Former Cambridge Mayor Victoria Jackson-Stanley delivered the address at Chesapeake’s 48th Commencement and was awarded the Chesapeake College Community Service Medal.

In her speech, Ms. Jackson-Stanley acknowledged the role of grit in her own life and those of the graduates. The persistence shown by the graduates will serve them well in the future as they face challenges and become leaders.

“You are leaders and trail blazers.  You may be the first in your family, or your community to attend college. Everybody looks to you to be the role model for the rest of the family. You may have been the one everyone thought would not do anything with your life,” Ms. Jackson-Stanley told the graduates.

Ms. Jackson-Stanley urged the graduates to recognize their own gifts and talents, and find ways to help others.

“I challenge you to always remember that the limits we place on ourselves are the only limits we face. Prepare yourself to cut a path through the obstacle someone else put in your way,” she said.

Caroline

Alexia Beaver of Preston, Kelsey Biscoe of Preston, Emily Bowdle of Denton, Maya Brannon of Denton, Zoe Breeding of Denton, David Brown of Goldsboro, Rachel Brown of Denton, Spencer Brown of Greensboro, Cameron Byrd of Henderson, Benjamin Callahan of Denton, Margaret Callaway of Henderson, Olivia Calwell of Denton, Kaitlyn Cantwell of Henderson, James Caraker of Henderson, Katelyn Carroll of Preston, Patricia Curran of Greensboro, Victoria Darrow of Greensboro, Raymond Davis of Ridgely, Joseph Del Medico of Greensboro, Betty Devers of Denton, Laura Divjak of Preston, Brock Dixon of Goldsboro, Jenna Dixon of Federalsburg, Dustin Douglass of Federalsburg, Teresa Drake of Greensboro, Victoria Edwards of Greensboro, Zachary Eldredge of Denton, Matthew Ellingsworth of Preston, Marilyn Evey of Preston, Kaitlin Fairbanks of Federalsburg, Alyson Farnell of Federalsburg, Jack Fisher of Preston, Ashley Garrett of Greensboro, MaryJo Gavin of Goldsboro, Ryan Geoghegan of Henderson, Kendel Gowe of Preston, Ashley Harding of Greensboro, Sydnie Hathaway of Denton, Heath Hendrickson of Denton, Georgianna Hill of Denton, Lily Hill of Denton, Yasmeen Hilton-Bey of Greensboro, Jessica Hotsko of Ridgely, Christen Houtz of Denton, Rachel Hyler of Marydel, Abigail Johnson of Preston, Joshua Johnson of Denton, Sierra Johnson of Greensboro, Sumaiya Johnson of Ridgely, Michael Jordan of Denton, Rebekah Kelley of Preston, Kate Laramore of Denton, Daphne Larmore of Preston, Megan Lord of Greensboro, Joshua Markland of Preston, Zakary McMahan of Federalsburg, Christy Miller of Federalsburg, Lydia Miller of Greensboro, Michael Neville of Federalsburg, Jeffrey North of Preston, Tamisha Perry of Federalsburg, Dana Phillips of Church Hill, Mikayla Quinton of Preston, Sarah Redd of Denton, Kayla Rex of Preston, Lindsey Rodgers of Greensboro, Victoria Ross of Goldsboro, Allyssa Schellhaas of Greensboro, Michael Segar of Federalsburg, John Sherwood of Greensboro, Rachel Slaughter of Preston, Shyanne Snow of Greensboro, Jacquelyn Spiering of Greensboro, Audrey Stultz of Ridgely, Christine Sturm of Denton, Ann Taglavore of Denton, Kissaundra Thomas of Federalsburg, Brenda Thrift of Denton, Colby Todd of Denton, Rachel Van Dalen of Denton, Dawn Victoria of Ridgely, David Weaver of Greensboro, Joseph Webb of Denton, Hannah Whelan of Denton, Helen Wiley of Denton, John Wilson of Denton, Samantha Wilson of Preston, Aaron Wilt of Ridgely, Katie Worm of Preston, Jason Wright of Greensboro, Ashley Zepp of Denton

Dorchester

Allyson Adams of Secretary, Clement Adegbehingbe of Cambridge, JohnRay Akia of Cambridge, Amber Bayliss of Hurlock, Bryan Bayliss of Hurlock, Taylor Bradley of Vienna, Jennifer Brooks of East New Market, Phillip Brunecz Jr. of Hurlock, Amy Cannon of Cambridge, David Carrier of Hurlock, Julie Crain of Cambridge, Ahmad Dajani of Cambridge, Daniel Ebling of Rhodesdale, Matthew Elzey of Wingate, Wilfredo Estrella-Hernandez of Cambridge, Alyssa Finley of Hurlock, Lauren Gomez of Cambridge, Hollie

