Montgomery College
TODAY
FALL 2002
• www.montgomerycollege.edu
ALUMNI PROFILE
Heroes Trained Here
Finding
Her Station
In Life
Peruvian-born Alumna
Rises to Top at Telemundo
W
endy Thompson understands
the benefit of investing in human potential and the responsibilities
attached to those investments.
The 35-year-old alumna of Montgomery College arrived nearly a decade
ago from Peru with little more than
Photo by Don Rejonis
Doug Wright volunteers at Independent Hose Company No.1 in Frederick, Md. He puts in a lot of time there, even studying in the bunkhouse.
Continued on page 7
Fire Science Program Attracts Dedicated, Compassionate Students
O
nce upon a time, firefighters were an unheralded group. But 9/11
changed everything, with a new
awareness of the extreme sacrifices
these heroes make every day and
of the vitally important role they
play in ensuring public safety.
At Montgomery College, prospective “heroes” can enroll in
degree and certificate programs
in fire science management and
fire and arson investigation.
Student Doug Wright, 19, of
Frederick, Md., cut his teeth on a
INSIDE
INSIDE
2
fire hose. His father is a lieutenant
in the D.C. fire department, and
several of his uncles are firefighters,
as well.
“Basically, I was born and raised
in the fire service,” he said. “A lot
of students in this program have
parents in the public safety field—
policemen, medics.”
Wright, a volunteer at Independent Hose Company No.1
in Frederick, Md., likes the family atmosphere in the firehouse.
“You have to get along with a lot
of people. You live, sleep, and eat
MC Launches College
Institute at Wootton High
3
with those people,” he said. “It’s a
brotherhood.”
That’s likely to change. According
to Professor Jill Irey, chairperson of
the Applied Technologies Department, fully one-quarter to one-third
of students enrolled in the College’s
program are now women.
Like her classmate, Frederick
resident Shelly Marley, 26, also
grew up in a family of firefighters.
She’s pursuing a certificate in fire
and arson investigation and an
Photo by Don Rejonis
MC alumna Wendy Thompson is general
manager of the Washington, D.C. affiliate
of Telemundo, one of the nation’s largest
Spanish-language television networks.
Continued on page 6
Student Chooses the Right
Pathways to Success
4
The Workplace Is
Also a Classroom
5
Takoma Park Campus’ New
Health Sciences Center
8
Community
Events
2
FALL 2002
MONTGOMERY COLLEGE TODAY
MC Launches College Institute at Wootton High School
Wootton, Gaithersburg High School Seniors Tackle Rigorous College Courses
C
all it senioritis. Call it senior
slump. For many high school
students, the senior year is a vast wasteland of skipped classes and easy courses.
Many lose their focus and interest in
high school by winter break, thanks
to pending college applications or early
acceptances in hand.
The U.S. Department of Education
thinks it’s a serious issue, and appointed
the National Commission on the High
School Senior Year to study the problem. In “The Lost Opportunity of the
Senior Year: Finding a Better Way,” the
Commission prefaced the report by saying, “The nation faces a deeply troubled
future unless we transform the lost
opportunity of the senior year into an
integral part of students’ preparation for
life, citizenship, and further education.”
To attack the problem, Dr. Rebecca
Newman, principal at Wootton High
School, approached Montgomery College President Charlene Nunley with a
bold request: conduct college classes at
Wootton for the school’s highest performing seniors, most of whom have
completed their graduation requirements except senior English. Newman
invited Gaithersburg High School Principal Stephen Bedford to join forces
with her to push the proposal for the
two schools.
Montgomery College officials took
up the challenge and with backing
from the Montgomery County Council and education committee chair
Mike Subin, the College Institute
at Wootton High School was born.
“The high schools
understand the rigor of
Montgomery College
courses. Now MCPS is
looking to MC for their
best and brightest students.”
– Elena Saenz-Welch,
Director of Academic Initiatives
The College received nearly 100
registrations from Wootton and
Gaithersburg high school seniors for
the fall semester at Wootton High
Photo by Don Rejonis
Wootton and Gaithersburg High School seniors undertake rigorous Montgomery College courses at
Wootton High School. MC and MCPS officials hope to expand the program to Gaithersburg H.S.
School, and hopes to expand to the
Gaithersburg High School campus
in the future.
“The literature seems to indicate
that if you bring the college to the
high school, students transition to
college better,” said Mary Kay ShartleGalotto, Rockville Campus vice president and provost, who helped create
the program.
