Gadsden State celebrates Community College Month in April
Gadsden, Ala. – Gadsden State Community College is joining with community colleges across the state and nation to celebrate National Community College Month in April. The theme for this year is “Making It Happen.”
“Gadsden State has a lot to celebrate,” said Dr. Martha Lavender, president. “We are meeting our goal to provide education, training and experience to students in an effort to improve their lives and enrich our community.”
Gadsden State is a member institution of the Alabama Community College System, which enrolls more than half of all freshmen and sophomores in the state. Approximately 6,300 of these students transfer each year to public four-year institutions. More than 17,000 degrees and certificates are awarded annually from members of the Alabama Community College System.
Community College Month will kick off with State of the College addresses on the Wallace Drive and Ayers campuses April 3 and 4, respectively. In addition, proclamations will be made during the regularly-scheduled commission meetings in the counties served by the six Gadsden State campuses: Cherokee, Cleburne, Etowah and Calhoun.
Several free events for the community will be taking place at Gadsden State Cherokee. A month-long drive to collect supplies for the Cherokee County Children’s Advocacy Center is underway. Needed items include tissue, antibacterial wipes, individually-wrapped snacks, bottled water, juice boxes and modeling clay. Craft items for play therapy include foam stickers, colored pipe cleaners/popsicle sticks, googly eyes and sand art. Donated items may be dropped off at Gadsden State Cherokee’s Academic Building lobby.
Gadsden State Cherokee will also host free vision screenings from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 10 provided by the Centre Lion’s Club in the conference room of the Academic Building.
“Making it Happen with Students and Parents” will be held at 5:30 p.m. April 25. This event will provide dual enrollment information to potential students and their parents. It will take place in Room 130 of the Gadsden State Cherokee Academic Building. RSVP to Amanda Martin at 256-927-1807.
Additional student activities include “De-stress @ Cherokee Library” with board games and snacks April 2-9; “Fruit Loops & Finals” April 25-30 during library hours; and a display of student essays titled “Why I Love Gadsden State.” Xtreme Cherokee Spring Picnic will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 11 in the lobby with free food, fun and music for students, faculty and staff.
The Ayers Campus and McClellan Center will be “Making it Happen” with student fun days for each campus. MASH 2018 will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. April 16 on the first floor and front circle of the McClellan Center with free food, fun and desserts. The Ayers Campus Hospitality Day will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 26 at the Gazebo/Student Center area. Both events are free to students with college ID.
The Gadsden State Faculty Fellows present professional development opportunities for faculty and staff in Room 115 at the Joe Ford Center. “The History of Community Colleges” will be at 2 p.m. April 10 with Derrick Griffey; “How to Retire with Money” at 2 p.m. April 11 with Morgan Lavender; “Traveling on Budget” at 9 a.m. April 13 and “Implications of Offensive Language” at 2 p.m. April 18 with Dr. Nicole Thompson.
“The History of Community Colleges” seminar will be on the Ayers Campus at 2 p.m. April 12 in the Computer Science Auditorium. Veterans Upward Bound will also host and Ayers Campus event with “Tech Tuesday BYOD: Learn to use iPad/iPod Touch” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 10 at the Learning Resource Center.
The Student Success Club is fighting college hunger with a food drive that will conclude April 12. The club is committed to helping fellow students by collecting non-perishable, non-expired food including noodle cups, soups, peanut butter, fruit cups, granola bars, instant grits/oatmeal, ravioli, packaged nuts, canned fruits and vegetables, vienna sausage and peanut butter or cheese crackers. For drop-off locations in Anniston, contact DeChandriss Page-Nsougan at 256-835-5465 or dpagensougan@gadsdenstate.edu.
The College will be “Making it Happen” with community events in Gadsden that include a free presentation of Disney’s Lion King 6 p.m. April 17 at Wallace Hall Fine Arts Center; “An Evening of Poets” from 5 to 7 p.m. April 24 at Meadows Library Gallery on the Wallace Drive Campus. Faculty and staff also will be providing assistance at the Etowah County 4-H Round Up April 26-27 at Wallace Hall.
Other events on Etowah County campuses include Veterans Upward Bound’s “Tech Tuesday: BYOD” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 10 and a résumé/interview skills workshop at 11 a.m. April 24 at Beck Field House. The Office of Career Services will host a Technical Employment Fair from 9 a.m. to noon April 18 at the One Stop Center on the East Broad Campus.
Community College Month brings student achievement recognition ceremonies. The annual Honors Day on the Ayers Campus will be at 2 p.m. April 24 on the second floor of the Learning Resource Center. Honors Day at the Wallace Drive Campus will be at 2 p.m. April 25 at Wallace Hall Fine Arts Center. Gadsden State’s Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society will hold an induction ceremony for new members at 6 p.m. April 25 at Wallace Hall. The Radiologic Technology Program will hold its Spring Semester Pinning Ceremony at 6 p.m. April 30 at Rainbow Presbyterian Church. The public is invited to attend these events.
Administrative Professionals Week will be celebrated during Community College Month with a professional development opportunity for administrative assistants and clerks. “Making It Happen with Service and Passion” will be 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 26 in the Bevill Center on Gadsden State’s East Broad Street Campus. Speakers are Brenda Miller from American Business Corp.; David Collins from Gadsden State Skills Training Division; April Harris from the University of Alabama in Huntsville and Shelia Cooper Moragne from Adams and Associates. The cost is $20 and includes lunch. The public is invited to attend and everyone is asked to please register by April 20 by contacting Baisha Woody at 256-549-8234 or bwoody@gadsdenstate.edu.
“Peace, love & G-Day” will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 19 on the quad at the Wallace Drive Campus. The fun day is free to students, faculty and staff with college ID.
Gadsden State Community College’s support organizations are also getting involved in Community College Month. The Gadsden State Alumni Association will host meet and greet starting at 6 p.m. on April 17 at Blackstone Pub and Eatery. Alumni and supporters of Gadsden State are invited to attend the event. Matt Leder, director of the Gadsden State Show Band, will be performing jazz with alumni and students. Each person is responsible for their tab.
The Cardinal Foundation will host the third annual Everyday Heroes Breakfast at 9 a.m. April 11 in the One Stop Center on the East Broad Campus. The event is being hosted by the Cardinal Foundation in an effort to recognize deserving heroes that have made a difference in the lives of others or someone who has bravely endured hardships and struggle. Nominations will be accepted through April 3. Five winners will receive the Everyday Hero Award. For a nomination form, email pclough@gadsdenstate.edu.
For more information on Community College Month, visit “News & Events” at www.gadsdenstate.edu/calendar or contact Jackie Brehm Edmondson, director of Public Relations and Marketing, at 256-549-8224 or jedmondson@gadsdenstate.edu.