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'Charlie Zahm and Friends' Reunite at Cecil College November 20

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Celtic Music Star, Charlie Zahm

Celtic music star Charlie Zahm is returning to Cecil College's Milburn Stone Theatre with the same fine musicians who joined him in making the DVD that was filmed there two years ago, "Lighthouse on the Shore: An Evening of Classic Melodies with Charlie Zahm," at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20.
Featuring a bunch of great new songs, and some familiar ones as well, half the concert by "Charlie Zahm and Friends" will be comprised of Celtic music while the other half will consist of both original and traditional songs from around the world.
Tickets, which are $15 for adults, $12 for students and seniors, and $10 for children 12 and younger, can be purchased by phone at 410-287-1037, at the Milburn Stone Theatre box office, or online at www.milburnstone.org. The box office, located at One Seahawk Drive at Cecil College in North East, Md., is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday.

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Produced by Franklin Springs Family Media as a CD and DVD, the concert of traditional Irish and Scottish songs, with some of Zahm's originals thrown in, was recorded in front of a live audience Feb. 13, 2007. Zahm, who handled vocals, guitar, bodhran and penny whistle, will reunite with Baltimore's Tad Marks on fiddle and mandolin, Cheryl Prashker on percussion, and Steve Hobson on guitar. In addition, they are happy to have Ross Armbrecht playing with them on bass.

"I am so excited to have worked with Franklin Springs Family Media to produce this live concert performance with my band," wrote Zahm on his Web site: www.charliezahm.com. "I could not be happier with the end result. Franklin Springs put together a beautifully crafted visual production, capturing the music perfectly." Video and audio clips from the recording can be viewed and seen on Zahm's Web site.

With a baritone voice that has been described as "coming along once in a generation," Zahm has become one of the most successful artists on the Celtic festival circuit by weaving magical moments of Scottish and Irish history with passion for the performance and a chosen repertoire pleasing to all members of the family. A master of the guitar as well, he brings an authentic love and respect for the music he sings - and with dashes of humor and a light in his eyes, he will draw you into the stories of his songs.

Since he's been old enough to sing, Zahm has been entertaining audiences with the Celtic songs and melodies he first heard in the largely Scottish province of Ontario, Canada - his mother's birthplace. Keenly aware of his own heritage, which includes healthy doses of Scottish and Irish blood on both sides of his family, he has collected several hundred popular selections and performs them for thousands of fans up and down the Eastern Seaboard and across the United States. As one of the most sought-after Celtic singers on the East Coast, Zahm plays regularly everywhere from concerts and festivals to television shows and Celtic-themed Caribbean cruises, where his 6-foot-4-inch frame and powerful baritone voice make him one of the most memorable performers around.


Cecil Celebrates Native American Heritage Month November 19 and 24

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Wolf






November is Native American Heritage Month and Cecil College invites you to its North East campus to celebrate and learn at 11:30 a.m. November 19 in the Technology Center, Room 208. There will also be a second celebration at 10:00 a.m. November 24 at the Elkton Station, Room 221. This year's program is entitled "A Native Perspective Balancing Body, Mind and Spirit." Featuring guest presenter "Wolf," this interactive program is designed to understand and appreciate Native American culture. Lunch will be served. For more information, please contact Laney Hoxter at 410-287-1043.

Cecil College Sponsors Tenth Annual Stuff-a-Truck Event

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Cecil College is sponsoring the 10th annual Stuff-a-Truck event to gather donations for the needy during the holiday season. All contributions go to Cecil County families in need and are distributed through the Family Education Center, Ray of Hope Mission Center, and Cecil County Help Center.
The truck will be at the Wal-Mart in Elkton 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 27, the American Legion Hall in Rising Sun 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, and Cecil College's North East campus 8 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Dec. 2.
Items needed include diapers, unscented wipes, bleach, laundry detergent, dishwashing detergent, toddler and children's toothpaste, paper towels, bibs, liquid hand soap, tissues, disinfecting wipes, unwrapped children's toys, baby formula, washcloths, and non-perishable food items. For more information, call 410-287-1000.

