Workforce training on the Eastern Shore took a leap forward recently with the award of $2.5 million in federal and state funds for training programs at Chesapeake College. 

The college offers a variety of both credit and noncredit classes designed to help students prepare for transfer to four-year institutions, immediate entry into a career, or enhancement of work-related skills.  

In one of the last federal legislative actions of 2022,  U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.) secured  $1.2 million in Congressionally Directed Spending for workforce training at Chesapeake College in the fiscal year 2023 omnibus funding bill signed by President Biden during the final week of the year. 

“Investing in our workers is essential to building an economy where everyone has a chance to succeed. That’s why we secured this direct federal investment for Chesapeake College’s workforce training program. These funds will equip more Marylanders with valuable skills that will help them attain good-paying jobs, including those that will be in high-demand as we’re also making historic investments in modernizing our infrastructure. I will keep working to support the growth of our skilled workforce and bring greater opportunity to the people of our state,” said Senator Van Hollen, a member of the Appropriations Committee. 

Senator Cardin said, “Congressionally Directed Spending is designed to meet the local needs of our communities, which is exactly what Chesapeake College continues to do for Eastern Shore workers and employers. Team Maryland will keep working to promote federal investments that help train our students in the very skills that will help our communities today and into the future.” 

The $1.2 million in federal funds will support expansion of Chesapeake’s popular welding program. Through Chesapeake’s program, students learn skills for high-demand jobs in the region. Program expansion includes a mobile welding training lab designed to reach students where they live and work. 

Funds will also be used for the creation of an Advanced Manufacturing Program that will provide training in Computer-Aided Design, Computer-Aided Manufacturing, Computer Numerical Control Plasma, Computer Numerical Control Router, 3D printing, universal laser systems and robotics. 

“We have exciting plans for expansion of our workforce training programs and these funds will help us reach our program goals,” said Chesapeake President Clifford P. Coppersmith. “Both Senator Van Hollen and Senator Cardin are strong supporters of Chesapeake’s mission, and of our role in driving economic development on the Eastern Shore. We’re grateful to have support at the local, state and national levels for these critical workforce programs.” 

Chesapeake also received $1.35 million from the Rural Maryland Economic Development Fund with support from Caroline, Dorchester, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties. 

The college will use these funds to expand Marine Trades programming, enhance Marine Trades lab spaces, acquire an on-site learning vessel and hire additional personnel.  

A coordinator position will be created to build an Advanced Manufacturing Program, develop the program curriculum and select necessary equipment. 

A new navigator will be a liaison between the local business community and Chesapeake’s proposed Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. 

New staff will be added to recruit for the trades programs, and to provide advising and tutoring for trades students. 

In addition, Chesapeake will increase workforce training options in Dorchester County with a proposed auxiliary truck driver instruction site. 

“Both area businesses and their prospective employees will benefit from the training these funds will help us provide,” Dr. Coppersmith said. “Our workforce students will have enhanced learning experiences and more options as they prepare for new careers in promising industries.” 

For more information about Workforce Training at Chesapeake, please contact [email protected]

Nationally, Upward Bound boasts alumni such as actress Viola Davis and broadcast journalist John Quinones among their ranks.  Leaders in business, science, entertainment, and education credit their preparation for future success to the federal program designed to help teens reach their full potential as adults.

For more than 50 years, Upward Bound has been preparing students in -need for college and success after graduation. Students in the program receive guidance and resources from 9^th grade through college. Founded in 1965, it was the first federally funded program to help low-income and first-generation students succeed in higher education and attain middle class status. Locally, the program helped students through the mid-1990s.

Now Upward Bound is back on the Mid-Shore thanks to three federal grants awarded to Chesapeake College this year.

“It seems that every day I hear of someone who benefitted from an Upward Bound experience,” said Executive Director of TRiO Programs Christle Foster. “The skills attained and guidance provided through the program are proven to help students succeed in high school, through college, and on into their early careers.”

Members of the new Upward Bound team at Chesapeake College are ready to enroll high school students in the program. Pictured here, left to right, are Lori Kannegieter, Patricia Hawkins, Mark Berry, Karen Luceti and Christle Foster.

Students in the program will receive academic advising, tutoring, mentoring, career exploration, cultural enrichment and stipends.

Students in Caroline, Kent and Talbot counties can now join the program this academic year. Combined, the three federal grants will allow 180 area high school students to participate in the program at Chesapeake.

Chesapeake recently named Mark Berry to be director of TRiO Upward Bound. Mr. Berry previously served as Chesapeake’s director of student engagement.

The Upward Bound application is now open online and Mr. Berry has been meeting with potential participants in area schools and in the community. Mr. Berry said students are encouraged to apply now, and plan to begin participating in the program by the beginning of Spring Semester.

“Our partners in the county high schools are as excited about the program as we are, and we’re working together to recruit students, “ Mr. Berry said.

With the proliferation of businesses designed to help high school students navigate college admissions and rising higher education costs, the barriers to college can seem impossibly high to some high school students.

First generation students – those who have parents without bachelor’s degrees – are at an even greater disadvantage. Unfamiliar with the language of higher education and inexperienced, these students are unable to turn to their families for help. The only guidance they receive is provided by school counselors, who may have hundreds of students to assist.

Upward Bound academic coordinators will help guide students through the college admissions and financial aid process with workshops and field trips. Students will also learn to recognize good opportunities and how to build professional connections.

Participation in the program can also boost a student’s high school performance.

“The program includes grade monitoring, so our academic coordinators can see how Upward Bound students are doing throughout the quarter. They can provide encouragement and guide students to available resources,” Mr. Berry said. “Those check-ins aren’t limited to academics. Our staff will communicate regularly with students to make sure they’re thriving outside of the classroom and connect them with community resources such as mental health services or local food pantries. We’re taking a holistic approach to student success.”

