GSCC President Dr. Martha Lavender Discusses Community College Month

GSCC 11President of Gadsden State Community College, Dr. Martha Lavender, along with Dr. Leslie Worthington, the Academic Dean for the college, stopped by WEIS Radio Tuesday morning to discuss National Community College Month – and many of the activities associated with that designation.

Activities this month will include the Career Café on the campus of Gadsden State Cherokee on the 16th, with free baked goods for students from 6:00 – 8:00 that evening.

From 10:00am – 12:00 noon that day, there will be a Resume Building presentation, and an Interview Skills presentation is scheduled for 2:00 – 3:00pm.

The 4th annual Etowah County Career Fair is set for April 17th at the Wallace Hall Fine Arts Center from 8:30am – 2:00pm – and that’s just the start.

MarthaMs. Lavender also pointed out that Gadsden State works with the Cherokee County School system in offering a dual-enrollment program, which can give students an important head-start on their college education; she also stressed the role that community colleges play in helping make higher education available to practically everyone:

You can hear that interview in its entirety by clicking on the link provided:

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GSCC - Community College MonthApril is National Community College Month and Gadsden State, a member institution of the Alabama Community College System (ACCS), is joining with community colleges across the state and nation to celebrate.  The ACCS is the state’s single largest system of public higher education and is Alabama’s most affordable and accessible system of higher education.  Through academic transfer, workforce development, and adult education the System makes a positive impact on the more than 250,000 people served each year and on the people of the state.  Approximately 15,000 community college students transfer each year to public four-year institutions while others graduate into career technical fields leading directly to employment.  ACCS institutions partner with business, industry, and government, to provide customized training for companies, job skills training, workforce development services, and specialized services for Alabama workers and job seekers.

In 2014, the Alabama Community College System enrolled more than 8,100 high school students in its dual enrollment and early college programs providing high-achieving students with rigorous courses beyond those offered at the secondary level; almost 3,700 scholarships were awarded to students enrolled in ACCS career technical education courses—preparing them for high-wage, high-demand occupations; and served more than 29,000 individuals through the adult literacy education programs and services awarding more than 4,900 GED® Certificates.  In addition, the Alabama Technology Network which a part of the ACCS, provided innovative technical assistance that improved efficiency and profitability to hundreds of businesses. Alabama businesses, with the help of ATN, increased profits by more than $129,000,000.

Gadsden State’s annual observance of Community College Month will include: campus tours for community members, a showcase of successful students/graduates on Facebook (visit GSCC pages), editorials from the administrative cabinet, faculty/staff-sponsored children’s book drives, an employment opportunity fair for job seekers, personal enrichment classes through Continuing Education, the annual international festival, an evening of fine arts featuring the music department, athletic events, student juried art show opening reception, and a variety of other events and activities highlighting each campus along with its faculty members and staff.

For more information contact Pam Clough at 256-549-8462, GSCC Public Relations at 256-549-8223, visit “News & Events” on the Gadsden State home page at http://www.gadsdenstate.edu/calendar/ or click on the Community College Month button.

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GSCC IFGadsden State Community College International Programs will be hosting its 37th annual International Festival, “The Places You’ll Go,” on April 10 at Convention Hall in Gadsden. The festival includes displays showcasing countries from around the world and highlights international food and entertainment.

Tickets are now on sale and will available until April 8 at the Wallace Hall online box office at http://www.international.wallacehall.org/; the International Office at Naylor Hall, Room 108; and the Center for Cultural Arts.  Advance ticket prices are $10 for students, $15 for adults, and a $120 for a reserved table of eight. A limited number of tickets will be available for purchase at the door and a surcharge will be applied for these tickets.

The festival will begin at 4:00 p.m. with a shopping bazaar and cultural displays. Food vendors will begin serving at 6:00 p.m. and entertainment is set to begin at 7:00 p.m.  International students at Gadsden State will prepare the various country displays and provide entertainment for the evening.

In addition to student talent, this year’s festival offers three featured performers including the Birmingham based groups: Mad Hatter Dance Company (world fusion belly dance troupe) and Zivah Saphirah (Middle Eastern dance troupe). The local Downtown Dance Conservatory will perform a piece from the original ballet, “The Princess of the Highlands,” debuting this May at Wallace Hall Fine Arts Center.

Country displays will include Belgium, India, Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Tunisia and others. Displays and entertainment can be viewed by the general public, but advance tickets are necessary for the food vendors.

For more information about the festival call 256-549-8438, 256-543-ARTS (2787) or email cgray@gadsdenstate.edu.  For more information about the International Program and the Alabama Language Institute contact Elise Harbin at eharbin@gadsdenstate.edu.

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GSCC Career FairThe Gadsden State Community College Career Transitions program will host the 4th annual Etowah County Career Fair April 17 at the Wallace Hall Fine Arts Center from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.  More than 1,000 juniors, from participating high schools around the county, are expected to attend.  The program, which houses the college’s career coaches, has chosen as the fair’s theme: Explore.Overcome.Achieve.

The Gadsden State career coaches have worked closely with high school counselors to plan the event in an effort to help students at a pivotal time in their life; as they plan for their senior year and life after high school. The first objective of the fair is to encourage students to explore the various career opportunities available in the area by providing first-hand knowledge and career guidance from professionals. The final two objectives are to help students understand that challenges may come and to motivate them to push past those challenges.  To assist with these objectives, students will hear from Tom McNeal, a motivational speaker with “Bring the Message” whose goal is to equip them with the decision-makings skills necessary to overcome obstacles they may face in pursuit of their career goals.

