My family and I consider ourselves wise consumers. Our anemic economy, however, is putting these skills to the test.

A number of families in the United States have altered the way in which they have decided to provide college educations for their children. The skyrocketing price tags of costly four-year colleges and universities have forced all of us to look for viable alternatives without forfeiting quality, without sacrificing our children's futures, without looking back. My family and I have joined these ranks.

We, too, have changed our outlook on the best way to secure a higher education for our child. The best thing about it? We didn't have to look far, and our son is still receiving an education that is second to none. We found our answer at Howard Community College.

With a variety of eclectic academic offerings, impressive honors programs, a nurturing faculty, dynamic pre-professional experiences and seamless articulation agreements with a number of four-year colleges, this institution provides an impressive quality of education. The college boasts about receiving the U.S. Senate Productivity Award for Performance Excellence and the 2009 "Great College to Work For" designation by The Chronicle of Higher Education. I can definitely see why.

Community colleges continue to be less than half the cost of tuition at any Maryland four-year public college or university, and one-eighth the cost of a private institution. I like being a wise consumer and hope those in the upper echelons of state government are reading this, because I spend a lot of time talking to other moms and dads. We all commiserate about the soaring costs of higher education.

I ask our governor not to impose budget cuts to Howard Community College. The college serves over 28,000 students who, just like my son, deserve the best education possible at an affordable cost. Please don't clip these students' wings before they have a chance to actualize their potential.

Darline Glaus

Kings Contrivance

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