To celebrate Black History Month and raise money for a scholarship fund, the Chesapeake College Multicultural Advisory Committee (MAC) is hosting the 18th annual community luncheon on Saturday, Feb. 3 in the Chesapeake College Caroline College Center at 11:30 a.m. The event is open to members of the public.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the J.C. Gibson Scholarship Fund.  Each semester the committee awards Chesapeake students scholarship money to purchase textbooks.

This year’s theme is celebrating the 200th birthday and honoring the legacy of Frederick Douglass. Chesapeake is collaborating with The Frederick Douglass Honor Society to present the celebration.

The keynote speaker will be Simeaka Melton, a native of Queen Anne’s County and founder of Dear Girls Academy, Inc.

Tickets for the event (including a buffet lunch) are $20 general admission or $10 for students and seniors. Children under age 5 are free.  For more information or to purchase tickets, please contact Michelle Hall at 410-827-5813 or visit http://www.chesapeake.edu/black-history-month-2018/about.

The Mid-Shore Community Foundation is committed to helping local students pursue post-secondary education. MCSF has one of the largest scholarship programs in the region.

Scholarships support Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot County traditional students – dependent students going directly from high school to full-time degree and certificate programs – and nontraditional students – independent adult students continuing their education through accredited seminars, workshops, courses, customized trainings, etc.

Scholarships are awarded almost exclusively to students who demonstrate financial need, so all applicants are required to submit financial information to inform our selection process. Traditional students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), found at https://fafsa.ed.gov/, and present FAFSA’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC) calculation.

Nontraditional and workforce students must submit the cover page of their most recent federal income tax return. Applicants should review the description of each scholarship to determine their eligibility. .

The application period closes at midnight on February 14.

For the application packet and list of scholarships, click here

For more information about MSCF,  please contact Megan Cook at mcook@mscf.org or 410-820-8175 x 104.

Girl advocate, best-selling author and Dear Girls Academy founder and CEO Simeaka Melton is returning to her native Queen Anne’s County as the featured speaker for the annual Black History Month luncheon organized by the Chesapeake College Multicultural Advisory Committee in partnership with the Frederick Douglass Honor Society.

The Feb. 3 event celebrates the 200th birthday anniversary of Douglass, the renowned social reformer and abolitionist from Talbot County.

A graduate of Queen Anne’s County High School, Melton started Dear Girls Academy as a mentoring and creative writing program for girls from diverse and at-risk backgrounds that helps young women achieve and demonstrate the courage, wisdom and strength needed to make good choices and dream big.

The organization runs the Dear Girls annual summit, overnight summer camp and bi-weekly leadership program in Northern Virginia. Dear Girls services -- including public and charter school curriculums -- are used in 19 states.

“We prepare and inspire girls to live life rising above expectations,” Melton said. 

Her talk at the Black History Month event will focus on giving back and the concept of the “village community.”

Melton said she grew up with a village mentality in Grasonville and felt connected to everyone around her.

“We all have something to contribute to our communities at any age or stage in life,” she said.  “If children grow up seeing that and believing in it, then they’ll feel connected to a community throughout their lives.”

One of Melton’s favorite quotes about instilling the power of mentorship in youth comes from Frederick Douglass:  “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.”

Harriette Lowery, a Chesapeake College program assistant, Frederick Douglass Honor Society member and Chair of Talbot County’s 200th Douglass anniversary celebration, said the luncheon and Melton’s talk is one of many upcoming activities to mark the achievements of the Eastern Shore’s native son.

“Our theme for the birthday anniversary is ‘Inspire, Celebrate and Educate.’  We want to inspire diverse audiences to serve, celebrate his birthday and educate on his legacy.”

The Black History Month luncheon will be held Saturday, Feb. 3 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Chesapeake College’s Caroline Center on the Wye Mills campus. Advance purchase online tickets for the event (including a buffet lunch) are $20 general admission or $10 for students and seniors. Children under 5 are free. Tickets can be purchased. For more information or to purchase tickets by phone, please call Michelle Hall at 410-827-5813.

All proceeds from the event benefit the J.C. Gibson Memorial Book Fund, which helps economically disadvantaged students buy books and supplies.

WYE MILLS – Four hundred and seven students were named to the Chesapeake College Dean's List for Fall Semester 2017. The following students earned a quality point average of 3.50 or better on at least seven credit hours: 

Baltimore County: Emily Joyner of Parkville

Caroline County: Misty Adkins of Federalsburg, Jordan Alston of Denton, Kayla Archer of Preston, Zainab Aslam of Federalsburg, Olivia Baker of Greensboro, Jennifer Barr of Denton, Travis Barry of Preston, Jennifer Becke of Greensboro, Faith Berry of Denton, Annetta Biscoe of Preston, Eric Blackwell of Preston, Brooke Blizzard of Ridgely, Robert Boyles of Ridgely, Zoe Breeding of Denton, Davide Briguglio of Ridgely, Atrea Burke of Denton, Elise Burneston of Preston, Megan Caley of Greensboro, Hannah Cantwell of Henderson, James Caraker of Henderson, Natalia Chaney of Ridgely, Evan Collins of Ridgely, Ashley Cox of Denton, Kelly Diem of Ridgely, Laura Divjak of Preston, Cortland Dukes of Preston, Melyssa Dunn of Greensboro, Kelsey Dusock of Denton, Matthew Ellingsworth of Preston, Kelly Evans of Greensboro, William Fox of Denton, Aaron Good of Greensboro, Kendel Gowe of Preston, Sharice Haapala of Greensboro, Rachel Harris of Federalsburg, Georgianna Hill of Denton, Christen Houtz of Denton, Abigail Johnson of Preston, Yasmeen Johnson of Ridgely, Zachary Jones of Denton, Candy Jordan of Denton, Michael Jordan of Denton, Katlin Kaub of Ridgely, Dakota Kellermeyer of Denton, Jonathan Kraus of Preston, Jessica Lewis of Denton, Tiffany Luebbecke of Preston, Alejandro Martinez of Marydel, Christopher Mayer of Denton, Dalia Miguel Velasquez of Henderson, Harrison Miller of Denton Kimberly Moberly of Denton, Marissa Moldoch of Preston, Rebekkah Napier of Denton, Jeffrey North of Denton, Serena O’Connell of Goldsboro, Kendall Pearl of Denton, Abigail Price of Denton, Jaret Price of Denton, Kathleen Quakenbush of Federalsburg, Lane Quidas of Preston, Mikayla Quinton of Harmony, Jessica Ramey of Federalsburg, Jessica Riddell of Henderson, Ethan Robbins of Preston, Andrea Robinson of Federalsburg, Gordin Roblero of Marydel, Victoria Ross of Goldsboro, Kathryn Saathoff of Ridgely, Kyle Schultz of Denton, Sarah Schuyler of Denton, Chelsy Scott of Federalsburg, Brady Shortall of Denton, Bevan Smith of Federalsburg, Jacobus Smith of Greensboro, Jacquelyn Smith of Greensboro, Marsh Smith of  Denton, Victoria Smith of Greensboro, Mariah Sorrell of Denton, Amanda Stafford of Greensboro, Brenda Thrift of Denton, Rachel Van Dalen of Denton, Paul Venesky of Goldsboro, Alison Ward of Denton, Michelle Wheatley of Federalsburg, Joseph Whitley of Denton, Ashley Wilson of Denton, John Wilson of Denton, Jamie Yeager of Goldsboro, and Allison Yost of Denton.

