BALTIMORE (May 15, 2018)– The Maryland Junior College Athletic Conference (Maryland JUCO) today announced its 2018 softball and baseball All Conference award recipients. Fifteen Chesapeake student athletes earned All Maryland JUCO honors.

Softball

Harford Community College leads the way with eight student athletes, followed closely by Co-Maryland Juco Champions CCBC Catonsville with seven. The conference’s other co-champion, Chesapeake College, finished with five selections. The Cardinals and Skipjacks combined to go 30-4 in the conference.

Skipjacks Faith Cheetam and Savannah Miles were named to the First Team. Anne Gerwitz  and Brooke Morton were named to the Second Team, while Ariane Valdez earned Honorable Mention.

Baseball

Chesapeake represents more than one quarter of those selected to an All Maryland JUCO Baseball team with 10 student athletes, as they finished with a 23-1 conference record and championship.

The Skipjacks named to First Team are: Dayan Reinoso, Livan Reinoso, Joseph Nahas, and Michael YaSenka. Second Team honorees are Trent Koerner, Josha Kulina, Cody Forster and Christian Murphy. Dvynn Hancok and Dylan Nepert were named Honorable Mention.

WYE MILLS – Sofiah Ali’s immigrant journey began in the Philippines and is the reason behind her success.

Ms. Ali, a Stevensville resident, is a biology major and aspiring medical researcher. On May 14, she will be honored with the John T. Harrison Award, the highest student honor at Chesapeake College.

A first-generation college student, Ms. Ali will receive her associate’s degree along with 300 other graduates and will deliver her acceptance speech to them Wednesday. President and CEO of University of Maryland Shore Regional Health Ken Kozel will deliver the commencement address.

A 2016 graduate of Kent Island High School, Ms. Ali has a cumulative 4.0 Grade Point Average. Since enrolling at Chesapeake, she has been on the Dean’s List every semester.  As an Honors Program student, Ms. Ali completed four Honors Contract projects during her time at Chesapeake.

Ms. Ali, 20, was a semi-finalist for the prestigious national Jack Kent Cooke Transfer Scholarship this year and was a 2017 nominee for the NCHC Portz Award. She is an active member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and participated in recruitment drive that significantly boosted membership.

This record of success if part of a long journey that began more than 15 years ago.

Parents Farzand and Aileen Ali, brought Ms. Ali and her sister Shavanah to Maryland as very young children. This is the only home that Ms. Ali has ever known.

“I don’t remember living in the Philippines, so the United States is what I know. I’ve always had a great sense of pride in my background and where I came from. But when I was younger, because of the influences of my peers, I felt the need to quickly assimilate with those around me,” Ms. Ali said. “I tried to hide something that was an integral part of my identity, I was embarrassed of who I was and the differences I had compared to everyone else. As a result, I began to feel detached from my parents and my culture because of who I was trying to be. Now that I’m older, I realize how silly that was. My differences are what sets me apart from those around me.”

Faculty and staff at Chesapeake say that Ms. Ali’s dedication and drive set her apart.

Ms. Ali works a full schedule at Ledo Pizza on Kent Island while she maintains her perfect GPA at Chesapeake. This semester, she is taking 21 credits. She also volunteers her time with Youthline Eastern Shore Crisis Center.

She was the first-place winner in the Spring 2017 Honors Poster Exhibition and earned a trip to the National Collegiate Honors Council Conference in Atlanta last fall.

On the honors trip, Ms. Ali had the opportunity to visit the Centers for Disease Control. Ms. Ali said she was inspired by both the history and mission of CDC. She hopes to conduct medical research in the future that can be used to improve lives around the globe.

Chesapeake faculty cited, among many attributes, Ms. Ali’s extraordinary work ethic when recommending her for the Harrison Award.

“My mother and father always wanted me to achieve the American Dream. Like millions of other immigrant parents, they left their home country to establish a new life—a better life—for my sister and me. They had sacrificed everything they’d ever known—their language, family, friends, and jobs—in hopes that the new life they sought out for us would open doors to opportunities they never had. From the moment I entered Pre-K until now, I made sure I worked hard in all of my endeavors so that everything they had to give up on would one day be worth it,” Ms. Ali said. “I felt the need to prove myself and work twice as hard. I was not going to hold myself back from living a life without purpose. The tears I once shed out of hopelessness have been replaced with hope and motivation for my life-long ambitions.” 

In nominating his student for the Harrison Award, Phi Theta Kappa faculty advisor Jeremy Crowe described Ms. Ali as one of Chesapeake’s great assets.

“Sofiah is an excellent student, an excellent human being and she will bring prestige to this college as an alumna. She is the daughter of immigrants who instilled in Sofiah the importance of hard work, perseverance and kindness. Her Pakistani and Filipino heritage brings diversity to our campus, and you won’t meet a friendlier student Skipjack,” said Associate Professor Jeremy Crowe.

Ms. Ali said that she hopes her Commencement will be as rewarding for her parents as it is for her.

 “I’m eternally grateful for their decision and everything that they had to sacrifice. Although at times, the obstacles we would be presented with are enough to lose hope, I will never forget the things they had to give up on just for the sake of my sister and me. All of their blood, sweat, and tears will one day be exchanged for a better life when my sister and I will be able to one day take care of them the way they did for us,” she said.

Ms. Ali will pursue a bachelor’s degree this fall at either the University of Maryland or Tufts University. She plans to major in molecular biology with the goal of earning a doctorate and becoming a medical researcher.

1. Elizabeth Trego – General College Studies

Graduating from Chesapeake is just one of the milestones that Elizabeth Trego of Kent County is celebrating. The mom of three will also be celebrating her middle child’s graduation from high school in a few weeks and her youngest child’s completion of middle school. In addition, Ms. Trego begins a new job with LaMotte Chemical later this month. Ms. Trego maintained a 4.0 GPA at Chesapeake and was honored as the Outstanding Graduate for General College Studies.

What brought you to Chesapeake? I wanted to go to college so that I would be more marketable. I knew that I wanted to work in chemical quality control, so I took many science and business classes.

What are your future plans? I’m excited to be starting a new job with LaMotte Chemical and embarking on a new career.

What was your greatest challenge?  I would have to say the commute was my biggest challenge. It’s a long drive from Rock Hall. Sometimes balancing school, work, family and friends was a challenge for me.

Describe your Chesapeake experience.  I’ve really liked all of my professors and I took multiple classes with several. There is a great environment at Chesapeake. The staff, faculty and students are friendly here and always willing to help.

     2.   James Kaplanges - Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences

James Kaplanges, a Stevensville resident, has interests ranging from math to baseball to the performing arts. He tutors other students in both math and writing, and completed three Honors Projects. After taking a theatre class, Mr. Kaplanges joined the Peake Players and performed in five shows during his time at Chesapeake. He is a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and is the Outstanding Graduate for Liberal Arts and Sciences.

What brought you to Chesapeake?  The in-county tuition.

What are your future plans? I’m transferring to the University of Maryland-College Park for a bachelor’s degree and plan to major in Geography.

What was your greatest challenge? Learning to ask for help and that it is okay to ask questions outside of class. It’s an easy thing, but it was tough for me at first.  Trying acting was also a huge challenge for me. It was so different from what I’d been used to, but I enjoy it now.

Describe your Chesapeake experience. Chesapeake has been a great experience. I didn’t want to come here at first, but it didn’t take long for me to see what a great place Chesapeake is for all students.  I feel lucky to have been here and I’m going to miss it very much.

 3. Michael Roy – Associate’s Degree in Human Services

Doing volunteer work in the community, inspired Michael Roy, a Queen Anne resident, to embark on a career in mental health services. He saw the toll that substance abuse and mental health issues took on people’s lives. Mr. Roy retired from the Army after 17 years with a service-related injury

Managing his own health issues, Mr. Roy also cares for his mother in addition to pursuing his classwork.

What brought you to Chesapeake? I was volunteering as a mentor and decided that I wanted to get into the field as a career. I needed a degree to do that and Chesapeake had what I needed. 

