Upcoming Events
Nov. 1
Nov. 5
Spring Open Registration Begins
8 a.m.
Nov. 7-24
Jan. 11
Classes Begin
Comments, questions?
Email rsauer@com.edu.
Educators inspire
|
Defensive driving and driver's ed are now online. Learn more.
|
|
|
|
|
The COM-Link seeks to inform area educators about the events and services we provide you and your students.
|
Robots and "Wicked" prepare students
for college 
An incoming freshman at University of Texas at Austin, Arturo Saldierna is one student beginning college with a built-in cheerleader and support system. For the past two years he has participated in the federally funded COM Upward Bound program. The program assists Saldierna and other high school students whose parents are low-income or without a bachelor's degree in preparing for, selecting, applying and enrolling in college.
COM Upward Bound director Ciro Reyes and other staff have also served as Saldierna's coaches through years of road trips to colleges, SAT preparation and navigating the application process.
"Mr. Reyes motivated me to be the best I can be," Saldierna recalled.
Besides practice in programming mini-R2D2s during the intensive six-week summer program, Upward Bound gives students opportunities to expand their horizons with cultural activities, plays and concerts. Saldierna and other students recently traveled to the land of Oz via the novel "Wicked" and musical performance of the same name at the Houston Hobby Center.
"The program wants students to be well-rounded, not just good academically," explained Reyes. "We want to make sure they're successful."
Read more.
|
More than ever, COM dual credit is springboard to college
As a junior at Hitchcock High School, Marcus Escobedo was already bounding between honors classes, power lifting practice (he earned 10th place at the state competition) and shifts with the Hitchcock Volunteer Fire Department.
When Escobedo heard about dual credit classes, he thought it was too perfect of an opportunity to pass up. Taking college classes and earning college credit during his senior year of high school would give him a head start toward his dream job, kinesiology, which would unite his passions for sports and helping others.
"I wanted to get ahead," said Escobedo.
Escobedo isn't the only one to become excited about the program - more students than ever are enrolling in dual credit classes at College of the Mainland.
"We had 11 students two years ago, 22 last year and 44 this year. We've made an exponential increase," said Derek Hutchinson, the COM counselor at Hitchcock High School.
Learn more about dual credit for students in Hitchcock, Santa Fe, Texas City, Dickinson, La Marque and Clear Creek ISD here.
|
Tip From a Teacher
"A lot of people are scared of writing. I try to relate it to driving. Think about how scared you are to get on the highway at first. Once you learn what signs mean and where to go, it's not so scary. In writing, once you get basic rules down, you can go anywhere and do anything with it."
- Beth Hammett teaches developmental writing at COM and was voted Teacher of the Year in 2013.
|
|
Upward Bound students rock Academic Bowl
 When the final student had slammed the buzzer and the judges tallied the points, students from College of the Mainland won first place in the Upward Bound Academic Bowl held at Texas Southern University.
Parrying questions from science to pop culture, the five students on the COM team bested teams from four other colleges in the Jeopardy-style competition.
|
First CHS student enrolled at 14 earns degree before diploma
Not many eighth graders have determined their future careers, but Abigail Dickson knew exactly what she wanted to do. "I wanted to serve in the best branch of the military," she said. For her, that meant the U.S. Navy, a branch her older brother, First Class Petty Officer Harley Dickson, has served in for 16 years. To prepare for that role, she applied and became first 14-year-old accepted to the College of the Mainland Collegiate High School. 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. Looking back, she has no regrets about embracing the challenge. "It's been a ride," she said. "I've made lifelong friendships. The kids who come here are as determined as me. They keep me accountable, help me through it. If I had to go back, I really wouldn't change the friends, the people, the classes I've had for anything."
|
|
|
|
|