Dorchester County:  Meriam Amenzouy of Cambridge, Melissa Andrews of Hurlock, Brittney Bennett of Cambridge, Stacy Brooks of Woolford, Patrick Collington of Hurlock, Courtney Collins of Cambridge, Makayla Collins of Rhodesdale, Monick Conway of Hurlock, Olivia Davidson of Cambridge, Benjamin Doyle of East New Market, Daniel Ebling of Rhodesdale, Brianna Edgar of Hurlock, Barry Edwards of East New Market, Nesmah Elsayed of East New Market, Ceaira Elzey of East New Market, Matthew Elzey of Wingate, Rebecca Faulkner of East New Market, Alexander Flaggs of East New Market, Bradley Garner of Hurlock, Asia George of Cambridge, Elbert Green of Cambridge, Edwin Hernandez-Martinez of Cambridge, Shelley Hill of Rhodesdale, William Hill of Cambridge, Caleb Hubbard of Hurlock, Shannon Hulliger of Rhodesdale, Alexandra Jones of Cambridge, Debra Jones of Cambridge, Vivian Kang of Cambridge, Gabrielle Lewis of Cambridge, Hunter Littlepage of East New Market, Heather Lowe of Hurlock, Patricia Lynch of Hurlock, Kristie Malkus of East New Market, Amy Matthews of Cambridge, Shelby McCaskill of Cambridge, Dyzander McCoy of Hurlock, Emily McWilliams of Cambridge, Te’brea Miller of Hurlock, Marissa Mills of East New Market, Brooke Morton of East New Market, Anthony Moulden of Cambridge, Miranda Muehlbauer of Cambridge, Michelle Murphy of Hurlock, Savanna Nossick of East New Market, Meagan Owens of Cambridge, Deanna Parker of Cambridge, Zachary Phillips of Cambridge, Shikeena Pitts of Hurlock, Megan Rafael of Cambridge, Cirra Robinson of Toddville, Anna Sampson of Cambridge, Shelby Shufelt of Hurlock, Leah Smith of East New Market, Gianna Stanley of Cambridge, Ebony Taylor of Cambridge, Garret Thrower of Cambridge, Hailee Trego of Linkwood, Michely Valentin of Cambridge, Breana Vannieuwenhuyzen of Rhodesdale, Juan Vasquez of Vienna, Gregory Wallace of Rhodesdale, Raymond Weisman of Hurlock, Krista Wheatley of Hurlock, Enessa Whitten of Church Creek, Amanda Willey of East New Market, Ellen Willis of Hurlock, and Luke Wood of Hurlock

Kent County: Jenna Bigelow of Chestertown, Jared Brice of Chestertown, Bonda Brooks of Chestertown, Riley Buckle of Chestertown, Brea Byerly of Chestertown, Mark Carr of Chestertown, Abigail Clark of Rock Hall, Abigail Cook of Worton, Jonathan Cook of Worton, Stephanie Delia of Chestertown, Rebecca Dey of Betterton, John Dierking of Chestertown, Kathryn Fisher of Chestertown, Mary Ford of Kennedyville, Jacqueline Franklin of Worton, Anna Hall of Chestertown, Megan Joyner of Worton, Cynthia Kendall of Chestertown, Kaeli Minton of Chestertown, Ana Pavon of Chestertown, Laurie Quinn of Kennedyville, Ryan Santmyer of Galena, Austin Short of Still Pond, and Elizabeth Trego of Rock Hall 