“For some students, this is a really
important transitional step, and we’re
excited to support it,” she said. “This
is a comprehensive approach, with
coursework, tutoring and advising,
and is unique in this metro region.”
It’s also an indication of how far
the MC/MCPS relationship has progressed, said Elena Saenz -Welch, director of academic initiatives for the College. Once thought of as a place for
remediation, “The high schools understand the rigor of Montgomery College
courses,” she said. “Now MCPS is
looking to MC for their best and
brightest students.”
To keep these high-achieving students on their toes, the College will
send some of its most experienced
faculty members to teach the courses.
The College Institute is just the
ticket for Wootton seniors according
to Andrei Ghelman, assistant principal
at Wootton High School. “We’ve
always had a lot of high performing
kids. Seniors only need senior English.
Some have senioritis. They go through
the motions. How can we continue
motivating them?” he asked.
The courses do not compete with
current Advanced Placement courses;
rather, they supplement and enhance
them. And most important, students
planning to enter other colleges after
high school should not encounter problems with the receiving institution
accepting credit for the MC courses.
Currently, six courses are offered:
Introduction to Engineering Design;
Introduction to Physical Anthropology and Archaeology; The World in
the 20th Century; Introduction to
Modern Astronomy; Mythology:
The Secret Language; Morality and
Contemporary Law; and Principles
of Chemistry.
“Not all kids want to leave the
high school campus to take college
courses,” said Martin Svrcek, assistant principal at Gaithersburg High
School, “so by bringing the college
to the high school…it solves all sorts
of problems.”
Svrcek says other colleges are jumping
on the bandwagon in an effort to get
the school’s best and brightest seniors,
but “our association with Montgomery
College has been so strong throughout
the years that it’s the place for us.”
Wootton High School senior Erin
Fitzpatrick, 17, signed up for Principles of Chemistry. She thinks it will
give her a leg up on her college career.
“We’ll have a lot more freedom,” she
said. “When we don’t have classes, we
can go over to MC for the labs. It’ll
be more like college really is.”
C
Photo by Cade Martin
A Message
from the
President of
Montgomery
College
entral to Montgomery College’s mission is the
notion that we are the community’s college, here
to serve and enrich the community.
Professor Meg Birney, profiled on page 6, captures
well that spirit of serving the community. When she’s
not helping students at the Germantown Campus’
Science Learning Center, she’s out in the wilderness
with her Labrador retriever as a member of a search
and rescue team.
Professor Birney appreciates the fact that her supervisors are understanding of those occasional times when
she arrives on campus a bit late because of her search
and rescue commitments, and says, “When you think
about it, it makes sense. A community college is there
to serve the community.”
As you leaf through this issue of Montgomery College
Today, I hope you’ll get a sense of Montgomery College’s
place in your community—from our exciting partnership with Holy Cross Hospital at the College’s eagerly
anticipated Health Sciences Center in Takoma Park,
scheduled to open in 2004, to our developing partnership with the Maryland College of Art and Design.
Get to know the community’s college. Take a class
with us. Visit one of our art galleries. Come to a lecture.
Root for one of our nationally ranked athletic teams.
We are here to serve you.
Dr. Charlene R. Nunley
MONTGOMERY COLLEGE TODAY
FALL 2002
3
Student Chooses the Right Pathways to Success
T
iffany Leach refuses to give up.
The 24-year-old Germantown
resident possessed a hard-won general
equivalency diploma, but struggled
with low self-esteem.
“I was raised in a rough neighborhood,” she said matter of factly. “I
didn’t have a role model.” Nevertheless,
Leach wanted to go to college. “It was
the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my
life,” she said.
She took Montgomery College’s
reading placement exam, and failed.
“I was heartbroken when I found out.
I even shed a few tears,” she recalled.
“But I knew there was hope, and I
was willing to do whatever it took
to become a better reader.”
For Leach, hope came in the form
of “Pathways to Success,” a unique
Workforce Development & Continuing Education (WD&CE) program
for students who face significant reading and writing challenges.
“I learned how to inquire more
about what I was reading—how to
ask questions. The program made
me want to read more.”
Leach praises Pathways counselor
ViNita Warren, who stuck by her
every step of the way. “Ms. Warren
was great. She went to bat for us. I
really appreciate her being there for
me and encouraging me. She knew
I had a tough childhood and she took
an interest in me.”
