The Garrett County Diversity and Inclusion Committee is having a meeting on Wednesday, April 19, 2023 from 3 PM until 4:30 PM at Garrett College in the Offutt STEM Building in Room 211.
Category: garrett college
‘Explore Garrett’ Open House set for April 1st
In-person Garrett College event is for prospective students, parents
Garrett College recently announced its Explore Garrett Open House will take place on Saturday, April 1st from 9:30 a.m. until noon. The event will be held in the Performing Arts Center at Garrett College on the McHenry campus.
“We are very excited to welcome prospective students and their families to our first in-person open house event in over two years,” said Melissa Wass, director of admissions and recruitment at GC. “Choosing a college is a big decision, and an on-campus visit is one of the best things that can help a student make the right choice.
“We want our guests to feel fully informed about the options available to them here at Garrett,” added Wass, “and we look forward to sharing how we can help them reach their academic and career goals.”
Those in attendance will be able to explore Garrett’s academic programs through conversations with faculty; learn about available financial aid and scholarships; take a tour of Garrett’s campus; and discover the many benefits Garrett College has to offer.
Additionally, information will be shared about the admissions process, seamless transfer agreements, athletic programs, on-campus housing, placement testing, and new student advising.
Visit https://www.garrettcollege.edu/exploregarrett to register for the open house. Contact the Office of Admissions at 301-387-3044 or admissions@garrettcollege.edu for additional information.
Lakers move to 6-2 after splitting pair of games
MCHENRY — The Garrett Lakers’ men’s basketball team moved to 6-2 on the season after blowing out Pennsylvania Highlands Community College last Wednesday (Dec. 4) before falling in overtime on the road to Montgomery College.
Penn Highlands
at Garrett
Seven Lakers scored in double figures as the hosting Lakers defeated Penn Highlands, 117-52, at the CARC Arena for the team’s third consecutive victory.
Garrett, down 10-7 early, got a three-point play from D’Monte Brown and a three-point basket from Meron Gheybreyesus as the Lakers took the lead. Cameron Selders later drained a three-pointer 10 minutes into the first half to give the hosts a double-digit lead at 27-17.
This would prove to be the spark plug for the rest of the match, as from then on it was all Lakers. Garrett finished the first half on a blistering 26-6 run to create an insurmountable 64-29 lead going into the locker room and then proceeded to outscore the Black Bears 53-23 in the second half.
Strahinja Ivic led all scorers with 21 points for the Lakers and snagged eight rebounds. Gheybreyesus finished with 19 points and six rebounds. Brown added 15 points; Sam Martin and Merlon Devine each had 11; and both Oliver Jacquot and Ngoye BobManual chipped in with 10 to round out the team’s double-figure scorers.
To read the full article click here.
Garrett Community College among those receiving state grant funding
The Hogan administration today announced the Board of Public Works approval of seven capital grants agreements, totaling over $18.1 million, dedicated to essential capital projects at five higher educational organizations. The grants are administered through the Maryland Department of General Services Capital Grants Division. The Board of Public Works is comprised of Governor Larry Hogan, Comptroller Peter Franchot, and Treasurer Nancy Kopp.
“Our administration recognizes the critical role of higher education in Maryland’s economy and our citizens’ quality of life,” said Governor Hogan. “These grants will help complete vital capital projects in every region of the state, leading to increased visibility and furthering their institutional goals.”
Five Maryland higher education institutions whose missions inspire and encourage conservation, learning, and performance through community engagement were approved by the Board: the Community College of Baltimore County, Essex Campus and Catonsville Campus; the College of Southern Maryland, Indian Head, Md.; Howard Community College, Columbia, Md.; Frederick Community College, Frederick, Md.; and Garrett College, McHenry, Md.
To read the full article click here.
Center Of Adventure, Experiential Learning Established At Garrett College
Sep. 19, 2013
Garrett College has historically pursued a course of connecting with the adventure industry, and the administration has long recognized the need for the development of additional programming in the college’s academic plan. To meet this need and to expand educational opportunities, the Center for Adventure and Experiential Learning (CAEL) at the college has been established and will operate under the Continuing Education and Workforce Development Division.
College president Dr. Richard MacLennan, who says he is committed to moving this program from concept to reality, remains actively involved as an advisor in the development of CAEL, and said he sees it as a logical step for the college in the spirit of the Garrett College Aventuresports Institute (ASI) and the heritage of Garrett County.