Queen Anne’s County: Shavanah Ali of Stevensville, Sofiah Ali of Stevensville, Kimberly Alvarez of Stevensville, Casey Amos of Chestertown, Ellie Andres of Stevensville, Sydney Archey of Centreville, Alexandra Arntz of Church Hill, Jenna Baker of Stevensville, Austin Benton of Centreville, Charles Besche of Stevensville, Mikayla Booze of Chester, Isabelle Bowers of Sudlersville, Andrew Brewer of Chestertown, Abigail Brimmer of Centreville, Skylar Buellis of Barcley, Toni Bullen of Centreville, Adrianna Cheslosky of Millington, Emily Clagett of Centreville, Reilly Claxton of Grasonville, Jenna Conner of Ingleside, Mitchell Courtney of Centreville, Justin Cummings of Centreville, Abigail Darling of Barclay, Jillian Davidson of Millington, Kylie Dietz of Queenstown, Olivia DiPhilippo of Grasonville, Natalie Eells of Centreville, Kaitlyn Fairbank of Sudlersville, Sydney Fenex of Centreville, George Findlay of Queenstown, Cody Forster of Centreville, Bradley Forsyth of Centreville, John Gross of Grasonville, Catherine Hallock of Centreville, JennaRae Haney of Centreville, Megan Harris of Stevensville, Gracie Herman of Queen Anne, Anthony Hershey of Centreville, Cassie Hessian of Church Hill, Samuel Hoffman of Centreville, Cathryn Hofmann of Stevensville, Emily Hofmann of Centreville, Amanda Hoxter of Centreville, Shannon Iman of Chester, Hannah Irons of Queenstown, Alyssa Jackson of Millington, Reeva Jackson of Queenstown, Rebecca Johnson of Centreville, Grace Jordan of Centreville, Rebecca Jordan of Centreville, Zachary Joyner of Chestertown, Brittany Justice of Centreville, James Kaplanges of Stevensville, Helen King of Church Hill, Julie Kinsley of Church Hill, Kole Klabe of Sudlersville, Annika Koehler of Centreville, Trent Koerner of Wye Mills, Sarah Kowal of Centreville, Shannon Landers of Centreville, Samantha Lansinger of Centreville, Elizabeth Leary of Centreville, Chloe Leonard of Centreville, Kenneth Leonard of Grasonville, Frank Lindauer of Millington, Kaitlyn Manlove of Stevensville, Thomas Marmo of Chester, Ryan Marshall of Centreville, Tessa Rae Masters of Centreville, Melonie Mattison of Stevensville, Stephen Melvin of Centreville, Mary Mescher of Chester, Heather Mesenbrink of Queenstown, Michelle Meyr of Chester, Jeffrey Mollica of Centreville, Michael Monroe of Church Hill, Rebecca Moore of Church Hill, Christopher Nash, Jr. of Centreville, Katie Nichols of Chestertown, Shannon O’Hare of Stevensville, Sydney Parsons of Queenstown, Alithia Patchett of Stevensville, Sydney Peritz of Centreville, William Pickett of Centreville, Helen Pippin of Sudlersville, Chase Porter of Church Hill, Dayan Reinoso of Queenstown, Livan Reinoso of Queenstown, Paige Richardson of Church Hill, Jacob Rothang of Stevensville, Michael Roy of Queen Anne, Sabrina Rusch of Centreville, Angela Schindler of Stevensville, Kevin Schmidt of Centreville, Tina Schroyer of Stevensville, Joshua Schuster of Queenstown, Heather Scott of Easton, Jenna Sewell of Chestertown, Marissa Shive of Chester, Justin Simpson of Centreville, Amanda Smith of Centreville, Hannah Smith of Centreville, Theresa Snapp of Chester, Dustin Snyder of Grasonville, Teagan Sonstegard of Centreville, Jacqueline Sproson of Queenstown, Walter Steffens of Chestertown, Faith Strawbridge of Church Hill, Faith Strawbridge of Church Hill, Carson Swinski of Centreville, Joshua Thompson of Chester, Garret Torre of Centreville, Sean Torre of Centreville, Madison Totten of Chester, Makisha Turner of Centreville, Tyler Urquhart of Queenstown, Molly Voss of Queenstown, Virginia Wagenfer of Church Hill, Cody Walton of Church Hill, Luke Weddell of Church Hill, Samantha Werle of Centreville, Natalie Williams of Centreville, Jasen Xander of Centreville, and Michael Yasenka of Wye Mills             

Talbot County: Mason All of St. Michaels, Donal Abrocio-Mendez of Easton, Alex Andrews of Easton, Brianna Andrews of Easton, Lauren Anstatt of Easton, Philip Bachman of Easton, Jacob Blades of Easton, Kendra Blake of Easton, Lillian Blizzard of Cordova, Ellen Brandon of Easton, Allegra Brooks of Easton, Bennett Burke of Easton, Christian Chapman of Easton, Allison Clem of Easton, Ty’Nijae Copper of Easton, Rachel Coursey of Trappe, Cheyenne Cowell of Trappe, Sophia Cumbo of Easton, Katlyn Daisey of Wittman, Janet Diefenderfer of Trappe, Kallie Duley of Easton, Michale Durham of Queen Anne, Montana Dye of Easton, Casey Everett of Trappe, Helen Fegan of St. Michaels, Brenda Fike of Easton, Penny Finkner of Easton, Desiree Foreman of St. Michaels, Austin Gallagher of Cordova, Megan Garvey of Easton, William George of Easton, Anne Gerwitz of Easton, Kyra Gould of Easton, Heather Gowe of Easton, Claire Gross of Easton, Alecia Hall of Easton, Beth Hansen of Easton, Dwight Harris of Easton, Marcus Haythe of Easton,Jesus Hernandez of Easton, Jimmy Ho of Easton, Emily Hock of Easton, Madison Holland of Trappe, Sierra Jennings of Easton, Sydney Johnson of Easton, Samantha Jones of McDaniel, Clare Kelly of Easton, Alexis Kettering of Cordova, Jessica Lantz of Easton, Hollie Larrimore of Easton, Jason Leaman of Easton, Victor Leitzel of Easton, Grace-Anne Lemaire of Claiborne, Stephan Luethy of Easton, Cami Lyons of Trappe, Cody Malczewski of Cordova, Scott McKenzie of Oxford, Katelynn Miles of Easton, Monica Moore of Cordova, Morgan Moore of Cordova, Saprina Murray of Cordova, Stephen Myers of Easton, Dreama O’Donnell of Cordova, Kristine Olsen of Easton, Hannah Olson of Easton, Timothy Parker of Cambridge, Erin Parkhurts of Wittman, Abby Patchett of Easton, Perrin Poole of Easton, Melissa Richardson of Newcomb, Angeline Rivera of Easton, Arvie Ruark of Easton, Allison Rubenstein of Queen Anne, Albert Scott of Easton, Megan Senft of Easton, Haley Setter of Easton, Charles Shortall of Easton, Abigail Simmons of Easton, Shelby Simpkins of Easton, Tyler Stewart of Cordova, Anthony Tate of Easton, Courtney Tilley of Easton, Scott Tull of Easton, Riley Walter of Easton, and Sarah Woolfolk of Easton

Wicomico County: Benjamin Abrams of Salisbury, Jessica Baroniak of Salisbury, and Paula Fisher of Salisbury

Worcester County: John Bunting of Berlin, Thomas DiBuo of Bishopville, and James Englishman of Berlin

Out-of-state: Richard Bundek of Hartley, DE; Stephan Bungartz of Dover,DE; June Clemens of Henrico, VA; Brandon Givens of Laurel, DE; Caleb Hagan of Milton, DE; William Jester of Felton, DE; and Christopher Lucas of Felton, DE.

