03/26/19
Gadsden State to celebrate Community College Month in April
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 “Celebrate! Educate! Motivate!”
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 includes community events, student workshops and professional development opportunities at various campuses.
Student fun days are planned at several Gadsden State campuses. MASH at McClellan will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 16 on the first floor and front circle area. Gadsden State Cherokee’s Spring Fling will be from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. April 17 in the lobby. Student Appreciation Day at the Ayers Campus will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the gazebo area near the Student Center. G-Day will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 18 at the quad on the Wallace Drive Campus. All events will include fun, food and music for students, faculty and staff.
Activities for the community include a Movie Night featuring a free screening of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid.” Performers from the CharACTers Entertainment production of “The Little Mermaid” will greet attendees. Free popcorn and drinks will be served while they last. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with the movie starting at 6 p.m. April 9 at Wallace Hall.
The Gadsden State Fine Arts Department is hosting its annual “An Evening of Fine Arts” on April 16. Festivities will kick-off at 5 p.m. with a reception and ribbon cutting for the newly-renovated Wallace Hall. The free concert with guest artist MSgt. Tim Leahey from Airmen of Note will begin at 7 p.m. An after-concert “jam session” will take place at Blackstone Pub and Eatery. The event is free and open to the public.
The Cardinal Foundation is hosting the annual Everyday Hero Awards at Gadsden State. The Top 5 nominees will be honored at an awards breakfast planned for 9 a.m. April 12 in the One Stop Center on the East Broad Street Campus. The winners, their immediate family and their nominator will be invited to attend the breakfast. Nominations were accepted through March 22. For more information contact Jackie Brehm Edmondson, director of Public Relations and Marketing, at jedmondson@gadsdenstate.edu.
Other events on Etowah County campuses include Veterans Upward Bound’s Resume and Interview Skills Workshop at 11 a.m. in the Beck Field House. The Office of Career Services will host a Technical Employment Fair from 9 a.m. to noon April 17 at the One Stop Center. For more information, call 256-549-8605. The Alumni Association will host a meeting of its student chapter at 5:30 p.m. April 8 in Bevill Hall on the Wallace Drive Campus.
The Salon & Spa Esthetics Department is offering April specials on facials, facial waxing and microdermabrasion. The department is located in the Salon & Spa Management building on the East Broad Campus. Call 256-549-8625 for an appointment.
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, 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.
The Ayers Campus Learning Resource Center is hosting a Spring Movie Marathon featuring free movies in the auditorium throughout the month from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Everyone is invited to bring snacks and drinks to enjoy during the movie. The Veterans Upward Bound program will host Tech Tuesday BYOD: Learn to use iPad/iPod Touch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 9 at the Ayers Learning Resource Center.
A Student Success Workshop titled “Cupcakes and Careers” will be held at 12:30 p.m. April 3 in the breezeway at the Inzer Student Center on the Wallace Drive Campus. The workshop will also be held at 12:30 p.m. April 9 in the Learning Resource Center on the Ayers Campus. Students should bring their own device to experience a demonstration of the new Cardinal Career Explorer software.
Community College Month also brings informational meetings for students and parents. UAB Night will be hosted by the University of Alabama at Birmingham from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. April 11 at the Beck Conference Center. To register, go to uab.edu/uabnight.
An informational session on the Alabama FAME Program will be at 5:30 p.m. April 11 in the Computer Science Auditorium on the Ayers Campus. The FAME Program leads successful students to a two-year associate degree in Industrial Automation Technology. Students in the FAME program earn a wage at one of the eight sponsoring industry while attending college courses. For more information, call Pamela Satcher at 256-549-8605.
The Continuing Education Department is offering “Let’s Put the FUN in Funeral Planning” from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 6 in Room 115 at the Joe Ford Center on the East Broad Campus. This is a general knowledge session that will include information on wills, planning, final disposition options and more. The workshop fee is $20. For more information or to register call 256-549-8462 or email pclough@gadsdenstate.edu.
An informational meeting for the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program will be held at 10 a.m. April 17 in Room 210 at the Joe Ford Center on the East Broad Campus. To register visit the DMS page at http://www.gadsdenstate.edu/health/diagnostic-medical-sonography and click the REGISTER NOW link.
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 23 on the second floor of the Pierce Cain Learning Resource Center. Honors Day at the Wallace Drive Campus will be at 2 p.m. April 24 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 24 at Wallace Hall. 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. The event will be from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 25 in the Bevill Center on the East Broad Campus. Speakers include Heather Brothers New of The Chamber of Gadsden/Etowah; Valencia Johnson of Avenue V Entertainment; and Rugenia Moore Henry from the Excel Institute. Participants must RSVP by Friday, April 19 to Baisha Woody at 256-549-8234 or bwoody@gadsdenstate.edu.
For more information on Community College Month, visit “News & Events” at www.gadsdenstate.edu/calendar or contact Edmondson at 256-549-8224.