Cecil Students Present Work on Stage and in Gallery December 4 and 5

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Euphrates, by Jalisa Anderson









Cecil College's student performing company, Station Players, will present scenes from "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and additional music selections at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4 and 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, in the Elkton Station Performing Arts Hall at 107 Railroad Ave. Prior to the performance on Dec. 4, Cecil College's annual Fine Arts Student and Faculty Holiday Exhibit in the Elkton Station Gallery will open with a reception and pottery sale from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. as part of the Elkton Arts Loop. Come to the reception in the gallery; stay for the show. Advance reservations for the Station Players are strongly recommended and can be made by calling 410-392-3366. Walk-ins will be admitted as seating allows. Tickets are $7 and will be paid for at the box office, which opens 30 minutes prior to curtain. A percentage of the Station Players concert revenue will be donated to the Anthony Derrico Performing Arts Program Fund, which assists performing arts majors with professional development.

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A new full production by the Station Players of "A Midsummer Night's Dream," which fuses dance, music and theater, will be presented this spring at the Milburn Stone Theatre on Cecil's North East campus. This production is designed as a tantalizing "sneak preview" of the forthcoming adaptation of the beloved romantic comedy by William Shakespeare. Additional musical selections ranging from Bach to The Beatles will complete the program. Cecil College's Performing Arts Program offers an associate of arts degree with discipline tracks in dance, music, and theatre.

Highlighted by a collection of 3-D work created by students in ceramics and sculpture classes, the Fine Arts Student and Faculty Holiday Exhibit also showcases the talents of the college's faculty. Some 2-D art will be on exhibit as well. Providing an opportunity to purchase unique holiday gifts, all proceeds from the pottery sale will be used to help send students to events such as conferences and workshops.

The exhibit will remain on display until Jan. 15. The Elkton Station Gallery is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday. Admission is free. Cecil College offers an arts and sciences transfer degree arts option with discipline tracks in pottery/ceramics, drawing/painting and graphic design.

For more information, contact Janaea Rose Lyn, performing arts coordinator, at jlyn@cecil.edu. or 410-287-6060, ext. 207.


Cecil College Introduces Government Contracting Certificate

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The Maryland Higher Education Commission has approved Cecil College's new credit certificate in government contracting and granted the program statewide designation. This designation permits students to attend a community college in a county other than the county of their residence at in-county tuition rates. Developed with a portion of Cecil's $85,000 Workforce ONE Maryland project grant for Base Realignment and Closure-related workforce development efforts, the certificate in government contracting, otherwise known as acquisition and procurement, is aimed at the emerging workforce. A major challenge of the BRAC initiative is fulfilling the human capital requirements associated with reconstituting the workforce that is needed as functions are relocated to Aberdeen Proving Ground. Although much attention has been focused on scientific expertise, there is also considerable demand for administrative and technical skill sets among government and civilian personnel.

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The 24-credit government contracting certificate is designed so students can enroll on a part-time basis and complete all coursework in 16 months. Customized to meet the needs of working adults, coursework will be offered in the classroom and online. The curriculum is aligned with the Defense Acquisition University. Cecil will launch the credit certificate in government contracting in the upcoming fall semester, which starts Aug. 31.

Much of the material in this new program will be taught by Dr. David Linthicum, who has been hired as assistant professor, business and procurement. A highly experienced generalist in federal procurement and contracting, Linthicum's career in federal contracting spans more than 20 years. He served as the government's principal contracting authority at Texarkana Army Ammunition Plant in Texas, where he managed a multi-billion dollar, multi-year contract for the contractor operation of a government owned production facility. Upon completion of that assignment, he worked for the U.S. Army Communications and Electronics Command as a contracting officer at Fort Monmouth in New Jersey. In this position, he planned and oversaw the negotiation and award of contracts, earning unlimited authority expenditure for federal acquisitions with an annual financial commitment of more than $68 million.

"I previously had an opportunity to work with the college and really enjoyed the working relationships and professionalism demonstrated by all of the folks I interacted with," said Linthicum. "When this opportunity presented itself, it seemed like a perfect match. I was interested in teaching in my field of expertise and Cecil College was looking for someone with my background and experience." Linthicum holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from Columbia College in Missouri and a master's in personnel management from Central Michigan University. Upon his retirement from the U.S. Army, he earned a doctorate in leadership and policy from Temple University and began a new career on the contractor side of government contracting. He has led the growth of two startup small businesses and has won numerous government contracts.