After successfully completing Pathways, Leach earned an “A” in a developmental reading course, and tested
out of another one. She’s now taking
credit courses and majoring in psychology. She hopes to attend the
Shady Grove campus of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County,
and aspires to a career in substance
abuse counseling.
“We’re helping students
redefine the notion of
success. Success may
be matriculating at
Montgomery College
or it may be identifying
a career goal. Pathways
helps students define what
would be best for them.”
– Clarice Somersall
WD&CE Dean
“It’s a remarkable program in a lot
of ways, focusing on both academic
and career aspirations,” said WD&CE
Dean Clarice Somersall. During the
15-week session, students receive
highly individualized instruction in
reading comprehension and writing,
and attend a weekly counseling course
that focuses on student success and
career development. Students also
meet with a job development specialist
to explore realistic career paths.
The classes feature a 1-to-10 student to teacher ratio, allowing for
extensive personalized attention and
tutoring.
Pathways students usually have
a lot of irons in the fire, and must
balance work, family and children.
“There are a lot of personal barriers,”
said Karla Nabors, program director
for developmental education/workforce access, “so the counseling helps
them manage their time and focus
their energy.”
A job development specialist introduces students to career options and
organizes field trips to such venues
as Montgomery Works. And in fact,
some students discover that college
is not an option for them.
“Success needs to be defined
differently for every student,” said
Somersall, stressing the program is
named “Pathways,” not “Pathway.”
“We’re helping students redefine the
notion of success. Success may be
matriculating [into credit programs]
Photo by Don Rejonis
Pathways to Success graduate Tiffany Leach
credits the program’s teachers and staff for helping her to develop the skills and confidence she
needs to continue her studies at MC.
at Montgomery College or it may
be identifying a career goal. Pathways
helps students define what would be
best for them.”
What advice does Pathways graduate Leach offer for those who may
be hesitant about starting college?
“Don’t be discouraged, she said.
Keep your head up. If it worked for
me, it can work for anybody.”
Pathways to Success is offered at
all three Montgomery College campuses. For more information, call
301-650-1660.
Two Venerable Institutions Seek to Strengthen Each Other
A
Photo by Don Rejonis
A proposed merger of MCAD and MC will not
alter MCAD’s intimate environment, so valued
by art student Aaron Mason.
spiring artists from all over the
Washington metropolitan region
have for 30 years pilgrimaged to a red
brick building on Georgia Avenue in
Silver Spring—the Maryland College of
Art and Design (MCAD), which offers
Maryland’s only nationally accredited
associate of fine arts degree program.
Montgomery College, through a still
emerging partnership arrangement with
MCAD, is enabling the arts institution
to continue carrying out its educational
mission, after limited space and rising
costs threatened the art school’s future.
“[MCAD] is not like any other
college you go to where they give the
work, tell you do the assignment and
there is no support behind you,” said
19-year-old Aaron Mason, a fine arts
major who just completed his first year.
“You are not just a number or kid with
an ID card. It is a real family.”
Currently, the partnership arrangement between the two institutions
involves Montgomery College providing personnel, including Professor
Donald Smith, who is serving as president, and Maggie Schmid, who is
the school’s academic dean. Under the
terms of the future agreement, the two
colleges will likely merge and expand
aspects of each other’s program, while
keeping MCAD’s unique character as
an institution of higher learning.
“We bring hope and the future here
for young artists across the state and
region,” Schmid said of the partnership. “We are working with a lot of
committed artists, students and educators to build something even better.”
The merger will likely locate the
MCAD program at the College’s
Takoma Park Campus. Takoma Park’s
Vice President and Provost Clarence
Porter notes the College already has
an outstanding reputation in the
arts and adds, “Including MCAD
in that mix gives us the ability to
expand opportunities for art students
even further.”
For more information about the
Maryland College of Art and Design,
call 301-649-4454.
4
FALL 2002
MONTGOMERY COLLEGE TODAY
When the Workplace Is Also a Classroom
Apprenticeship Training Programs Help Students Trade Up to New Careers
E
ducation or on-the-job training?
People contemplating a career in
one of the building trades don’t have
to choose one or the other. They can
get the best of both worlds by signing
on to an apprenticeship training program sponsored by their employer or
union, with first-rate technical education provided by Montgomery College’s Homer S. Gudelsky Institute
for Technical Education.