Chesapeake College men’s basketball coach Allen Mitchell has stressed over and over to his team the importance of being consistent.

 Mitchell has even as gone as far as to adopt the one-word motto “finish” to get the best out of his Skipjacks.

 “It’s been the same all year,” Mitchell explained. “Play for 40 minutes and finish. I’m staying with my motto. If we do those things, we will come out on top. In some games, we play for 40 minutes, but in other games, we let things get away.”

 How often has the team played a strong enough game from start to finish?

 “In all the wins,” Mitchell said with a laugh. “Let’s put it that way.”

 Chesapeake has won six games, thanks to high-scoring sophomore guards Anthony Tate and Jordan Alston.

 That may not seem like many victories with a schedule of more than 20 contests, but Chesapeake’s number looks pretty good when compared to the Skipjacks' 1-21 campaign last season.

 And now, with the regular season winding down, Mitchell is looking for his team to finish with a flourish and improve on its win total.

 The Skipjacks are excited about the four-game home stand that starts with Potomac State on Jan. 31.

Chesapeake will also play Hagerstown Community College (Feb 2), Navy JV (Feb. 5) and Montgomery College (Feb 7) in Wye Mills.

 “We have a wonderful opportunity here,” said Mitchell, whose team has had one three-game winning streak and two four-game losing streaks this winter. “You have an advantage on your home court. We are coming down to a critical part of the season, and if we can win some games, it will help us going into the tournament.”

 Mitchell, in his third year as head coach after serving as an assistant for five seasons, will continue to rely heavily on Tate, a transfer from Morgan State.

 Tate is averaging a team-high 17.8 points, 4.8 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game.

 He directs the team well, breaks down opposing defenses and can be an explosive scorer.

 Tate totaled 31 points and nine assists in a 98-91 win over the College of Southern Maryland and finished with 31 points and 10 rebounds in a loss to Alleghany.

 “He could be the Maryland JUCO Player of the Year,” Mitchell said. “He has played that well. He takes over games for me and he has become a stronger leader lately. He has the swagger that says 'I am the best guard out here. '”

 Alston, 6-foot-5, shooting guard, is averaging 14.9 points and can be automatic on 3-pointers.

 “He is a versatile player for us and his shooting can open things up for other guys,” Chesapeake assistant men’s basketball coach Artron Strowbridge said.

 Strowbridge says brothers Thomas Agnew, a freshman guard, and Terehk Agnew, a freshman power forward, also brings a lot of energy to the team.

Chesapeake is also getting significant contributions from freshman guard Nate Avery, who has worked as a starter and been the team’s six man.

Chesapeake’s regular season ends on Feb. 10 and the Maryland JUCO tournament begins six days later in Largo.

 “We have shown flashes of being a really, really good team,” Mitchell said. “Then we show flashes of guys being slow. We are dealing with a new group this year. We only had one returnee from last year in (sophomore center) Sadiki Isaac. The kids had to get to know each other and get the feel of each other. Once they learn to finish, the better results will come.”  

WYE MILLS - With only eight active players, the Chesapeake women’s basketball team outnumbers just a handful of opponents this season.

“There are other teams that sometimes have six or seven,” Chesapeake coach Gwen Barnes said.

Regardless of having a relatively short bench, the Skipjack don’t have any trouble scoring points in bunches.

If they had a slogan, it would be “Bombs Away.”

The Skipjacks are shooting more three pointers than any season in Barnes’ five years with the program.

Chesapeake has fired up a whopping 451 three-point attempts and the Skipjacks are averaging 22 per game.

Sophomore guard/forward Emily Truitt is the ringleader for the long-range attack.

Truitt made 11 three-pointers in a 87-61 rout of the Community College of Baltimore County Catonsville on Dec. 12.

Five days later, Truitt sank the same number in a 89-49 triumph over CCBC.

She also hit 10 in a 83-58 conquest of Alleghany College of Maryland on Jan. 10.

“It feels great to hit one,” Truitt said. “It bring a spark of energy to the bench and myself.”

Barnes says her Skipjacks are shooting the ball from the perimeter as well, as they have all season.

“What is happening now is we are beginning to find our rhythm from the outside,” the coach explained.

That’s a good thing since the postseason is just around the corner.

Chesapeake has three more regular-season games before the three-day Maryland Junior College Athletic Conference Tournament starts Feb. 16 at Prince George’s Community College in Largo.

“I am very pleased with how well we are playing together,” said Barnes, whose team is 11-9. “Team chemistry is what is going to carry us. The overall goal is go out and play strong offensively and defensively. If we do that, the outcome should be positive for us.”

The Skipjacks will also participate in the Region XX Tournament at Cecil Community College in early March.

Barnes hopes for a rerun of last March when her team won the tournament with a pair of victories.

Chesapeake advanced onto the National Junior College Athletic Association championships for the third time in four years in Arizona, where the Skipjacks suffered back-to-back losses.

“On the national level, we didn’t win any games and that was disheartening for us,” Barnes said. “We had a very young team and we learned. We are looking to bounce back from those losses.”  

Yet if Truitt continues her excellent long-range marksmanship, she could carry the SkipJacks to a playoff victory all by herself.

She ranks third in the MD JUCO in scoring, averaging 19.9 points per game.

Even though opponents’ game plan is to stop Truitt, that’s a tough task on many nights.

“Teams put a lot of pressure on her,” Barnes said. “Teams have played a box-in-one on her and have double-teamed her, but she is still able to get shots off. She loves that three-point shot, but at the same time, he also can play down low.”

Sophomore point Chantelle Gross is another weapon for the Skipjacks.

He can handle the ball well and shoot from the outside. She averages 17.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists.

“She does a lot of great things for us and I think she is having a terrific season,” Barnes said.

Freshman guard Amunique Newell, sophomore guard/forward Natori Nesbit and sophomore center Reeva Jackson, roundout the starting five.

There’s not much depth beyond the starters with guards Claire Pritchett, Toni Chiarella and Chandni Taylor.

But that’s not a problem for Barnes. She gets the most out of her players.

“I keep them in top shape and mentally prepared,” Barnes said. “They work extremely hard in practice. I give them days off so their bodies can recoup. That’s how we do it.”  

Author and advocate Simeaka Melton, founder of Dear Girls Academy, Inc., encouraged guests at our Annual Black History Month Luncheon to look to history to build a village.