“CAEL has developed into a strong component of the college’s strategic plan,” he said. “Through it we will provide educational opportunities to enhance the long history of outdoor adventure recreation in this region. We are moving along a continuum of creating the programs of study that embrace our area’s greatest assets of wildlife, forests, mountains, rivers, and lakes, as well as rugged venues for outdoors adventure experiences.”
Recently named to the post of program director for CAEL, Michael White has been working with a group of advisors to build the foundations upon which the program will grow. The vision for CAEL was the creation of a program at Garrett College that will become the portal to custom-designed education, training, and recreational experiences in Garrett County, and the surrounding region, he explained.
“The stated mission of the CAEL program is to provide high-quality, adventure-based programing to individuals and organizations with an educational and personal development focus,” White said. “In order to accomplish this undertaking, CAEL will coordinate efforts in the region to utilize the expertise of ASI trained students and other local partners. Using members of the local workforce to implement the educational programs builds an economic development component into CAEL.”
While developing the concepts that would enhance the educational opportunities in the adventure industry, Dr. MacLennan also saw that CAEL would positively impact workforce development and thereby contribute to economic growth in the area. He discussed the perceived benefits with former Garrett County Economic Development director Jim Hinebaugh.
Hinebaugh agreed that the CAEL program being developed has potential to provide a beneficial economic stimulus, which would dovetail well with Garrett County’s Economic Development Strategic Plan, a plan that acknowledged the need for such growth. This discussion helped to create the connection for the development of the blueprint that would become part of the county plan.
Wounded Warriors Week Taking Place At ASCI, Garrett College
Jun. 7, 2012
The Team River Runner Leadership Conference and Rendezvous began Monday at Garrett College and the Adventure Sports Center International (ASCI). More than 65 wounded warriors are participating in outdoor and indoor learning exercises and activities. This event is one of a number of community service activities coordinated and hosted by ASCI.
Team River Runner (TRR), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, gives active duty service members and veterans an opportunity to find health, healing, and new challenges through whitewater boating and other paddling sports.
“The benefits of TRR have as much to do with creating a social network and support system as they do with learning water sports skills that provide an exciting adventure lifestyle that suddenly seemed lost due to injury,” a spokesperson said. “The program also encourages family members to participate whenever possible.”
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In this process, paddlers are put through a step-by-step approach in which they learn to control a kayak in a pool, and then they move to ASCI, which provides a controlled environment where they are introduced to whitewater. The participants then move on to rivers, lakes, and oceans, where they gain additional experience and skills.
Leadership training is being provided in cooperation with the Continuing Education program at Garrett College.
“The college family looks forward to hosting these men and women, who have done so much for us,” said Dr. Rick MacLennan, president of the college. “We are pleased to be here to help them develop their growing management and adventure skills so they may take them home to share with veterans in their community.”
The conference is in its second year. It brings together vets from the TRR chapters around the country to help them with skills to run their chapters, the spokesperson said. The range of offerings includes topics such as the latest developments with adaptive equipment to sessions on how to accomplish local fundraising and recruit volunteers.
Monday’s kick-off speaker was Jeannette Rudy Fitzwater, who conducted a seminar on helping the participants identify their work and management styles to aid them in being able to communicate and work productively with staff and volunteers in their chapters.
The Rendezvous portion of this week’s event is in its 4th year. It brings back vets who have gone through the rehabilitation and therapy programs at Bethesda Naval and Walter Reed Army hospitals (and what are now combined as Walter Reed National Military Medical Center) and gives them the opportunity to reconnect with one another. They are also encouraged to bring their families.
“A great deal of the healing process is with the families, and all too often they are excluded from events to which the vets are invited,” the spokesperson said.
Suzanne Nicolas, events coordinator at ASCI, said the support of the local community has been key in making the conference and rendezvous possible.
More here.
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‘Lean’ speaker at Garrett College
Director of Maryland World Class Consortia to speak at conference
Elaine Blaisdell
Cumberland Times-News The Cumberland Times-News Mon Nov 14, 2011, 09:02 AM EST
MCHENRY — Jeff Fuchs, director of the Maryland World Class Consortia, will be the keynote speaker at the Western Maryland Lean Conference on Tuesday at Garrett College.
Garrett College is holding the conference in cooperation with the Garrett-Allegany Lean Forum and the Maryland World Class Consortia. The conference is being held because the forum, which has been in existence for a while, wanted to explain what “lean” is, according to Julie Yoder, dean of education and continuing workforce development.
