President Elizabeth Burmaster has announced the recipients of the 2021 Frederick Community College President’s Business Appreciation Awards. These annual awards recognize business and non-profit partners for their commitment, contributions, and support of the College mission and its students.

“Every year, our business and non-profit partners help FCC work toward its greatest mission of providing access to public higher education for all,” said FCC President Elizabeth Burmaster. “We thank our award recipients this year for offering our students incredible support and opportunities, even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are grateful to be part of the Frederick County community that works so well together, especially during times of need.”

The four award recipients for the 2021 FCC President’s Business Appreciation Awards are listed below. President Burmaster will host a virtual celebration with each award recipient in the next few weeks.

Community Leader of the Year – Dr. Barbara Brookmyer

As the Frederick County health officer, Dr. Barbara Brookmyer has led the county response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since March 2020, when COVID-19 first become a health emergency locally and nationally, Dr. Brookmyer has worked tirelessly to provide up-to-date guidelines and recommendations to educate and inform the general public on the novel virus.

Dr. Brookmyer has supported FCC specifically by working closely with our administration and staff, and providing direct contact and recommendations to help inform College decision-making related to COVID-19.

“Dr. Brookmyer’s incredible leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic has likely saved many lives,” said President Burmaster. “Due to the novelty of this virus, recommendations and guidelines have changed numerous times over the last year as members of the medical and science communities have learned more about COVID-19. Dr. Brookmyer has had to stay on top of those many changes and make quick decisions to mitigate the toll of the virus in Frederick County. We are grateful to Dr. Brookmyer and the entire staff at the Frederick County Health Department for prioritizing the safety of our community during this global pandemic.”

Non-Profit Partner of the Year – Second Chances Garage

Second Chances Garage, a non-profit auto repair shop located in downtown Frederick, provides affordable, reliable transportation to economically vulnerable individuals and families. Recognizing that reliable transportation is a vital component for self-sufficiency, for stable employment, and for the care of children, Second Chances Garage accepts donated vehicles in any condition, repairs them, and provides them for a nominal fee to an individual or family referred by one of their more than 20 partner agencies in the Frederick area.

Each year, Second Chances Garage provides FCC students with low-cost vehicles. As part of its Reduced-Cost Auto Repair Program, Second Chances Garage has also provided our students with needed vehicle repairs at a significantly-reduced price.

“For our students who don’t have reliable transportation, finding a safe vehicle at a very low price can be a life-changing event that enables them to stay enrolled at FCC,” said FCC President Elizabeth Burmaster. “We thank Second Chances Garage for all the work it has done to better the lives of many of our community members.”

Business Partner of the Year - ASL Interpreter Corps

ASL Interpreter Corps provides highly-qualified interpreters, transcribers, and support staff to better facilitate language access. ​Founded by Marie Alford, a nationally certified interpreter with more than 20 years of experience, ASL Interpreter Corps has supported the FCC American Sign Language and ASL Interpreter Preparatory programs in numerous ways.
 
Since 2017, representatives from ASL Interpreter Corps have served on advisory committees for both programs. Their involvement has helped FCC create and update curriculum to ensure it meets the needs of the Frederick County Deaf community, as well as industry standards.
 
ASL Interpreter Corps has sponsored program workshops, assisted with community outreach initiatives, and provided solution support to address the needs of interpreting students during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has also provided mentoring support to students still in their coursework and those preparing to graduate.
 
“The partnership between FCC and ASL Interpreter Corps has been instrumental in the growth and success of our American Sign Language and ASL Interpreter Preparatory programs,” said FCC President Elizabeth Burmaster. “Their expertise helps FCC ensure that the next generation of interpreters have access to the best training and learning opportunities to properly serve and support our community members.”


Business Donor of the Year - Northrop Grumman Corporation

Northrop Grumman Corporation is a global aerospace, defense, and security company that works closely with the Department of Defense and intelligence community.

In 2019, Northrop Grumman Corporation established the Northrop Grumman Scholars Fund at FCC. This fund provides renewable scholarships to students majoring in math, engineering, computer science, computer information systems, physical sciences, or cybersecurity. The scholarships can be used for tuition, fees, and books. Each scholarship recipient benefits from working with a faculty mentor and has the opportunity to participate in a summer internship. 

“FCC is honored to partner with such a globally-recognized leader in the field of aerospace and defense technology,” said FCC President Elizabeth Burmaster. “Northrop Grumman Corporation has provided thousands of dollars in scholarships over the last few years to FCC students. In addition to the financial assistance, their support sets our students up for success in a number of in-demand, cutting-edge fields. We thank
Northrop Grumman Corporation for recognizing the power of public higher education and helping the next generation of leaders reach their full potential.”