Horizons (Horizontes) está disponible en español @ www.com.edu/horizons FREE TUITION & FEES AT COM! The Opening Doors Promise Scholarship Spend a Penny Save $3 Million In a League of its Own THE ART OF A NEW COM LOCATION Success FALL 2020 COM in the Dual Credit & COMMUNITY COLLEGIATE HIGH SCHOOL THE SECOND THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF COM SEE BACK COVER APPLY NOW REGISTER BY AUGUST 22 WWW.COM.EDU/START SPRING 2020 SPRING 2020 College of the Mainland is a learning-centered, comprehensive community college dedicated to student success and the intellectual and economic prosperity of the diverse communities we serve. The college district includes Texas City, Dickinson, Hitchcock, La Marque, and Santa Fe. The service area includes League City, Friendswood, Kemah, Bacliff and San Leon. PUBLICATION STAFF Admissions Office Writer and Co-editor: Monique Sennet Student Center SC-119 Designer and Co-editor: Carl Owens 409-933-8264 or Photographer: Scott Turnbough 888-258-8859, Extension 8264 Web Distribution: Chris Carpenter Print Distribution: Amanda Garza Student Financial College of the Mainland Services Office 1200 N. Amburn Road [email protected] Texas City, Texas 77591 Enroll today at COM using the Navigate 409-933-8274 Student Planning Tool. Download “Navigate 409-938-1211 Student” in the app store or Google Play to COM Foundation www.com.edu get started. [email protected] 409-933-8675 2 | Horizons College of the Mainland Magazine Spring 2020 CONTENTS 4 LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT 6 FREE TUITION AND FEES AT COM! 8 THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF COM 9 FACULTY SPOTLIGHT: THE ART OF SUCCESS 10 SPEND A PENNY NOW, SAVE 3 MILLION LATER 12 PLANTING THE SEEDS FOR FINANCIAL SUCCESS 14 IN A LEAGUE OF ITS OWN: A NEW COM LOCATION 16 DUAL CREDIT AND COLLEGIATE HIGH SCHOOL 18 CREATING A PIPELINE FOR STUDENT TRANSFERS 20 MAKING ROOM FOR THE FUTURE: IT’S FULL STEAM AHEAD 22 STUDENT LEADER FINDS HOME AT COM 23 FOR THE LOVE OF SCIENCE: GIRLS EXPLORE STEM CAREERS 24 COM IN THE COMMUNITY 26 DONORS MAKING Board of Trustees A DIFFERENCE Chair, Position 3, Kyle Dickson Vice Chair, Position 2, Alan Waters 27 COM ALUMNI NEWS: WHERE Secretary, Position 5, Melissa Skipworth ARE THEY NOW? Position 7, Don G. Gartman Position 1, Dr. Verna Henson BACK COVER Position 4, Dawn King THE SECOND SET OF 100 Position 6, Dr. Bill McGarvey STORIES Administration President, Dr. Warren Nichols VP for Instruction, Dr. Jerry Fliger VP for Student Services, Dr. Vicki Stanfield VP for Fiscal Affairs, Dr. Clen Burton Horizons College of the Mainland Magazine Spring 2020 | 3 LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT s we round out another school year, now is a fitting time to reflect on the historic strides we’ve made at College of the Mainland. This past year has been nothing short of extraordinary. From extraordinary growth in our programs and facilities to extraordinary student successes, this is truly an exciting time at COM! Kicking off the school year in August, we broke ground on our new STEAM (Science, Technolo- gy, Engineering, Art, and Math) and Administration buildings. The event marked an inspiring opportunity for us to witness the start of the priceless investment that our com- munity has committed RIGHT: towards the continued growth and innovation at COM. Dr. Warren Nichols With our new facilities, we plan to welcome many new and expanded programs to better serve the needs of Aour students. In addition to expanding our presence on our main campus, we also recognize the growing importance to increase capacity throughout our service area. With a steady increase in the enrollment of our dual cred- it program, particularly within the Clear Creek and Friendswood ISD communities, we look forward to the opening of our new League City facility in fall 2020. 4 | Horizons College of the Mainland Magazine Spring 2020 While these milestones are quite re- markable, the growth at COM goes far beyond our physical footprint. This past December, College of the Main- land hosted its inaugural fall com- The scholarship will allow every quali- mencement ceremony in response to fying student in those communities to the overwhelming surge of graduates attend COM full time, tuition free and participating in our May ceremony. earn an associate degree or complete a workforce training certificate program. I see this as a testament to the dedi- As we work to continue expanding this cation of our students to stay on track scholarship program to neighboring cities, with their academic goals, from day I am confident that this opportunity will one through graduation. greatly enrich the growth and prosperity Though these are indeed exciting times at College of of our community now and in the years to come. the Mainland, it goes without saying that this is also a very unique