Is there one phrase that drives you nuts? I have one and it is “What a hidden gem!” I have heard this multiple times during my time at Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science and it drives me nuts! I know that the individuals are not mean spirited when making this comment, but I do not want CCMS to a “hidden gem”, I want CCMS to be a “gem”. As alumni and friends of CCMS we all know and understand that it really is a gem, but now is the time to make it less hidden.

I challenge the alumni of CCMS to take ownership in the effort to continue our reach not only locally, but regionally and nationally. I know that during my dozen years in higher education that alumni feel at times that there is not much they can do to help drive enrollment. However, I see it as the complete opposite.

I see a multitude of options to engage the next generation of funeral directors in your community. Alumni make great representatives for college fairs/career nights at local high schools because they can talk about their experience at their alma mater. Students and parents value a “genuine and real” perspective. Perspective students would also gain a lot of knowledge and reassurance about their future by shadowing at a funeral home. I encourage our alumni to open their businesses and more importantly show their passion to those that are looking to join the profession as colleagues. There are countless other ways to engage future students- write letters congratulating them on their acceptance, attend open houses, wear CCMS gear, and bring prospective students to campus for a visit. I have even seen alumni come together with their classmates to start an endowed scholarship to ensure that students with financial need can achieve their dream.

We are embarking on what I believe to a very pivotal juncture of CCMS’s journey as we build the Educational Cremation Center (ECC). The ECC will be the only facility of its kind at a mortuary school and will provide transformational education for an ever-changing death care profession. We need to make sure that we share this information with not only professional colleagues but with everyone. There is one thing I have learned during my recruitment — you never know who may be interested or know someone that is interested in the school.

I look forward to working with you as we work to get the message of CCMS out far and wide! Let me know if I can ever be of assistance to you- if you need CCMS letterhead for letters, CCMS gear, whatever it could be!

Let’s make sure we let CCMS shine like the gem it is!

–Kevin Brinkman

Director of Admission
kbrinkman@ccms.edu 
513.618.1926