What are your future plans? I’m building ground for a bachelor’s degree in social work.

What was your greatest challenge?  Math was my greatest challenge. I know it is for a lot of people, but it certainly was for me. Coming back to school after a long time makes the math classes even tougher, I think.

Describe your Chesapeake experience.  Coming to Chesapeake was challenging in many ways. Good ways. I learned that you just can’t give up. It’s taken lots of hard work and determination, and it feels good to finish this degree.

4. Amy Bednar Associate’s Degree in Computer Information Systems

What brought you to Chesapeake?  I first saw a class on Game Design in the Chesapeake catalog that was sent to my house in the mail. I took the continuing education class, and when I stopped at Chesapeake and talked to an advisor I decided I wanted to get a degree in web design. 

What are your future plans?  I’m enrolled for the summer at Wilmington University in New Castle Delaware. I’m taking beginning classes in Game Design and Development.  I’m waiting to hear back on a scholarship I would use for UMBC, to use for Computer Programming with a Game Track, but if I don’t get that, I will start fall at Wilmington University in Software Design and Development. I would combine that with classes from and possibly a degree in Game Design and Development. 

What was your greatest challenge?  I’m physically challenged in mobility, strength, and endurance. I also have short-term memory issues. The software and the teachers at Chesapeake College both really helped me to succeed. 

Describe your Chesapeake experience. I’m actually quite sad to be leaving Chesapeake College. I would be very happy to stay here and I hope to return some day to teach. Chesapeake College is very accepting, and feels like family. I have made friends here that I hope to have for a long time.

5. Edwin Hernandez-Martinez - Associate’s Degree Liberal Arts and Sciences

As an 8-year-old child, Mr. Hernandez-Martinez moved to Dorchester County from Hidalgo, Mexico. He graduated from Cambridge-South Dorchester High School in 2016 and enrolled at Chesapeake for the 2016-2017 academic year.  In addition to working in construction, Mr. Hernandez- Martinez played soccer at Chesapeake and was a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.

What brought you to Chesapeake? The main reasons were that Chesapeake was affordable and close to home. It was the perfect fit for me, though. I knew I wasn’t interested in a large school. I wanted small classes and a welcoming environment.

What are your future plans?  I’m transferring to Salisbury University to work a bachelor’s degree and then a master’s degree. I want to become a licensed clinical social worker. I’d like to work with the elderly making sure that they have the resources and connections they need to enjoy their golden years.

What was your greatest challenge? Just balancing my responsibilities. Traveling in between work and class, and trying to be on time for both was really tough.

Describe your Chesapeake experience. The campus is beautiful and friendly. Chesapeake has been a great place to start.

6. Anthony Tate - Associate’s degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences

A stand-out on Chesapeake’s men’s basketball team, Mr. Tate is also a member of Phi Theta Kappa and a graduate of Chesapeake’s Leadership Academy and FOCUS program. He also maintained a 4.0 GPA at Chesapeake.

What brought you to Chesapeake? I came to Chesapeake for the athletics, but I soon appreciated the academics. I wanted to play basketball and Chesapeake has a great program. This was a good environment for in every way. I made the right choice coming here.

What are your future plans: I’m going to transfer to Livingstone College in North Carolina where I’ll play basketball and major in sociology with a criminal justice concentration. My goal is to earn a bachelor’s degree and become a homicide detective.

What was your biggest challenge: Getting accustomed to doing so much online in my classes was an adjustment. It was tough for me at first, but I adjusted. That, and learning time management were my biggest challenges. I had to learn to deal with both issues in order to be successful.

Describe your Chesapeake experience:  I learned communication and how to open myself up to other people. That will have a huge impact on my life. I loved that the instructors assigned so many group projects because it helped all the students grow. Everyone at Chesapeake works to create a positive climate where every student can be uplifted. This was a great experience for me.

7.  Keasha Haythe and Marcus Haythe

Keasha Haythe and Marcus Haythe, a mother/son duo from Talbot County, took different roads to Chesapeake, but they share in the same accomplishment   As a high school student, Ms. Haythe had dreams of attending a four-year college.  She became a teen mother and put her educational quest on hold. Instead of going away to college, she raised a family and went to work in the banking industry then economic development. After achieving career success, Ms. Haythe decided to pursue a college degree. Now the mother of three children and President of Zoe Economic Development Group and President and Founder of The Foundation of HOPE, Inc, a non-profit helping young girls in sixth-grade. Ms. Haythe is achieving the goal she had as a teenager.

Mr. Haythe, a military veteran, began his Chesapeake experience right after he graduated from high school in 2009. After his military service, he entered the work force and later returned to Chesapeake. He is pursuing a bachelor’s degree at the University of Maryland-College Park.

The two students encouraged each other through coursework, and even took a class together. It’s been a long, challenging journey for Ms. Haythe, but doubly rewarding because she accomplished this personal goal with her son.

Keasha Haythe, CEcD – Associate’s Degree in Business Administration

What brought you to Chesapeake? I gave birth to my son Marcus just after I graduated from Easton High School in 1991. I became a mom, so my plans had to change. As I raised my sons and daughter, I built a career while I took courses here and there. I believe that education and economic prosperity go hand in hand.  I wanted a college degree. So, two years ago I started back in earnest with the goal of completing my degree

What are your future plans?  I told my kids that a college degree gives you a seat at the table.  I truly believe that, so that’s why earning this degree is so important to me. I’m not finished, I plan to transfer to the University Maryland Baltimore County to pursue a bachelor’s degree in political science. I’m interested in possibly a master’s degree, as well. I’ll start classes in January of 2019.

 What was your greatest challenge?  Math, without a doubt, was my greatest challenge.  I had to take every single developmental math class and struggled through each one. When other students spent two hours a week on math, I had to spend two hours a day. It was so discouraging and there were many times that I wanted to quit. But I persevered. I used prayer and meditation a lot. I sought encouragement from family and friends. Instructor Vann Crucillo was a huge help. I’m not sure that I would have made it without his help. He was supportive, funny, patient, and made it clear that he really believed in us.

Describe your Chesapeake experience. The college has given me the chance to fulfill this personal goal that I set for myself long ago. I’ve been able to be a good example for my children as they’ve watched me push myself.

Marcus Haythe Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences

What brought you to Chesapeake?  The fact that Chesapeake college being within a reasonable distance of my home in Talbot County and the courses transferred appropriately to my 4 year college of choice which was University Of Maryland -College Park. I graduated from Easton High School in 2009. I did enroll into Chesapeake for the FA 09 and SP10 semesters. In fall of 2010, I enlisted into the Army for 4 years and after my active duty time I continued for the FA 14 semester. I took a year and a half off to work and returned and finished from FA 16 to the FA17 semesters to finish my degree. 

What are your future plans? US Government employment within an intelligence capacity.

What was your greatest challenge?  Finding and/or making the time to pay great attention to my classwork while working

Describe your Chesapeake experience.  A good experience with unique instructors that motivated me to always set the bar as high as possible.