Good of Cambridge, Candice Gray of Vienna, Elbert Green of Cambridge, Nicholas Gregori of Hurlock, Trevor Haddox of Cambridge, Edwin Hernandez-Martinez of Cambridge, Shelley Hill of Rhodesdale, Aubree Hodde of East New Market, Michelle Hughes of Madison, Amanda Jones of Cambridge, Patrick Kelly of Secretary, Laura Korb of Cambridge, Elizabeth Kyle of Cambridge, Jordan Maddox of Cambridge, Sabahat Mahmood of Cambridge, Kristie Malkus of East New Market, Michael Masche of Hurlock, John Mazzie of Cambridge, Dyzander McCoy of Hurlock, Genine Meekins of Cambridge, Tara Murphy of Hurlock, Haley Niblett of Cambridge, Meagan Owens of Cambridge, Rebekah Palamaras of East New Market, Gabrielle Parsley of Hurlock, David Schmidt of Hurlock, Tiffany Sheppard of Cambridge, Ginger Shimek of Hurlock, Kaitlyn Shockley of Toddville, Cheryl Slacum of Cambridge, Taylor Spears of Cambridge, Ebony Taylor of Cambridge, April Todd of Cambridge, Shelia Uncapher of Cambridge, Danielle Weber of Cambridge, Beverly Webster of Hurlock, Alexus White of Cambridge, Rhontrece Wilson of Cambridge, Brittany Wright of Cambridge

Kent County

Spencer Adams of Worton, Francis Baker of Rock Hall, Ashley Boyles of Worton, Tyler Brice of Chestertown, Bridget Butler of Chestertown, Olivia Cameron of Rock Hall, Alexandra Caswell of Rock Hall, Etta Cook of Worton, James Cook of Worton, Jonathan Cook of Worton, Guilherme De Conti Honorio of Rock Hall, Stephanie D'Elia of Chestertown, Rebecca Dey of Betterton, Lindsey Elgin of Chestertown, Mary Ford of Kennedyville, Nancy Haggerty of Chestertown, Gabrielle Heinefield of Rock Hall, James Honeywell of Chestertown, Gladye Jacquette of Rock Hall, Jennifer Kuhl of Worton, Huy Nguyen of Chestertown, Theodosia Parker of Worton, Elizabeth Trego of Rock Hall, Jessica Urie of Millington, Sarah Whitby of Millington

Queen Anne’s

William Alderson of Centreville, Kristen Arnett of Centreville, Alexandra Bednarik of Grasonville, Charles Besche of Stevensville, Christopher Boettcher of Chester, Robert Branning of Stevensville, Ireri Britton of Stevensville, Toni Bullen of Centreville, Judith Carrion of Stevensville, Daniel Chwalibog of Queenstown, Emily Clagett of Centreville, Jessica Clough of Grasonville, Daniel Comfort of Queen Anne, Nathan Connatser of Marydel, Logan Corder of Sudlersville, Jaclyn Dail of Queenstown, Jillian Davidson of Millington, Jeremy Davis of Centreville, Evan DelCasale of Queenstown, Taylor Donoho of Centreville, Kaitlyn Eber of Grasonville, Jenell Eck of Henderson, Shannon Eck of Chester, Heather Emerson-Phillips of Church Hill, Brady Emery of Stevensville, Carter Finney of Centreville, Armanda Fooks of Stevensville, Noah Frahm of Centreville, Amanda Furno of Chester, Kira Gillin of Church Hill, Jennarae Haney of Centreville, Margaret Hauser of Stevensville, Alaynee Herman of Queen Anne, Olga Hofmann of Centreville, Stephanie Hoofnagle of Chester, Elva Jackson of Sudlersville, Kristen James of Stevensville, Casey Johnson of Millington, LeJoie Johnson of Grasonville, Caroline Jones of Chester, Rebecca Jones of Chester, Mackenzie Joyce of Chester, Mara Kellnhauser of Stevensville, Amanda King of Centreville, Ryan Klenkel of Centreville, Anthony Laroux of Chestertown, Rosemary Lewis of Chester, Michelle Long of Queenstown, Linda Martino of Queenstown, Kevin Mason of Grasonville, Tessa Rae Masters of Centreville, Sophia Mattison of Stevensville, Faith McCoy of Stevensville, Samantha McCreary of Centreville, Carlin McLamb of Grasonville, Tahnee McNicholas of Stevensville, Heather Mesenbrink of Queenstown, Sean Morter of Stevensville, Amber Musgrove of Sudlersville, Jennifer Newgent of Centreville, Morgan O'Connor of Chester, Matthew Orr of Queenstown, Brandon Owens of Queenstown, Jennifer Owens of Queenstown, Aiden Pass of Centreville, Marti Patrick of Centreville, Lucas Poe of Grasonville, Aubrey Radford of Centreville, Julia Redpath of Centreville, Gail Reel of Centreville, Pamela Renfrow of Centreville, Paige Romanek of Grasonville, Margaret Ruppert of Stevensville, Scott Ryder of Chester, Josiah Rydstedt of Stevensville, Destiny Sanders of Church Hill, Tina Schroyer of Queenstown, Robert Schultz of Grasonville, Kelsie Seibel of Grasonville, Victoria Seidel of Centreville, Sydney Serwatka of Chestertown, Sydney Shepherd of Stevensville, Ryan Shields of Chester, Justin Simpson of Centreville, Dustin Snyder of Grasonville, Teagan Sonstegard of Centreville, Dana Spires of Centreville, Keely Spry of Centreville, Logan Stanavich of Centreville, Kasey Stant of Grasonville, Macie Stubbs of Church Hill, Andrew Thomas of Stevensville, Megan Toth of Church Hill, Lindsay Toulson of Barclay, Samantha Tracey of Stevensville, Deborah Travers of Centreville, Elizabeth Tuel of Chester, Lena Underwood of Stevensville, Victoria Valeda of Stevensville, Joseph Velez of Stevensville, Ryan Ward of Stevensville, Deborah Wicker-Macarthur of Grasonville, Kimberly Wiltbank of Church Hill

