Howard Community College

<< DEPARTMENTS A LOOK AT ALUMNI HCC NURSING ALUM WINS GRAND PRIX RAFFLE – especially the camaraderie with other Buying Grand Prix raffle tickets is a way of giving back for HCC graduate nurses, and the patient care, which was very Betty McDonald. The Howard Community fulfilling," she says. "HCC prepared me well College Grand Prix, an equestrian show- for the work I would do. The people who jumping event, is held every September to graduate from this program score very high raise scholarship funds for students. on the certification test required to become a registered nurse." McDonald graduated from HCC's nursing program in the early '80s, and seven McDonald said she is looking forward years ago, "with my children out of college to visiting the new health sciences building, and my husband's business a success, I which the college broke ground for this started buying Grand Prix raffle tickets," January. "My husband and I were Columbia she explains. "Ever since then, I buy three pioneers, moving here in the late '60s, and tickets every year. It's a good investment, I remember driving by HCC when it was a because I might win something, and even if I single building sitting alone in a field. At the don't, I'm still supporting HCC." time, I had no idea that it would be such an important part of my life." This year, McDonald's investment paid off in spades, when she won the grand prize – a Mercedes-Benz. McDonald was a Howard County school health aid with two young sons, when she decided to return to college to become a nurse. Had she always dreamed of becoming Grand Prix Raffle winner and HCC alumna Betty McDonald. enhance their current jobs." Being successful in the academic program Eye on the Prize When she bought her tickets and looked at the list of Grand Prix raffle prizes this year, including restaurant gift certificates, golf packages, Ravens tickets, jewelry, and a nurse? "Not really," she says. "When had its challenges. "I had to relearn how to airline tickets, McDonald had her eye on a I was young, going to Catholic school, I study and when to fit it in," says McDonald. hotel stay that included a romantic dinner for thought I might become a nun. But I liked to "After helping my boys with their homework, two. She never thought she would win the date boys. So I went to college to become a I did my own studying, sometimes until 2 a.m. grand prize. high school teacher and got married before But the professors and my counselor were so getting my degree." upbeat and helpful, I loved every minute. " When she moved to Columbia, How did McDonald's family react to having "When the call came to tell me I'd won a Mercedes-Benz, I thought it was a prank call. I was shocked, couldn't talk and had neighborhood friends were enrolled in mom back in school? "My kids thought it to lie down on the floor," she laughs. "And HCC's nursing classes and they raved about was great that I was in school, too," she says. when I called my husband, he thought I was the program. "They encouraged me to apply, "When I'd come home from my clinical rounds, joking. I was thrilled to win, and I'm happy and I never regretted it," McDonald recalls. they loved to hear what they called 'Mom's to be able to give something back to HCC war stories.'" each year." Relearning to Study When she graduated, McDonald In 2010, the event raised $70,000 to "The program was a hodgepodge of immediately received five job offers. During support student scholarships through the good students with different backgrounds her nursing career of 23 years, she worked at HCC Educational Foundation. The 2011 and experiences, from recent high school Lutheran Hospital, John Hopkins Hospital, Grand Prix will be held on September 24. graduates to people in their early 60s," she Prison Health Systems, and Liberty Hospital. You can join McDonald and purchase raffle says. "I made great new friends and had a She retired seven years ago to work at tickets for $100, or three for $250, for a wonderful experience. Three of the people in McDonald & Sons, Inc., her family's golf chance to win prizes and support student my study group of six already had bachelor's course construction business. scholarships, by visiting degrees and were pursuing nursing to 28 "I still miss many aspects of nursing Pathways | Howard Community College Spring 2011 www.howardcc.edu/specialevents.

• Cover