By: Gabby Camacho and Isaac Novilla
DEDEDO, Gu. (Nov. 3, 2019) – The Guam Community College held its College Fair at the Micronesian Mall on Nov. 3, 2019, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This event gave prospective students information about the services, major course studies and certification programs offered at GCC. An emphasis on job satisfaction was a highlighted objective.
The GCC fair’s goal was to increase student enrollment rates for spring semester 2020. The event drew in hundreds of high school students and spectators who attended to witness presentations, entertainment and booths.
GCC offers 74 major courses of study and certificate programs. About 15 major courses of study and certification programs had booths run by students and staff, who shared information about their programs and GCC. The fair featured a raffle, booths and live performances. The marketing, culinary, education, cosmetology, pre-nursing, criminal justice, and the electrician and automotive programs conducted their booths are the fair.
Keoni Smau-Pesch, a GCC student majoring in criminal justice law enforcement administration, shared his experiences with GCC.
“[GCC] is a great campus overall,” he said. “The staff and everybody that’s involved with the college is a good community.”
He continues, saying that he really believes professors care about the community and students’ success.
Smau-Pesch also states, “the fair has a good turn out, it’s well organized, and it’s a great experience for me to represent not only GCC, but specifically the criminal justice side.”
Hernalin Analista, 43, a GCC associate professor of assessment and counseling, offered insight on pursuing a college degree.
She said that higher education is the ticket to success.
“It opens doors for opportunity,” Analista said. “Higher education, whether it be for two years or four, results in higher earnings.”
“Happiness in the career that one chooses is definitely what an individual should aim for,” she said. “We take interest areas into account in order to assess what career one should pursue.”
Student presenters assisted visitors in understanding GCC’s objectives and programs. 21-year-old GCC senior and digital communication and marketing major, Jeffrey De Vera, assisted in organizing the fair.
“Take risks,” De Vera said. “It will take you to the next step to the opportunity that you want. It can lead to confidence and satisfaction in any career.”
De Vera works as a junior graphic artist for the Denny’s Guam Inc. marketing department.
The Reach for College Hagu’i Kuleho Program also hosted a booth. This program provides information and services to students for their success in intermediate, secondary and post-secondary schools.
According to Ely Damian, the program coordinator at Reach for College, “[the program] has a learning lab at GCC and it’s open to middle and high school students, as well as post-secondary students. They come in for tutoring services.”
The Reach for College booth distributed free pamphlets and bookmarks outlining GCC services and steps on how to apply to GCC and FAFSA.
Reach for College also allows students to use their computers and print for free, leads campus tours, conducts FAFSA workshops, college preparatory advisement, career goal evaluations, and summer and winter programs.
Inquiring students can find GCC at 1 Sesame St., Mangilao, Guam. Keep up to date with GCC by following their Twitter account at @GuamCC. The admissions section of the GCC website at https://guamcc.edu/admissions has more information on enrollment and registration.