Students who enroll in apprenticeship programs attend classes one day
or two evenings a week at the Gudelsky
Institute, and get their on-the-job training at their workplace. The program
generally takes four years. In most cases,
the employer pays the tuition. Upon
completion of the required courses
and training, an individual can graduate to journeyperson status and on
to a rewarding and lucrative career.
Graduates can also move into the
College’s building trades technology
degree program with credits awarded
for their apprenticeship training and
work experience.
Building Futures
On Firmer Ground
The Gudelsky Institute opened its
doors in 1992. In addition to apprenticeship programs, this state-of-the-art
technical training facility offers certifi-
Photo by Glen Stubbe
Construction technology students at Montgomery College benefit from the Homer S. Gudelsky
Institute’s state-of-the-art facilities.
cate programs and associate of applied
science degree programs in building
and construction technology, automotive technology, fabrication and manufacturing technology, and computer
publishing and printing.
Gudelsky programs are designed
in cooperation with area businesses
and in direct response to industry
needs. According to Ed Roberts, acting director of the institute, “The
industry never hears ‘no’ when it
comes to Montgomery College.
Roberts admitted, however, “It’s
getting harder and harder to say ‘yes’
because of our space limitations.”
To that end, the institute is embarking on a multimillion-dollar addition
to serve the growing needs of the construction trades, and to a lesser extent,
automotive programs. There is such
tremendous support in the construction
industry for such a facility that college
officials expect to undertake the initiative fully through private fundraising
efforts.
It’s Good to Be Paid
While Learning a Trade
Apprentice Pamela Barnes, 36, of
Bowie, Md., graduated this past May
with a certificate in the electronics
trade. For maintaining a 4.0 grade
point average in her courses, and for
being an exemplary role model for
other students, she was named a Board
of Trustees Scholar—receiving a cash
award and earning the honor of speaking at the College’s commencement
ceremony this past spring.
She received her on-the-job training at NIH, where she currently
works in the Division of Engineering
Services. NIH paid her tuition.
Barnes especially appreciated the
caliber of her Gudelsky instructors:
“Everyone worked in electronics or
in one of the trades,” she said. “All
of them were really experienced and
very intelligent. They tried to prepare
you for what you would encounter
on the job.”
Describing her apprenticeship at
the College’s commencement, Barnes
said, “…it offered a chance at a new
profession, entailing daytime courses,
once a week, and on-the-job training—plus, the employer would pay
for books and tuition. I quickly
applied, and after four months of
anticipation—when I heard I was
selected—I was thrilled. I am more
thrilled today.
“The apprenticeship program has
a great deal to offer anyone who is
willing to learn and apply themselves.
It can help one expand his or her
options in life, as well as their knowledge. It’s good to be paid while
learning a trade.”
For information about apprenticeship programs at the Gudelsky Institute, call 301-251-7942.
SUMMER EVENTS
ON THE TOWN
SOUTH PACIFIC
Photo by Steve Wolfe
CHAUTAUQUA
Photo by Steve Wolfe
Silver Stage. Montgomery College’s popular Summer Dinner Theatre celebrated its 25th anniversary this summer with performances of “On the Town” and “South Pacific.” New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a longtime MC supporter, proclaimed
July 25 as “Montgomery College Summer Dinner Theatre Day” in his city, noting the theater’s contribution of talented performers
to Broadway. A 25th anniversary gala benefit helped to raise money for scholarships and programs to support the arts at MC.
Photo by Don Rejonis
Teddy Roosevelt, portrayed by Doug Mishler, held forth under
a tent at the Fourth Annual Chautauqua on the Germantown
Campus. The four-night event was cosponsored by the College
and the Maryland Humanities Council.
MONTGOMERY COLLEGE TODAY
FALL 2002
5
HEALTH
SCIENCES
CENTER
The Takoma Park Campus will boast three new
buildings, the first of which is the Health Sciences
Center, scheduled to open in 2004. This state-ofthe-art facility, located on Georgia Avenue and
East-West Highway, will house labs and classrooms,
as well as a community clinic for uninsured
patients operated by Holy Cross Hospital.
Takoma Park Campus’ New Health Sciences Center
Will Benefit Students and Community
T
he Takoma Park Campus is bursting at the seams. It serves more
than 4,000 students on a site that compares in size to some Montgomery
County public schools. Which is why
Montgomery College has embarked on
an $88-million, three-building expansion into the heart of South Silver
Spring along Georgia Avenue—an
essential part of the city’s revitalization.