Talbot

Julie Andrew of Easton, Kara Armes of Easton, Henry Bauman of Easton, Rachel Beggins of St. Michaels, Michael Blair of Easton, Christopher Blizzard of Easton, Benjamin Bonatti of Easton, Christine Bramble of Trappe, JoAnn Brasington of Easton, Lidiya Bridges of Bozman, Jacob Cannon of Cordova, Tara Carl of Easton, Gerald Cicotte of Cordova, Julie Craig of Easton, Elizabeth Daly of Cordova, Danielle Deremer of Easton, Olson Dorce of Easton, Felicia Ell of Wittman, Lindsay Ewing of Cambridge, Sarah Fauver of Cordova, Sarah Fegan of St. Michaels, Amanda Ford of Easton, Garrett Fowler of Easton, Jaleesa Gardner of Easton, Claire Gross of Easton, David Hall of Easton, Bailey Harris of Cordova, Morgan Harvey of Easton, Abigail Heinsohn of Cordova, Lyndy Howden of St. Michaels, Samuel Hughes of Cordova, Kimberly Hurlock of Easton, Alan Ibanez-Gallegos of Easton, Eldon Johnson of Easton, Henry Jurceka of Easton, Maureen Kehoe of Easton, Susan Knade of Easton, Shannon Knoefel of Easton, Jessica Lantz of Easton, Ciara Lednum of Claiborne, Grace-Anne Lemaire of Claiborne, Stephan Luethy of Easton, Patricia Lynch of Easton, Morgan Lyons of Easton, Fabiola Marquez of Easton, Jennifer Miller of Sherwood, Olga Mironova of Easton, Monica Moore of Cordova, Robert Morrissey of Easton, Lyndy Mothershead of Easton, Madison Mullikin of Easton, Brandi Nichols of Easton, Kathryn Norman of Easton, Jessica O'Donnell of Easton, Natasha Panduwawala of Cordova, Erin Parkhurst of Wittman, Catherine Pearson of Cordova, Richard Rahilly of Cordova, Cathi Ramagnano of Easton, Faustina Remaniak of Cordova, Gregory Remesch of Wye Mills, Amanda Retallack of Easton, Kevin Rosenthal of Trappe, Tyrone Sampson of Royal Oak, Brian Saucedo-Merida of Easton, Olivia Schiera of Easton, Elizabeth Shaw of Easton, Kristyn Simpkins of Easton, Rebecca Smith of Easton, Hae Rin Song of Easton, Cassidy Stewart of Sherwood, Katlyn Swann of Easton, Jennifer Taylor of Queen Anne, Shauna Thompson of Easton, Jacob Tollett of Easton, Lisa Wachter of Easton, Hannah Wellman of Easton, Chad Whitzel of Easton, Michael Willis of Easton, Kierra Wilson of Easton, Nicole Zajac of Easton.

Anne Arundel

Kasey Gast of Odenton, Eve Klajbor of Annapolis, Jonathan Larsen of Pasadena

Calvert

Victoria Hughes of Saint Leonard, Savannah Miller of Huntington

Wicomico

Ryan Dorr of Bivalve

Out of State

Gregory Schulties of Felton, DE, Calvin Yelverton of Bridgeville, DE.

Summer classes originally scheduled for the Kent Humanities Building are being moved so that Kent can be put into energy-saving mode for the summer. (If you don't see the list at first, scroll down)

Summer 2016 class relocations from Kent Humanities Building

Chesapeake will offer weekly on-site registration sessions throughout the mid-Shore  in June.

For information about  English as a Second Language classes, click here www.chesapeake.edu/ESL

For information about  Adult Basic Education and GED preparation classes click here www.chesapeake.edu/GED

Chesapeake College this fall launches a new Letter of Recognition program in Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) with some of the most advanced training equipment in the state. 

The new program, designed for students who work or have other daytime obligations, will be offered on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.  Once a month, the class will meet for “SIM Saturday” sessions in Chesapeake’s state-of-the-art simulation labs.  Students will complete the program in one semester.

Each cohort will also be required to gain clinical experience by shadowing nurses in area emergency rooms, and EMTs and paramedics out in the field.

Assistant Professor Jon Longest, director of Emergency Medical Services programs at Chesapeake, said the new credential is a direct response to community need.

“The schedule is intense and the content is rigorous, but this is what everyone in the EMS community has been asking us to develop,” Longest said. “EMS needs on the Shore are expanding, and so is the demand for EMT training.”

As part of the program, EMT students will be required to take a practical exam and the National Registry Emergency Medical Technician written exam. Once they finish, graduates of the program will be eligible for volunteer EMT work or paid EMT positions throughout Maryland.

The EMT Letter of Recognition is the latest addition to Chesapeake’s Health Professions offerings which includes Nursing, Paramedic, Surgical Technology, Radiologic Sciences, and Certified Nursing Assistant.