Also included in the program, is a six-week, intensive summer session designed to keep students on track for continued success as they transition to the next grade.  Each of the six weeks will include days with an academic focus and one day of enrichment, according to Ms. Foster. For graduating high school seniors in Upward Bound, a summer bridge program will include two Chesapeake classes for college credit.  These credits can provide a head start at Chesapeake College or be transferred to a four-year college.

To learn more about the program and apply, please visit https://www.chesapeake.edu/upwardbound

Darius Johnson

Darius Johnson, a Kent County native and current Talbot County resident, is the newest member of the Chesapeake College Foundation Board. 

Mr. Johnson is the Northeast Regional Director for the ACE Mentor Program of America, an award-winning, afterschool program designed to attract high school students into pursuing careers in the Architecture, Construction and Engineering industry, including skilled trades.  

“I couldn’t be more excited to work with Darius,” said Amber McGinnis, Executive Director of the Chesapeake College Foundation. “His extensive experience in the local, non-profit world paired with his current position and background in the skilled trades will contribute great value to the Board. We look forward to the business and industry connections Darius can bring, as we continue expanding and creating new workforce training programs here at the College.” 

Previously, Mr. Johnson served as the first Executive Director of Kent Attainable Housing, which helps low-to-moderate income families in Kent County achieve homeownership. Johnson’s other work experiences includes Communications and Community Revitalization at Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, and Strategic Outreach and Program Management at the Maryland Center for Construction Education & Innovation, Development Operations at Johns Hopkins Department of Neurology and Global Business Analytics at Prometric.  

Additionally, Mr. Johnson is a Senior Fellow with the Environmental Leadership Program and a Community Curation Fellow with Chesapeake Heartland: An African American Humanities Project at Washington College’s Starr Center.  

Mr. Johnson is a 2015 graduate of Washington College, where he studied Business Management, Political Science, and Philosophy.  

He is currently enrolled in Goucher College’s Master of Historic Preservation Program where he will focus on developing the preservation trades workforce and rural preservation initiatives.

Amber Tolley McGinnis

Advancement professional, Dorchester County native, and former assistant professor Amber Tolley McGinnis returns to Chesapeake College as the new Director of Development and Executive Director for the Chesapeake College Foundation.

In her role, Ms. McGinnis leads and directs the College’s resource development efforts with an emphasis on private and philanthropic fundraising. She also manages grant efforts, identifying funding priorities and developing/executing an annual grant strategic plan. As the Executive Director of the Chesapeake College Foundation, Ms. McGinnis manages the operations of the Foundation including all fiscal responsibilities.

“Having grown up here on the Shore, I’ve always gotten great satisfaction from helping my family, friends, and neighbors achieve their goals and dreams here at Chesapeake College.  And in my new role, I’m looking forward to playing a part in the bigger picture–raising funds that can help fuel those transformations,” Ms. McGinnis said.

She added, “Scholarship support is crucial for many of our students to pursue their educational goals.  It is also essential for the College to provide leading-edge technology in our instructional labs – whether for computer science, health professions, or skilled trades.  The training and education that we deliver at Chesapeake College not only helps to better the lives of our students, but also provides the qualified workers for many of our local businesses, resulting in a positive impact on our local economy here on the Shore.”

With more than 20 years of experience in both the public and private sectors, Ms. McGinnis specializes in education communications. At Chesapeake College, she has held both faculty and leadership positions: Assistant Professor of Communication, Faculty Vice-Chair, Director of the Honors Program, and Interim Director of the Cambridge Center. She was also the College’s 2018-2020 Stuart M. Bounds Distinguished Teaching Chair.

“I am grateful to have a skilled hand and great leader who understands Chesapeake and the community we serve,” said President Clifford Coppersmith.  “Amber brings a wonderful level of enthusiasm and understanding of our mission to her work.”

Most recently, Ms. McGinnis was the Assistant Director for Communications and Outreach at Washington College’s Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience. Returning to Chesapeake in a new role, Ms. McGinnis said, brings new opportunities to connect area residents with all the programs and services available at the college.

“I look forward to working with Michelle Hall, our Director of Constituent Engagement and Event Management. Together we will continue building relationships with industry and community leaders throughout our five-county service region, so the College can remain an engine for economic growth on the Shore.”

Through her experience teaching community college students and her own personal journey, Ms. McGinnis learned the power of education to transform lives.

“The 14 years I’ve spent in the classroom at Chesapeake College has given me an intimate view into how education can be truly transformative,” Ms. McGinnis said. “And as a first-generation college graduate myself, I know the grit and self-confidence you gain from achieving something you’ve worked long and hard for–it translates into all aspects of a person’s life.”

One of the first priorities Ms. McGinnis will oversee is raising funds to support expanding the college’s skilled trades education. These funds will bolster programs like welding and marine trades, as well as introduce new initiatives in advanced manufacturing technology. Demand for quality, trained workers in these areas continues to run high on the Shore, and the college has seen tremendous interest from students to enter these fields.

Additionally, Ms. McGinnis looks forward to working with the Chesapeake College Foundation’s Board of Directors, whose members oversee the direction of the Foundation and represent all five counties within the college’s service region. The Chesapeake College Foundation builds the resources to support scholarships, teaching and learning, innovative projects, and local partnerships at Chesapeake College, serving the wide-ranging needs of the community

Ms. McGinnis is a graduate of Cambridge-South Dorchester High School, holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Mass Communications from Towson University, and a Master’s of Arts in Publications Design from the University of Baltimore. A resident of Cambridge, she is married and has two children.