Schwenksville Resident and Military Veteran Looking Forward to Future

The following information was provided by Montgomery County Community College:

Montgomery County Community College’s Liberal Studies program provided 2011 graduate David Diaz, of Schwenksville, with a solid foundation for his future education and medical career.

After getting hands-on experience caring for patients as a medic in the U.S. Navy, Diaz knew when he returned to civilian life, he wanted to go to college and eventually medical school to become a doctor.

Earning his associate’s degree in Liberal Studies at Montgomery County Community College was the first step in the Ambler resident’s long-range plan. He will be continuing his education at Temple University this fall.

Initially, transitioning from military service to civilian life was difficult, he said, but he credits the solid support system he found at Montgomery County Community College for his success.

“George Pannebaker (veterans advisor) is amazing,” he said. “If every school had a guy like him, a lot more veterans would be in school. Returning to school was much easier than I expected because George knows the system, and because of the support and understanding of Mary Beth Bryers (Coordinator of Off-Campus Programs) and Dr. Ann Marie Donohue (Assistant Professor of Psychology and Veterans Club Advisor).”

When he was in active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps, he served in Willow Grove, South America, North Carolina and in Al Asad, Iraq. Currently, he serves in the U.S. Navy Reserves.

After getting his medical degree, he would like to re-enlist in the U.S. Navy as a physician.

“I enjoy the medicine, health and fitness fields, and like helping people,” Diaz said about his career goal. “I’m an active, adventurous person. I like the experience of having someone’s life in my hands.”

Liberal Studies is just one of more than 85 programs that students can complete at MCCC’s Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell, and one of more than 30 programs at MCCC’s West Campus, located at 101 College Drive in Pottstown, and. Registration is going on now for the fall semester, which begins Aug. 31 and runs through Dec. 20.

New students can learn about admissions and registration by visiting www.mc3.edu/admissions or calling 610-718-1800 (West Campus) or 215-641-6300 (Central Campus).

Returning students can register for classes online via WebAdvisor, by mail or in person at the college’s campuses. For more information, visit www.mc3.edu/admissions/registration.

To learn more about MCCC and to see all the college has to offer, schedule a visit to one of the campuses. Visits can now be scheduled online at www.mc3.edu/admissions/visiting.