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Distinguished Alumni

2009
Mary T. JohnsonMary T. Johnson

 

 


Mary T. Johnson of Elkton, Md. was presented with the 2009 Cecil College Distinguished Service Award at Cecil College s 40th annual commencement ceremony on May 17. After spending 24 years organizing its annual commencement ceremonies, Cecil College was honored to have Johnson at center stage for the second time since retiring from her position as director of admissions and registration in 1992.

Read more about Mary Johnson.

Johnson, who previously served as a commencement speaker in 2003, was one of the first three full-time employees when Cecil Community College opened its doors at Elkton High School in 1968. In addition to her regular duties, she did whatever else was needed, including teaching English, working as the librarian, selling textbooks, and recruiting students.

Although she no longer comes to the college on a full-time basis, Mary continues to be an active member of the Cecil College Foundation, which she played a key role in the development of about 30 years ago. Johnson and several other dedicated volunteers initiated many fundraising projects that laid the groundwork for the successful organization the foundation is today, including bake sales, a car raffle, and a World Wrestling Federation event.

Johnson's position with the Cecil College Foundation, and the scholarships it awards, enables her to continue to help students secure an education, which she has spent much of her life doing. Prior to her arrival at Cecil in 1968, she spent 22 years teaching English and Social Studies at Chesapeake City High School and Bohemia Manor High School, where she was also a guidance counselor. A native of North Carolina, Johnson holds a bachelor's degree from Radford College, Women's Division of Virginia Polytechnic Institute. She has completed post-baccalaureate studies at the University of Delaware and University of Maryland.

Johnson is a past president of the Cecil County Classroom Teachers Association and the Maryland State Teachers Association, and she has served on a national committee of the National Education Association. She was a member of the Cecil County Social Services Board and the Cecil County Women's College Club, which folded and donated its money to Cecil. In addition, she has been on several boards at Union Hospital and chaired the Elkton Housing Authority. Johnson is also a member of the Rotary Club of Elkton, Delta Kappa Gamma, and the Daughters of the American Revolution.

2008
Robert B. BiggsRobert B. Biggs

 

 

 


Dr. Robert B. Biggs of Chesapeake City, Md. was presented with the 2008 Cecil College Distinguished Service Award at Cecil College's 39th annual commencement ceremony on May 18. Seeing how Cecil College launched his son Scott on a successful computer science career, Biggs happily accepted an invitation to join the Cecil College Foundation board in 2002.

Read more about Robert Biggs.

In his role as chair of the Fund Development Committee, the longtime resident of Chesapeake City was instrumental in the college's successful completion of a $3 million capital campaign which wrapped up at the end of 2006.

A registered professional geologist in several states, Biggs has 25 years experience in university research and teaching, public speaking, expert witness testimony, grant and contract application and administration, and professional staff administration. After earning his bachelor's, master's and doctorate from Lehigh University, he began his career as an educator by serving seven years as an assistant and associate professor at the University of Maryland, where he conducted research on the geological processes of the Chesapeake Bay.

Biggs then came to the University of Delaware and spent 18 years in a variety of roles. As an associate professor and professor of marine studies, he conducted research on pollution problems in most of the major bays in the United States, including the Chesapeake and the Delaware. He taught numerous undergraduate and graduate courses, advised master's and doctoral students, and authored or co-authored many technical publications. Biggs was appointed assistant dean and then associate dean of the College of Marine Studies.

Biggs' professional career also entailed 11 years with R.F. Weston, Inc. as a vice president, division manager, senior vice president and national technical services manager. He directed many geologists and several divisions for the company, and worked directly with the CEO and COO to develop the corporate strategic vision, long-range plans and monitoring tools. In addition to his service to Cecil College, Biggs has volunteered his time to several other local organizations. He has been on the board of directors for Upper Bay Counseling and Support Services and the chapter chairman for Sassafras River Ducks Unlimited.

2007
Daniel A. HallDan Hall

 

 

 


Appointed as a Cecil College trustee in 1975, Daniel A. Hall has had the longest tenure of any board member in the College's 39-year history. During his 32 years of devoted service to the board of trustees, he held the positions of chair and vice chair.

Read more about Daniel Hall.

A lifelong resident of Cecil County who grew up in Calvert, Dan graduated from Calvert Agriculture High School in 1941. He earned his bachelor's degree in English and education from Washington College in 1950 and his master's in adult education from George Washington University in 1970. Mr. Hall played four years of baseball at Washington College and is an avid sports fan who has been a passionate supporter of the Cecil athletic programs as an avenue for students to reach their educational goals.

In 1999 the JoAnn Hall Memorial Scholarship, which is awarded to a female varsity athlete at Cecil, was established in honor of his wife. JoAnn also made her mark in the community as the first female mayor of Rising Sun. Dan's dedication to Cecil's sports teams, and the College as a whole, was recognized in 2002 with the naming of the Daniel A. Hall Golf Tournament. The annual competition benefits the Seahawks' athletic programs. The tournament was renamed in memory of Mr. Hall in 2007 to the Daniel A. Hall Memorial Golf Tournament.

Mr. Hall taught history and English at Chesapeake City High School for one year and also coached the school's basketball and baseball teams. He was a U.S. Marine artilleryman during World War II who fought in the Marshall Islands Invasion and the Battle of Okinawa. Dan spent 33 years as an instructor in the Ordnance School at Aberdeen Proving Ground teaching officers advanced courses in topics such as management and ammunitions.

Mr. Hall resided on a farm in Colora where he owned racehorses since the early 1980s. He is survived by his son, Dick and his wife, Patti Hall and grandchildren Erin and Michael.

2006
Mary A. Maloney

2005
Ralph Young

2004
Patricia D. Folk

2003
Phyllis Kilby

2002
Laura Lu Herman

2001
Jim Redford

2000
Virginia Astfalk

1999
Debra Ordway

1998
Harry Stackler

1997
Mary Beyer Halsey

1996
John Blaha

1995
Charles Samuel Dixon

1994
Rosemary Nash Hoffman

1993
Leon A. Ordway

1992
Linda Saubier

1991
Joan M. Renner

1990
George W. Lutz, III

1989
Rodney E. Kennedy

1988
Johnny Lough

1987
Pierre L. LeBrun II

REAL STUDENTS. REAL SUCCESS.
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