“The overall goal of ‘lean’ is to be more efficient and to improve process,” said Yoder.
During the conference, Fuchs will define what “lean” is and share ways that it can be implemented in any organization. Topics include key aspects of continuous improvement; Lean in Action: a Hands-on Example; what it takes, at the leadership level, to support a continuous improvement culture; steps for developing a “lean” transformation plan; and keys to success.
Participants in the conference will first get the big picture on what “lean” is and then will learn how local businesses have implemented “lean” practices, said Yoder.
Thus far, more than 60 people have registered for the conference. Local businesses involved include ATK, First United Bank & Trust, Garrett County Health Department, Total Biz Fulfillment of Grantsville and the Western Maryland Health System.
“I think the amount of people registered shows a pretty good effort for the first conference,” said Yoder. “Businesses should attend this conference because with economic times as they are, any business can do more to become more efficient and save resources. I think it’s a goal for everyone right now.”
Participants in the conference will be surveyed on their interest in “lean” and depending on the response, a course at Garrett College may ensue, according to Yoder.
The Maryland World Class Consortia is a nonprofit organization that increases the competitive capacity of Maryland organizations through “lean” principles and methods.
Since 2006, Fuchs, of the Baltimore area, has been a key contributor to the development and deployment of the country’s first nationally recognized “lean” certification, sponsored jointly by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, the Association for Manufacturing Excellence, the Shingo Prize for Operational Excellence and the American Society for Quality.
Numerous county government and community committee members have been appointed to the Garrett County Commissioners Lean Committee and were invited to attend the conference, which begins at 10 a.m. and concludes at 3:30 p.m.
County government committee members include Mike Bittinger, Garrett County Sheriff’s Department; Brian King, Garrett County Department of Public Utilities; Theresa Miller, Garrett County Roads Department; Nathaniel Watkins, Garrett County Department of Informational Technology; and Scott Weeks, Garrett County Department of Financial Services.
Community committee members include Steve Lantz, a retired banking executive; Gary Ruddell, Total Biz Fulfillment; Rebecca Sines, First United Bank & Trust; Joe Thomas, Phenix Technologies; and Bill Welch, Simon Pearce.
For more information on the conference, call 301-387-3069.
Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com.
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Garrett College to celebrate pool’s grand opening
Work crews completing last of the punch list items; festivities to commence Saturday
From Staff Reports Cumberland Times-News
MCHENRY — The pool has been filled and the lifeguards have been hired at Garrett College’s new Community Aquatic & Recreation Complex.
Now it’s time for the public to take a dip.
A grand opening scheduled for Saturday will feature tours of the 32,500-square-foot complex, demonstrations in its fitness center and regulation-size pool — and a three-hour public swim from 2 to 5 p.m.
Funded by the state and county, the $23 million CARC is to be a wellness center for the entire community, college leaders have said. Membership fees are on a sliding scale based on income levels.
Last week, a group of area kindergartners was among the first to try out the pool when they participated in a new I Can Swim! program. The free program will bring all Garrett County kindergartners to CARC for one week at a time for swimming and water safety classes.
Work crews are completing punch list items, but construction of the aquatic and fitness building is “substantially complete,” according to a report prepared for the Garrett College Board of Trustees.
An adjacent 42,500-square-foot gymnasium is about 40 percent complete and is expected to open in March, the report said.
Saturday’s grand opening kicks off with a 9 a.m. breakfast and pre-event tour for Garrett College alumni, followed by a ceremony and guest speakers at 10 a.m.
Tours begin at 11:30 and continue until 5 p.m. Demonstrations are scheduled throughout the day, including:
• 11:30 a.m. to noon: Warm water pool features and healthy heart demonstrations
• Noon to 12:30 p.m.: Underwater robotic and scuba demonstrations
• 12:30 to 1 p.m.: Kayak roll demonstration and inflatable kayak kids race
• 1 to 1:30 p.m.: Manta Ray Swim Team, I Can Swim!, and dance demonstrations
• 1:30 to 5 p.m.: Fitness Center demonstrations
CARC’s operating hours are 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
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Garrett College ready to increase engineering, science, math programs
Michael A. Sawyers
Cumberland Times-News The Cumberland Times-News Sat Sep 17, 2011, 10:35 PM EDT
MCHENRY — With almost $265,000 from the Appalachian Regional Commission, $183,000 from Garrett County commissioners and $82,000 out of its own pocket, Garrett College is ready to increase programs in science, technology, engineering and math.
