FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Courtney Davis
Assistant Director for Public Relations
Prince George’s Community College
daviscl@pgcc.edu
Prince George’s Community College Joins Institutions Across the State of Maryland for Student Advocacy Day
Students meet with elected officials to advocate for state support of community colleges
LARGO, Md. (February 4, 2021) – Prince George’s Community College (PGCC) joins community colleges across the state of Maryland on Feb. 9 for the Student Advocacy Day Rally, sponsored by the Maryland Association of Community Colleges. Each year, hundreds of Maryland community college students meet directly with elected officials during a series of Student Advocacy Day events to make a case for continued state support of community colleges. This year’s events will be held virtually due to COVID-19.
“The conversation regarding achieving successful outcomes for our students in colleges and universities is inextricably linked to funding and resources,” said Dr. Falecia Williams, Prince George’s Community College president. “More than ever, now is the time to invest in our students, providing them with opportunities to retool, retrain, and improve their outcomes. I’m proud of the leadership role Prince George’s Community College students have taken not only during Student Advocacy Day but throughout the year. It gives me hope in the future – if we are willing to do what it takes to provide an environment in which they can succeed.”
Students must apply via a competitive process to be a part of their institution’s Advocacy Day delegation. Prince George’s Community College student Jerrel Johnson, a sociology major and non-traditional student, was selected to represent the College and deliver a speech to the legislative body at the Student Advocacy Day Rally.
“During Student Advocacy Day, I hope to bring awareness to the plight that our students face, including the financial strains students are going through while dealing with COVID-19,” said Jerrel Johnson. “I also want to bring greater awareness of the benefit of community colleges to people who are looking to advance themselves.”
Jerrel Johnson is one of three students across all Maryland community colleges selected to serve as a student speaker for this year’s event. He credits the support he received from Prince George’s Community College, including financial aid and professional development opportunities like the Student Pathways leadership program, as instrumental to his ability to be successful.
When asked what audiences can expect from his Student Advocacy Day speech, Jerrel Johnson noted: “One of the things you can expect is a directness, truthfulness, and a rawness. I want to present the authenticity of what community college students are dealing with, who we are, what it is we need to be successful, and what it is that our state lawmakers can provide to help us be successful.”
Student Advocacy Day programming also includes individual legislator meetings for each college, in which students discuss and make advocacy pitches to legislators. This year’s individual sessions take place Feb. 9-12, with Prince George’s Community College’s meeting scheduled for Feb. 12.
According to the Maryland Association of Community Colleges (MACC), nearly 500,000 Marylanders attend one of the state’s 16 community colleges each year. Prince George’s Community College, the leading institution in training employees for the Prince George’s County workforce, serves nearly 35,000 students annually, from new high school graduates, to individuals looking to retool and retrain, to seasoned professionals seeking to enhance their skillsets.
To learn about academics at Prince George’s Community College, click here. For more information about the Maryland Association of Community Colleges, click here. Contact Paulett McIntosh, program director of Student Engagement and Leadership, at mcintopd@pgcc.edu with any questions about Student Advocacy Day. To prevent Zoom-bombing, only previously identified participants will be admitted to the virtual events.
About Prince George’s Community College
Named a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance designated by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security (2015-2020), Prince George’s Community College (PGCC) provides high-quality education and training for the progressive and career-oriented residents of Prince George’s County. From new high school graduates and career seekers to more seasoned professionals and senior citizens looking to enhance their skillsets, PGCC is comprised of students who represent a wide range of ages, backgrounds, and goals. Serving nearly 35,000 individuals annually, the College is the first choice for higher education for residents of Prince George’s County. Collaborative partnerships, responsive degree and training programs, and a commitment to student success enables PGCC to address diverse education and workforce development demands. For more information, visit the college website at www.pgcc.edu. Prince George’s Community College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104; (267-284-5000); www.msche.org. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation.
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