Caroline County

Misty Adkins, Federalsburg; Umar Ali, Federalsburg; Kayla Archer, Preston; Olivia Baker, Greensboro; Christopher Barde, Denton; Travis Barry, Preston; Andrew Beatty, Denton; Kristina Beaven, Preston; Amy Bednar, Preston; Christine Bergdoll, Preston; Faith Berry, Denton; Robert Blakely, Denton; Brooke Blizzard, Ridgely; Lynnette Bowles, Greensboro; Ashley Burl, Greensboro; Elise Burneston, Preston; Megan Caley, Greensboro; Mailly Carnochan, Greensboro; Megan Chaney, Denton; Natalia Chaney, Ridgely; Jake Ciprich, Denton; Evan Collins, Ridgely; Alicia Cooke, Denton; Ashley Cox, Denton; Courtney Cunningham, Denton; Laura Divjak, Preston; Summer Dorr, Henderson; Cortland Dukes, Preston; Jasion Edwards, Denton; Matthew Ellingsworth, Preston; Kelly Evans, Greensboro; Alyson Farnell, Federalsburg; Scott Fisher, Preston; Jasmonet Fletcher, Denton; Taylea Foster, Denton; William Fox, Denton; Luther Gauniel, Federalsburg; Margaret Gorman, Denton; Kylie Gouge, Preston; Kendel Gowe, Preston; Tejay Greenwood, Federalsburg; Sikari Harless, Marydel; Rachel Harris, Federalsburg; Toni Harrison, Federalsburg, Georgianna Hill, Denton; Andrew Huddleston, Denton; Courtney Hunt, Denton; Abigail Johnson, Preston; Siearra Johnson, Greensboro; Tyler Johnson, Denton; Yasmeen Johnson, Ridgely; Michael Jordan, Denton; Mitchell Kato, Greensboro; Katlin Kaub, Ridgely; Ashleigh Kauffman, Denton; Charlotte Kearns, Preston; Dakota Kellermeyer, Denton; Alexis Kotyk, Denton; Jonathan Kraus, Preston; Miranda Larrimore, Preston; Stephanie Lee, Preston; Erin MacFarland, Greensboro; Jack Magennis, Federalsburg; Alejandro Martinez, Marydel; Lauren Mayer, Denton; America McKinney, Denton; Dalia Miguel Velasquez, Marydel; Harrison Miller, Denton; Marissa Moldoch, Preston; Neyda Monter-Casio, Greensboro; Rebekkah Napier, Denton; Emma North, Preston; Robert Parham, Denton; Dawn Parks, Greensboro; Dolores Peach, Preston; Sierra Perdue, Greensboro; Kathleen Quackenbush, Federalsburg; Mikayla Quinton, Preston; Jessica Riddel, Henderson; Ethan Robbins, Preston; Gordin Roblero, Marydel;  Kathryn Saathoff, Ridgely; Nikole Schriefer, Preston; Sarah Schuyler, Denton; Brady Shortall, Denton; Samuel Shorts, Greensboro; Bevan Smith, Federalsburg; Jacobus Smith, Greensboro; Jacquelyn Smith, Greensboro; Mariah Sorrell, Denton; Amanda Stafford, Greenboro; Herbert Sullivan, Ridgely; Makayla Thomas, Denton; Alyssa Todd, Preston; Colby Todd, Denton; Taylor Trice, Denton; Melvin Umana, Greensboro; Paul Venesky, Goldsboro; Savanna Ward, Federalsburg; David Weaver, Greensboro; Michelle Wheatley, Federalsburg; Charles Wood, Ridgely; Allison Yost, Denton

Dorchester County

Lauren Abbott, Fishing Creek; Brittney Bennett, Cambridge; Taylor Bradley, Vienna; Marijane Brohawn, Cambridge; Jennifer Brooks, East New Market; Stacy Brooks, Woolford; Gabriel Butler, Cambridge; James Cannon, Cambridge; Katondra Cherry, Cambridge; Macie Christopher, Secretary; Tanner Collins, Cambridge; Monick Conway, Hurlock; Spencer Davidson, Secretary; Kate Dixon, Cambridge; Barry Edwards, East New Market; Madison Edwards, Hurlock; MiAja Ellis, Cambridge; Ceaira Elzey, East New Market; Alexander Flaggs, East New Market; Bradley Garner, Hurlock; Elbert Green, Cambridge; Gabriel Guzman, Cambridge: Trevor Haddox, Cambridge; Hannah Harp, East New Market; Katelyn Hernandez, Cambridge; Jessica Hindman, Cambridge; Ronald Hinson, Hurlock; Aubree Hodde, East New Market; Caleb Hubbard, Hurlock; Debra Jones, Cambridge; Taylor Kairys, Rhodesdale; Hunter Kane, Cambridge; Leon Lane, Cambridge; Alexander Lecompte, Woolford; Gabrielle Lewis, Cambridge; Shavonte Lewis, Cambridge; Kimberly McMullen, Cambridge; Brooke Morton, East New Market; Kristina Neal, Hurlock; Paige Nelson, East New Market; Cierra Newman, Cambridge; Meagan Owens, Cambridge; Marangeliz Perez Cruz, Cambridge; Zachary Phillips, Cambridge; Sherman Pitts, Hurlock; Linda Robison, Cambridge; Anna Sampson, Cambridge; Salome Santos, Hurlock; Timothy Saunders, Cambridge; Destinae Short, Cambridge; Sierra Slacum, Cambridge; Leah Smith, East New Market; Gianna Stanley, Cambridge; Mason Sullivan, Cambridge; Brandt Swann, Cambridge; Carson Taylor, Cambridge; Ebony Taylor, Cambridge; Kari Tolley, East New Market; Jamie Trego, Linkwood; Ashley Tyler, Church Creek; Juan Vazquez, Vienna; Ryan Versis, Hurlock; Gregory Wallace, Rhodesdale; Raymond Weisman, Hurlock; Krista Wheatley, Hurlock; Katelyn Whitzel, Woolford; Amanda Willey, East New Market; Ellen Willis, Hurlock

Kent County

Tyler Baitsholts, Chestertown; Destinee Barnes, Millington; Dillon Bennett, Millington; Star Bottomly, Rock Hall; Bridget Butler, Chestertown; Abigail Clark, Rock Hall; Melissa Coleman, Rock Hall; Abigail Cook, Worton; Jonathan Cook, Worton; Stephanie Delia, Chestertown; Rebecca Dey, Betterton; Kathryn Fisher, Chestertown; Tyler Gale, Kennedyville; Anna Hall, Chestertown; Samuel Kinser, Rock Hall; Julie MacChione, Galena; Ashley Metzbower, Chestertown; Casey Oatley, Galena; Ana Pavon, Chestertown; Melissa Peck, Chestertown; Amanda Plummer, Rock Hall; Laurie Quinn, Kennedyville; Melyn Rhodes, Millington; Carlos Rueda-Pareja, Chestertown; Ryan Santmyer, Galena; George Short, Worton; Meredith Strother, Millington; Ryleigh Verdonck, Galena; Daniel Wilson, Rock Hall