“There is a nationwide push to put more American students in STEM programs,” said Jim Allen, interim dean of academic affairs.
The grants will support associate degree programs in math/science, electrical engineering and cyber-security.
In addition, a competitive college robotics team will be established.
“There are already 15 students and five faculty and staff signed up for the robotics team,” Allen said Friday.
Allen said three Garrett County employers already use, or anticipate on using, some robotics and would be potential workplaces for students.
“We are looking into the possibility of making the robotics program a two-year, career offering,” Allen said.
A Rural Entrepreneurship Academy will function via the college’s continuing education program. It will be a noncredit course.
The ARC funds, announced by Sens. Ben Cardin and Barbara Mikulski, will purchase smart boards, laptop computers and a server.
“STEM graduates are in demand to fill the jobs of today and the jobs of tomorrow,” Mikulski said.
“America’s future de-pends on our ability to embrace high-tech education and training needed for jobs in the 21st century,” Cardin added.
Allen said he hopes the new offerings will increase enrollment.
“We are certainly off to a good start in the very first semester of our electrical engineering program with 10 students choosing it as their majors,” he said.
The current college enrollment is at 777, according to an online source.
Contact Michael A. Sawyers at msawyers@times-news.com
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Dirty Jobs’ camp teaches youngsters meaning of work
Garrett College program, based on TV show, has them cleaning up manure, among other lessons
The Cumberland Times-News Sun Aug 07, 2011, 11:52 PM EDT
— GRANTSVILLE — For most kids, summer camp means swimming pools, bonfires and toasted marshmallows, but not for about a dozen Garrett County children.
Participants in Garrett College’s “Dirty Jobs” adventure camp have learned about plumbing and landscaping and glass-blowing. They’ve even toured a landfill.
Mike Rowe would be proud.
“We watched a couple of clips from the TV show,” said Elizabeth Ray, camp director, who modeled the program after The Discovery Channel’s “Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe,” in which the host tries his hand at a variety of messy tasks.
“We saw an episode about pig farming and composting. Oh, and there was one about a monkey ranch. The kids thought that was really crazy.”
On Thursday, the group visited the BlueBell Alpaca Farm near Grantsville.
Bob Gilman, who owns the farm with his wife, Jo, got the group busy right away.
“Everybody grab a handful of feed,” Gilman said, as alpacas gathered around, gently nudging the children. “That’s your job — to feed them.”
Then Gilman got down and dirty, showing the campers how to scoop poop and sweep out the barn.
“Go on, guys, I want to see that place spotless,” Gilman teased, as the children took turns scooping and sweeping. “You’re saving me a lot of work.”
“It stinks!” one camper said.
“Yes, it stinks,” Gilman said. “That’s what a barnyard will do.”
Exposing campers to “dirty jobs” was just one of the themes that Ray dreamed up for adventure camps this summer.
Garrett College, which piloted a single weeklong camp last summer, offered eight camps this year, including “Food for Thought,” a program about growing and preparing food; “Going Green,” which took children to a recycling plant; and “Weird Science,” which included plenty of experiments.
“We made rockets and made stuff explode,” Ray said, adding that “Weird Science” seemed to be the most popular camp. “We made lava lamps out of vegetable oil and Alka Seltzer and water. They really liked that week.”
The camps, for children ages 6 to 10, cost $90 per week, and next week’s “Science and Technology” camp is the last one this summer. Ray, an early childhood education major at West Virginia University, hopes the college will offer them again next summer.
“We’ve done a lot of really fun stuff,” said Ray, adding that visiting the landfill wasn’t her favorite activity. “It was gross. It was really stinky.”
As for the alpacas, Gilman said it takes about two hours a day to feed and clean up after the 50 animals on the farm. Full-time farmhand Candace Swauger doesn’t mind getting dirty.
“It makes the day go by quick,” said Swauger, who showed children how to use a badminton racket to pound dust from fleeced alpaca wool.
“Then you have to nit-pick all this stuff out of here,” Swauger said, pulling thorns and grass from the wool.
Seven-year-old Emilia Germain said she thought the alpacas were “pretty neat.”
“Except when they spit on you,” Emilia said. “Otherwise, I think they’re pretty nice … I would like to get an alpaca, but we have nine cats, two dogs and two crabs.”
Contact Kristin Harty Barkley at kbarkley@times-news.com
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