ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today joined Lincoln College of Technology – Columbia Campus’ (Lincoln Tech) President Dr. James Martin and Director of Career Services and External Affairs Tafia Pringle, and County Department of Recreation & Parks’ Director Nick Mooneyhan and Volunteer and Special Projects Manager Shawnté Berry, to sign a transformational Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to formalize an innovative collaboration to expand Recreation & Parks’ Service & Skills Club’s service-learning workshops. Photos from today’s event can be found on the County’s Flickr webpage.
Howard County’s education system is nationally recognized, and Lincoln Tech is no exception. Since opening the doors of its Columbia campus in 1960, Lincoln Tech has been providing countless Marylanders with an invaluable career education. A top destination in Maryland for people who want to turn their passion for cars into a rewarding career path, it seems only fitting that the Club’s first session next month highlights automotive repair and safety. I encourage anyone – older teens and adults – who are interested in gaining new skills, expanding their knowledge base, or just looking to have a larger impact on our community, to check out this one-of-a-kind program and collaboration.
Recreation & Parks’ Service & Skills Club is a volunteer-based initiative offering community members age 16 and older, free skill-building workshops in career exploration, life skills education, and civic engagement led by community leaders, nonprofits, and business owners. From entrepreneurship and career development to financial literacy and other valuable topics, these workshops empower individuals to learn and grow.
Mentorships and real-world job experience are powerful tools for personal and professional growth. My department is proud to create these opportunities through strong partnerships with our schools, vibrant businesses, and committed community leaders.
Through this MOU, Lincoln Tech will host Service & Skills Club workshop sessions at its Columbia campus, where its skilled faculty and staff will provide club participants with:
- Career exposure through a guided learning experience, tour, and/or presentation;
- Skill-building instruction that includes hands-on learning related to a designated trade area; and
- A service component in which a volunteer project is designed and developed in collaboration with Lincoln Tech to give back to the campus or our surrounding community.
“The Service and Skills Club partnership demonstrates Lincoln Tech's commitment to education that prepares students for careers while making a real difference in Howard County,” said Dr. Martin. “Through this collaboration, our students develop job-ready technical skills by working on projects that directly benefit our community. It's a win-win approach that shows how career training and community service strengthen each other – and strengthens Howard County in the process.”
“This groundbreaking partnership with Howard County’s Department of Recreation & Parks represents a transformative approach to workforce development. Under County Executive Ball's visionary leadership, we're creating partnerships that truly make a difference by combining hands-on technical training with meaningful community service,” said Pringle. “Lincoln Tech-Columbia's collaboration with the County exemplifies how educational institutions and government can work together to cultivate skilled professionals who use their talents to strengthen Howard County's future.”
Additionally, while Lincoln Tech will host the Service & Skills Club workshop sessions under the agreement, Recreation & Parks will be tasked with overseeing the promotion of the program and recruitment and registering of participants.
“Our Service & Skills Club thrives on a unique exchange model where participants gain valuable industry skills while giving back to the community through service projects,” said
Berry. “The club ensures that every service opportunity is paired with meaningful, hands-on learning. This mutually beneficial approach not only equips participants with practical, job-ready skills but also fosters a sense of civic responsibility and personal fulfillment.”
For its first Service & Skills Club collaboration on Friday, August 1st, club participants will be joined by Lincoln Tech’s Automotive Program to learn automotive basics. During this three-hour hands-on workshop, participants will gain a basic introduction to automotive technology and maintenance, followed by a volunteer service project that supports the school's ongoing needs.
To learn more about Recreation & Parks’ Service & Skills Club and other volunteering opportunities through the department, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/recreation-parks/volunteering. For questions about the program, contact sberry@howardcountymd.gov.