Queen Anne’s County

Dana Phillips, Church Hill; Joneisha Cain, Wye Mills; Shavanah Ali, Stevensville; Sofiah Ali, Stevensville; Casey Amos, Chestertown; Joshua Anderson, Stevensville; Ellie Andres, Stevensville; Stephen Andres, Stevensville; Alexandra Arntz, Centerville; Samuel Bagley, Chestertown; Joshua Becraft, Centreville; MacKenzie Begley, Chester; Sterling Bollman, Sudlersville; Kimberly Bradford, Chester; Andrew Brewer, Chestertown; Abigail Brimmer, Centreville; Leah Buckler, Stevensville; Skylar Buellis, Barclay; Toni Chiarella, Queenstown; Emily Clagett, Centreville; Danielle Clopein, Centreville; Mary Coffelt, Stevensville; Jenna Conner, Ingleside; Essence Cook, Grasonville; Donald Cox, Chestertown; Donna Cross, Grasonville; Christopher Crow, Centreville; Robert D’Andelet, Centreville; Anna Downs, Sudlersville; Dylan Farmer, Centreville; Logan Faust, Sudlersville; George Findlay, Queenstown; Bradley Forsyth, Centreville; Michael Foster, Centreville; Cody Fowler, Centreville; Breanna Funk, Centreville; Laura Gray, Centreville; Katharyn Grimes Jones, Stevensville; John Gross, Grasonville; JennaRae Haney, Centreville; Grace Harash, Stevensville; Shawn Harlan, Chester; Jacob Heinz, Centreville; Gracie Herman, Queen Anne; Erica Hernandez, Church Hill; Anthony Hershey, Centreville; Courtney Hessian, Church Hill; Alexis Higdon, Centreville; Michael Hitchings, Stevensville; Samuel Hoffman, Centreville; Cathryn Hofman, Stevensville; Abigail Hudock, Chester; Hannah Irons, Queenstown; Bonnie Jackson, Stevensville; Emma Johnson, Church Hill; Rebecca Johnson, Centreville; Grace Jordan, Centreville; Heather Jordan, Queenstown; Rebecca Jordan, Centreville; Emily Joyner, Centreville; James Kaplanges, Stevensville; Ema Kimble, Centreville; Helen King, Church Hill; Julie Kinsley, Church Hill; Kole Klabe, Sudlersville; Annika Koehler, Centreville; Madison Korman, Centreville; Sarah Kowal, Centreville; Shannon Landers, Stevensville; Emily Lanehart, Centreville; Elizabeth Leary, Centreville; Kaitlyn Lehner, Centreville; Victor Leitzel, Queenstown; Chloe Leonard, Centreville; Joseph Lewis, Chester; Frank Lindauer, Millington; Kaitlyn Manlove, Stevensville; Savanna Marks, Stevensville; Hannah Marshall, Barclay; Melonie Mattison, Stevensville; Lauren McMullen, Sudlersville; Stephen Melvin, Centreville; Mary Mescher, Chester; Michelle Meyr, Chester; Jordan Middleton, Centreville; Charles Miller, Stevensville; Jeffrey Mollica, Centreville; Brandi Moore, Chestertown; Marissa Morrissette, Sudlersville; Ryan Muller, Centreville; Jarrod Nagy, Chester; Amanda Nichols, Chestertown; Shannon O’Hare, Stevensville; Sarah Parker, Chestertown; Cheyeanne Parks, Chestertown; Ethan Parks, Church Hill; Sydney Peritz, Centreville; Chase Porter, Church Hill; Kelly Portillo, Church Hill; Tristan Pouliot, Chester; Alissa Quinton, Queenstown; Nicholas Ralph, Queenstown; Megan Ramsey, Chestertown; Jacob Rothang, Stevensville; Aaron Rovenolt, Queenstown; Ashley Ryan, Queen Anne; Josiah Rydstedt, Stevensville; Sara Schauber, Chestertown; Joshua Schuster, Queenstown; Brandon Shanahan, Grasonville; Mikaela Shiflet, Centreville; Marissa Shive, Chester; Timothy Shive, Chester; Erin Shorts, Centreville; Hannah Smith, Centerville; Theresa Snapp, Chester; Donna Snow, Chester; Dustin Snyder, Grasonville; Teagan Sonstegard, Centreville; Victoria Sorrels, Centreville; Caitlin Souder, Stevensville; Jason Staley, Queenstown; Samuel Steen, Stevensville; Zachary Sterling, Stevensville; Burkeley Stinson, Centreville; Sophia Storm, Centreville; Macey Strunk, Stevensville; Savanna Sullivan, Queenstown; Shavontaye Thomas, Grasonville; Carly Tisher, Church Hill; Cameron Todd, Stevensville; Carret Torre, Centreville; Sean Torre, Centreville; Madison Totten, Chester; Lauren Trengo, Church Hill; Jessica Tryon, Centreville; Makisha Turner, Centreville; Tyler Urquhart, Queenstown; Rebecca Ward, Grasonville; Ryan Watkins, Chestertown; Clara Whaley, Millington; Carly White, Centreville; Amber Williams, Queenstown

Talbot

 Kelly Allison, Easton; Donal Ambrocio-Mendez, Easton; Brianna Andrews, Easton; Talha Ashrif, Easton; Sierra Ayers, Easton; Jade Barrow, Easton; Jacob Blades, Easton; Lillian Blizzard, Cordova; Edmond Boafo, Easton; Ellen Brandon, Easton; Allegra Brooks, Easton; Crystal Brown, Easton; McKenna Browning, Easton; Elizabeth Burgess, Easton; Bennett Burke, Easton; Mary Burns, Easton; Taylor Campbell, Easton; La’Tiasha Carter, Easton; Elizabeth Chance, Easton; Allison Clem, Easton; Elysia Collins, Easton; Julia Collins, Easton; Jonathan Cooper, Easton; Cheyenne Cowell, Trappe; Sydney Craven, Easton; Melissa Crews, Wye Mills; Victoria Crutchley, Trappe; Sophia Cumbo, Easton; David Daisey, Easton; Katlyn Daisey, Wittman; Nicholas DeLuca, Easton; Janet Diefenderfer, Trappe; Joshua Dulin, Cordova; Michael Durham, Queen Anne; Brenda Fike, Easton; Geneva Foster, Easton; Zachary Foster, Easton; Megan Garvey, Easton; William George, Easton; Denesha German, Easton; Kyra Gould, Easton; Shania Gregory, Easton; Alecia Hall, Easton; Marcus Haythe, Easton; Jimmy Ho, Easton; Madison Holland, Trappe; Jeremiah Holliday, Easton; Jefline Jean, Easton; Sierra Jennings, Easton; Melissa Johnson,Cordova; Clare Kelly, Easton; Samantha Kennedy, Easton; Alexis Kettering, Cordova; Jamie Knotts, Easton; Elijah Lambert, Trappe; George Larrimore, Cordova; Jason Leaman, Easton; Curtis Loglisci, Easton; Carlos Malaga-Ortega, Easton; Cody Malczewski, Cordova; Cameron Mathis, Easton; Natahan Messick, Easton; Mariah Middleton, Cordova; Katelynn Miles, Easton; Morgan Moore, Cordova; Roxana Munoz, Easton; Hannah Olson, Easton; Justin Ottey, Cordova; Timothy Parker, Cambrdige; John-Paul Pellerin, Royal Oak; Jarelyn Perez, Trappe; Nereyda Perez, Easton; Perrin Poole, Easton; Abigail Price, Bozman; Ezekiel Redmond, Easton; Angeline Rivera, Easton; Jared Royer, Easton; Angela Saddler, Easton; Ry’kerrea Savoy, Easton; Megan Senft, Easton; Haley Setter, Easton; Jennifer Sharp, Easton; Charles Shortall, Easton; Shelby Simpkins, Easton; Tyler Steward, Cordova; Robert Supcoe, Easton; Christina Thomas, Tilghman;Andrew Thomson, Trappe; Nicholas Tindall, Easton; Riley Walter, Easton; Jessica Wester, Easton; Jacob Wheatley, St. Michaels; Scott Wimbrow, Easton; Sarah Woolfolk, Easton; Leslie Zeleny, Cordova

Out-of- County 

Anne Arundel County

Tatiana Zancajo-Lugo, Annapolis

Calvert County

Austin Benton, Lusby

Cecil County

Susan Garrett, Elkton; Linda Snyder, Perryville

Charles County

Albert Scott, Newburg

Prince George’s County

Anthony Tate, Fort Washington

Somerset

Stephanie Cyran, Chrisfield

Wicomico County

Benjamin Abrams, Salisbury; Jessica Baroniak, Salisbury; John Bunting, Berlin; James Englishmen, Berlin

Out- of -State

Delaware

Richard Bundek, Hartly; Brandon Givens, Laurel; Caleb Hagan, Milton; Reeva Jackson, Dover; William Jester, Felton; Christopher Lucas, Felton; Christine Mapp, Harrington; Catherine Robbins, Seaford; Katherine Scott, Felton

Florida

Anne Gerwitz, Fort Myers

Pennsylvania

Michael Yasenka, Meadville

Virginia

Carson Arguin, Dumfries; Cody Forster, Fredericksburg; Trent Koerner, Sterling;

WYE MILLS – Yasmeen Johnson, a Caroline County native and Class of 2018 graduate of North Caroline High School, was named Chesapeake College  Outstanding Dual Enrollment Student of the Year.

She holds a 4.0 grade point average at Chesapeake and earned 36 college credits while attending high school. In addition, Ms. Johnson was named to the Dean’s List.

A Ridgely resident, she began Dual Enrollment to explore her early career choice – journalism.   In addition to English and journalism classes, Ms. Johnson enrolled in business and communications courses at Chesapeake. She’s now interested in marketing and public relations, and plans to earn a bachelor’s degree in communications.

“I really enjoyed the freedom I had in my Dual Enrollment classes,” Ms. Johnson said. “When instructors assigned papers and projects, the students got to choose their own topics. Whatever themes we wanted to explore, our instructors would encouraged us.”

