HCC Alumni Association to host Red, White, and Blue Concert Series

The Hagerstown Community College Alumni Association has announced the Red, White, and Blue Concert Series for the summer of 2025. The following free concerts will be held in the HCC Alumni Amphitheater:

• U.S. Army Six String Soldiers – Sunday, May 18, at 6:15 p.m.
• U.S. Navy Commodores – Sunday, June 1, at 3 p.m.
• U.S. Navy Sea Chanters – Sunday, June 15, at 3 p.m.
• 229th Army Band – Thursday, July 3, at 6:15 p.m.
• U.S. Air Force Celtic Aire – Saturday, August 16, at 6:15 p.m.
• U.S. Army Blues Band – Friday, September 19, at 6:15 p.m.
   

The 2025 HCC Alumni Red, White, and Blue Concert Series is dedicated to the memory of the late Colonel Ronald “Wayne” Taylor.

All concerts are free and open to the public, and no tickets are required. Concerts are subject to change by the U.S. Military. Concessions are available; no outside food or drink is permitted on the amphitheater grounds. For more information, call 240-500-2346.

(April 2, 2025)

HCC Foundation announces new scholarship

The Hagerstown Community College Foundation recently received a $25,000 donation to establish the Rick Lowman ’69 and Melanie Files Scholarship, an endowed fund that will provide financial support to students beginning in the fall of 2025. This generous scholarship aims to assist students in achieving their academic and career goals by supporting those in need and recognizing academic dedication.

The Rick Lowman ’69 and Melanie Files Scholarship is designed to benefit full-time students who demonstrate both financial need and academic promise. The scholarship gives preference to residents of West Virginia with a GPA of 3.0 or higher within their program field. Priority will be given to students majoring in environmental studies, with secondary preference extended to business administration majors.

Lowman, the current president-elect of the HCC Alumni Association, has maintained a long-standing connection with HCC. A former basketball player during his time at Hagerstown Junior College (now HCC), he has remained an active and dedicated alumnus, supporting the college’s growth and mission. He and his wife, Melanie Files, are also distinguished members of the 1946 Society, HCC’s planned giving society, which honors individuals committed to supporting the college’s future.

The Rick Lowman ’69 and Melanie Files Scholarship is a testament to the lasting legacy of HCC’s alumni and their positive impact on the community. With the support of scholarships like this, HCC continues to ensure that more students have the opportunity to pursue a college education and enter the workforce prepared for success.

For more information on the Rick Lowman ’69 and Melanie Files Scholarship or other scholarship opportunities, please visit https://hagerstowncc.academicworks.com/opportunities or contact the HCC Foundation Office at collegeadvancement@hagerstowncc.edu or 240-500-2348.

(December 17, 2024)

HCC celebrates distinguished volunteers on National Philanthropy Day

Bill Fritts, of the Hagerstown Community College Foundation, and Belinda Stull, of the HCC Alumni Association, were named Distinguished Volunteers by the Western Maryland Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals on National Philanthropy Day (November 15). The HCC volunteers were recognized alongside 24 other volunteers from the region at a luncheon at the Arc of Frederick County.

Fritts has served on the Foundation board since the 2001-2002 academic year, dedicating 23 years to the college and its students. Throughout his tenure, he has held several key roles, including treasurer for 12 years, vice-president for two years, and president for three years.

One of Fritts’s most remarkable accomplishments was his leadership during the Foundation’s 75th Anniversary Endowment Campaign, which aimed to raise critical funds for student scholarships. As a member of the campaign’s executive committee, he played a pivotal role in securing support from new and long-standing donors.

“Bill’s tireless dedication and visionary leadership have positively impacted thousands of students,” said Dr. Ashley Whaley, senior director of college advancement. “His efforts have strengthened our scholarship programs, expanded our donor base, and fostered a culture of generosity that will benefit our community for generations.”

Belinda Stull, a dedicated HCC alumna and travel partner, was honored by the HCC Alumni Association for her remarkable contributions to the college’s fundraising initiatives. Since 2017, Stull has collaborated with the Alumni Office to organize travel-based fundraising programs, raising nearly $111,700 for the HCC Alumni Scholarship Fund.

