Chris Chambers grew up watching a lot of science fiction shows. “I always had this idealized view of the future and what it could be,” he said. “So, I wanted to know engineering and physics so I could create things.”
What he hadn’t anticipated was helping shape his future in other ways.
He said his time at AACC gave him a safe place to learn how to pace school demands with extras. One thing led to another, and Chambers recently completed a term as Student Government Association president.
Though he found accomplishing all he wanted was hard, Chambers thinks he ultimately left the SGA stronger than when he started. “It's a lot of hard work, and it was tough for me to get through the whole year, but I'm glad that I have.” Others agree; Chambers received the 2026 award for River Hawk Student Community Engagement.
In addition to SGA, Chambers attends Amaranth Coffee House doing stand-up comedy, Super Science Club, R.A.T. (recreation, activism and teamwork) Club, dabbles in animation, participates in a supplemental instruction class for chemistry and hopes to get a work-study position on campus.
He is studying engineering and physics, with the goal of continuing at the University of Maryland. Chambers, who dreams of starting a robotics company, is confident he’ll leave with both a solid education and lifelong friends.
“If it was up to me, I would want (community college) to be available to everyone because I think it makes for a really great stepping stone,” he said. “It is a much more active community than I previously thought when I first arrived. … These people are people I'm going to be talking to for probably years down the line.”