The Outstanding Dual Enrollment Student Award requirements include a high school counselor recommendation, a minimum GPA of 3.5, a minimum of three semesters of coursework and notable extracurricular activities.

“I came in to Dual Enrollment nervous and concerned that it might be too much. There were definitely some stressful times, but it was manageable,” Ms. Johnson said. “Chesapeake provides lots of support, so I never felt like I had to manage alone.”

The Tutoring Center, Ms. Johnson said, provided help when needed, while her instructors were approachable and helpful.

“All of my instructors wanted us to do well. They made the classes fun and interesting. It’s a different environment than high school and I really enjoyed the independence,” Ms. Johnson said. “I loved communications and look forward to taking more of those classes in the future.”

Statistics, Ms. Johnson said, was one of the more challenging courses at Chesapeake.

“It was stressful, but I managed to get an A,” she added.

In high school, Johnson participated in track and field, Future Business Leaders of America, student government and National Honor Society.

This fall, she will attend Acadia University (Pa.) and major in communications. All 36 of her Dual Enrollment credits transferred, so she is entering the four-year university with three semesters of coursework completed.

“I feel like I’m going in with a head start. I’m really happy to have all of these credits, and this will allow to get into my major courses sooner and take advantage of all the opportunities. I’ll be able to do a semester in London next year because I’m so far ahead,” Johnson said. “All the hard work was worth it.”

Chesapeake’s Dual Enrollment program is open to high school students who are 16 years old with a minimum 2.5 Grade Point Average and a guidance counselor’s recommendation.

For more information about Chesapeake’s Dual Enrollment program, visit www.chesapeake.edu.

WYE MILLS  - The Avalon Foundation and Chesapeake College have announced the beginning of a new partnership designed to bring large-venue music acts to the school’s Rufus M. and Loraine Hall Todd Performing Arts Center (TPAC).

Beginning in the fall, the Avalon will host a series of concerts and events at TPAC. The schedule kicks off with “An Evening with Melissa Etheridge -- Yes I Am 25th Anniversary Tour” on Tuesday, October 9.  Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m., Friday, June 29 at avalonfoundation.org.

“The Avalon Foundation’s team has nearly 60 years of event management experience, deep relationships with artist agencies and a loyal following of music lovers on the Eastern Shore,” Foundation President and CEO Alexander Bond said.  “As part of our mission, we are always looking to expand our programming reach and connect more people with easy access to arts programming.  TPAC offers a perfect venue for us to do so.”

The 904-seat TPAC expands the Avalon Foundation’s ability to host concerts beyond the historic, 400-seat Avalon Theatre and 60-seat Stoltz Listening Room in Easton.

“From the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra to international performance troupes, the Todd Center has long been a cultural hub and important space for bringing larger acts to the region,” Dr. Clifford Coppersmith, Chesapeake College President, said. “Our capacity to host even more shows and events makes this partnership possible and allows our two organizations to combine resources to grow arts audiences, improve arts accessibility and build and connect communities on the Mid Shore.”

Melissa Etheridge has remained one of America’s favorite female singer-songwriters for more than two decades.

Known for her confessional lyrics and raspy smoky vocals, she hit her commercial and artistic stride with her fourth album “Yes I Am” in 1993. The collection featured the massive hits, "I'm the Only One" and "Come to My Window," a searing song of longing that brought Etheridge her second Grammy® Award for Best Female Rock Performance.

In 1995, Etheridge issued her highest charting album, Your Little Secret, which was distinguished by the hit single, "I Want to Come Over."

Avalon management plans to announce several additional “big shows” that will be held at TPAC in the coming months. The concerts add to the Avalon’s already robust 160-act annual schedule in Easton.

To stay connected with big show announcements resulting from the Avalon Foundation at Chesapeake College partnership, Bond encourages music lovers to subscribe to the organization’s email list by visiting avalonfoundation.org.

The Avalon Foundation is the largest arts nonprofit on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Also regarded for the nationally renown Plein Air Easton outdoor painting competition, the Foundation’s mission is to foster a strong community on the Eastern Shore by creating accessible, uplifting arts, education, and cultural experiences that appeal to the interests of a diverse population and to ensure the long term viability of the historic Avalon Theatre.

A key component of Chesapeake College’s mission is to be a center for personal enrichment and the arts and to sponsor a broad range of affordable civic activities that reflect the college’s role as a community-learning center.

WYE MILLS -  May 2018 graduate Savanna Marks of Stevensville is the first student at Chesapeake College to earn an Applied Science degree in Agriculture (AAS). The 60-credit program was launched in 2016 and is designed to prepare students for a career in agriculture or to transfer credits and advance to a four-year institution.

In the fall, Marks plans to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture at the University of Delaware. In addition to being a full-time student at Chesapeake, she applied her classroom studies in the workplace at Crop Production Services in Centreville.

Marks joins Jordan Wilmer of Centreville and Taryn North of Trappe as the first recipients of the Jenny Rhodes Endowed Scholarship awarded to Chesapeake agricultural studies students.

Wilmer completed his first year at Chesapeake after earning credits through the CASE Agriculture curriculum offered at Queen Anne’s County High School. He also works for a Queen Anne’s county poultry grower. North will begin her second year of agricultural studies in the fall. Outside of the classroom, she cares for alpacas on her family farm.

The Jenny Rhodes Scholarship was created in 2017. Rhodes is a senior agent and educator for the University of Maryland Extension in Queen Anne’s County. Together with her sons, she owns and operates Deerfield Farms, a poultry and irrigated grain farm in Centreville that produces 500,000 antibiotic-free broilers annually.

“Jenny has provided valuable ideas for course activities and studies at Chesapeake and her local connections have helped our agriculture program to prosper,” said Nicole Fiorellino, Ph.D., Chesapeake College Agriculture Program Coordinator and Instructor.  “Her ongoing guidance and support through the scholarship contributes to the continued prosperity of agriculture on the Eastern Shore.”

Chesapeake College is the first two-year institution in Maryland to offer a degree in agriculture. For more information on agricultural studies at Chesapeake and the Jenny Rhodes Endowed Scholarship, visit admissions@chesapeake.edu.

To address the growing issue of addiction on the Mid Shore, Chesapeake College will offer a new Substance Abuse Counseling Certificate program beginning the 2018-2019 academic year.

The new addictions certificate is a step toward an Associate of Arts degree in Human Services and Behavioral Health at Chesapeake, but students can begin working in the field prior to graduation.

“The Local Drug and Alcohol Abuse Councils who serve the five-county Mid Shore came to us last year with an urgent need for training and educating new counselors to help with the rising number of citizens in need, especially those suffering from opioid addictions,” said Jon Longest, Chair of Health Professions at Chesapeake.

Those who follow the counseling coursework scheduled for Chesapeake’s fall and winterim semesters and the first half of the spring semester, are eligible to apply for trainee status with the State of Maryland. Trainees can start working in the field with proper supervision from an employer while continuing coursework at Chesapeake toward a degree.

Substance abuse counseling classes at Chesapeake include: Theories of Counseling; Pharmacology of Psychoactive Drugs; Addiction, Treatment and Delivery; and Ethical Issues in Counseling.

Those who earn certificates and degrees in substance abuse counseling are eligible to work at government health departments, community counseling centers, addiction counseling centers and rehabilitation organizations.

For more information on the Substance Abuse Counseling Program at Chesapeake, visit the Current Catalog at www.chesapeake.edu. Click here for more https://bit.ly/2KVVyBP

Chesapeake will soon welcome new students to campus for Fall Semester 2018. Meet some of our incoming freshmen!

Daniel Garcia – Dorchester County

Dan, an 18-year-old Cambridge resident, graduated from Cambridge-South Dorchester High School where he played baseball, served in student government and was school president in his senior year. He’s also a rapper who loves to perform and engineers tracks in his home music studio.

As a full-time freshman, Dan will keep a part-time job while he pursues his studies and other interests at Chesapeake. He was selected for a 2018 Chesapeake College Presidential Scholarship. A Business major, Dan is already planning his financial future.