Stull played a pivotal role in hosting travel preview sessions, handling travel arrangements, and ensuring seamless experiences for participants. Her cheerful and approachable demeanor helped cultivate lasting relationships between alumni and the college. Over her tenure, the travel program took 533 participants on memorable journeys, creating bonds and experiences that extend beyond the trips themselves.

To learn more about HCC’s Office of Advancement and the HCC Alumni Association, visit www.hagerstowncc.edu/advancement.

(December 11, 2024)

HCC announces seminars for annual Flower & Garden Show

The Hagerstown Community College Alumni Association will hold its 29th Annual Flower and Garden Show on Saturday, March 15, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, March 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the ARCC.

More than 125 exhibitors and vendors will take part in the tri-state area’s largest floral event, and will include nurseries, distributors of lawn and garden equipment, pottery, statuary, landscaping, tree services, water ponds, stone products, herbs, violets, spring flowers, house plants, outdoor furniture, florists, wild bird products, gifts, gourmet foods, and natural gifts from the garden.

Seminars and demonstrations on a variety of gardening topics will be held continuously throughout both days of the event.

Saturday seminars include:

• 10:30 a.m. - “WATERWISE GARDENING: SAVE TIME AND MONEY WITH SMALL TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES,” Annette Cormany, Horticulture Educator, UMD Extension – Washington County
• 11:30 a.m. - “THE CHESAPEAKE BAY… AND YOUR BACKYARD,” Jean Thomas, Washington County Extension Master Gardener
• 12:30 p.m. - “LOCAL WILD FLOWERS AND TRAILS TO WALK,” Wanda Miller, Potomac Valley Master Naturalist
• 1:30 p.m. - “POISONOUS AND EDIBLE MUSHROOMS,” Laura Robertson, PhD, Associate Professor, Biology, Shepherd University
• 2:30 p.m. - “BLUEBIRD BASIC TRAINING: A GUIDE TO THE EASTERN BLUEBIRD, ITS HABITAT, AND NESTING HABITATS,” Kathy Kremnitzer, North American Bluebird Society
• 3:30 p.m. - “NATIVE FERNS,” Jackie Schwab, Washington County Extension Master Gardener
   

Sunday seminars include:

• 11 a.m. - “WATERSHED – STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, Jason Swope, Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional
• 12 p.m. - “COTTAGE GARDENS,” James Dillon, Owner, Native Havens, LLC & Pennsylvania Certified Horticulturist
• 1 p.m. - “SMITHSONIAN GARDENS,” Christine Abelow, Horticulturist Smithsonian Institution
• 2 p.m. - “NATIVE BEES: SWEETER THAN HONEY,” Becky Schubert, The Native Niche
   

Admission is $5 for adults and free for children under 12. Proceeds benefit the HCC Alumni Association. Lunch and snacks will be available for purchase at the Garden Café. Free parking and garden-themed children’s activities will be available.

For information about the Flower and Garden Show, contact Lisa Stewart at lsstewart@hagerstowncc.edu, or call 240-500-2346.

(December 10, 2024)

NOTICE: U.S. Army Blues concert at HCC MOVED to September 6

Due to the weather forecast, the United States Army Blues concert scheduled for tomorrow at Hagerstown Community College has been moved to Friday, September 6, at 6:15 p.m. The free concert is sponsored by the HCC Alumni Association and will be held in the HCC Alumni Amphitheater on the HCC campus.

The U.S. Army Blues, part of the U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own,” is the premier jazz ensemble of the U.S. Army. After informal beginnings in 1970, this 19-piece ensemble became an official element of the Army Band in 1972. The Army Blues strive to fulfill their mission through public concerts, educational outreach, and the preservation of the tradition of America’s unique art form: jazz.

Concerts are subject to change by the U.S. Military. Concessions will be available for purchase. Please note that no outside food is permitted on the amphitheater grounds. Personal lawn chairs and blankets are permitted for lawn seating. For more information and weather updates, email lsstewart@hagerstowncc.edu or call 240-500-2346.

(August 8, 2024)