Good afternoon. Thank you, Montgomery College for inviting me to be a part of this celebration. It is truly an honor. President Johnson, congratulations. Montgomery College and the State of Maryland are lucky to welcome your many years of dedicated service into our community.
I had the privilege of visiting the Rockville campus a few weeks ago and had the opportunity to sit down with President Johnson. He, like Governor O’Malley and I, recognizes that Maryland’s community colleges are, in every sense of the word, economic hubs. They are centers for workforce creation and professional development. They are our partners in our efforts to maintain a globally competitive economy and our standing as the wealthiest state in the Nation. And Montgomery College has long been one of Maryland’s most successful partners in our community college systems.
Your emphasis on science, on technology and on career-minded preparedness has become a national model of higher and continuing education. Because of the success at Montgomery College, at Prince George’s Community College – where I proudly served on the board for four years – and at community colleges across the state, Governor O’Malley and I have made a commitment to the students and the faculty on those campuses.
We increased the state’s investment in community colleges by nearly 17 percent – the largest increase in recent memory.
Still, we know there is some work to do:
And by working with leaders like Brian Johnson, leaders who see the promise of tomorrow in today’s classrooms, we’ll ensure that Maryland’s network of community colleges remain the national standard for excellence inside the classroom and in the workforce.
President Johnson, congratulations. I wish you all the luck in the world and I look forward to continuing to work in partnership with you and the other community college presidents to enhance our workforce for generations to come.
Thank you.