“Society puts a lot of pressure on kids to attend a university for all four years. I had this realization that I needed to think about the finances. I want a great experience, but I don’t want the debt,” he said. “My plan is to start at Chesapeake to get a great education and save a lot of money. I hope to eventually transfer to the University of Maryland for my bachelor’s degree.”

Zoey Hacker – Caroline County

Zoey, a Colonel Richardson High School graduate, is a twin and one of five children.

A member of the CRHS marching band and other musical groups, Zoey plays multiple instruments including saxophone, flute, clarinet, and piano. In addition to her musical pursuits, Zoey is also an athlete who played volleyball, basketball and tennis at CRHS.

Zoey, a Preston resident, will major in Criminal Justice and plans to earn an associate’s degree at Chesapeake. She hopes to enter the law enforcement field in the area of police forensics.

“This is such an honor for me,” Zoey said of her selection as a Presidential Scholar.

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.

WYE MILLS  - The Avalon Foundation and Chesapeake College have announced the beginning of a new partnership designed to bring large-venue music acts to the school’s Rufus M. and Loraine Hall Todd Performing Arts Center (TPAC).

Beginning in the fall, the Avalon will host a series of concerts and events at TPAC. The schedule kicks off with “An Evening with Melissa Etheridge -- Yes I Am 25th Anniversary Tour” on Tuesday, October 9.  Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m., Friday, June 29 at avalonfoundation.org.

“The Avalon Foundation’s team has nearly 60 years of event management experience, deep relationships with artist agencies and a loyal following of music lovers on the Eastern Shore,” Foundation President and CEO Alexander Bond said.  “As part of our mission, we are always looking to expand our programming reach and connect more people with easy access to arts programming.  TPAC offers a perfect venue for us to do so.”

The 904-seat TPAC expands the Avalon Foundation’s ability to host concerts beyond the historic, 400-seat Avalon Theatre and 60-seat Stoltz Listening Room in Easton.

“From the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra to international performance troupes, the Todd Center has long been a cultural hub and important space for bringing larger acts to the region,” Dr. Clifford Coppersmith, Chesapeake College President, said. “Our capacity to host even more shows and events makes this partnership possible and allows our two organizations to combine resources to grow arts audiences, improve arts accessibility and build and connect communities on the Mid Shore.”

Melissa Etheridge has remained one of America’s favorite female singer-songwriters for more than two decades.

Known for her confessional lyrics and raspy smoky vocals, she hit her commercial and artistic stride with her fourth album “Yes I Am” in 1993. The collection featured the massive hits, "I'm the Only One" and "Come to My Window," a searing song of longing that brought Etheridge her second Grammy® Award for Best Female Rock Performance.

In 1995, Etheridge issued her highest charting album, Your Little Secret, which was distinguished by the hit single, "I Want to Come Over."

Avalon management plans to announce several additional “big shows” that will be held at TPAC in the coming months. The concerts add to the Avalon’s already robust 160-act annual schedule in Easton.

To stay connected with big show announcements resulting from the Avalon Foundation at Chesapeake College partnership, Bond encourages music lovers to subscribe to the organization’s email list by visiting avalonfoundation.org.

The Avalon Foundation is the largest arts nonprofit on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Also regarded for the nationally renown Plein Air Easton outdoor painting competition, the Foundation’s mission is to foster a strong community on the Eastern Shore by creating accessible, uplifting arts, education, and cultural experiences that appeal to the interests of a diverse population and to ensure the long term viability of the historic Avalon Theatre.

A key component of Chesapeake College’s mission is to be a center for personal enrichment and the arts and to sponsor a broad range of affordable civic activities that reflect the college’s role as a community-learning center.

WYE MILLS -  May 2018 graduate Savanna Marks of Stevensville is the first student at Chesapeake College to earn an Applied Science degree in Agriculture (AAS). The 60-credit program was launched in 2016 and is designed to prepare students for a career in agriculture or to transfer credits and advance to a four-year institution.

In the fall, Marks plans to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture at the University of Delaware. In addition to being a full-time student at Chesapeake, she applied her classroom studies in the workplace at Crop Production Services in Centreville.

Marks joins Jordan Wilmer of Centreville and Taryn North of Trappe as the first recipients of the Jenny Rhodes Endowed Scholarship awarded to Chesapeake agricultural studies students.

Wilmer completed his first year at Chesapeake after earning credits through the CASE Agriculture curriculum offered at Queen Anne’s County High School. He also works for a Queen Anne’s county poultry grower. North will begin her second year of agricultural studies in the fall. Outside of the classroom, she cares for alpacas on her family farm.

The Jenny Rhodes Scholarship was created in 2017. Rhodes is a senior agent and educator for the University of Maryland Extension in Queen Anne’s County. Together with her sons, she owns and operates Deerfield Farms, a poultry and irrigated grain farm in Centreville that produces 500,000 antibiotic-free broilers annually.

“Jenny has provided valuable ideas for course activities and studies at Chesapeake and her local connections have helped our agriculture program to prosper,” said Nicole Fiorellino, Ph.D., Chesapeake College Agriculture Program Coordinator and Instructor.  “Her ongoing guidance and support through the scholarship contributes to the continued prosperity of agriculture on the Eastern Shore.”

Chesapeake College is the first two-year institution in Maryland to offer a degree in agriculture. For more information on agricultural studies at Chesapeake and the Jenny Rhodes Endowed Scholarship, visit admissions@chesapeake.edu.

To address the growing issue of addiction on the Mid Shore, Chesapeake College will offer a new Substance Abuse Counseling Certificate program beginning the 2018-2019 academic year.

The new addictions certificate is a step toward an Associate of Arts degree in Human Services and Behavioral Health at Chesapeake, but students can begin working in the field prior to graduation.

“The Local Drug and Alcohol Abuse Councils who serve the five-county Mid Shore came to us last year with an urgent need for training and educating new counselors to help with the rising number of citizens in need, especially those suffering from opioid addictions,” said Jon Longest, Chair of Health Professions at Chesapeake.

Those who follow the counseling coursework scheduled for Chesapeake’s fall and winterim semesters and the first half of the spring semester, are eligible to apply for trainee status with the State of Maryland. Trainees can start working in the field with proper supervision from an employer while continuing coursework at Chesapeake toward a degree.

Substance abuse counseling classes at Chesapeake include: Theories of Counseling; Pharmacology of Psychoactive Drugs; Addiction, Treatment and Delivery; and Ethical Issues in Counseling.

Those who earn certificates and degrees in substance abuse counseling are eligible to work at government health departments, community counseling centers, addiction counseling centers and rehabilitation organizations.

For more information on the Substance Abuse Counseling Program at Chesapeake, visit the Current Catalog at www.chesapeake.edu. Click here for more https://bit.ly/2KVVyBP

Chesapeake will soon welcome new students to campus for Fall Semester 2018. Meet some of our incoming freshmen!

Daniel Garcia – Dorchester County

Dan, an 18-year-old Cambridge resident, graduated from Cambridge-South Dorchester High School where he played baseball, served in student government and was school president in his senior year. He’s also a rapper who loves to perform and engineers tracks in his home music studio.

As a full-time freshman, Dan will keep a part-time job while he pursues his studies and other interests at Chesapeake. He was selected for a 2018 Chesapeake College Presidential Scholarship. A Business major, Dan is already planning his financial future.

“Society puts a lot of pressure on kids to attend a university for all four years. I had this realization that I needed to think about the finances. I want a great experience, but I don’t want the debt,” he said. “My plan is to start at Chesapeake to get a great education and save a lot of money. I hope to eventually transfer to the University of Maryland for my bachelor’s degree.”

Zoey Hacker – Caroline County

Zoey, a Colonel Richardson High School graduate, is a twin and one of five children.

A member of the CRHS marching band and other musical groups, Zoey plays multiple instruments including saxophone, flute, clarinet, and piano. In addition to her musical pursuits, Zoey is also an athlete who played volleyball, basketball and tennis at CRHS.

