Notables @ COM

Astrid Lowery began teaching at COM in fall 1986 after hearing the college needed a journalism teacher.  She came from the La Marque Times where she had been both managing editor and society editor since 1983. Over the years, she taught all phases of journalism, developmental writing courses and English 1301. She continues today as an adjunct instructor for English 1301.

The InterCOM

The student newspaper, a print publication, was started in the early years of the college’s existence and continued on, though not on a yearly basis, until the beginning of 2004 when it was discontinued. “I was privileged to be the InterCOM advisor from fall 1986 through the end of 2003, an unbroken 17-year tenure for the newspaper.”

Lowery said that her goal was to make each issue of the InterCOM better than the one before, “I’ve been fortunate to have good students who are willing to work so to make the paper look good.  Most of the ideas to improve the paper come from the students” she added she also had wonderful support from faculty, staff and the administration.

Ideas for stories come from Lowery and the editors during class budget sessions, in which everyone participated.  “Writing a concise and easy-to-read story while maintaining the reader’s interest doesn’t just happen,” Lowery said.

The editors worked hard to ensure that all important COM events were covered. Many issues also featured an editor’s or a student reporter’s views on a COM-related problem or the death of a celebrity. Most stories were accompanied by pictures taken by student photographers and each issue generally also featured a political cartoon, drawn by a variety of artist staff members.

“Putting out a paper is not an easy job, for either the instructor or the students, but it is rewarding, especially when you hold the finished product in your hands.”

The Rewards

Lowery was first able to enter InterCOM in the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association Competition in 1987 and won several awards. In the last eight years the InterCOM won 13 TIPA awards.

Each year as InterCOM advisor, I entered newspaper stories, editorials, photos, and cartoons in the prestigious Texas Intercollegiate Press Association’s contest, with the result that over a 17-year span, staff members earned approximately 47 first, second, third, and honorable mention prizes, thereby allowing InterCOM to advertise itself as an award winning newspaper.

Among the rewards of teaching, success of past students ranks high with Lowery. Successful students included Dale Dimitri who wrote for the Texas City Sun, “and just had several front-page stories about COM”; Ron Bertothy, an Army Information Officer; Mike Murphy, who worked for the Houston Chronicle as a sports writer; and Dana Gibson who worked “at least two years for The La Marque Times,” Lowrey said.

In August 1991 the COM Board of Trustees invited Lowery to bring past journalism students, successful in their field, to speak before the board.  Murphy’s presentation especially touched her. He attributed his success to COM with special emphasis on all he learned in Lowery’s class.  “He got teary-eyed when he said I helped put him on his path. It meant a lot to me.”

All available issues of the student newspaper have been digitized and are available online. Today they are the single best source for the history of the College of the Mainland. 

Go to the Astrid Lowery photo album. 

College of the Mainland's award winning student newspaper 1968-2004.

At times named InterCOM, Mainland Comet, Trailblazers or the The Gander, COM students covered the news and events of the College of the Mainland from 1968-2004. Today the student newspapers are the best single source for the history of the college. 

Go to COM Student Newspapers