The Grasonville native urged attendees to adopt “building blocks” to both create community and enhance their own lives.  Participation, compassion, a willingness to shock the world, integrity, and giving back are all keys to building a village community, Ms. Melton said.

"Get a seat at the table. If you're not at the table, we will be on the menu and so will our village-building agendas," Ms. Melton said. "When you get to the table be prepared, be innovative and be compassionate. Regardless of what anyone else says, your voice matters."

This year, Chesapeake's Multicultural Advisory Board teamed up with The Frederick Douglass Honor Society to celebrate the 200th birthday of Frederick Douglass. The 2018 luncheon raised $500 for the J.C Gibson Memorial Book Scholarship Fund at Chesapeake College.

Sombarkin' vocal trio provided the musical entertainment. The program also included recitations by elementary and middle school boys from Building African American Minds (B.A.A.M.) of Talbot County.

The buffet was prepared by The Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons 7th Masonic District. Young adults from the Destined to Rise Coalition and the Workforce Investment Board Youth Program volunteered their time to assist with the event.

A Chesapeake science major is a semi-finalist for the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke scholarship. Sofiah Ali of Stevensville is one of only 19 students in Maryland who advanced to the final selection round.  The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation selected 534 semi-finalists from 2,500 applicants.

 An Honors Program student, Ms. Ali is in her second year at Chesapeake. Her winning entry in the 2017 Honors Poster Contest earned her a trip to the 52nd Annual Collegiate Honors Council Conference in Atlanta last fall. She is a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and was on the Fall 2017 Dean's List. She plans to pursue a career in biology/medicine.

 "Sofiah possesses all the qualities that professors, like employers, value. Her critical thinking skills are stellar, she is self-motivated, articulate, conscientious, and driven. She has an open mind and an enthusiasm for learning that is rarely seen at the undergraduate level, and she accepts feedback gracefully. When Sofiah completes a project, she doesn’t just give you what you wanted—she gives you what you didn’t even know you wanted. I am thrilled to have her at Chesapeake as an Honors Program student,” said Amber McGinnis, Honors Program Director and Assistant Professor of Communications.

The scholarship is awarded to community college students who plan to transfer to four-year institutions to pursue bachelor's degrees. Students are chosen based on their academic performance, leadership, perseverance and service to others. This highly competitive scholarship will offer selected finalists as much as $40,000 per year for up to three years to complete a bachelors' degree program. The finalists will be announced in April.

“I’m very honored to be one of the semifinalists for the Jack Kent Cooke Transfer Scholarship. Even if I don't get the scholarship, I'm glad I had the opportunity to have made it this far in the selection process,” Ms. Ali said. 

Ms. Ali’s professors agreed that her selection as a semi-finalist is an accomplishment and that she has already succeeded on Chesapeake’s campus.

 “Sofiah is exceptional in many ways and consistently performs at the top of the class.  Her natural curiosity and exemplary effort have led to a depth of knowledge that is well beyond what is required for the courses.  In the fall, for an Honors Project in my Anatomy and Physiology I class, Sophia completed a literature review on telomeres, looking at their implications for aging and cancer.  This was a self-directed project done at the senior thesis or graduate level.  Sophia’s future plans include earning an M.D. and PhD. and going on to do research.  I am confident that the benefits of Sofiah’s future work will be far reaching and I beam with pride knowing that part of her journey has been right here at Chesapeake College,” said Kim Smoloski, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences.

Assistant Professor for Business and Economics Catherine Rust was one of 14 educators selected to travel to Cuba in May 2018 through the University of Maryland Center for Global Business Faculty Development in International Business Program. She will be studying international trade.

Feb. 12, 2018 (WYE MILLS, MD) – The Chesapeake College Board of Trustees announced the selection of four finalists in its search for the school’s sixth president. Each candidate will be on campus to meet with faculty, staff, students and Mid-Shore community leaders in a series of forums over the next two weeks.

Following a four-month process that included public input on the qualifications, characteristics and values sought for the school’s new leader, the 14-member Presidential Search Advisory Committee chaired by the Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees, Nash McMahan, submitted four finalists to the Board of Trustees:

• Dr. Clifford Coppersmith, Dean at City College, an embedded community college within Montana State University, Billings Montana. He held prior administrative and academic affairs positions at: Pennsylvania College of Technology, a special mission affiliate of The Pennsylvania State University, Williamsport, PA; and College of Eastern Utah, Price, Utah.

   

• Dr. Keith Cotroneo, President at Mountwest Community and Technical College, Huntington, West Virginia. He held prior administrative and academic affairs positions at: Quincy College, Quincy, Massachusetts; Broome Community College, Binghamton, New York; Treasure Valley Community College, Ontario, Oregon; and Hagerstown Community College, Hagerstown, Maryland.

• Dr. Ted Lewis, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer at Pellissippi State Community College, Knoxville, Tennessee. He held prior administrative and academic affairs positions at: Lone Star College-CyFair, Cypress, Texas; and Collin County Community College, McKinney, Texas.

• Dr. Lisa Rhine, Provost and Chief Operating Officer at Tidewater Community College Chesapeake Campus, Chesapeake, Virginia. She held prior administrative and academic affairs positions at: Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, Kentucky; Wittenberg University, Springfield, Ohio; University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio; and Sinclair Community College, also in Dayton.

“Under Nash McMahan’s leadership, the Search Committee evaluated 72 candidates and delivered its final choices a month ahead of schedule in response to the community’s desire for an expedited process,” said Blenda Armistead, Board of Trustees Chair. “From our faculty, staff and student representatives to volunteers from business and academia, it was a dedicated team that committed countless hours studying the community focus group and online survey results and reviewing applications from across the country.”

Armistead said the Search Committee interviewed seven candidates last week before making its final selections.

“It’s an exceptional group of finalists with considerable experience serving in administrative and academic affairs leadership positions at community colleges, technical schools and four-year institutions,” Armistead said.

The Board expects to make its final choice by mid-March and hopes to have a new president on campus by July 1.

Visit the Presidential Search page

A Chesapeake science major is a semi-finalist for the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke scholarship. Sofiah Ali of Stevensville is one of only 19 students in Maryland who advanced to the final selection round.  The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation selected 534 semi-finalists from 2,500 applicants.