Zoey, a Preston resident, will major in Criminal Justice and plans to earn an associate’s degree at Chesapeake. She hopes to enter the law enforcement field in the area of police forensics.

“This is such an honor for me,” Zoey said of her selection as a Presidential Scholar.

Maggie Brown – Queen Anne’s County

Maggie has a clear career path planned for her future and she is choosing to begin at Chesapeake.

A Kent Island High School graduate, she hopes to be an elementary school teacher. As a student in the Teaching Pathway at KIHS, Maggie completed internships at Church Hill Elementary School and Matapeake Elementary Schools. She comes to Chesapeake as an Early Childhood Education major with plans to eventually transfer to the University of Maryland College Park to earn a bachelor’s degree. Maggie plans to focus on early childhood education to become a teacher for Pre-K through 3rd grade.

"My internships just confirmed that I want to a teacher," Maddie said. "I really enjoyed working with the children and seeing their excitement about learning."

A member of the Kent Island Volunteer Fire Department, Maggie said she plans to continue her service as she takes a full-time course load at Chesapeake.

"Going to a local college is just a smart choice for me," Maggie said. "I’m looking forward to getting a good education and preparing for the next steps at Chesapeake."

Brianna Edgar – Dorchester County

Though she just graduated from North Dorchester High School in June, Brianna is well on her way to achieving her career goals. Brianna is beginning the fall semester with 30 college credits that she earned through Dual Enrollment at Chesapeake. The program allows qualified students to take college classes while they are still in high school.

"I have a plan and Dual Enrollment gave me a great head start. I hope to have my Bachelor’s of Nursing degree when I’m 20 and then go on to earn a master’s degree," she said, adding to her goal is to be an OB/GYN Nurse Practitioner.

Since childhood, Brianna has wanted to be a nurse and gained valuable college experience with a tuition savings through Dual Enrollment. She has already taken many of the pre-requisites required for entry into Chesapeake’s Registered Nurse Associate’s Degree Program.

An 18 year-old Hurlock resident, Brianna is a waitress in two restaurants. She plans to keep working while she balances her course work. Brianna said she is looking forward to experience Chesapeake’s as a full-time student this year. She is interested in joining the TRIo program and exploring other opportunities for students.

Andrew Beatty – Caroline County

This North Caroline High School graduate is bringing his love of numbers to Chesapeake’s Business Pathway to explore accounting.

“I’ve always been pretty good at math and I enjoy working with numbers,” Andrew said.

A member of Future Business Leaders of America, Andrew also played soccer at NCHS. He currently works in his family’s farming business, Clayton Farms. Andrew said he is entering Chesapeake prepared by his experience with Dual Enrollment classes.

“I feel like I know what to expect now. I understand how college classes are different from high school, and I think that will help me this semester,” Andrew said.

The aspiring accountant said he plans to transfer after two years to either the University of Maryland or Salisbury University to earn a bachelor’s degree.

India Tran – Talbot County

This busy St. Michaels Middle- High School graduate hopes to turn her love of travel into a business career someday.

In addition to playing five musical instruments, India performed in three choirs throughout high school. She also played three sports and worked multiple jobs. Other activities included National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society and Tri-Music Honor Society.

India said she decided to attend Chesapeake after visiting the campus for a high school open house in the spring. "I realized then that Chesapeake’s had everything that I need right now. I knew Chesapeake made financial sense for me because it’s affordable. During our visit, the instructors we met were fun and outgoing," India said. "Chesapeake will be a great place for me to start and prepare for transfer to a four-year college. Receiving the Presidential Scholarship is a huge help."

India comes to Chesapeake as a Business major and plans to enroll in the Honors Program. Eventually, she plans to transfer to a four-year university and earn a bachelor’s degree in International Business with a minor in Spanish.

Justin Thompson – Talbot County

Justin graduated from Easton High School in June and will begin the next phase of his life at Chesapeake this fall.

He completed the Career and Technology Education Program at EHS and will continue on the STEM Pathway at Chesapeake. An aspiring electrical engineer, Justin plans to take General Education credits at Chesapeake for two years and then transfer to the University of Maryland Baltimore County to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering.

Justin’s interest in STEM began in high school when he was introduce to electronics and circuitry.

A percussionist, Justin played drums in the Easton High School band. He also ran track at EHW, specializing in the middle distance events. The Easton resident said he looks forward to becoming involved in student activities and clubs on campus.

A distinguished literary figure, Dr. Michael Eric Dyson is a nonfiction writer, scholar, and renowned speaker on the issue of racism and improving race relations in America. Dr. Dyson is a Georgetown University sociology professor, a New York Times contributing opinion writer, and a contributing editor of The New Republic. He is an African American intellectual who has written or edited over 18 books including books on Martin Luther King Jr. and former President Barack Obama, and Dr. Dyson is also a beloved Baptist minister. An American Book Award recipient and two-time NAACP Image Award winner, Dr. Dyson is one of our nation’s most influential and renowned public intellectuals.

Location: Chesapeake College – Todd Performing Arts Center in Wye Mills, MD

Time: 7:00 PM with a Q&A session, followed by a Book Signing

Sponsored by Maryland Humanities, Mid-Shore Community Foundation, Queen Anne’s County Public Schools, Chesapeake College, Queen Anne’s Public Library, Frederick Douglass Honor Society, Talbot NAACP, Kennard Alumni Association and the Queen Anne’s County Arts Council.

UPDATE: THIS EVENT IS NOW AT CAPACITY!!! Thank you all for your interest and enthusiasm. We look forward to welcoming Dr. Dyson to the Todd Performing Arts Center soon.

August 13, 2018 (WYE MILLS, MD)

Chesapeake College President Dr. Clifford P. Coppersmith today announced that Cambridge resident Amber Tolley McGinnis will serve as Interim Director of the Cambridge Center effective August 16.

A college faculty member since 2008, McGinnis is an Assistant Professor of Communications and has been the Honors Program Director since 2015.

"As a community resident, Amber has a great appreciation for all that Dorchester County offers to its citizens and employers," said Dr. Coppersmith. "With her strong communications background, she understands the importance of offering classes that meet the community’s needs and how to best market those programs to prospective students."

He added that McGinnis’s tenure with the college, understanding of the school’s dual enrollment and credit programs, familiarity with faculty and staff, and knowledge of Dorchester County made her particularly well suited for this year-long appointment.

As Interim Director, McGinnis will facilitate a strategic planning process to address educational and workforce development pathways that are central to Dorchester’s economy including manufacturing, health care, tourism, and agriculture. She will also oversee plans for the Cambridge Center’s 40th anniversary in 2019.

A popular and well-regarded faculty member, McGinnis was awarded Chesapeake’s 2018-2020 Stuart M. Bounds Distinguished Teaching Chair for innovation in teaching and learning.

"I want to establish relationships critical to the Cambridge Center’s success and anticipate working closely with local educators, residents and the business community to strengthen the campus’ role as a center of both credit and workforce development partnerships," McGinnis said. "I look forward to working on the strategic plan to help identify and build programs, partnerships and internships that strengthen our role and relationships."

McGinnis, a member of the National Collegiate Honors Council, said she will continue to oversee the college’s Honors Program from Cambridge and plans to teach one section of Communications 101 (Fundamentals of Oral and Organizational Communications) at the Cambridge Center during the fall and spring semesters.

McGinnis is a graduate of Cambridge-South Dorchester High School, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from Towson University and a Masters of Arts in Publications Design from the University of Baltimore. 
A Dorchester County native, McGinnis is married and has two children. 

Prior to her tenure at Chesapeake, she was employed for seven years by Erickson Retirement Communities in Baltimore in a variety of positions culminating as Director of Advertising where she oversaw a $10 million strategic marketing and communications budget. 

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.

Home and Abroad, an exhibit highlighting the works of four acclaimed artists, will open in the Todd Performing Arts Center on Saturday, September 15, 2018.