The first building, which broke
ground this past spring, is scheduled
to open in 2004. The center will serve
students in the College’s nursing and
health sciences programs, with stateof-the-art classrooms, labs, and other
facilities.
Facility Fills
Numerous Needs
The new center will address the
critical shortage of health care professionals, particularly those who have
experience in a community-based
setting, offering both credit and noncredit health sciences programs and
courses.
It will also house a small business
training center operated by the College’s Workforce Development &
Continuing Education unit, which
John
Updike
To Speak at
Montgomery
College
Photo by Martha Updike
will primarily serve existing and prospective businesses in the down-county
area, as well as individuals seeking to
improve their career skills in technology and other areas.
Health Services for
County’s Neediest
Through a collaborative partnership,
Holy Cross Hospital will run a health
clinic in the new center for the area’s
uninsured patients, while providing a
clinical training site for the College’s
health sciences students.
Annice Cody, vice president of
planning and development for Holy
Cross, says, “Through this relationship with Montgomery College,
Holy Cross can address the needs of
our diverse community by helping to
alleviate a huge unmet need of the
uninsured for primary care, and helping to educate nurses and other health
professionals our community requires
for the future.”
The Holy Cross Health Center at
Montgomery College will occupy over
5,000 square feet on the first floor of
the four-story building. It will house
exam rooms, classrooms, blood-drawing area, registration area, and a waiting
John Updike, author of more than
50 books, including the Pulitzer prizewinning Rabbit is Rich and Rabbit at
Rest, will receive the F. Scott Fitzgerald
Award for Distinguished Achievement
in American Literature at the seventh
annual F. Scott Fitzgerald Literary Con-
room with children’s play area.
Each year, the clinic will provide an
estimated 5,000 primary care visits to
adults, many with chronic conditions
such as diabetes and hypertension. The
clinic will not offer surgery or emergency treatment. It will, however, provide important education and outreach
activities, such as patient health education, screening, and support groups for
the county’s neediest citizens, many of
whom are immigrants and speak little
English.
Cure for Overcrowding
Takoma Park Health Sciences Dean
Angie Pickwick has been with the
College for 18 years. “I’ve watched
these rock-solid [health sciences] programs grow; I’ve seen overcrowded
conditions.” The College has gone to
extraordinary measures to alleviate the
crowding, she notes, even resorting at
times to conducting nursing classes in
the campus planetarium.
Pickwick recalls arriving an hour
early to her radiologic technology
classes, just to move equipment out
of the classroom space used by other
health sciences programs. In the new
facility, however, additional classrooms
ference, Saturday, Oct. 26, at Montgomery College’s Rockville Campus.
The one-day event will feature
prominent writers and would-be
authors in workshops, panel discussions, and special events. Of special
note: aspiring authors can have the
and labs will accommodate the technology necessary to support health
sciences instruction and allow programs to meet the growing needs of
the community, students, accrediting
organizations, and national licensing
or certification organizations.
Pickwick says there will be a lot of
collaboration and sharing of resources
among the different programs. For
example, nursing and radiologic technology students will gain instruction in
a mock surgical suite designed for the
surgical technology program. Physical
therapist assistant students will learn
in radiography labs.
The building will be modular,
to accommodate the changing needs
of the programs as they come and
go. “We are good stewards of our
resources,” said Pickwick.
The Takoma Park Campus houses
all of Montgomery College’s health
sciences programs: nursing, diagnostic
medical sonography, surgical technologist, radiologic (x-ray) technology,
health information technology, and
physical therapist assistant. For more
information about credit programs,
call 301-650-1480; for non-credit
programs, call 301-650-1324.
first 10 pages of their manuscripts critiqued by literary experts.
For more information, visit
www.peerlessrockville.org/FSF;
e-mail [email protected];
or call 301-309-9461.
6
FALL 2002
MONTGOMERY COLLEGE TODAY
MC IN THE COMMUNITY
Dogged Courage
Photo by Don Rejonis
Meg Birney and her dog, Thor, are constant companions. Sometimes the yellow Lab accompanies
Birney on campus, to the delight of her students.
M
eg Birney, head of the Science
Learning Center at the Germantown Campus, is on call 24/7. There’s
no telling when she and her yellow
Labrador retriever, Thor, might get
the call that asks them to head to the
hills to find someone who’s missing—
a child, a hunter, a hiker, or maybe
a person with Alzheimer’s disease.