 An Honors Program student, Ms. Ali is in her second year at Chesapeake. Her winning entry in the 2017 Honors Poster Contest earned her a trip to the 52nd Annual Collegiate Honors Council Conference in Atlanta last fall. She is a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and was on the Fall 2017 Dean's List. She plans to pursue a career in biology/medicine.

 "Sofiah possesses all the qualities that professors, like employers, value. Her critical thinking skills are stellar, she is self-motivated, articulate, conscientious, and driven. She has an open mind and an enthusiasm for learning that is rarely seen at the undergraduate level, and she accepts feedback gracefully. When Sofiah completes a project, she doesn’t just give you what you wanted—she gives you what you didn’t even know you wanted. I am thrilled to have her at Chesapeake as an Honors Program student,” said Amber McGinnis, Honors Program Director and Assistant Professor of Communications.

The scholarship is awarded to community college students who plan to transfer to four-year institutions to pursue bachelor's degrees. Students are chosen based on their academic performance, leadership, perseverance and service to others. This highly competitive scholarship will offer selected finalists as much as $40,000 per year for up to three years to complete a bachelors' degree program. The finalists will be announced in April.

“I’m very honored to be one of the semifinalists for the Jack Kent Cooke Transfer Scholarship. Even if I don't get the scholarship, I'm glad I had the opportunity to have made it this far in the selection process,” Ms. Ali said. 

Ms. Ali’s professors agreed that her selection as a semi-finalist is an accomplishment and that she has already succeeded on Chesapeake’s campus.

 “Sofiah is exceptional in many ways and consistently performs at the top of the class.  Her natural curiosity and exemplary effort have led to a depth of knowledge that is well beyond what is required for the courses.  In the fall, for an Honors Project in my Anatomy and Physiology I class, Sophia completed a literature review on telomeres, looking at their implications for aging and cancer.  This was a self-directed project done at the senior thesis or graduate level.  Sophia’s future plans include earning an M.D. and PhD. and going on to do research.  I am confident that the benefits of Sofiah’s future work will be far reaching and I beam with pride knowing that part of her journey has been right here at Chesapeake College,” said Kim Smoloski, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences.

Assistant Professor for Business and Economics Catherine Rust was one of 14 educators selected to travel to Cuba in May 2018 through the University of Maryland Center for Global Business Faculty Development in International Business Program. She will be studying international trade.

Feb. 12, 2018 (WYE MILLS, MD) – The Chesapeake College Board of Trustees announced the selection of four finalists in its search for the school’s sixth president. Each candidate will be on campus to meet with faculty, staff, students and Mid-Shore community leaders in a series of forums over the next two weeks.

Following a four-month process that included public input on the qualifications, characteristics and values sought for the school’s new leader, the 14-member Presidential Search Advisory Committee chaired by the Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees, Nash McMahan, submitted four finalists to the Board of Trustees:

• Dr. Clifford Coppersmith, Dean at City College, an embedded community college within Montana State University, Billings Montana. He held prior administrative and academic affairs positions at: Pennsylvania College of Technology, a special mission affiliate of The Pennsylvania State University, Williamsport, PA; and College of Eastern Utah, Price, Utah.

   

• Dr. Keith Cotroneo, President at Mountwest Community and Technical College, Huntington, West Virginia. He held prior administrative and academic affairs positions at: Quincy College, Quincy, Massachusetts; Broome Community College, Binghamton, New York; Treasure Valley Community College, Ontario, Oregon; and Hagerstown Community College, Hagerstown, Maryland.

• Dr. Ted Lewis, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer at Pellissippi State Community College, Knoxville, Tennessee. He held prior administrative and academic affairs positions at: Lone Star College-CyFair, Cypress, Texas; and Collin County Community College, McKinney, Texas.

• Dr. Lisa Rhine, Provost and Chief Operating Officer at Tidewater Community College Chesapeake Campus, Chesapeake, Virginia. She held prior administrative and academic affairs positions at: Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, Kentucky; Wittenberg University, Springfield, Ohio; University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio; and Sinclair Community College, also in Dayton.

“Under Nash McMahan’s leadership, the Search Committee evaluated 72 candidates and delivered its final choices a month ahead of schedule in response to the community’s desire for an expedited process,” said Blenda Armistead, Board of Trustees Chair. “From our faculty, staff and student representatives to volunteers from business and academia, it was a dedicated team that committed countless hours studying the community focus group and online survey results and reviewing applications from across the country.”

Armistead said the Search Committee interviewed seven candidates last week before making its final selections.

“It’s an exceptional group of finalists with considerable experience serving in administrative and academic affairs leadership positions at community colleges, technical schools and four-year institutions,” Armistead said.

The Board expects to make its final choice by mid-March and hopes to have a new president on campus by July 1.

Visit the Presidential Search page

March 6, 2018 (WYE MILLS, MD) – The Chesapeake College Board of Trustees has selected Dr. Clifford P. Coppersmith to be the school’s sixth president. Dr. Coppersmith was chosen by a unanimous vote of the Trustees from a pool of 72 applicants in a nationwide search that was narrowed down to four finalists who visited the campus in late February.

Coppersmith, 55, is currently Dean of City College, an embedded community college within Montana State University Billings with 1,400 full and part-time students.  He’s been the school’s chief executive officer in charge of academics, student affairs, finance and facilities since July 2015.

Prior to City College, Coppersmith held several administrative and academic positions including over 19 years at two institutions:  Pennsylvania College of Technology, a special mission affiliate of The Pennsylvania State University; and Utah State University – Eastern, formerly the College of Eastern Utah.

“Dr. Coppersmith’s background and experience were a great match for the qualifications and expectations established at the outset of our national search for a new president,” Chesapeake College Board of Trustees Chair Blenda Armistead said.  “We were looking for someone with a proven track record in developing programs to address workforce needs in the community, and he brings that experience to the Mid-Shore.  Dr. Coppersmith also understands and has extensive experience with the transfer mission of community colleges.  As an individual who began his higher education in a community college in upstate New York, he is committed to ensuring that Chesapeake College will serve as a gateway to further education for all of our residents.”

