Upcoming Events
Feb. 25-March 28 Conspicuous Consumption:
Utilitarian Ceramics
ESL/GED class registration begins
Call 409-933-8516.
April 4-28 "Prelude to a Kiss"
COM Community Theatre
For tickets, call 409-933-8345.
COM Reunion/
Homecoming
for all alumni April 13
11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Call 409-933-8190.
International Festival
April 5
6 to 9 p.m.
Call 409-933-8916.
May 2
Golf Tournament
Call 409-933-8421.
Summer Study Abroad Programs
Option 1: July 6 - August 3
Option 2: July 6-20
Option 3: July 20 - Aug. 3
Students may study art and/or Spanish. Call 409-933-8212.
Japan Summer session 1
Students will study art.
Call 409-933-8354.
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COM-ISD LINK is a quarterly newsletter for school administrators and teachers to build a strong line of communication about COM's programs and events. We welcome comments at marketing@com.edu.
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 A message from the president
Thank you for interest in College of the Mainland. For the last 46 years, we've served the communities in mainland Galveston County through outstanding college education, workforce development programs, continuing education, dual credit, community education and the Collegiate High School.
While I have only been at COM for a few months, I am quite impressed with the dedication to student success that is the touchstone for every employee here. This newsletter highlights some of the exciting activities at COM. I invite you to visit us in person or on our website to see for yourself what COM can do for you!
Dr. Beth Lewis
President
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Elective leads to career for high school students 
Matt Ball, left, and Jacob Buffaloe, right
A chance high school elective turned into a career for Matt Ball and Jacob Buffaloe, College of the Mainland students and current BP interns.
The novelty of a hands-on elective and the desire to learn a practical skill motivated them to enroll in a dual credit welding class at COM. Ball, then a student at Friendswood High School, and Buffaloe, then a student at Santa Fe High School, gained practical welding experience at COM welding classes five days a week.
"I was just wanting to learn. I wasn't planning a career," said Buffaloe. "I started getting good, and the job presented itself."
To learn more, click here.
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Elementary students explore careers
"What do I want to be when I grow up?" is a question that poses endless possibilities for a child. Recently, 90 fourth-grade students from Stewart Elementary explored the world of career options through hands-on activities at College of the Mainland.
Students spent the morning listening to a manikin's heartbeat in the nursing department, enjoying music in the fine arts building and learning how to use resources in the library. Along the way, they discovered that education can be fun as well as challenging and that college staff are always ready to help.
"It was interactive. They got to do things and see careers they might want to study when they are older. They're never too young to learn about higher education," said Martin Perez, COM director of admissions. For information on how to customize a hands-on tour for students, contact Martin Perez at mperez@com.edu or 409-933-8653.
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Dual Credit Program has record-breaking class
This year, 817 students are enrolled in COM's Dual Credit Program, the largest number in the program's 13-year history. The program allows students to take college courses--and earn college credit--while still in high school.
"The rising cost of higher education is motivating parents to find ways to reduce that cost," said Theresa Jones, director of COM Dual Credit and Testing Services.
The Dual Credit Program is open to high school juniors and seniors in the Texas City, La Marque, Dickinson, Hitchcock, Santa Fe, Clear Creek and Friendswood Independent School Districts. Students take courses at their home high school campus, COM's main campus or the COM North County Learning Center in League City.
For more information about the Dual Credit Program, visit www.com.edu/dual-credit.
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CHS student named Junior Rotarian
Mary Roberts, recently named a Junior Rotarian and honored for her academic excellence and extracurricular achievements by the Texas City Rotary Club, isn't a typical high school student. This spring, instead of sitting at a desk at Texas City High School, Roberts will be in a classroom at Baylor University studying premed.
Though she's not yet walked at a high school graduation ceremony, she completed high school requirements a semester early through College of the Mainland's Collegiate High School. She simultaneously earned 73 transferable college credits and an associate degree.
"I get to come back and walk in two graduations," she said, noting that in May she will participate in ceremonies at COM and Texas City High School.
Read more.
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Outstanding nursing students awarded
Inserting IVs, dispensing medicine and calming nervous patients were all part of a 12-hour day's work during clinicals for Kyle Tice and Kathy Maxey, winners of the College of the Mainland Vocational Nursing Program student awards.
"They demonstrated critical thinking skills in effectively providing safe, compassionate care to patients," said COM professor and Vocational Nursing Program coordinator Misty Jones.
Along with 17 other vocational nursing students, both graduated in December after completing the one-year program.
Tice, who won the Outstanding Student Clinical Performance Award, had firsthand experience in hospitals after undergoing several surgeries.
"I've been the patient, and now I'm getting the opportunity to be a nurse," said Tice. "It's what I've always wanted to do." Read more. 
From left, Dr. Gay Reeves, director of nursing; Wayne Miles, member of COM board of trustees; Dr. Amy Locklear, vice president of instruction; Kyle Tice, winner of the 2012 Vocational Nursing Program Outstanding Student Clinical Performance Award; Kathy Maxey, winner of the 2012 Vocational Nursing Program Student of the Year Award; Roney McCrary, vice chairman of the COM board of trustees; and Misty Jones, Vocational Nursing Program coordinator.
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Upward Bound now accepting applications
For Elyssa Davila, Upward Bound at College of the Mainland presents not only a world of possibilities, but also a roadmap to get there.
"It's all about things you can do now for your future," said the sophomore from Dickinson High School.
She enjoys the group's monthly get-togethers where she learns from mentors about how to apply for college and how to succeed once she's there.
"It really helps us out," said Davila, who wants to study forensic pathology at Sam Houston State University.
Afterwards, students relax together with activities like bowling.
"We have business and then we play," Davila said.
The program, which is a federally funded program to assist low-income or first-generation students, is open to students from Dickinson, Hitchcock and La Marque High Schools.
"Nearly 100 percent of our students graduate from high school and 85 percent go to college," said Ciro Reyes, director of Upward Bound. "We provide that extra set of eyes to make sure students are successful."
Besides monthly workshops, the program offers tutoring in a variety of subjects for students needing extra assistance with high school work. It also prepares students to take for the college placement exams the SAT, ACT and ACCUPLACER.
Students may apply through their schools or by contacting the Upward Bound office. For more information, call 409-933-8525.
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Symposium to highlight Gulf Coast
Have a personal narrative about growing up in Galveston, research into an aspect of the island's rich history or a discovery about local wildlife to share?
College of the Mainland's first symposium, "The Gulf Coast: Past, Present and Future," will allow individuals to present publicly their work illuminating the rich, history-filled area.
The Gulf Coast symposium is open to individual or group projects in fine arts, science, humanities, math or social and behavioral sciences.
For more information, visit www.com.edu/symposium.
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Training that fits to a T
Offering training year-round at an affordable price, COM Continuing Education can customize courses to fit any organization's needs. Courses target the specific skills that the company requests that its employees learn, whether human resources skills such as leadership development or technical computer skills. Instructors meet with administration to talk about the top five things they want their employees to walk away with before constructing a course to fit their time frame and specified needs. Besides customized training, COM offers standard courses throughout the year, from leisure learning to child development courses. For more information about continuing education, visit the CE website. |
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Get a healthy start to a new year
With its convenient location and hours, the COM Gym makes a fitness resolution easy to keep. Members have access to a range of state-of-the-art fitness equipment, basketball and racquetball courts, a sauna and a pool to help them meet their goals.
The gym is open weekdays from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. and weekends from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Membership fees are $40 per semester; seniors and youths receive a discounted rate of $30.
For details, call 409-933-8422 or visit the website.
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