Linthicum founded an independent consulting firm in 2008, Linthicum LLC. His company provides consultant services in the areas of federal market development, proposal preparation, procurement, and contract and subcontract management, as well as corporate operations. Linthicum, LLC also offers services in the areas of long-range planning and project implementation. "I have had the good fortune to work on the government and contractor sides of the federal acquisition process," said Linthicum. "As a government contracting officer, I gained unique insights into the federal contracting processes and the government's inherent obligation to protect the best interest of the public. As a senior executive in the government contracting marketplace, I have gained yet a different understanding of the complexities and challenges of doing business in the federal marketplace."

A 20-year member of the National Contract Management Association and an NCMA fellow, Linthicum has taught more than 25 different procurement/contracting classes for the NCMA. He has also served as an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland and the City Colleges of Chicago. His prior association with Cecil College includes presenting two non-credit seminars in the professional studies certificate in innovation excellence program and aiding in the development of credit course syllabi.

"The impact of BRAC is creating a new cultural paradigm in the local community," said Linthicum. "The shift of government program office responsibilities from Fort Monmouth and other locations to Aberdeen Proving Ground will continually create jobs in the government contracting arena. These jobs will be created both in industry and within the government. In order to work in the government contracting field, one must complete a number of specific courses and obtain acquisition certification. The certificate program at Cecil College will provide the opportunity for students to achieve the training and certification needed to qualify for these opportunities."

To complement the government contracting education training being provided in the classroom and online, the college will also be looking to place students in internships throughout the region. In addition, Cecil College will be calling upon members of the community to help form an advisory board. For more information about Cecil's government contracting program, contact David Linthicum at 443-205-3439 or drdol@zoominternet.net.


Cecil College Implements $5 Tuition Increase in January

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Cecil College President Dr. W. Stephen Pannill's request to implement a tuition increase of $5 per credit hour beginning in the spring 2010 spring semester, which starts Jan. 19, has been approved by the college's board of trustees. Currently offering the third lowest tuition among Maryland's 16 community colleges, the increase from $85 per hour to $90 for county residents keeps Cecil in the least expensive 40 percent of the state's two-year colleges. The authorization also calls for $5 per credit hour increases for out-of-county Maryland residents, to $180, and out-of-state residents to $225. Cecil College's last tuition increase, which was also $5, occurred in the fall 2006 semester. Based on fiscal year 2009 enrollment and a projected 10 percent enrollment growth, the increase is expected to raise approximately $250,000 in annual revenue. Full-time students taking 12 credits will pay an additional $60 per semester and $120 per year.

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"Our trustees take our mission, which includes affordability, very seriously," said Pannill. "We just had a reduction from the state and there is a strong possibility that we can experience an additional reduction this fiscal year. Our public funding partners - the state and local government - are going to be hard-pressed next year. Considering it has been three and a half years since we last raised tuition, we think it is a modest increase. It makes sense to make adjustments periodically rather than hold off, hurt our academic excellence, and then make some big jump that really is difficult for students to handle."

For its part, Cecil College has instituted a number of cost-saving measures and is continuing to address this area. The college has eliminated several non-academic events, cut some expenses, and managed vacant positions without any direct impact on the education mission. In addition, administrators have temporarily taken on teaching duties and the faculty members have agreed to a one-year suspension of the sabbatical leave program.

Cecil students also have numerous financial aid options available to them, including Pell Grants, Cecil College Foundation scholarships, veterans education benefits, Maryland state scholarships and grants, student loans, and work-study. Almost 50 percent of Cecil College students receive some type of financial aid, whether it is federal, state or college aid, employer tuition waivers, or scholarships from local organizations and businesses.

"Our priority is to make sure we are delivering an excellent product in the classroom," said Pannill. "Ensuring we have all of the technology and faculty we need to do that is critically important to us. We think the timing is right for a tuition increase and the need is there. We will continue working hard to contain our cost."


Update on H1N1/Swine Flu

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In June 2009, the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced a pandemic - a global outbreak - of a new influenza virus. This virus, also referred to as "swine flu" or H1N1, emerged in April 2009 and has since spread worldwide. The College is monitoring this situation closely and the Critical Incident Team [CIT] is maintaining contact with local Health Department and state officials. The College is committed to providing students and staff with clear and timely resources to help you understand more about the virus, its symptoms, and what you should do if you think you may have H1N1. Please see the Center for Disease Control's Guidelines for Students, Staff and Faculty.

Additional information may be found at:
Centers for Disease Control
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Cecil County Health Department
Higher Education Toolkit
H1N1 FAQ for Colleges and Universities
Is it a Cold or the Flu?
H1N1 FAQ General Information
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