Armistead noted Coppersmith’s ability to collaborate with public school leaders, local government, and business and industry partners to develop both credit and non-credit programs focused specifically on workforce needs.  These have included programs in emergency management, nursing and allied health, computer science, metal and construction trades, diesel technology and automotive repair.

“Cliff has worked effectively with state and local government, and this was one of our priorities in our search for a new president,” she said.  “He understands the economic and social challenges in rural areas similar to the Shore.  Moreover, the trustees are confident in his ability to strengthen the sense of community among all constituencies within the College, which was another expectation established for our new president.”

Community engagement will be among Coppersmith’s first priorities.

“Right off the bat, I want to establish those relationships and connections that are so critical to the success of the College,” he said.  “I anticipate working closely with the members of the Board of Trustees, civic and public education leaders and the local business network to strengthen Chesapeake and its vital role in serving the five-county region as a center for higher education, cultural activities and economic development.”

Coppersmith met with the Board and participated in on-campus forums with students, faculty, staff and Mid-Shore community leaders last month.

“I had a great exchange with all those groups when I interviewed,” he said. “I was extremely impressed with the quality of the campus and its facilities and the engagement of the faculty and staff, and I considered my meeting with the students the highlight of the visit.”

Coppersmith and his wife Kathleen have strong personal connections to the region.

“Kathy and I are excited to return to a part of the world we love in which we’ve had many great experiences,” he said. “We were married in Kensington outside D.C.; spent the first night of our honeymoon in Chestertown; and for 11 years, the Chincoteague and Assateague Island seashores were our family’s favorite vacation spot. The Eastern Shore has been a special place for us for that reason and others.”

Born in the West Indies, Coppersmith said saltwater is in his blood.  He looks forward to sailing, kayaking and canoeing on local waters and visiting the beach.

The Coppersmiths have three adult children – including two living in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh – three grandchildren and close family members in Frederick and Northern Virginia.

A former commissioned officer in the U.S. Army Reserve and Army National Guard and an intelligence officer with the Central Intelligence Agency, Coppersmith believes strongly in executing the mission of the College which is critical to his vision for Chesapeake.

“It comes from my military background,” he explained.  “Almost everything I do on a daily basis is premised on serving the mission of the school and its students. I’ve been successful in figuring out what the strengths of an institution are, what its mission is, and then connecting that to the community I serve.”

His service background also includes 45 years in scouting with the Boy Scouts of America.

Coppersmith holds four academic degrees:  A doctorate in history and anthropology from Oklahoma State University; a master’s in history from St. Bonaventure University in New York State; a bachelor’s in political science and Latin American studies from Brigham Young University in Utah; and an associate in social science from Jamestown Community College in New York State.

About Chesapeake College

Founded in 1965 as Maryland’s first regional community college, Chesapeake serves five Eastern Shore counties – Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot. With more than 130,000 alumnae, Chesapeake has 2,300 students and almost 10,000 people enrolled in continuing education programs.

Skipjack Pitcher Joseph Nahas, a sophomore, was named the National Junior College Athletic Association Pitcher of the Week for March 5 -11.

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WYE MILLS - Chesapeake College presents fun, educational camps for children with Peake Summer youth camps. Offered as six weekly sessions, each camp features a theme taught by professional educators and students in Chesapeake’s education programs.

“We’re using the resources we have on campus like experienced educators, energetic education students and impressive facilities to create a fun atmosphere and exciting opportunity for kids to learn,” said Program Director and Instructor of Early Childhood Education Sarah Ross.

Super Heroes Training- Calling girls and boys to super hero training camp. You’ll create your own super heroes identity, logo and comic to “fight” against evil villains. You’ll BOOM! POW! WHAM! your way through super villains obstacles. 07/09/2018

STEAM- We’ll challenge you this week to use all of your science, technology, engineering, art and math skills to create roller coasters, unsinkable ships, create an unbreakable newspaper chain, a space lander for two aliens and create a flood proof house. 07/16/2018

Digital Media Film Making- Calling all actors, directors, producers, screen writers and set designers to Chesapeake College’s Digital Media. The film crew will work together to create mini movies to be shared at a premier showing the last day of camp.07/23/2018

Mud Pies to Magnetic Slime- We’ll spend our days creating mad scientist recipes. We’ll create goop, gak, quick sand, three different types of slime, make “exploding toothpaste” and, make oobleeck dance. We’ll observe the physical and chemical changes of each mad recipe. We’ll make some of the slimiest, stickiest and gooiest recipes around! 07/30/2018

Secret Agent SPY- Calling all super spies, secret agents and undercover operatives! Your mission, should you choose to accept it…… learn how to create a cryptex, read between the lines using invisible ink, identify fingerprints to crack your case. The final spy exam is a “locked box” escape room challenge. 08/06/2018

Gold, Silver and Bronze- The week will start off with opening ceremonies, an Olympic torch, various team orientated summer and winter games some traditional and others modified to be silly and fun. Olympic themed arts and crafts and a closing ceremony on Friday. 08/13/2018

Tuition for the camp is $180 per week.  The fee includes two healthy snacks per day.  The camps run from 9 am to 4 pm daily. A $10 sibling discount is available.  Before care from 7 – 9 a.m. or after care from 4- 6 p.m. is an additional $25 per week.  The before and after care option is $40 per week.

For more information or to register please contact Sarah Ross at sross@chesapeake.edu

WYE MILLS - Shore United Bank is supporting Chesapeake College students through the campus Corner of Care for the second year.

A campus food pantry developed to aid needy Chesapeake students, the Corner of Care is used year-round by students of all ages, some who must support their families. The pantry is stocked solely with donations from Chesapeake College employees and the service community.

“The Corner of Care ensures that Chesapeake students do not have to choose between attending college and going hungry,” said Director of Advancement Elizabeth Devlin. “Students of all ages make sacrifices to attend college. While aid and scholarships help with tuition costs, living expenses are still a challenge.”

Shore United’s month-long collection campaign will have a significant impact on students in need at Chesapeake, according to Ms. Devlin.

“Shore United Bank is committed to aiding our community in a variety of ways.  Donating to the Chesapeake College Corner of Care allows us to help community members in need, and also show our support for students as they pursue their dreams,” said Laura Heikes, Shore United Bank’s SVP, Community & Government Relations Officer.