Longest said that EMT training is offers career preparation and can be a building block in future career training. EMT training is a national requirement for paramedic certification, he said. The EMT training is also a ladder that allow students entry into the field, and serves as a first step on a progressive career path.

“There are several components that are unique to EMT training, but they are foundational for paramedic training,” Longest said. “EMT opens doors to several medical careers. I know perspective students who have Certified Nursing Assistant training and are interested in the EMT program to gain urgent care experience.  I just spoke to a bachelor’s degree student at a four-year institution who will be coming to our program to get the patient care experience he needs to apply for a Physician Assistant program.”

Classes begin in August, and Longest said the plan is to offer the program year-round.   To enroll, students must take the Accuplacer assessments and be 18 years old by the time the program is completed.

For more information about the EMT Letter of Recognition, click here  http://info.chesapeake.edu/alliedhealth/ahrequest.asp?prog=emt

Queen Anne’s County High School graduate Noah Frahm of Centreville was named Chesapeake College’s Outstanding Dual Enrollment Student for 2016. 

Frahm graduated from high school in May with 54 college credits he earned through Chesapeake’s Dual Enrollment Program.

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.

“My eighth grade English teacher told us about Queen Anne’s County kid who graduated from Chesapeake at the same time he graduated from High School,” Frahm said. “I knew that I wanted to do Dual Enrollment as soon as I could.”

He holds a 3.5 grade point average at Chesapeake and will earn his Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts and Science this summer.

“Dual Enrollment was a great experience for me. I’d recommended it any high school student who wants a head start on college,” Frahm said, “I liked the professors and enjoyed being able to take classes that aren’t available at the high school level. Dual Enrollment also gave me the opportunity to meet new people of different ages and backgrounds.”

Frahm said his favorite Chesapeake class was Communications with Amber McGinnis.

“That class gave us public speaking experience, which I enjoyed. Its good skill to have and we the opportunity to really develop those skills,” Frahm said.

Frahm has performed numerous community hours through his church and played in a church basketball league. The high school student even became a certified math tutor at Chesapeake, helping students with challenging coursework.

Frahm will take his 54 credits to Wesley College in Delaware in the fall, where he will be a pre-dentistry major. He plans to earn a bachelor’s degree and go on to dental school.

He was selected participate in the “Dentistry Tomorrow” summer program at the University of Maryland.

Graduates just recently turned their 2016 tassels, but Chesapeake College has already awarded 107 area high school graduates with more than $115,500 in scholarship aid for the upcoming fall semester.  

The incoming freshman class includes graduates from the public high schools in all five of Chesapeake’s support counties.

Scholarships were awarded to high school students by county as follows:

22 Caroline County

13 Dorchester County

12 Kent

15 Queen Anne’s County

45 Talbot County

“We’re extremely grateful to the community for their untethered support of our students,’ said Director of Financial Aid Mindy Schaffer. “This aid provides tuition assistance to some of our best and brightest students. I look forward to seeing these outstanding students on campus in the fall.”

For more information about scholarships and financial aid at Chesapeake College, please go to http://www.chesapeake.edu/financial-aid.

CUTLINE: Director of Financial Aid Mindy Schaffer, front and center, poses with Chesapeake College scholarship recipients at North Caroline High School.

Meet the next featured students in our “Your time. Your place.”  marketing campaign. Launched in the fall semester last year as part of Chesapeake College’s new branding, the campaign highlights real students who turned to Chesapeake for their various goals.

At Chesapeake College, state-of-the-art facilities, great faculty and affordable tuition make our programs the smart choice for students planning advanced professional degrees, certificate and degree programs, career preparation, workforce training, transfer degrees and Dual Enrollment.

1. Deep Patel, Hurlock

Deep turned to Chesapeake to as a first step in becoming a pharmaceutical lawyer. Looking at a long and costly college road, he knew he could build a strong foundation in GE courses and hone his leadership skills in an affordable, high-quality environment. An active leader and SGA Vice-President, Deep’s campus success makes starting here a winning case.

2. Shelby Glessner, Cambridge

Inspired by a Horn Point Oyster Hatchery internship, Shelby turned to Chesapeake to launch her career as an environmental scientist. Set on turning the tide for the Bay and its waterways, she’s charted a path in research, restoration and education.

3. Chris Boettcher, Chester

Chris turned to Chesapeake to add more lifesaving skills to his already impressive resume. Our evening certification and flexible schedule made enhancing his skills a breeze.

4. Dacia Nurse, Greensboro

Inspired by her brother’s time as SGA President, Dacia turned to Chesapeake to launch her college journey. Exploring different career options, she quickly discovered a passion for biology (or and health or and dental). Now, this student leader is earning her A.A. degree and dental assistant certificate to be an orthodontist.

5. Deanna Ewing-Evans, Easton

Deanna already owned a successful contracting company when she turned to Chesapeake for a CDL. In just six-weeks, she attained the commercial driving certification to operate (type of trucks), haul materials, and grow her business. A family affair – Deanna’s husband and stepson are graduates – R.L. Ewing continues to add expand its fleet to meet the growing demand for safe and skilled drivers.

