For Immediate Release
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LARGO, Md. (May 21, 2018) – More than 1,000 students are set to receive their degree or certificate from Prince George’s Community College (PGCC) for the 2017-2018 school year. While these students enrolled at different stages in their educational and professional endeavors, they all share one thing. They chose to attend Prince George’s Community College to help realize their dreams.
General Studies student Tiye Ialiyah Aton transferred to PGCC from a four-year university after a few semesters because she didn’t think the university was a good fit for her at the time. She’s a student who was unsure of what she wanted to do when she first graduated from high school, and she later realized that her initial college experience was not going as planned.
“I had to pay housing and take out loans. I worked all the time,” she recalled about her struggle to find a balance of meeting financial obligations and enjoying the college experience.
After enrolling at PGCC, Ms. Aton saw many doors of opportunity open and was able to focus more on her education and career goals. She obtained a work-study job in the student affairs office, and identifies her time there as one of her most memorable experiences at the college.
Through her work-study job, she met other student workers, connected with amazing staff, and discovered her passion for education.
“Being on campus all the time and being a student worker was really fun,” she said. “It also showed me that I really enjoy education because of the friendship that I saw among the administration at PGCC.”
At PGCC, Ms. Aton felt like she was in her element. She was able to figure out what she wanted to do with her life and make time for things like meeting new friends and strengthening her writing skills at the Writing Center, which surprised her with its helpfulness.
Though she did still carry the weight of financial obligations, things did become a bit easier when she received discretionary funds from the college to pay her final semester’s tuition.
“I felt like it was such a blessing. It gave me a load off of my chest,” she exclaimed. “I was able to really move forward with my life and work on my future.”
Ms. Aton is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and is also a finalist for the Regents Scholarship, awarded to students who transfer from community colleges with a 4.0. GPA.
Ms. Aton plans to use the scholarship money to either attend Towson University, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, University of Maryland, College Park, or Morgan State University to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in English.
She plans to join Teach for America after completing her bachelor’s degree and hopefully move to Atlanta to teach English in a low-income area while also working towards a master’s degree in educational policy at Georgia State.
About Prince George’s Community College
Named a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance designated by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security (2015-2020), Prince George’s Community College (PGCC) provides high-quality education and training for the progressive and career-oriented residents of Prince George’s County. From new high school graduates and career seekers to more seasoned professionals and senior citizens looking to enhance their skillsets, PGCC is comprised of students who represent a wide range of ages, backgrounds, and goals. Serving nearly 40,000 individuals annually, the college is the first choice for higher education for residents of Prince George’s County. Collaborative partnerships, responsive degree and training programs, and a commitment to student success enable PGCC to address diverse education and workforce development demands. For more information, visit the college website at www.pgcc.edu. Prince George’s Community College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104; (267-284-5000); www.msche.org.The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation.