PGCC Alumni Share Their Love Story on Valentine’s Day
Article by: Tabresha B. Langham
LARGO, Md. (Feb. 14, 2019) – Deonte Smith and Adrienne Cobb’s love story transpired like neither could have imagined when Smith proposed at the Prince George’s Community College (PGCC) Partners for Success Gala on October 19, 2018, at the National Gaylord Resort and Convention Center.
Both Cobb and Smith vividly remember the day they met in the 2011 Hillman Entrepreneurs Program at PGCC. That day set the foundation for what grew into a deep friendship, and eventually an elaborate courtship of them planning their lives together.
“Sometime last summer, it really came into full view how much we had grown and how much a blessing she had been in my life,” Smith says about Cobb and his decision to marry her.
That decision led to the shocking proposal at the gala, where the couple was surrounded by the folks who continue to pour into the college and create opportunities for students just like them.
They each chose to attend PGCC for different reasons. Smith chose to attend PGCC because of the economic and academic value and Cobb attended with the recommendation of her father, who had previously taken evening accounting classes. Neither knew nor expected that the decision to enroll at PGCC would lead to an engagement, but it was inevitable that their paths ultimately crossed.
In addition to being a part of the Hillman Entrepreneurs Program, they both studied Business Administration and graduated in 2012. They credit team projects and collaboration for preparing them to take their relationship to the next level. “The best group projects we worked on were the ones where the team prioritized communication, learned to trust one another, and put the needs of the team before themselves,” they agreed.
The wedding planning hasn’t been too difficult. Though they both work full-time – Smith in the information technology (IT) space supporting the military and Cobb as a systems analyst for Freddie Mac’s IT Project Management Organization – they have made a great deal of progress and are starting to see the vision for their May 2020 wedding come to fruition.
They plan to invite classmates, faculty, and staff to their wedding, and especially those friends they met in the Hillman Entrepreneurs Program.
“Prince George’s Community College will forever be like home for us,” said Smith. That’s partly why he popped the question at the Partners for Success Gala. “For it to be a night where we were honoring Mr. Hillman, the man whose program we first met and who had a major impact on both of our lives, made it even more special.”
Cobb said she was stunned by the whole ordeal. “The fairytale ending with him down on bending knee, our families and friends present, and an audience of cheering gala attendees was something out of a storybook.”
The future husband and wife plan to buy a house in the next five years, start a family, and start a nonprofit to serve the youth in their community. But what they look forward to the most, is getting to know each other as they grow in love.
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.