Congratulations to the 109 students who graduated from our Health Occupations Programs on June 29. To learn more about our Health Occupations Programs, go to http://www.chesapeake.edu/continuing-education/ce-allied-health 

Chesapeake College this year teamed up with area departments of social services and corrections to prepare 100 citizens for employment. By helping train people for the local workforce, these partnerships are boosting the economic health of individuals, families and communities.

For information about work force training partnerships, please contact Leanne Allen at lallen@chesapeake.edu

During the past year, Chesapeake has provided job training for the Re-engaging Individuals though Successful Employment (RISE) Program for the five-county service area. The program is designed to help non-custodial parents find good jobs in order to support their families.

The DSS turned to Chesapeake College to provide occupational training in forklift operation and flagger skills.  With area construction and road repairs projects, both skills are in high demand, according to Director of Continuing Education and Workforce Training Leanne Allen.

“They key is working with community and business leaders to match our training to employment opportunities,” Ms. Allen said. “Employers are telling us that need both trained flaggers and forklift operators.”

Melissa Jones-Harris, Child Support Lead Supervisor for Caroline County Department of Social Services, also leads the RISE Program and said a first step is determining what barriers may be keeping a non-custodial parent from gainful employment,

“In this area, transportation is a huge challenge. The second most significant barrier is a lack of skills or education,” Ms. Jones-Harris said. “With the number of warehouses and projects on the Shore, forklift and flagger skills are in demand. Obtaining these skills give our participants a real career pathway that will give them independence and allow them to support their families.”

In addition, inmates at the Caroline County Detention Center received forklift training in June. Caroline County provided the forklift used for the training. Chesapeake has offered Adult Basic Education classes at the detention center, but this was the first occupational training course the college has offered at a correctional facility.

Cutline: Chesapeake Instructor Roy Blades conducts hands-on forklift training on Chesapeake’s campus.

Nineteen Easton Utilities employees recently completed Chesapeake College’s Leadership Institute, presented at the company’s headquarters.

For information about training and professional development for your business, please contact Leanne Allen at lallen@chesapeake.edu

The Institute courses, which are offered on-site to area businesses, are designed to help employees develop leadership, team building and strategic thinking skills. Employees with leadership development help businesses and the community. During the six-week Institute, employees spent one day each week unlocking their leadership potential, broadening their leadership knowledge base and expanding their perspectives.

The final day included individual presentations to showcase the skills acquired during this training along with a special musical performance by Institute Instructor Rob Levit. The course ended with an enlightening activity in which the group shared their big moments and commented on one another with positive, motivating reflections.

“Not only did this course deliver valuable information, it also brought out a flood of emotions and connections between our team, a special group with the true essence of leadership at their core,” said Easton Utilities’ Vicki Petro, Director of Human Resources. “This course is ideal for our supervisors who are eager to grow both personally and professionally. Rob has customized the program to meet our specific needs and we will all benefit from the lessons learned.”

Friend of Chesapeake, John DeLuca of Easton, launched the TREES (Training Recruitment Education and Employment) Scholarship Fund this year to help build the pool of compassionate and skilled nursing assistants in the area. 

To answer the community need for Certified Nursing Assistants, Chesapeake College piloted this new training program with recent graduates of the college’s English as a Second Language classes.

Eight students were chosen for the scholarship program and the classes began in January. Seven women completed the four-month program and all of them passed their certification tests. Instructors Melanie Ball- Pierson and Denise Kline taught the cohort.

“These women were chosen for the program because they were all highly motivated and compassionate,” Instructor Denise Kline said. “Both of those attributes served them well in the course and will make them outstanding employees. They all had to make sacrifices just to get through the training, so they were wonderful students. And they’re compassionate and kind. Those are things that can’t be taught. These students see caring for the elderly and people with special needs as a mission, and they will bring that perspective to their work every day.”

Kline worked on language and other soft skills, while Ball-Pierson taught the nursing and technical skills. This cohort received 45 hours of clinical training, plus 120 hours of classroom training. The usual CNA course usually requires 100 classroom hours.

“Those extra 20 hours really helped us explain and explore. As Melanie (Ball-Pierson) taught and demonstrated a nursing skill, I could suggest ways of talking to the patient while the skill is being performed,” Kline said.

Of the seven graduating students, four also chose to take the Geriatric Nursing Assistant certification exam and passed.

Kline said some of the students are already looking ahead to next steps in their education. One student will take credit classes this fall with the eventual goal of becoming a Registered Nurse. Two are considering pursuing EMT training while they work as CNAs.

Find information about other Health Professions here http://www.chesapeake.edu/health-professions

CUTLINE: The first TREES graduates are:  Lorena Campos-Cortes, Jazmin Cruz-Trejo, Maria Fisher, Kimberly Reyes-Erazo, Greisy Sanchez-Herrera, Joselyn Velasquez and Lesly Velasquez.

Pete and Diane Pappas of Centreville recently made a major financial donation to Chesapeake College to name the Yoga Studio in the Health Professions and Athletics Center (HPAC). They chose to name the room for their daughter, Irene Pappas, who is a professional yoga instructor and Chesapeake alum.

For more information about the HPAC or gifts to Chesapeake College, please contact Vice President for Institutional Advancement Lucie Hughes at lhughes@chesapeake.edu.

Citing a desire to honor their daughter while serving the Mid-Shore, the Pappas’ said they believe area residents benefit from Chesapeake’s programs and facilities.

“I’m sure many of the health professionals and first responders working on the Shore have studied at Chesapeake College. We’re so blessed to be able to celebrate here today and give back to the Chesapeake College community,” Mr. Pappas said at the recent ceremony to dedicate the Irene Anthi Pappas Yoga Studio.

“When I came to school here (at Chesapeake College) I was lost and needed direction. I started general education classes and was able to transfer to the Art Institute of Washington,” Irene Pappas said. “During that time I found yoga.  I would love to inspire people to find themselves through yoga.”

Diane Pappas, elaborated on the importance of yoga in her daughter’s life.

“Yoga has had an incredible impact on Irene’s life. That’s why she is a yoga instructor – she wants to help others and show them the positive affects yoga can have on their bodies and minds,” Mrs. Pappas said. “At Chesapeake College, we see that same commitment to helping people improve their lives. We feel that all we local residents must support this fine institution for all it has done for our families and continues to do.”

Opened in August 2015, the HPAC houses Chesapeake’s health simulation labs, classrooms, fitness center, training room and gymnasium. The Pappas Studio features a wooden dance floor, a bank of windows, ballet barre, and a wall of floor-to-ceiling mirrors. The studio is used for yoga, dance and fitness classes,

 “This a beautiful building and I love the yoga studio,’ said Irene Pappas. “As a former Chesapeake student, I can imagine how much these new facilities enhance the student experience. It would be wonderful to teach yoga classes in this room.”

CUTLINE: Pete Pappas, Diane Pappas, and Irene Pappas celebrate the recent dedication of the Irene Anthi Pappas Yoga Studio.

Chesapeake College will launch its new degree program in agriculture this fall with an introductory course that Dr. Nicole Fiorellino will use to bring the Eastern Shore’s agriculture future into focus.

“We’re really going to be talking about the future of agriculture – new technologies like precision agriculture along with the latest on topics like nutrient management and sustainability,” said Dr. Fiorellino, who will teach Introduction to Agriculture (AGR 101) Thursday nights from 6:30 to 9:15 p.m. at the college’s Wye Mills Campus.

The college’s Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in agriculture, with separate areas of concentration in production and sustainability, received final state approval in July.  Chesapeake is the only community college in the state with an agriculture degree program.

“This program has the potential to touch so many aspects of a fundamental fact of life – agriculture – for all of us on the Shore, and provide our community with the skills to make a sustainable and competitive living in a global agricultural market,” said Dr. Clayton Railey III, Chesapeake’s vice president for academic affairs.

Dr. Fiorellino, hired this past spring by Chesapeake to be its instructor of agriculture, said she is excited to bring both academic and business perspectives to teaching the program’s initial course.

“I feel like I’m uniquely positioned between the professional scientific world of agriculture research and the practical, daily applications of the science,” said Dr. Fiorellino, who holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Technology from the University of Maryland College Park in addition to being involved in a family dairy farm in Kennedyville.

“I hope to be working with students who have real-world, hands-on experience but need help in understanding the scientific background to the industry,” added Dr. Fiorellino.  “Conversely, I want to help take folks who may be well-versed in the scientific and regulatory side and give them some hands-on experience.”

Dr. Fiorellino said the course will also provide a focus on agriculture policy on a level that students need to understand.

“I want to introduce the topic of agriculture policy so we’re having more of a dialogue about how policy around agriculture is shaped so people can understand their role in how policy is developed,” she said.

Dr. Fiorellino, who recently completed post-doctoral studies through the University of Maryland, said she will use experts in their field to help present course content.

“We’re going to be featuring a lot of guest speakers who are topic experts, which will also allow us to provide students with immediate networking opportunities,” she said.  “We want them to build networks with local producers, state specialists and other ‘go-to’ people on special topics.”

While the course will introduce students to the 60-credit program in agriculture, Dr. Fiorellino said she hopes to have both degree-seeking students and individuals specifically interested in this course mixed in the class.

“The course is not just for someone in the degree program,” she said.  “It’s going to be pertinent for people who just want to learn more about agriculture in general.

“We’re going to provide a very broad range of topics in agriculture,” added Dr. Fiorellino.  “It will include learning what’s going on around us, and what they see happening in fields.  This will be a good class to spark some of that knowledge-building.”

Dr. Fiorellino said generational transitioning of family farms – “a topic near and dear to my heart” – will be a recurring theme throughout the course and the program.

“Transitioning farms from one generation to the next generation is very hard and very time-consuming,” said Dr. Fiorellino, “and takes years of planning.  It’s not something you can do alone and it’s not an easy process. It’s a key topic that’s often overlooked –what happens when somebody dies and how will a farm transition to the next generation.”

While Dr. Fiorellino has an extensive academic background – including a Master’s of Science degree in Animal and Avian Sciences from the University of Maryland after double-majoring in animal sciences and biological sciences at Rutgers University – she also gets regular hands-on experience at Lepter Farms, a family dairy farm with 260 milking cows where husband Tim Bishton works full time.

“Every growing season I feel like I learn more about what’s going on,” said Dr. Fiorellino.