time for our entire college communi- To say the least, this has been quite an ty. As we learn to adapt to our many new realities eventful year. I hope you will read on for during these unprecedented times, I am proud of the some truly inspiring stories and to learn resolve of our students who have adjusted seam- more about the big changes we have lessly to online learning and remain committed to underway at College of the Mainland. moving forward to achieving their goals. Thank you for your continued support, and I look forward to connecting with To support students in reaching these goals, we are each of you as we embark on this incredi- finding new ways to make the journey towards high- ble journey ahead. er education affordable and accessible. In addition to offering an array of financial supports in the form Sincerely, of scholarships, grants and work programs, we are thrilled to launch the Opening Doors Promise Schol- arship for graduating high school seniors in Texas Dr. Warren Nichols City and La Marque. President, College of the Mainland Horizons College of the Mainland Magazine Spring 2020 | 5 The New Opening Doors Promise Scholarship FREE TUITION & FEES AT COM! NOW AVAILABLE TO TEXAS CITY AND LA MARQUE STUDENTS While traditionally the prospect “To be able to go to college at College of the Mainland and get a qual- of a college education has often ity education without the financing side of it being a barrier is just been financially out of reach for unheard of,” said Texas City Mayor Matthew Doyle. “What this means many students, College of the to the business environment and the economic development of our Mainland is breaking through community cannot even begin to be measured. Of all the things I’ve those financial barriers in a been a part of as mayor for the last 16 years at this great city, this will major way through its Opening go down as the best one ever.” Doors Promise Scholarship. Working with community part- Through the new scholarship ners, the scholarship will address program, COM is partnering the growing need for accessible with local government, pri- education in the COM community. vate donors and surrounding The program will provide funding educational entities to ease the for any Class of 2020 graduating financial burdens for graduat- high school student living in Tex- ing high school seniors in Texas as City or La Marque, or students City and La Marque. attending La Marque High School pursuing full-time studies at COM. Funded by the Texas City Eco- nomic Development Corpo- Data shows that 77 percent of the ration and individual private population ages 25 and above in donors, the scholarship allows COM’s taxing district received no every qualifying high school further degree beyond high school. student to attend COM full Despite COM having one of the time, tuition free and earn an lowest tuition and fees rate in associate degree or complete the state of Texas, many students a workforce training certifi- see cost and debt as obstacles to cate program. attending a higher education 6 | Horizons College of the Mainland Magazine Spring 2020 institution. Through the Opening Doors Promise Schol- How to apply arship program, students can now access a high-quality and Apply today by completing these two simple steps by the affordable college education designated deadline dates below: with no tuition or fees that will help open doors to a rewarding • STEP 1 – May 15, 2020: Apply for admission through career and fulfilling lifestyle. www.applytexas.org. “A college education is a fun- • STEP 2 – June 1, 2020: Submit the Free Application for damental investment that will Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.gov and list guide students on to a path to “College of the Mainland” or enter code 007096. education and future employ- Community leaders are encouraged to join in support of ment in high-demand jobs,” the program as COM works to expand the scholarship to said COM President Warren surrounding areas. Nichols. “As one of the primary sources of higher education in To learn more about the Opening Doors Promise Scholar- the community, COM is commit- ship at College of the Mainland, call 409-933-8147, email ted to responding to the needs [email protected] or visit www.com.edu/promise. of our community by expanding financial resources across our student landscape.” Want to take the next step to a College of the Mainland les promete matrícula gratuita a los promising future? Here’s what estudiantes de Texas City y La Marque que se graduarán de bachillerato o que recientemente obtuvieron un GED. Para you need to know: obtener más información, vaya a www.com.edu/promesa. Eligibility All Texas City and La Marque residing high school seniors (GED, public, private, home or charter schools) graduating in the Class of 2020 are eligible for the Opening Doors Promise Scholarship.