News Release, College of Southern Maryland 

Some 70 students from the Patuxent Appeal Elementary Campus in Lusby descended on the College of Southern Maryland (CSM) Prince Frederick Campus recently for Destination College and got a fun, interactive glimpse of the nursing, robotic and physics program and labs.

Alyssa Bromwell, 10, of Lusby, learns how static electricity transfers from one object to another.

Destination College offers fifth-graders the experience of being a ‘college student for a day’ with the goal off getting the students to start thinking about their post-secondary education. Each year, CSM’s Prince Frederick Campus hosts nearly 400 students from Patuxent Appeal, St. Leonard and Barstow elementary schools. Above and from left, Patuxent Appeal Elementary School students Tristan O’Shea, 10, Abbey Eaches, 10, Kaniya Jones, 10, and Lily Speciale, 10, tap a pitch fork to learn about ultrasound vibrations under the direction of CSM student Amanda Willis, of Prince Frederick.

All of the students were enjoying various experiments in CSM Assistant Physics Instructor Jim McCrary’s lab, including some interesting hairdos caused by passing (or touching) two large, stationary static electricity balls.

“We have fantastic partnerships that help make this program successful year after year,” explained CMS Student Success Coordinator Laura Robins. This fall, Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum Education Coordinator Elizabeth Brant and Village Coordinator Nate Salzman joined the Destination College sessions to share how the park and college work together to enhance student experiences.

Above and from left, Patuxent Appeal Elementary School students Tristan O’Shea, 10, Abbey Eaches, 10, Kaniya Jones, 10 and Lily Speciale, 10, tap a pitch fork to learn about ultra sound under the direction of CSM student Amanda Willis, of Prince Frederick.


At day’s end, all elementary school students received a certificate that grants them acceptance to CSM upon completion of all high school requirements.