HCC makes its mark on Howard County
During Community College Month, students ‘from all walks of life’ celebrated
Even though Matthew Arminio has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree, he found himself back in school.
Arminio, 32, of Columbia, has been taking classes at Howard Community College for two years to eventually apply to colleges with physician assistant programs.
He holds a bachelor’s in exercise science from West Chester University and a master’s in acupuncture from the Maryland University of Integrative Health in Laurel.
He said he has enjoyed his experience at Howard Community College so far because it’s more flexible and accessible for an “older student” to continue their education.
“I think high school students should work right out of high school, but if they have a vague idea of what they want to do, they should go to a community college, take a bunch of classes and also save money,” Arminio said.
Arminio is one of nearly 500,000 students — 150,000 in credit programs and 350,000 in continuing education and workforce development courses — enrolled in a Maryland community college annually, according to data from Howard Community College.
In honor of April being National Community College Month, HCC has shared 16 facts about Maryland community colleges, including that 70% of all freshmen and sophomore college students from Maryland are enrolled in one of the community colleges.
Kathleen B. Hetherington is the only HCC president to be a community college graduate. Hetherington, who has been HCC’s president since 2007, has spent her entire professional career in community colleges.
“I always share my experience with students,” Hetherington said. “Community colleges were relatively new at that time, and I started at the Community College at Philadelphia and it was the beginning of a career for me.”
After earning her associate degree while See HCC , page 4
Arminio, 32, of Columbia, has been taking classes at Howard Community College for two years to eventually apply to colleges with physician assistant programs.
He holds a bachelor’s in exercise science from West Chester University and a master’s in acupuncture from the Maryland University of Integrative Health in Laurel.
He said he has enjoyed his experience at Howard Community College so far because it’s more flexible and accessible for an “older student” to continue their education.
“I think high school students should work right out of high school, but if they have a vague idea of what they want to do, they should go to a community college, take a bunch of classes and also save money,” Arminio said.
Arminio is one of nearly 500,000 students — 150,000 in credit programs and 350,000 in continuing education and workforce development courses — enrolled in a Maryland community college annually, according to data from Howard Community College.
In honor of April being National Community College Month, HCC has shared 16 facts about Maryland community colleges, including that 70% of all freshmen and sophomore college students from Maryland are enrolled in one of the community colleges.
Kathleen B. Hetherington is the only HCC president to be a community college graduate. Hetherington, who has been HCC’s president since 2007, has spent her entire professional career in community colleges.
“I always share my experience with students,” Hetherington said. “Community colleges were relatively new at that time, and I started at the Community College at Philadelphia and it was the beginning of a career for me.”
After earning her associate degree while See HCC , page 4
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