The free exhibit is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 pm, and before events in the Performing Arts Center. The exhibit will be featured in TPAC through October 28. Patrons who attend the “The Rat Pack – Together Again” show in TPAC on Sept.15 will have an exclusive preview of the art exhibit.

The exhibiting artists are Meg Nottingham Walsh, Bernard Dellario, Gray Dodson and Lynn Mehta.

These four award-winning artists have bonded over more than a decade of painting together, both at home and abroad. Though their styles are quite different, the four are alike in their understanding of what is important in painting. They also share a passion for painting outdoors and a strong dedication to their art. Their adventures together over the past decade have greatly enriched their individual artistic journeys.

The 60 landscapes in this exhibit include scenes from their travels in Europe and the US as well as works depicting their own “back yard,” the DC area, the Virginia countryside, and the Eastern Shore.

A closing reception will be held on Sunday, Oct. 28 from 2- 5 pm in the TPAC lobby.  The reception is open to the public, and guests are asked to RSVP to megwalshart@gmail.com.  For more information about the exhibit, please contact Marcie Molloy at 410-827-5825 or mamolloy@chesapeke.edu.

Meg Nottingham Walsh www.megwalsh.com

Known for landscapes drenched in light and color, Meg has won awards at major juried exhibits and plein air competitions. Though realistic in nature, her work has a strong abstract element, characterized by simplified shapes, limited values, and glowing color. Her paintings have been purchased by the Academy Art Museum in Easton, MD, the town of Oxford, MD, the National Institutes of Health, Georgetown University Hospital, and numerous private collectors.

Meg is an elected member of the Washington Society of Landscape Painters and the Salmagundi Club in New York City. Her landscapes are featured in the book 100 Plein Air Painters of the Mid-Atlantic. She is represented by galleries in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia, and lives in Easton, Maryland.

Bernard Dellario www.bjdellario.com

Bernard earned a Bachelor’s degree from Kings College in Wilkes-Barre, PA and has studied Art at the Art League School in Alexandria, Virginia.  In addition, he has taken several workshops with national well known painters   He has been a member of the Washington Society of Landscape Painters since 2003 and currently serves as President.  He exhibits and has won awards through several venues in the Washington DC metro area. 

Gray S. Dodson www.graysdodson.com

Gray is Tidewater born and bred, and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. Since moving to Nelson County in 1995, she has been a full time painter, working onsite throughout the United States, Canada, Curacao, France, Italy and Mexico. Her work is represented in numerous corporate and private collections across the country including the U. S. State Department. Dodson’s paintings have hung in the United States Embassies in Panama and Guyana. She has been awarded fellowships at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts and the Vermont Studio Center in addition to a painting fellowship from the Virginia Commission for the Arts.  Her affiliations include The Washington Society of Landscape Painters, and The McGuffey Art Center in Charlottesville, VA. Her work is featured in “Sunday Drives, Cruising the Back Roads of Amherst & Nelson Counties” and “100 Plein Air Painters of the Mid-Atlantic”. She served as the artist member of the Virginia Art & Architecture Review Board from 2010-2014.

Lynn Mehta www.lynnmehta.com

The paintings Lynn creates are recognizable for their thick, luscious paint and loose impressionistic brushstrokes. Lynn holds a B.A. in Art from San Diego State University and has studied with internationally acclaimed artists in the US and abroad. Garnering numerous awards annually, she most recently received an Honorable Mention Salmagundi Nautical Show 2018, Best Artist Award and 1st Place Juried Artist Quick Draw Paint Annapolis 2018, and 1st Place Best Artist Paint Snow Hill 2018.  Lynn’s paintings are found in galleries in private and public collections internationally. 

Lynn has been a featured artist in Washington DC's, Hill Rag,100 Plein Air Painters of the Mid-Atlantic, and a 5-page article in Plein Air Magazine. She is a Fellow in the American Artists Professional League and is juried into Oil Painters of America, the Salmagundi Club, and the Washington Society of Landscape Artists. Lynn holds Signature Membership in the American Society of Marine Artists and the Mid-Atlantic Plein Air Painters Association.

An Evening with Melissa Etheridge 
Yes, I Am 25th Anniversary Tour
Tuesday, October 9, 2018
Doors: 7 p.m.; Show: 8 p.m.
Chesapeake College-Todd Performing Arts Center 
$300/100/80/75

***Exclusive VIP Packages Available. See details on Ticketing Page  or below.***

“Etheridge is a globally renowned Grammy-winning, Oscar-winning rock icon.” Forbes

To inaugurate our new partnership with the Todd Performing Arts Center, we are delighted to welcome the legendary Melissa Etheridge for a special evening celebrating the 25th anniversary of her Grammy-winning album Yes I Am!

Known for her confessional lyrics and raspy, smoky vocals, Etheridge has remained one of America’s favorite female singer-songwriters for more than two decades. After storming onto the American rock scene in 1988 with the release of her critically acclaimed self-titled debut album, Melissa’s popularity grew around such memorable originals as “Bring Me Some Water,” “No Souvenirs,” and “Ain't It Heavy”. 

Etheridge would go on to hit her commercial and artistic stride with her fourth album, Yes I Am (1993). The collection features the massive hits “I'm the Only One” and “Come to My Window,” a searing song of longing that brought Etheridge her second Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Performance. 

https://www.melissaetheridge.com/

RESERVE YOUR TICKETS NOW

This show is presented by the Avalon Foundation at the Chesapeake College Todd Performing Arts Center (TPAC) located at 1000 College Circle, Wye Mills, MD 21679. TPAC is handicap-accessible on the orchestra level only. All seating for this show will be reserved. Please call 410-822-7299 for any special seating needs. All ticket sales are final. There are no refunds or exchanges.

Eleanor Welsh, Professor of English, has been appointed to serve as the Fulbright Scholar Liaison at Chesapeake College. As a Fulbright Scholar Liaison, Eleanor will join a network of approximately 2,000 individuals across the United States who play a crucial role in the U.S. Department of State’s Fulbright Scholar Program in the U.S. higher education community.

Fulbright Scholar Liaisons promote the Fulbright Scholar Program on their campus, by informing faculty and administrators about Fulbright Scholar opportunities, encouraging candidates to apply, recognizing Fulbright alumni when they return, and supporting the development of institutional policies that are conducive to sending or hosting Fulbright scholars.

College and university participation in the Fulbright Scholar Liaison network supports campus internationalization efforts, helps raise awareness of the value of educational exchange, and provides awards for faculty to research and teach internationally.

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The Fulbright Program is funded through an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the Program, which operates in over 160 countries worldwide.

Since its establishment in 1946 under legislation introduced by the late U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas, the Fulbright Program has awarded more than 380,000 students, scholars, teachers, artists, and scientists the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas, and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.

Fulbrighters address critical global issues in all disciplines, while forging lasting connections, and building relationships, knowledge, and leadership in support of the long-term interests of the United States. Fulbright alumni have achieved distinction in many fields, including 59 who have been awarded the Nobel Prize, 82 who have received Pulitzer Prizes, and 37 who have served as a head of state or government.

For more information on the Fulbright Scholar Liaison network, please visit http://www.cies.org/liaison or contact the Fulbright Scholar Program at outreach@iie.org. For general information about the Fulbright Program, please visit http://eca.state.gov/fulbright or contact the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Press Office by telephone 202-632-6452 or e-mail ECA-Press@state.gov.

Wednesday, September 5 at 4:30pm, come out and audition for the Peake Players' original production of ROBIN HOOD!

Our Peake Players production this Fall will be our own Eastern Shore version of Robin Hood created by the ensemble over the course of the next six weeks. Auditions are Sept. 5 at 4pm in the Cadby. Students, staff, and faculty, all talents and skills are welcome! Performers and technicians are encouraged to attend. Come and help us to create our own version of this classic tale set on the Eastern Shore.

Performances will be October 18 to 22 with two weekday afternoon matinees on Thursday at 4pm and Monday at 4pm. Chesapeake students, faculty, and staff pay $5. General admission is $10. 

Email Dr. Rob Thompson rthompson@chesapeake.edu with questions.