Birney is a member of DOGS-East,
a non-profit, volunteer group based
in Virginia that trains and uses dogs
to find lost people. She and her group
undertake wilderness search and rescue
operations in Virginia and adjoining
states. The police or other investigative
agencies also use her group to locate
homicide victims or individuals
thought to be deceased for other
reasons.
Birney grew up in Alaska, where she
saw lots of search and rescue missions.
She started saving for her first search
dog in college, attended grad school in
Texas, and thanks to a husband in the
military, ended up teaching at a community college in Virginia, which,
according to Birney, has a very good
search and rescue system.
She’s been at Montgomery College
for three years now, and says, “MC is
such a good sport about not making
me worry that I’m not there, when
I’m out on searches. The students are
also good sports when I come in with
two hours of sleep, not up to snuff.
“When you think about it, it makes
sense,” she adds. “A community college
is there to support the community.”
Birney has been in the search and
rescue business for about six years,
and has completed 80 searches. She
got Thor when he was a puppy—
they’ve been together for five years.
Thor is a non-scent-discriminating
dog. That is, he doesn’t need an article
of clothing to search; he picks up
scents in the air, and is trained to
find anybody.
Birney’s out-of-pocket expenses
can exceed $2,000 a year for mileage,
equipment, food, vet bills, and other
incidentals. Her Dodge 4x4 is always
equipped with supplies to enable
Heroes Trained Here
A.A.S. in fire science. “The classes and
teachers are exceptional,” she said.
“The instructors are well established
professionals and really care about our
careers.”
A Hot Career
Many people who are attracted to
firefighting note that the field provides
great job security and the opportunity
to perform an essential public function.
“Students in this program
are the most respectful
human beings I’ve ever met.
Firefighters put everybody
before themselves.”
– Professor Jill Irey
Montgomery College’s fire science
degree program assists career and volunteer firefighters, as well as uniformed
fire service personnel preparing for rank
promotions.
The fire and arson investigation certificate program covers facets of both
fire science and criminal justice. After
receiving the certificate, students may
work toward the A.A.S. in either fire
science or criminal justice.
Both degree and certificate programs
are statewide programs; that is, students
living outside Montgomery County can
pay in-county tuition rates if their local
community college doesn’t provide that
particular program.
According to Marley, Montgomery
County volunteer firefighters who
want to become career firefighters
must undergo a rigorous, competitive
process. She thinks a Montgomery
College degree gives students a definite
edge. Not to mention the fact that it’s
a requirement for career advancement
and higher ranking positions.
Her classmate, Doug Wright, puts
in long hours at the fire station and
studies in the bunkhouse. When the
alarm goes off, he drops his books and
races off to a fire. He doesn’t mind it a
bit. “Being able to help others is what
it’s all about. It’s their hour of need,
and you’re the one able to help them.”
her to live in the wilderness for
three days.
Training for dog and handler
teams is rigorous. They must attend
weekly sessions lasting five to seven
hours. Teams train in all weather
conditions and in all seasons both
day and night. It takes anywhere
from one to two years for a team
to become proficient.
Just the day before the interview,
Birney was on a mission in Harrisonburg, Va., at 3:30 in the morning,
searching for an elderly Russian
immigrant with Alzheimer’s disease.
However, another dog located the
individual.
What types of people are attracted
to this business? “They like the outdoors,” says Birney. “They are fairly
civic minded. They love to train animals. It allows you to do what you
want to do and get credit for it.
“The searches I go on don’t make
the national news,” she says. “You do
it because it needs to be done and
somebody’s got to do it.”
From page 1
In a Class by Themselves
Professor Irey says students in the
program are a rare breed. “Students
in this program are the most respectful
human beings I’ve ever met,” she said.
“Firefighters put everybody before
themselves.”
“Fire people are the most modest
people,” agrees student Wright, who
hopes to become a firefighter and a
medic. “You never hear them bragging.
When someone you’ve helped says
‘thank you,’ it’s like a million bucks.”
For more information about the
fire science A.A.S. and the fire and
arson investigation certificate, call
301-251-7199 or 301-279-5142.
Emergency Medical
Technician Courses
Students interested in emergency
medical technician-basic (EMT-B)
certification should check out
Montgomery College Workforce
Development & Continuing Education
courses in EMT-B. Successful completion of all three courses enables the
student to sit for the Maryland certification exam.
For information, call 301-601-6903.
FALL 2002
MONTGOMERY COLLEGE TODAY
MC Alumna Finds Her Station in Life
the expectation most immigrants share.
