Garrett College Alumni
Mark & Carly Rodeheaver
Father-daughter duo agree: Location, convenience, and value serve as key factors for attending GC
Mark Rodeheaver and his daughter, Carly, chose to attend Garrett College for very similar reasons.
"I attended Garrett because it was very convenient and I wasn't sure what I wanted to study," said Carly, a 2018 Northern High School graduate who earned a GC associate's degree in business administration and is now a junior in business administration at Frostburg State University. "I had a full-ride scholarship through the Garrett County Scholarship Program, and it was the best decision for me."
Both of her parents (Mark and Sarena) also attended community college.
Mark, a non-traditional student, began taking classes at GC in his 30's to continue working on his associate's degree, while strengthening his professional resume.
"Garrett College was very convenient for me due to living nearby," said Mark. "In addition to the convenience, Garrett had begun offering online classes, which was very appealing to me due to the fact I was working full-time with two children and juggling a busy schedule."
Due to his positive experience, Mark also encouraged Carly to consider beginning her educational journey at Garrett College.
"I absolutely encouraged Carly to attend," said Mark, whose wife, Sarena, also attended a community college. "I was sure she would receive a quality education and be challenged by the professors, and it was close and convenient for her to attend."
"It was also affordable, thanks to the Garrett County Scholarship Program, which is a great opportunity for our local high school graduates," continued Mark.
"Both of my parents encouraged me to attend and thought it was the best decision for me," added Carly. "I made the final decision to attend GC my senior year of high school."
This decision proved to be an excellent stepping stone for Carly in reaching her goals.
"Garrett gave me all the classes and knowledge I needed for Frostburg and all of my classes transferred," she explained. "I talked to the Frostburg transfer representative from my freshman year to the day I graduated. Between the Frostburg representative and Garrett College, I had all my classes I needed to prepare me for Frostburg."
Looking back on her time at Garrett, there is one thing she wished she'd done differently as a student.
"I wish I would have gotten more involved in clubs and activities," said Carly. "There were a lot of activities that GC put on that I wish I would have participated in, including basketball and baseball games."
Currently a senior investigator with the State of Maryland, Mark is retired from the Maryland State Police after nearly 27 years of service. In addition to Carly, he and Sarena also have a son, Derek. Once Mark started taking classes in the early 2000's, he continued doing so for a number of years.
"The classes I took, especially the English and speech classes, greatly assisted me with my job," said Mark. "Writing and public speaking were a large part of what I did as a police officer and I used in the information I learned extensively in my day-to-day job functions."
Since he was enrolled as a student, he has had the opportunity to witness numerous physical changes to the GC campus.
"The Learning Resource Center, STEM Center, and the construction underway for the Community Education and Performing Arts Center are all dramatic and positive changes for our community," he added.
Both agree that the college offers numerous advantages and benefits to the Garrett County community.
"Garrett offers two free years of a college education to seniors that graduate from Northern or Southern Garrett High School, which helps encourage students to attend college and stick around Garrett County," Carly explained. "Future students should take advantage of this opportunity, the convenient location, and the low student-to-teacher ratio."
Her father wholeheartedly agrees.
"Being away from a learning environment since high school, I was hesitant that I could keep up. The professors at Garrett were very helpful and accommodating," said Mark. "Garrett is a great opportunity to receive a quality education at an affordable cost."