Dr. Fiorellino is the college’s program coordinator for agriculture in addition to being an instructor.  She has already begun advising students in the agriculture major as well as connecting with local farm organizations and agriculture teachers in the region’s high schools.

“I’m really excited about working with the local high schools, their agriculture teachers and their ag students,” said Dr. Fiorellino.  “We really want the school system’s input on how we refine and expand the program.  There is so much we can do with this program moving forward and we want to do it in a way that offers a seamless route for agriculture students from high school through college.”

While AAS programs are not primarily built for transfer, Dr. Fiorellino said she will also be working with four-year institutions to help craft articulation agreements with Chesapeake in agriculture.

“Many students will want to go directly from our program into the workforce, but for those who want to continue on to four-year institutions we want to provide clear pathways,” said Dr. Fiorellino.

Learn more about our HVAC, Welding and Electrician training programs at our Open House on Wednesday, Aug. 10 at 6 pm in the Manufacturing Training Center on the Wye Mills Campus.

For more inforamtion about the programs or the Open House, please contact Bob Faiella at bfaiella@chesapeake.edu or 410-827-5807.

The Chesapeake College Board of Trustees unanimously approved Tuesday morning a comprehensive update of the college’s Title IX policies with respect to sexual violence, domestic violence and harassment while adopting policy designed to assist pregnant and parenting students to stay in college.

“This package is a real step forward in helping deal with issues that are impacting an increasing number of our students,” said Dr. Barbara Viniar, Chesapeake College’s president.

While Chesapeake College has not yet had to address specific incidents of sexual violence, Dr. Viniar said the national statistics are staggering.

“One-in-four women will survive a sexual assault or an attempted sexual assault by the time she graduates from college, according to The Campus Sexual Assault Study,” noted Dr. Viniar.  “And one-in-10 men will survive a sexual assault or an attempted sexual assault while in college.  Those are statistics we cannot ignore.”

Those statistics – along with federal and state mandates with respect to Title IX and related gender-based law – led Chesapeake’s administration to totally revamp its approach to gender-based misconduct and discrimination.  In addition to revising its college policies and gender-based misconduct definitions, Chesapeake has launched a Title IX webpage that includes student rights and responsibilities under Title IX, emergency community resources, risk-reduction recommendations, and Title IX contact information.

Chesapeake is also in the process of producing a Title IX video to raise student awareness of gender-based misconduct and how the college is positioned to address these issues.

“We have nearly 30 administrators, faculty, staff and students who are participating in the video project,” said Dr. Richard Midcap, Chesapeake College’s vice president for student affairs.  “It’s a very thoughtful, well-designed video that will make our policy clear and provide students with critical contact information for both reporting misconduct and obtaining help.”

“Our goal is to raise awareness of the issues as well as the ways the college is prepared to combat these challenges and respond to student concerns,” said Susan Cianchetta, the college’s director of human resources.  “Our Title IX website provides students with a wealth of information and resources.”

Dr. Midcap commended the many community organizations committed to dealing with gender-based misconduct.

“Corsica River Mental Health Services is a long-time partner who has helped countless Chesapeake College students,” said Dr. Midcap.  “For All Seasons, the Mid-Shore Council on Family Violence and University of Maryland Shore Medical Centers are just some of the other partners who work with the college to help deal with students in crisis.”

The board also approved policy that will make it easier for pregnant and parenting students to obtain accommodations relating to their children’s births and illnesses.  The board was also apprised of the college’s actions in addressing federal directives with respect to transgender students.

“While the highest-profile issue with respect to transgender students is bathroom and locker room access, colleges are also dealing with privacy issues with respect to a student’s gender identity as opposed to the gender identity assigned at birth,” said Dr. Clay Railey, Chesapeake’s vice president for academic affairs.  “As per federal law, the college will allow students to use the bathroom and locker room facilities of the gender with which they identify.  We will also protect personally identifiable information with respect to their name and gender identity assigned at birth to be in compliance with Department of Justice and Department of Education directives.”

http://www.chesapeake.edu/students/chesapeake-college-title-ix-policy-statement

The new academic year opens with impressive additions to the Chesapeake College full-time faculty. All have the highest academic credentials and are experts in their respective fields.

Norah Bennett – Assistant Instructor of Surgical Technology

Ms. Bennett has been a certified surgical technologist with University of Maryland Shore Regional Health in Easton for four years. She is also a nationally-certified paramedic and worked for the Anne Arundel County Fire Department.

Ms. Bennett graduated from Chesapeake’s Surgical Technology Program in 2012, and is the recipient of numerous awards in her field.

Janet Brown – Instructor of Nursing

Ms. Brown has been a clinical instructor both at Chesapeake and Harford Community College. She also served as a faculty member for Critical Care and Graduate University at University of Maryland Shore Regional Health.

Most recently a staff nurse at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore, Ms. Brown was previously a staff nurse with University of Maryland Shore Regional Health in Easton for nearly 10 years.  She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing from Stevenson University.

Dr. Lanka Elson – Associate Professor of Computer Information Systems

Dr. Elson taught at Colorado Technical University for 16 years, where she developed the first 3D printing class at the institution. She mentored a senior student in designing a 3D printed prosthetic tortoise shell. The innovation received worldwide publicity and acclaim.

