One of the best advantages about being home-schooled for Abigail Brand was the opportunity to achieve each academic level at her own pace. As someone who is eager and motivated to learn, she progressed quickly, mastering subject after subject.

When she was ready for high school courses, Brand naturally decided to enroll at Montco, where she could complete her high school requirements while earning college credits through the Dual Enrollment Program.

“I started by taking one class a semester, beginning with Sociology 101 and then Food & Culture,” said Brand, whose mother, Renee Reyes, works as an advisor at Montco. “I gradually added more classes each semester.”

When she was ready, she eventually became a full-time online Liberal Studies major. Last year, while she was taking a Speech Communications class with Assistant Professor Tom Donlan, he saw her passion for learning and recommended that she consider taking the Specialty Certificate in Public Relations.

“When I started at Montco, I considered majoring in communications, but then I thought Liberal Studies would give me a well-rounded foundation,” Brand said. “When Professor Donlan told me about the Public Relations program, I wanted to try it, and he told me I already had completed many of the required classes.”

Montco’s Specialty Certificate in Public Relations prepares students to work with clients to write, create and present publicity materials for distribution to media outlets. Additionally, graduates who earn their associate’s degree in Liberal Studies and complete the Specialty Certificate may be eligible to transfer up to 75 credits to Chestnut Hill’s bachelor’s degree in Business Communications program through Montco’s University Center partnership.

The Specialty Certificate in Public Relations seemed like a good fit for Brand since she has always enjoyed writing.

“I published my first short story, “Hello Little Cloud,” when I was 6 years old,” said Brand, who attended Hereford Elementary School at the time but now resides in Gilbertsville.

The budding author and illustrator sold her book at local bookstores and online, where she even created her own promotional video. The story grew into a series of “Hello Little” books, including “Hello Little Flower,” “Hello Little Tree Top” and a Spanish version, “Hola Nubecita,” of “Hello Little Cloud.”

Even at such a young age, Brand wanted to use her talents to help others. She donated the proceeds from the books, about $1,500, to the Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) at area hospitals. Brand’s younger sister, Natalie, had a medical problem when she was born that required care in the NICU, and Brand wanted to help other babies get well, too. She also dedicated her books to her younger sisters, Gabrielle (Gabbie), who is 13, and Natalie, who is 10.

Drawing upon this early writing experience and from what she has learned in her courses, Brand was excited to work with Montco’s Senior Director of Cultural Affairs Brent Woods for her final project in the Public Relations program.

“Professor Donlan has helped me a lot by giving me opportunities to grow,” said Brand. “He told me about the Public Relations Certificate, and he connected me with Brent Woods for my final project where I would actually have the opportunity to promote a real event.”

For the project, students are required to promote a hypothetical event, she said, but in her case, she had a chance to work on an actual event for the Montco’s Lively Arts Series.

“Brent sent the background information about the performance, featuring Dee Dee Bridgewater and Bill Charlap, and then I did my own research about them, too,” said Brand. “Using the information, I created flyers and short blurbs that could be used on Montco Connect and Facebook to promote the event.”

The items were part of her promotional campaign to share the news about the event and increase ticket sales.

“Professor Donlan and Brent provided feedback for revising and editing the flyers and information,” she said, noting that the project provided real-life insight into what it would be like working in public relations with a client.

“Abigail is an amazing student, who is hungry to learn, passionate about promotions and willing to work hard to achieve her dream,” said Woods. “Thanks to Tom Donlan, he created a pathway for Abigail to begin making her dream come true.”

As the semester continues, Brand will be working on other promotional projects with Woods for the Lively Arts Series, which will help her gain more experience.

“One of the most important things we can do for students is to provide them with real-world, hands-on opportunities in the profession in which they are interested. In my opinion, this is gold, and these experiences can be used to build professional portfolios,” said Woods.

Her mom says it’s been fascinating to see Abigail develop goals and achieve them.

“Since she was very young, she has always had big aspirations,” said Reyes. “I remember when she was 5 she constantly talked about wanting to get a job. Leading up to turning 14, Abigail contacted many businesses in the area, inquiring about who hires 14-year-olds, and she went on several interviews during those few weeks. The day she turned 14, she applied for her working papers and had a job three days later.”

While the pandemic interfered with her work efforts during this past year, it did not slow down her motivation.

Along with completing the Specialty Certificate in Public Relations this semester, Brand takes classes online at American Public University where she is working toward her bachelor’s degree in Strategic Communications.

She completed both her high school requirements and associate’s degree in December 2020 at age 15. She graduated magna cum laude with a GPA of 3.557 and is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society. She also participated in an MLK Commemoration event and Pan African Festival hosted by the African American Student League and Advisor Tony Davis.

“She has an amazing amount of drive, and though she is still strengthening her confidence in navigating the spaces she has forged for herself, Abigail is always willing to try and give it her best! I am very proud of her, but I also encourage her to be proud of herself,” said Reyes.

“The Dual Enrollment Program definitely has helped me get ahead,” said Brand, who expects to have her bachelor’s degree completed in two years. “I’ll have a lot of opportunities when I’m 18 and will be starting my career.”