In this episode of Dragon Talk, we’re honoring our veterans and military families at HCC. Join host Ryan Record as he sits down with Assistant Registrar, Lauren Nelson-Smith, VA Cohort Liaison, Jean Melvin, as well as veteran student and Dragon Podcast intern, John Fry, to break down your VA benefits, campus support and resources. Whether you're a veteran beginning your educational journey, a military family member looking for guidance, or a campus community member wanting to better understand veteran life at HCC, this episode offers clarity, connection, and encouragement. Tune in to learn how HCC proudly stands beside those who served—every step of the way.

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and Dragon Talk is celebrating by exploring how Howard Community College is shaping its digital education. Joel Offenberg, Department Head for Computer Science and Cyber Technology, joins host Ryan Record to discuss why cybersecurity is an essential skill for everyone to stay on top of. Learn about the fantastic apprenticeships and career opportunities available to HCC’s computer science/cyber technology students, and how a game-changing National Science Foundation grant is completely revamping the college's Cyber Security program. If you are looking into career paths that protect our digital information, or even want to brush up on your cyber tech know-how, this is a must-listen!

In this episode of Dragon Talk, host, Ryan Record, once again dives into the HCC Study Abroad Program, but this time shifts focus to the faculty members who make the magic happen. Join him as he sits down with Professor Kling, Chef Milburn, and Dr. Bianchi to hear their unique perspectives on the value of global learning as they discuss the transformative power of teaching students in Bermuda, France, Italy, and Greece. If you're wondering what it takes to study abroad, this episode offers a rich, behind-the-scenes look that might just inspire you to pack your bags and change your life!

Sound and Music Attribution:

Splash, Jumping, C.wav by InspectorJ -- https://freesound.org/s/352099/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

200116_1025_FR_TraditionalMusic.wav by kevp888 -- https://freesound.org/s/502673/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Italy Venice Square Day Amb with Live Music_yoh.wav by YOH -- https://freesound.org/s/169535/ -- License: Attribution 4.0