It is not every day that college students have the opportunity to witness first-hand a state government cabinet meeting right on their campus.

Thirteen students taught by Philosophy Professor Don Hoepfer joined a packed college Theater on May 11, 2017 when Maryland Governor Larry Hogan and his cabinet secretaries gathered at Carroll Community College. The meeting was open to the public as an opportunity to connect local communities and citizens with state government. More than 400 people attended and listened to presentations on a wide variety of subjects from transportation, to education, to the heroin and opioid epidemic.

“I could tell that my students, who are studying Ethics, were impressed with the opportunity to see government in action,” said Hoepfer. “The experience brought government to the community, put names to faces, and addressed many important societal issues. For our students, the classroom came to life. They told me they learned much from the experience.”

“I enjoyed visiting beautiful Carroll County,” said Hogan, who also toured other areas of the county after wrapping up the cabinet meeting. “I believe that the meeting offered the community a first-hand look at how we are working to change Maryland for the better. I enjoyed the opportunity to bring state government directly to the people and to publicly demonstrate how government is working for them.”

“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, faculty, staff and students of Carroll Community College, I was pleased to welcome Governor Hogan and his cabinet to Carroll,” said College President Dr. James D. Ball. “The state and its leadership are very important partners in making higher education available for all Maryland citizens. Yesterday was a bright and shining moment for the College and for Carroll County. That experience was punctuated by the fact that several of our students were able to attend the event.”

Students from Hoepfer’s class who attended the meeting included Lindsey Breichner, Mackenzie Chamberlain, Grace Crawford, Elizabeth Griffith, Scott Jackson, Latanya Jones Hamlin, Katherine Kowalski, Michaela Kuykendall, Samantha McElroy, Graysen Muscalli, Lauren Robinson, Morgan Slade, and Olivia Zinn.



College President Dr. James Ball receives a proclamation from Maryland Governor Larry Hogan at the State Cabinet Meeting held in the college’s theater.

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