  
Aug. 14 - Application deadline
Upcoming Events
"25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee"
For tickets, call 409-933-8345 or visit
For a list of registration locations, call 409-933-8294 or 1-888-258-8859, ext. 8294.
Read COM graduate Maria Perez's story of transferring and assisting
at-risk teens.
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Driver's ed, defensive driving courses online
Those looking for a convenient ticket-dismissal course or driver's education course need look no further. COM is partnering with SAFETY-USA to offer three online driving courses - Texas Online Defensive Driving, Texas Teen Driver Education Course and Adult Driver Education Online.
Approved by the Texas Education Agency, the six-hour Texas Online Defensive Driving Course is accepted for ticket dismissal by all Texas courts and municipalities. The cost is $29.95, and those who complete it may be eligible for a 10 percent reduction in insurance premiums.
The Texas Teen Driver Education Course, costing $129.95, meets all DPS requirements and offers options of parent-taught or virtual instructor-taught versions. The Adult Driver Education Online course, costing $65, assists drivers 18-24 years of age in obtaining their first driver's license. Featuring online text and interactive videos, courses are available in both English and Spanish with 24/7 customer support.
Registration is only available online. For more, call 409-933-8586.
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 | | Students toured the Temple of the Golden Pavilion as part of COM's Japan Study Abroad Program. |
I left my heart in
Japan: Students return with gifts - and tales
From tiered pagodas to museums displaying manga pioneers' work, four students from COM explored the vast diversity of Japanese art in a journey spanning 18 days and 17,000 miles. They and art professors Mark Greenwalt and Mayuko Gray have returned from the island nation with gifts of delicately drawn landscapes and a firsthand knowledge of the manga art form learned at the first college in the world to teach it.
 | | Students beat a rhythm at Ogaki Women's College. |
"Fine arts are the perfect courses for study abroad programs because so much can be communicated visually," said Greenwalt. "Student Brytne (Oliver) got a private lecture on the human hand, and they didn't speak a word."
If interested in COM's next trip to Japan in summer 2014, contact Mayuko Gray at mgray@com.edu.
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Get certified at COM Testing Center
Offering a convenient option for exams, COM has become an official testing center for the Microsoft Office Specialist and Microsoft Technology Associate certification exams and Pearson Vue tests, including the Linux + and CompTIA A+ certifications.
Other tests now available at COM include credentialing exams related to insurance, health care, government and human resources positions.
COM offers a variety of desktop support technician, PC maintenance technician and Linux specialist classes designed to prepare students to pass certification exams with ease. For more information about classes, visit www.com.edu.
Test takers may register at any time for exams at the Testing Center.
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Enrolled at 14, student graduates with degree before diploma
Not many eighth graders have determined their future careers, but Abigail Dickson knew exactly what she wanted to do - join the U.S. Navy, the branch her older brother has served in for 16 years.
To prepare for that role, she applied and became the first 14-year-old accepted to the COM Collegiate High School. The rigorous program had previously admitted only high school juniors and seniors, who complete college and high school classes and often earn an associate degree by high school graduation.
In her four years at CHS, Dickson has faced many challenges - and surmounted them. She graduated in May with an Associate of Science and a $180,000 ROTC scholarship and three weeks later with a 3.9 GPA and high school diploma from Dickinson High School.
"It's been a ride," she said. "I've made lifelong friendships. If I had to go back, I really wouldn't change the friends, the people and the classes I've had for anything."
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Bridging the gap to credit for CE students
Inspired in part by President Obama's proposal to have five million new community college graduates by 2020, College of the Mainland is offering an innovative program to allow students to bridge seamlessly from continuing education to credit courses.
The new option allows students to enter and complete selected courses as continuing education classes without the need to first take a placement exam. If they decide later to become credit students and are accepted, they can then petition for credit.
"It's a way for individuals to test the waters and see if they're ready," said Continuing Education Dean Carla Boone.
The bridge to credit program is launching with allied health and business course options, including classes in entrepreneurship, management, administrative support, professional bookkeeping, computer-aided drafting, SQL server database, SQL Implementation and Maintenance, graphic design and marketing.
Continuing education registration begins Aug. 5. To view the fall schedule, visit www.com.edu/ce.
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Computerized GED testing makes scores instant
COM is now offering computerized GED testing, which allows students to register online and to receive scores immediately upon completion.
For more information, visit Testing Center website or call 409-933-8379.
In addition, COM will offer GED preparation courses this fall at locations throughout Galveston County, Galveston Island and Clear Creek ISD. For a list of registration locations during the week of Aug. 19, call 409-933-8294 or 1-888-258-8859, ext. 8294.
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In the spotlight
CE student accepted as resident
in Polish school
 | | Former student Kamila Szczesa used clothing, chopsticks and a music box gilded in gold leaf to create "Enbalmed." |
Artist Kamila Szczesna is a reverse detective. Rather than decipher clues, she leaves them for her viewers.
The former student in COM continuing education art classes has had her work - sculpture, drawings and mixed media pieces - featured in galleries around the world, and Szczesna was recently accepted as an artist in residence at the Centre of Polish Sculpture in Oronsko.
Read about her art using DNA and hair here.
Fire academy
grad sets record 
At graduation, Justin Napoli became the first student in the COM Fire Academy's history to win three honors simultaneously: the Top Rung Award for excellence in skills and leadership, President's Award for serving as class president and the Academic Honors Award for earning the highest average in the class.
Now working as a firefighter for the Texas City Fire Department, he feels he has found his calling.
"Knowing this is the job I was meant to do was rewarding," Napoli said. "No other job I've had has this camaraderie. I feel like I'm part of a brotherhood."
Napoli and the 10 other spring graduates passed the state certification exam, continuing the 100 percent pass rate the COM Academy has held for the last three years. |
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