Items collected include dry and canned goods, microwavable foods, household paper products, toiletries, school supplies and bottled water.

For more information about donating to the Corner of Care, please contact Director of Advancement Elizabeth Devlin at edevlin@chesapeake.edu.

The milestones keep piling up for Frank Szymanski as the Chesapeake College baseball coach.

 Szymanski won his 300th game during the 2010 season and four years later, he surpassed the 400-win mark.

 He secured his 500th win when the Skipjacks beat New York’s Monroe College, 11-7, March 16, during a six-game road trip to South Carolina.  

 Szymanski, however, shrugs the numbers off, insisting he doesn’t think much about them.

 “That’s not important to me,” says Szymanski, whose players didn’t know about the honor until two days after the game. “It just means I have been around a long time. I have been surrounded by great assistant coaches and players who have helped me along the way.”

 He added, “It’s an honor to coach and work for Chesapeake. I’ve had incredible support from the faculty, staff, and administrators. I’m especially grateful to Dr. Ed Baker, Dr. Richard Midcap, Dr. Barbara Viniar and Dr. Stuart Bounds.”

Szymanski does care greatly about how the 2018 season is shaping up, and it could be one of the best in his 15 years on the job.

The Skipjacks are off to a sparking 14-3 start and perfect 3-0 mark in the Maryland Junior College Athletic Association.

 “We are doing a lot of things well as a team,” Szymanski says. “We are getting some timely hits when we need them, our defense is improving and we are pitching well.”

 Szymanski certainly can’t complain about a lack of pitching.

From sophomore right-hander Michael YaSenka to other standout sophomore right-handers Joseph Nahas, Jason McDonough to Kyle Searfoss, the team is well armed in the starting rotation.

“It’s great to have four quality arms in the starting rotation and they have been doing the job,” Chesapeake assistant coach Scott Milligan said.

The 6-foot-1, 210-pound YaSenka was one of team’s best pitchers last year, fashioning 5-1 record with 98 strikeouts in 60 innings.

He’s been equally effective this spring, going 3-1 with 41 strikeouts in 23 innings.

YaSenka’s best game this month came against Anne Arundel Community College when he gave up four hits and one run across seven innings while fanning 15 batters.

“When is he on, he really has command of three pitches,” Milligan said of YaSenka’s effective slider, change-up and fastball. “It really makes it tough for hitters to sit on any one pitch.”  

If Milligan and Szymanski had to pick an ace, it would be difficult.

Nahas, a transfer from UMBC, immediately caught the eye of the Chesapeake coaching staff and has been more dominating than YaSenka this season.

He boasts 3-0 record and has given up only 12 hits in 22 innings while striking out 47.    

Nahas has an impressive three-pitch repertoire, which includes a fastball, slider and change-up.

He struck out a school-record 21 batters March 10 in a 3-1 conquest of AACC in the first game of a double header.    

“He has great poise,” Szymanski said of Nahas. “He has a great attitude and work ethic that helps the younger guys. They see what it takes to be successful.”

Freshman right-hander Allan Saathoff and Jaret Price, freshman left-hander Nolan Brannon and sophomore right-hander Joey Jenkins bolster the pitching staff out of the bullpen.

“The guys who have been coming out of the pen have been doing a quality job,” Milligan said. “This is the most quality arms we have had in a while.”

Whoever stands on the mound will get plenty of offensive support.

Chesapeake is batting .391 and two freshman rank among the team’s leading hitters: infielder Davan Reinoso (batting .577, 5 home runs, 23 RBIs) and outfielder Livan Reinoso (.438, 7, 22).

Freshman outfielder Christian Murphy (hitting .429, 16 RBIs) and sophomore infielder Cody Forster (.396, 18 RBIs) also are contributing offensively.

“Our lineup is tough one through nine,” Milligan said.     

In an effort to boost success rates for first-generation male students, Chesapeake offers an innovative program to help these students either graduate or transfer to a four-year institution.

Since 2008, Chesapeake has been providing a group of students targeted services through the First-generation Opportunity for Career and Ultimate Success (FOCUS) program

 “These first-generation, male students were our least successful in terms of GPA and retention,” said Dana Bowser, Director of First Year Programs and founder of FOCUS. “When you’re the first one in your family to go to college, you lack context. College is a completely new world for a first-generation student.”

The biggest challenge, Ms. Bowser said, is teaching the students to look ahead.

“It’s not unusual for traditional-aged students to take the short view. They react to the way things are rather than plan and prepare for the future. We work with our FOCUS students to teach them to take the long view. Once they do that, they learn to make adjustments and are less likely to become overwhelmed,” Ms. Bowser said.

That long view, she said, helps students with time management, academic planning and goal setting. To help build those skills, the students participate in weekly FOCUS meetings and workshops through the academic year. The program now includes career planning, leadership development and community service.

Meetings include academic counseling sessions, teambuilding and guest speakers from the five-county service area. Recently, Talbot County Councilman Corey Pack spoke to the FOCUS students about dealing with setbacks and giving back to their communities.

Activities this semester include visits to several Maryland four-year colleges and the World Bank in Washington, D.C. The group will volunteer on a home building project in Easton with Habitat for Humanity Choptank.

Later this spring, three FOCUS students will be inducted into Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and three are will graduate in May.

The benefits go beyond seminars and field trips, though, and each cohort form bonds that help the students face challenges and persevere.

 “The students really develop a brotherhood and they support one another. That’s has become a huge part of the program. They look out for one another and hold each other accountable,” Ms. Bowser said.

BALTIMORE (April 17, 2018)– The Maryland Junior College Athletic Conference (Maryland JUCO) today announced that it has selected Joseph Nahas (baseball), William Harrison (men’s lacrosse), Rachel Durham (softball), Tiffany Warnick (indoor track & field) and Alexis Corbitt-Fennekohl (women’s lacrosse) as its Student Athletes of the Month for March 2018.

Nahas (Chesapeake College | Marion Catholic) was 5-0 in five starts in March, including three complete games. The righty struck out 67 hitters against just 11 walks and allowed only 17 hits in 32 innings pitched. Nahas had three games with 10 or more strikeouts: March 10 vs. Anne Arundel Community College (21), March 16 vs. Rockland Community College (13) and March 30 vs. Harford Community College (17)