GADSDEN STATE TO CELEBRATE 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 “Still Flying High!”

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. Currently, state community colleges offer 202 degree and certificate programs and serve more than 144,000 people. In 2021, over 34,000 credentials were awarded.

Community College Month celebrates the achievements of community colleges and includes activities for the community, current and prospective students and employees.

Student fun days are planned at several Gadsden State campuses. Ayers Campus Student Appreciation Day will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 19. It will include a softball tournament and a cook-out. G-Day will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the quad on the Wallace Drive Campus. There will be carnival games, food and fun for students. It will also be the official opening of the student pavilion. Xtreme Cherokee will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Gadsden State Cherokee. It will include food, drinks and student activities.

Gadsden State Cherokee is hosting a month-long drive to collect supplies for the Cherokee County Children’s Advocacy Center. Needed items include antibacterial wipes, tissue, hand soap, individually-wrapped snacks, bottles of water, juice pouches or boxes and modeling clay as well as crafts for play therapy, such as foam stickers, colored pipe cleaners, colored popsicle sticks, googly eyes and sand art. For more information, call 256-927-1800. 

On April 5 and 19, Gadsden State’s Valley Street Campus invites members of the community to participate in “Connection Meetings” from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Learning Resource Center. This is an opportunity to get to know the great things about the areas only Historically Black College or University (HBCU). Door prizes will be awarded. For more information, contact Ricky Tillis, campus director, at rtillis@gadsdenstate.edu  

The Gadsden State Cafeteria invites students, employees, alumni and community supporters to special lunches from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 6 and 13. For just $6, patrons will receive an entrée, three sides and a drink. The menu on April 6 includes fried catfish, macaroni and cheese, green beans, cole slaw, hushpuppies and rice. The April 13 menu includes fried chicken, baked chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, squash casserole, green beans, rolls and white rice.

On April 7, Gadsden State nursing, EMS and therapeutic massage students will be on-hand to provide blood pressure checks, teach hands-only CPR and provide chair massages at the 2022 Northeast Alabama American Heart Association’s Heart Walk set for 5:30 p.m. in Downtown Gadsden.

Cardinal Spirit Days will be held April 8, 15, 22 and 29. Employees are encouraged to wear their cardinal best and share on Instagram using #CardinalSpirit. Prizes will be given.

The Cardinal Foundation, a support organization of Gadsden State, will host the annual Swoop Sprint 5K at 9 a.m. April 9. All funds provide scholarships to students. To register, go to www.RunSignup.com and search for Swoop Sprint 5K.

Cardinal Days kick off April 11 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the One Stop Center on the East Broad Campus and Cardinal Tutoring Center on the Ayers Campus and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Student Resource Center on the Valley Street Campus and the lobby at Gadsden State Cherokee. It will continue on April 12-14. Academic advisors will be available to assist student with registration for the summer semester. Popcorn, drinks and giveaways will be available.

Student achievement recognition ceremonies are traditionally held during Community College Month. The annual Honors Day on the Ayers Campus will be at 2 p.m. April 12 at the Oxford Civic Center. Honors Day at the Wallace Drive Campus will be at 2 p.m. April 13 at Wallace Hall Fine Arts Center. Gadsden State’s Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society will hold an induction ceremony for new members at 5:30 p.m. April 13 at Wallace Hall. The public is invited to attend these events.

On April 14, the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program will host anappreciation event, which includes a 6:30 p.m. dinner at Gafrericks Café in Anniston. Richard Palma of Duke University School of Medicine will speak on improving management of critical care patients. Attendees will receiving continuing medical education credits. The event is sponsored by Lantheus Medical Imaging. For more information, email Rebecca Southern, program director, at rsouthern@gadsdenstate.edu [3].

Preview Days for prospective students will be held at each Gadsden State campus: 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. April 18 at the Valley Street Campus; 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. April 19 in the Science Building on the East Broad Campus; 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. April 20 on the Ayers Campus and from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. April 21 at Gadsden State Cherokee. The event includes a guided tour of the campus as well as information on admissions, financial aid and student services. All prospective students of all ages are welcome.

D addresses for employees at 3:30 p.m. April 21 in the Science Building Auditorium on the East Broad Campus; at 3:30 p.m. in the Cheaha Center Lecture Hall on the Ayers Campus and at 3:30 p.m. April 27 in Room 130 at Gadsden State Cherokee.

The Gadsden State Theatre Department’s presentation of “Moon over Buffalo” will be 7 p.m. April 21-23 and 28-30. For tickets and more information, please visit  wallacehall.org.

Student Life is spearheading the annual clean-up event known as Don’t Drop It on Alabama on April 26. The day will be spent cleaning up Gadsden State campuses. To participate or for more information, contact Matthew Burttram, student activities director, at mburttram@gadsdenstate.edu  

Administrative Professionals Week will be celebrated during Community College Month with a professional development opportunity for administrative assistants and clerks from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 28 in the Bevill Center Lecture Hall on the East Broad Campus. Registration is $25 and includes lunch. Participants must RSVP by April 22 to Baisha Woody at 256-549-8234 or bwoody@gadsdenstate.edu [6]. The Registration Link can be found at https://forms.office.com/r/v05x82BcUB

Throughout the month, Gadsden State’s social media platforms will showcase employees as well as a student social media competition called “What is Your Why?” Students can share their reasons for choosing to attend Gadsden State on Instagram or TikTok by using #GSCCmywhy. Winners will be selected and will receive Gadsden State swag bags, free meals at the cafeteria and more.

For information on Community College Month, contact Jackie Brehm Edmondson, director of Public Relations and Marketing, at 256-549-8224.