She earned a bachelor’s degree at Colorado State University.  In addition, Dr. Elson holds a master’s degree and doctorate from Colorado Technical University.

Dr. Nicole Fiorellino – Instructor of Agriculture

Dr. Fiorellino was an education consultant for developing Chesapeake’s new two-year Agriculture degree program.  In this role, she developed syllabi and instructor’s materials for 11 classes in the program.  She teaches classes on various topics through extension programs and Annie’s Project. She has published a variety of research projects and articles, in addition to giving presentations at symposia and conferences.

She earned a bachelor’s degree at Rutgers University, followed by a master’s degree and doctorate from the University of Maryland.  Dr. Fiorellino served as a post-doctoral research associate and graduate research assistant at the University of Maryland.

David Timms – Assistant Professor/EMS Clinical Coordinator

A Chesapeake adjunct faculty member since 2007, Mr. Timms has been captain of Talbot County Emergency Services since 2008. He started his career with the Easton Fire Department as an Emergency Medical Technician.  He became a nationally-certified paramedic for the department in 2001.

Mr. Timms earned his EMS certificate at Chesapeake College, and a bachelor’s degree at Salisbury University. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in distance education at the University of Maryland University College.

Christa Tindall – Radiological Science Clinical Instructor

Ms. Tindall has been a radiologic technologist with Chesapeake Bay Orthopedics in Cambridge and the Orthopedic Center in Easton. In addition, she was a radiology specialist at University of Maryland Shore Regional Health in Easton.

She earned associate’s degrees from the Community College of Baltimore County and Chesapeake College, where she was the outstanding graduate in 2008. Ms. Tindall later earned a bachelor’s degree from Pima Medical Institute in Arizona.

Cutline: Six new full-time faculty members joined Chesapeake College for Fall 2016. They are, pictured left to right: Lanka Elson, Janet Brown, David Timms, Christa Tindall, Norah Bennett and Nicole Fiorellino

Chesapeake this fall added the Emergency Medical Technician certificate to the list of health professions programs available at the college.

 For more information about the EMT certificate, click here http://www.chesapeake.edu/alliedhealth/ems

A certificate is required for employment as an EMT and can be a gateway to other credentials within the Emergency Medical Services field.

The Chesapeake program was developed in response to community and industry requests, and emphasizes experiential learning the EMT will use in the field.

The seven-credit letter of recognition program, offered in sessions throughout the academic year, will meet twice per week. With the advanced simulators and clinical equipment, students will have hands-on learning opportunities right on campus in the Health Professions and Athletics Center.

Both the National Registry and State of Maryland certification exams will be administered on campus.

For more information about applying for the EMT certificate or other health professions program, please contact Loraine Holden at lholden@chesapeake.edu

Quality Health Foundation of Easton recently awarded Chesapeake College a $15,000 grant to support the development and implementation of a year-long “Navigating Your Health” workshop series targeted toward the aging population and their caregivers in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties.  

For more information about the program, click here cfarina@chesapeake.edu

The series will use the resources and technology available at Chesapeake College’s Health Professions and Athletics Center, and experts in the healthcare field to empower the aging population and their caregivers as informed healthcare consumers.

Chesapeake’s Director of Simulation for Nursing and Allied Health Crystel Farina is coordinating the multi-county effort, based on the model created by the Talbot County Commission on Aging.

The Talbot County Commission on Aging, in partnership with Chesapeake, is offering the Plan Well, Live Well  speaker series  this fall featuring topics of interest to senior citizens and their families.

“Paying for Care Including Insurance” will be held on Sept. 13 at 5:30 pm in the Talbot County Community Center, and on Sept. 15 at 2 pm at St. Pauls’ Evangelical Lutheran Church.

In October, “Talbot Village Connections” will be on Oct. 18 at 5:30 pm at the Talbot County Community Center and Oct. 20 at 2 pm at Union United Methodist Church in St. Michaels.

“The goal is to educate the community and to show aging citizens and their caregivers that they are not allow,” Ms. Farina said. “Quality health care is at the top of everyone’s priority list and  it is a major concern for seniors. We want them to see there are resources available that will help them be better advocates for themselves.

Ms. Farina said the grant will allow organizers to expand the Talbot efforts to the rest of the Mid-Shore.

“For us here at the college, this is a chance to expand our efforts beyond our students into the community as a whole,” Ms. Farina said. As the program expands, Chesapeake College health professions instructors will be involved in events through the Mid-Shore.

It’s back to school time for all ages at Chesapeake. Our fall Institute for Adult Learning session kicks off in September.

For more information, click here http://www.chesapeake.edu/continuing-education/institute-for-adult-learning-ial

Chesapeake’s offerings go beyond traditional credit and workforce training classes. The Institute for Adult Learning is for mature learners over the age of 50 who are making the most of their retirement years.

The IAL offers lifelong learning opportunities to active over-50 students at a reduced cost. With a yearly membership, learners may take as many classes they like.

As the weather turns cooler, try tap dancing or learn to about Peruvian cuisine. The Fall 2016 schedule includes classes in art, cooking, film, languages, dance, nutrition, history, photography, horticulture, literature, Tai Chi and tennis.  The line-up also includes a bus trip to New York City.

The fall IAL Brown Bag Lunch and Learn series begins October 17. Sessions run from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.