Through good fortune and a “tremendous thirst for success,” she found people who invested in her future, and
opportunities opened for her.
As general manager of the Washington, D.C. affiliate of one of the largest
Spanish-language television networks
in the nation, Telemundo, Thompson
is fulfilling a responsibility she welcomes
by making sure others in the Hispanic
community have what they need
to succeed.
“One of the reasons I am very committed to helping the Hispanic community is because I understand not many
people have the good fortune I had,”
she said. “All of our community outreach work is geared toward giving
people some hope about their future.”
Thompson came to WZDC-TV
64 as a sales representative in 1995.
After only two years, she took over the
general manager’s position with very
little experience in the corporate world
of broadcast media.
During Thompson’s tenure at the
station, the affiliate has doubled in staff
and her responsibilities have grown to
include the management of a Spanishlanguage radio station, Viva 900 AM.
Among her current development plans
is the creation of a news department
and the production of a half-hour local
Spanish news program.
While the affiliate is contractually
obligated to air programs from the
national network, Thompson is carving
out slots for local programming. “The
community needs not only scholastic
education, but also education on issues,
and education on what is available to
them,” she said.
“What I think this country offers
to immigrants is opportunity,” she said,
“But it is up to them to take advantage
of that opportunity.”
Montgomery College Today
Fall 2002
Montgomery College Today
is published each fall
and spring by the College’s
Office of Communications.
301-279-5310
TTY 301-294-9672
Thompson spent eight years working
as a nanny in Takoma Park, while she
pursued her dream of getting a higher
education. The families became extensions of her family in Peru, enabling her
to balance job and study, and extending
financial help when money became an
issue of her continuing.
“I’m not ashamed of telling people I
took care of babies and cleaned houses.
In fact, I’m very proud of it,” she said.
“I share [my story] with pride and with
the hope that people who are in the
same shoes can see there is an opportunity, if they persevere.”
Thomas began her academic career
at Montgomery College taking writing
classes in English.
“All the teachers had the attitude
that every student who came to them
was a diamond in the rough,” she said
of her experience at Montgomery
College, adding that small classes and
flexible schedules made it possible for
her to realize her dream of getting
a degree.
Thompson was Montgomery College’s commencement speaker this
past May, an opportunity that made
her feel “deeply, deeply honored.”
In her message to the graduates,
she said students must be prepared
for failure, and must learn from it.
“In order to gain from failure,
you have to be willing and able
to take risk,” she said. “You must
persevere…Don’t quit. Ask yourself, are you living up to your
opportunities?”
This article is an edited version
of one that first appeared in Insights,
Montgomery College’s alumni magazine. To request a copy or for more
information about the Alumni Association, call the Alumni Office at
301-279-5378.
Editor
Tina Kramer
Contributing Writers
Diane Bosser, Jill Fitzgerald, Tina Kramer,
Richard Richina
Graphic Design
Clint Wu
Production/Printing Services
Denise Matheny
From page 1
Photo by Don Rejonis
MC’s Annual Fund…
Turning Endless
Possibilities into Realities
“My experience at MC helped me realize
my potential. Giving a donation to MC is
making an investment in the community.”
To make a gift online, please
visit our Web site at www.montgomerycollege.edu/alumni and
click on Ways of Giving to MC.
For more information, call
301-610-4028.
—MC alum and annual fund donor
The Montgomery College
Annual Fund is a yearly campaign
that provides immediate support
for Montgomery College students
and programs. It is a critical source
of unrestricted revenue for the
College generated from alumni,
parents, friends, faculty, and staff.
Please join in Montgomery
College’s mission to change lives
through education by making a
contribution to the annual fund.
Under provision of the Americans
with Disabilities Act, this material is
available in alternative formats by
contacting Disability Support Services
at 301-279-5058.
Montgomery College is an equal
opportunity employer, committed
to fostering a diverse academic
community among its student
7
Attention MC Alumni
If you earned your degree at
MC or completed more than 30
credits here, then you are eligible
to join the MC Alumni Association. Membership is free and
entitles you to a host of benefits.
For more information, visit
www.montgomerycollege.edu
and click on Alumni and Friends
or call 301-279-5378.
body, faculty, and staff.
