Caption: Sarah Gass (left), a nursing student from Columbia, and Dr. Janet F. Smith (right), president of Columbia State, sit and visit during Columbia State’s inaugural Student Success Day on August 27. More than 250 students total attended events at all five campus locations, making it a fun day for networking, relationship building and success-making to help students get off to a good start in their college careers. Classes for Columbia State’s fall semester began on Monday, August 30.
Columbia State Community College hosted the inaugural Student Success Day on August 27, 2010, from all five campus locations, providing a fun day for networking, relationship building and success-making to help students get off to a good start.
More than 250 students total attended the events, with more than 120 in Columbia, 50 in Franklin, 40 in Lawrenceburg, and others in Lewisburg and Clifton.
“I found it very informative, and I learned a lot of things I wouldn’t have known if I didn’t attend,” said first time freshman Brenda Hutchinson, who will be studying elementary K-6 education.
The event was aimed primarily at welcoming first time students, but those returning to Columbia State were welcome as well.
First time freshmen such as Jana Blunkall, Amanda Allen and Shelby Bramblett (left to right, below) listened to important information and tips on getting started at Columbia State.
Dr. Janet F. Smith, president, welcomed all students at the Columbia Campus and spoke about success, using an anecdote from the story of the Apollo 13 mission, “failure is not an option.” Ironically, the Columbia State women’s basketball team showed up wearing their new team shirts with the same saying on the front.
Above (left to right): Brandi Pack, Courtney Cayard and Alexia Stewart.
An overview of programs and offerings was presented by Dr. Stu Lenig, Coordinator of History, Humanities, Geography, Political Science, Foreign Language, and Philosophy (below).
Following the introduction in the Ledbetter Auditorium, students broke into campus tour groups led by student peer leaders and Student Government Association representatives. Pictured below from left to right are student peer leaders Dena Masoud (radiology) and Sarah Gass (nursing) with Beverly Mitchell, associate professor of English.
Sessions included “Strategies for Success,” “Using Technology,” “Campus Life” and more. Pictured below is Emily Siciensky, associate vice president for information technology, who presented in the “Using Technology” session.
Part of the interactive experience was that each student was given a Columbia State passport, which they received a stamp for at each session. “Destination Columbia State: Passport To Success” wrapped up with complimentary lunch for all in attendance.
Drawings for prizes, such as season passes to Columbia State Chargers Athletics events, Performance Series tickets and even a small personal notebook computer, were held during lunch.