Students who attend the fair will have the opportunity to visit 20 career booths representing the 16 national career clusters, some of which include:  Architecture & Construction; Education & Training; Health Science as well as Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics. Each booth will consist of professionals from various local industries such as Alabama Power Company, the Etowah County Sheriff’s Office, CARCAM, Mix 102.9 Radio, Citizens Bank and Trust, Alabama Technology Network, and Go Build Alabama, who will talk with students one-on-one or in small groups about their professions as well as answer questions.  Additionally, students will attend a session that includes a panel of professionals who will speak more in depth about their career and the steps they took to obtain it.

Laura Swann, director of the career transitions program, hopes the career fair will be an eye-opener and a great day of exploration for students in this area.  “Our goal is to expose students to as many career opportunities as possible,” she said. “Many times they only consider the popular ‘go-to’ careers and don’t stop to realize that there are numerous careers that might interest them if they take the time to explore.”  For more information, contact Swann at 256-439-6861 or lswann@gadsdenstate.edu.

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GSCC LogoActivities during the month include the following:

1-17    Gadsden State Cherokee Children’s Book Drive:  Benefitting Cherokee County Head Start, accepting new and gently used books (256-927-1805)

7          Campus Tour:  East Broad & Wallace Drive, vans will leave Wallace Hall at 1, 2, & 3 pm

MASH @ McClellan/ C.A.R.E. FAIR (256-238-9348):  10 am – 1 pm (256-549-8329)

Phi Theta Kappa/McClellan Goes Green in 2015: Faculty/staff collecting used children’s books for area elementary schools

Cardinal Softball vs. Snead State: GSCC Complex, 2 & 4 pm (256-549-8310)

Massage Therapy Clinics:  Helderman Hall, 8:30, 10:00, & 11:30 am or 1:30 pm, EVERY TUESDAY & THURSDAY (Call 256-549-8326 to schedule an appointment)

Personal Enrichment Class:  Introduction to Tap Dance, pre-registration required (256-549-8305)

9          Community College Month Proclamation:  Calhoun County Commission Meeting, 10 am

10        International Festival:  Gadsden Convention Hall, LIVE ENTERTAINMENT, Doors open at 4 pm, Food vendors – 6 pm. Tickets available International Office,

Naylor Hall Room 108 (256-549-8438)

12-17  National Library Week:  GS Cherokee-interactive display of the “Top 10 Apps for College Students”

13        Community College Month Proclamation:  Cherokee County Commission, 10 am; Cleburne County Commission, 5 pm

13-17  Personal Enrichment Class:  Become a licensed insurance agent, 8 am –  Noon, pre-registration is            required (256-549-8305)

14        Cardinal Softball vs. Central Alabama: GSCC Complex, 2 & 4 pm (256-549-8310)

VUB Resume/Interview Workshop:  Wallace Drive Campus, 11 am – 1 pm (256-549-8286)

Gadsden State Cherokee: Campus tour, 1-3 pm; Xtreme Cherokee-Under the Big Top, 10 am-1 pm

15        Spring Employment Opportunity Fair:  East Broad Auditorium, 9 – 11:30 am (256-549-8635)

16        G-DAY /Throw Back Thursday: Softball Complex, 10 am – 2 pm (256-549-8329)

An Evening of Fine Arts:  Featuring GSCC Music Department, Wallace Hall, 6 pm (256-549-8394)

Gadsden State Cherokee:  Career Café – Free baked goods/drinks for students in library, 6-8 pm; Resume Building presentation, 10 am-Noon; Interview Skills presentation, 2-3 pm

17        Etowah County Career Fair (High school juniors):  Wallace Hall, 8:30 am – 2 pm (256-439-6861)

18        Cardinal Softball vs. Shelton State:  Softball Complex, 2/4 p.m. (256-549-8310)

20        Priority Registration for Summer Semester begins at 8 a.m.

20-24  Personal Enrichment Class:  Become a licensed insurance agent, 8 am – 12 pm, must pre-register

21        Registration for Summer Semester 2015:  All Other registration begins at 8 a.m.

Valley Street Campus Tour:  1-3 pm (256-549-8671)

Community College Month Proclamation:  Etowah County Commission Meeting, 10 am

VUB Tech Tuesday BYOD/Learn to use iPad/iPod Touch:  Wallace Drive Campus 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. (256-549-8286)

28        Anniston Honors Day Program:  2 pm, Ayers Campus, 2nd Floor Pierce Cain Learning Resource Center (256-549-8485)

McClellan Center Campus Tour:  10 am-2 pm (256-238-9357/8553)

29        Gadsden Honors Day Program:  2 pm, Wallace Hall Fine Arts Center (256-549-8485)

Ayers Campus Tour:  1-3 pm (256-835-5451)

30        McClellan Bookworms:  Brown Bag Lunch @ noon, Saltwater Kisses by Krista Lakes

Leadership Society Induction Ceremony:  Browder Hall Auditorium, 6 pm (256-549-8329)

Juried Student Art Exhibition:  Opening reception, 6 pm, Meadows Gallery (256-549-8395); Exhibit on display through July 31

 

 

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