Montgomery College Today
Communications Office
900 Hungerford Drive
Suite 200
Rockville, MD 20850
Visit Montgomery College on the Web:
www.montgomerycollege.edu
8
FALL 2002
MONTGOMERY COLLEGE TODAY
Fall Performing
&
Arts
Community
Events
Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center
T
Photo courtesy of Ballet Stars of Moscow
A
s the community’s college, MC
offers a rich variety of social and
cultural activities right in your backyard, including theatrical, musical
and dance events, art shows, public
lectures, and sporting events—many
of them no cost or low cost. Here
are a few upcoming free events…
Michael Dirda: Reading,
Writing, and Reviewing—
Life at the Washington Post
Book World
Wednesday, Oct. 30, 7 p.m.
Theatre Arts Arena
Rockville Campus
301-251-7417
Macklin Business Institute
Distinguished Lecture Series
Featuring Raul J. Fernandez
Thursday, Oct. 3, 2 p.m.
Theatre Arts Arena
Rockville Campus
301-279-5151
Hazel O’Leary Speaks:
A Woman’s Place in the
21st Century
Wednesday, Nov. 13, 9:30 a.m.
Science North, Room 100
Takoma Park Campus
301-650-1662
Sonia Pressman Fuentes: From
Immigrant to Feminist—My Role
in the Women’s Rights Movement
Tuesday, Oct. 8, 7 p.m.
The Commons, Lower Level
Takoma Park Campus
301-650-1662
Lisa Couturier:
Writing the Creature,
the Urban, and the Wild
Wednesday, Nov. 13, 7 p.m.
High Technology and
Science Building
Germantown Campus
301-251-7417
Hilary Tham: Poetry,
Ongoing Conversations
Wednesday, Oct. 9, 7 p.m.
Macklin Tower, Room 212
Rockville Campus
301-251-7417
Meet the At-Large Candidates
for Montgomery County Council
Tuesday, Oct. 15, 7 p.m.
Globe Hall, Germantown Campus
301-353-7711
Ethics in Business
Symposium
Thursday, Nov. 14, 7 p.m.
Theatre Arts Arena
Rockville Campus
301-279-5151
To find out about events on
all three campuses, please visit
www.montgomerycollege.edu
and click on Calendar.
he Robert E. Parilla Performing
Arts Center at the Rockville
Campus hosts a Guest Artist Series
featuring leading traveling companies, as well as a College Performing
Arts Series featuring full-scale student productions. Free concerts by
MC music students round out the
season. For more information, visit
www.montgomerycollege.edu/PAC
or call the box office at 301-279-5301.
Working
Wednesday –Saturday, Oct. 9–12,
8 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 13, 2 p.m.
Student production based on Studs
Terkel’s bestselling book of interviews
with American workers.
MC Music Department
Wind and Flute Performance
Thursday, Oct. 17, 8 p.m. Free.
Ballet Stars of Moscow
Friday, October 18, 8 p.m.
This stellar company of dancers
directed by Shamil Yagudin, ballet
master of the Bolshoi Ballet, features
young soloists from Moscow’s leading
companies: The Bolshoi Ballet, Moscow Classical Ballet, and Stanislovsky
Theatre Ballet.
MC Music Department
Symphony Performance
Sunday, Oct. 20, 7:30 p.m. Free.
Electra
Wednesday–Saturday, Nov. 13–16,
8 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 17, 2 p.m.
Sophocles’ tale of compassion and
revenge comes to life in this student
production.
Tartuffe
Friday, Nov. 22, 8 p.m.
Now in its 54th year of touring, Olney
Theatre Center’s National Players—
returns to Montgomery College with
Moliere’s “Tartuffe”—a timeless masterpiece that tells a cautionary tale of
hypocrisy and false religious zeal.
MC Music Department
Jazz Concert
Monday, Nov. 25, 8 p.m. Free.
Important Numbers
General Information
301-279-5000
Admissions, Records, and Registration
Germantown
301-353-7818
Rockville
301-279-5045
Takoma Park
301-650-1500
Workforce Development &
Continuing Education
301-279-5188
Counseling/Advising
Germantown
301-353-7770
Rockville
301-279-5063
301-279-5085
Takoma Park
301-650-1480
Disability Support Services
Germantown
301-353-7767
Rockville
301-279-5058
Takoma Park
301-650-1473
301-650-1478
Financial Aid
Germantown
301-353-7812
Rockville
301-279-5100
Takoma Park
301-650-1506
For a schedule of classes, call
301-279-5000. Or log on to
Montgomery College’s Web site:
www.montgomerycollege.edu.
Visit Montgomery College online: www.montgomerycollege.edu