Bison Fest Combines Fun and Facts for Community

May 04, 2019

More than 400 people visited Wayne Community College during its first Bison Fest, held Saturday, May 4.

Jan Bradley instructs Kimberly Cox (left) and her sister Kendra Cox in the next step in a blood typing process. The two Spring Creek High School students were able to try their hands at some of the tasks they would learn in the Bradley’s Medical Laboratory Technology program.

The open house provided opportunities for the community to learn about the college’s programs as well as participate in fun activities. There were more than five dozen stations with displays, tours, demonstrations, hands-on experiences throughout the campus, ranging from the Criminal Justice/Forensic Science Program’s crime scene simulation and the Simulation and Game Development program’s virtual reality glasses to both the Admissions and Financial Aid offices providing on-site assistance with their respective applications.

Paramedic students Devin Best, Josh Fledderjohn, and Jacob Carmichael work through a scenario with a manikin in the college’s ambulance simulator. The exercise was part of the Bison Fest open house.

Kayla Hardee, a Dental Assisting student, cheers on four-year-old Kelly Dawson as she tosses a piece of plastic food at a happy tooth cut-out. The game was one of many at college’s Bison Fest which provided entertainment and information. Dawson was awarded a toothbrush for her effort.

Dr. Patty Pfeiffer, interim vice president of academic and student services, was pleased with the turn out from the public and the efforts of faculty, staff, and students.

“Today’s Bison Fest was a success!” Pfeiffer said. “The college would like to thank everyone who joined us on campus to see what Wayne Community College has to offer our community. Our campus has something for everyone.”

Pfeiffer is confident that the college will hold the event again next year. “We look forward to seeing everyone at our next Bison Fest,” she added.

WCC student Cindy Adams uses a stencil to paint a cougar on five-year-old Addonis Washington’s face. Several members of Washington’s family were enjoying the college’s Bison Fest open house Saturday.

Laura Skinner encourages Daniel Millard, 9, as he puts muscle into crushing placebo pills into a powder with a mortar and pestle. Skinner is the Pharmacy Technology Program director. Her compounding station was one of the academic program-related activities the public could sample during the college’s Bison Fest open house.

Wayne Community College is a public, learning-centered institution with an open-door admission policy located in Goldsboro, N.C. As it works to develop a highly skilled and competitive workforce, the college serves 12,000 individuals annually as well as businesses, industry, and community organizations with high quality, affordable, accessible learning opportunities, including more than 70 college credit programs. WCC’s mission is to meet the educational, training, and cultural needs of the communities it serves.

Follow WCC on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.