable to: Allegany College of Maryland Alumni Association Mail to: Allegany College of Maryland Alumni Association | 12401 Willowbrook Road, SE | Cumberland, MD 21502-2596

Send us news of yourself or your family–births, marriages, promotions, personal milestones. Please print neatly or attach a typed document. Thank you.