Schools
CCBC Graduates Ready to Take Next Step
Some students plan on entering the workforce, while others plan on continuing their education.
It was a family affair at the Community College of Baltimore County's commencement ceremony held Saturday at the Essex campus. Cousins Rosi Gonzalez, Christina Aybar and Jeanette Valerio were just three of the more than 800 graduates who celebrated in front of family and friends.
Gonzalez, who took classes mostly at the Essex campus, plans to use her nursing degree in the work force. Aybar plans to transfer to Towson University, while Eastern Tech graduate Valerio plans to pursue her bachelor's in education.
“CCBC really prepared me for a job in a competitive market,” Gonzales said. “I just interviewed at Johns Hopkins last week.”
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Collectively, the graduating class—representing the Essex, Catonsville and Dundalk campuses—earned 2,525 associate degrees and 482 certificates, a 21 percent increase over last year’s totals.
The increase in awarded degrees is in line with CCBC’s commitment to completion.
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Along with Maryland’s 15 other community college presidents, CCBC President Sandra Kurtinitis signed a statewide pledge to substantially increase the number of community college graduates who earn degrees, certificates and other workplace certification by 2025.
James Hopkins played basketball for the Catonsville campus. The Mount St. Joseph graduate, who earned a degree in general studies, said he plans to pursue a radiography degree at the Essex campus.
“I took classes at three different campuses,” said Hopkins, who eventually hopes to play college basketball for a four-year college. “I took whatever fit into my schedule.”
Students from all walks of life were at the commencement, including Kevin Goetz, a continuing education student at the Essex campus. The married father of two from Parkville gained experience in radio and TV production at CCBC.
Others, like Samantha Arby, plan to continue her education far beyond CCBC.
"I already transferred to UMBC,” Arby said. “I plan to get my bachelor's as well as my master's in psychology. CCBC allowed me to work on my A.A. and figure out what I wanted to do in life.”