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Sasha

student standing in front of camera equipment in a film studio

From dual enrollment to film student, HCC alumnus Sasha benefited from one of HCC’s most well-respected honors programs: the James W. Rouse Scholars Program.

Lights, Camera, Action: HCC Rouse Scholar Set Sights on the Silver Screen

Meet Howard Community College (HCC) alumnus Sasha, who began his academic journey at HCC as a dual enrollment student, taking college-level courses while in high school. After graduation, he discovered a way to fund his continued education through one of HCC’s long-standing and well-respected honors programs: the James W. Rouse Scholars Program.

“My mom and I were looking for scholarship opportunities and heard about Rouse [the James W. Rouse Scholars Program],” said Sasha. “I applied, and it really wasn’t that hard to get into the program, which was just a really nice community with great instructors.”

The James W. Rouse Scholars Program centers on rigorous academic coursework and opportunities such as study abroad, independent research, and service and community engagement. Students work closely with a specialized academic advisor to plan and register for unique honors courses offered across a wide range of subjects. In addition to academic support, Sasha also received a special Rouse Company Foundation scholarship to help cover tuition and fees.

“The Rouse program was so good to me,” said Sasha. “And then there was the work, which was centered on the Capstone program.”

All honors students are eligible to participate in a special year-long Honors Capstone program that allows them to apply the knowledge and skills they have developed throughout their HCC studies. Capstone projects can be completed in any academic discipline, and the results are presented at the annual HCC Scholars Symposium.

“It helped me to figure out my major,” said Sasha.

Thanks to the guidance of his instructors, Sasha decided to switch from general studies to the world of film. Today, he is a Film & Moving Image major at Stevenson University, where he’s setting his sights high—dreaming of becoming a lead editor for iconic film giants like Universal Studios or National Geographic.

“Rouse is the greatest program that Howard Community College can provide,” said Sasha. “I am at the top of my game, getting straight A's, and I am better than I ever was because of Rouse.”