Associate Degree

The Kaplan College Hagerstown campus has named Tara Andrews of Hagerstown as the Student of the Month for October. Andrews, who is pursuing an associate degree in graphic design, is scheduled to graduate in October 2009. The Kaplan College Student of the Month is chosen based on recommendations from faculty members. Andrews was nominated for her consistency in her design work and her dedication to the field, the school said in a prepared release.

Left this world for her better place, Sharon Kay Casey-Frazier was formerly employed by Roxbury Correctional Institution as a fiscal accounts clerk II for seven years. She received awards for employee of the year from the governor for her excellence. Sharon was a graduate of Northern High School in Baltimore, Md. She also received her associate degree in accounting from Hagerstown Community College. Sharon helped anyone she could with everything she had. She didn't belong to any clubs except mine and my brothers.

AUG. 28, 1953-MAY 27, 2011 Vickie Eloise (Taylor) Clem, 57, of Falling Waters, W.Va., died Friday, May 27, 2011, at her home in Falling Waters, W.Va. Born Aug. 28, 1953, in Hagerstown, Md., she was the daughter of the late Harold E. and Margaret Edna (Metz) Taylor. She was the wife of Jack Walter Clem, Falling Waters, whom she married Sept. 19, 2002. Vickie graduated in the Class of 1971 from North Hagerstown High School, Hagerstown. She received an associate degree from Hagerstown Community College in 1996; attended Hood College in Frederick, Md., where she was working on a bachelor's degree; and recently obtained a certificate for medical billing from Valley College, Martinsburg, W.Va.

HAGERSTOWN A long, long way from her home in the British Virgin Islands, Engrid Malone-Defreitas left her three children to come to Hagerstown Business College to build a better future for herself and her family. "It was the hardest thing I ever did - leaving my children behind," Malone-Defreitas said Saturday as she addressed her fellow graduates and a host of relatives who journeyed to see her graduate summa cum laude from the HBC health information technology associate degree program.

Since she was a little girl, Rhonda Kendall's grandmother told her that she would make a great nurse. By the time she was 15, hopes for that dream seemed to be dashed. Just a ninth-grader, Kendall became pregnant, dropped out of school and had a baby. But even then, her strong spirit was evident. Kendall went to night school and earned her GED at 16. "I was determined," said Kendall, now 31, of Hagerstown. "I wanted to finish what I'd started. " Then once again, her tide turned away from education.

It's time to leave the somewhat sheltered life of academics and chase your dreams, the Rev. Buck Summers told almost 140 Hagerstown Business College students who donned caps and gowns Saturday for the school's 61st commencement ceremony. The prospect made some students excited and nervous. "There's no more security of school. Now we have to go find a job," said Crystal Wible, 20, of Greencastle, Pa., who finished classes Friday for a professional secretary associate degree.

Officials at Hagerstown Community College and University of Maryland University College recently met to renew and enhance their dual-admission agreement. The agreement is designed to make it easier for students pursuing an associate degree at HCC to transfer academic credits to UMUC to complete a bachelor’s degree. A reverse-transfer option is also available for students who have not graduated to transfer credits back to HCC and earn their two-year degree. “We are very pleased to be able to include UMUC among the fine institutions with which we have articulation agreements,” HCC President Guy Altieri said.

FEB. 24, 1957-JULY 13, 2007 Rebecca Jean Riley, 50, of Seaside, Ore., died Friday, July 13, 2007. Born Feb. 24, 1957, in Medford, Ore., she was the daughter of Shirley Alexander and the late Al Alexander. She attended Washington High School before receiving an associate degree in Computer Applications. Aside from her mother, she is survived by two sisters, Linda and Christine; two daughters, Miranda S. Lawrence and Cindy M. Searles; and one grandson. Arrangements by Hughes-Ransom Cremation & Mortuaries of Seaside, Ore.

Holly Melissa Shifler and Jeremy Allen Leatherman were married on Oct. 18, 2008, at Valley Grace Brethren Church in Hagerstown. The bride is the daughter of Ron and Bette Jo Shifler of Hagerstown. The bridegroom is the son of Nathan and Karen Leatherman of Frederick, Md. The bride is a 2005 graduate of Boonsboro High School. She graduated from Hagerstown Community College with an associate degree in early childhood education in 2008. She is employed by Citicorp Family Day Care Center in Hagerstown.

Tara Rae Schildtknecht and David William Mills were married on Friday, Oct. 17, 2008, at Whitetail Ski Resort in Mercersburg, Pa. The bride is the daughter of Don and Rhonda Schildtknecht of Clear Spring. The bridegroom is the son of Randy and Barb Mills of Clear Spring. The bride is a 2004 graduate of Clear Spring High School. The bridegroom is a 2004 graduate of Clear Spring High School and a 2008 graduate of Hagerstown Community College with an associate degree in general studies.