Learn about HCC’s 50 Years from Historians, Retirees, Alumni at March 30 Virtual Event

Professor Emeritus Vladimir Marinich was one of the first faculty hired by Howard Community College (HCC) and recalls the exciting days leading up to the college’s opening on October 12, 1970.

“I was there before the college even existed, back when the area was farmland with just one concrete building,” says Marinich.

“The Maryland State Department of Education allowed the school to open in October because the physical college wasn’t quite ready for students. I remember the excitement of the weekend before everyone, including the president, faculty, and staff, were there, and we all had our assignments. I was in charge of setting up the desks that would soon be used by the very first students welcomed to HCC.”

Marinich is one of several panelists who will join special collections librarian Brian Cumer on Tuesday, March 30 at 6 p.m. for an interactive discussion on HCC’s transformation over the past 50 years. Panelists will include Pamela Cornell, former director of admissions, professor, and director of the Silas Craft Collegians program; Quent Kardos, former HCC college photographer and director of audiovisual services; and Giannella Garrett, writer, photographer, and HCC alumna.

Dr. Rosemary Williams, associate professor of history, will open the event with a brief history talk, featuring photographs from "HCC at 50: A Blast from the Past - Daily Life from the First Two Decades," a collection of photos that offer a look at what life was like during the college's early years.

Marinich documented HCC’s rich history from 1970 to 2012, and Dr. Williams concluded the college’s historical volumes up to 2020, in celebration of the 50-year anniversary. While the college has evolved dramatically from a one-building campus to the expansive facilities in use today, Dr. Williams recognizes that innovation has always been a central tenet of HCC.

“One thing that I found fascinating was the extent to which innovation was always central to the college,” says Dr. Williams. “We might think that remote learning, dual enrollment, and interactive classes are modern developments, but these were around from the start. Remote learning was provided by ‘telecourses,’ rather than online courses, but the principle of accessibility was the same.”

For more information and to register for the Tuesday, March 30 talk, visit howardcc.edu/50events.