Wayne Community College’s Middle School Night brought over 50 eighth graders and their parents/guardians to campus to get a head start on preparing for college.
Attendees were first given an overview of WCC’s academic divisions and the financial benefits of attending a community college, especially through dual enrollment for high school students.
The students then chose two academic areas to explore further and were taken on personalized campus tours by the College’s faculty, getting a look at the classrooms and lab spaces and participating in hands-on activities.
Eighth grader Archer Pantastico thought the arts and sciences area was interesting and enjoyed playing a trivia game to learn more about those courses. He was also curious about Aviation Systems Technology and spoke with an instructor to get a better idea of what the program offers.
His mother, Angela, said Middle School Night was a great chance for her to show her son the opportunities available to him through higher education. “He has to get some perspective from the professionals and the people who are really on the job,” she said.
Parents and guardians were also able to speak with WCC’s student services staff about resources like financial aid, counseling services, career services, and admissions.
Another student, Akil Smallwood, enjoyed learning about WCC’s science courses and welding program at the event. “I liked it a lot,” he said about his experience. “It was interesting. It was all fun.”
Smallwood’s mother, Sharina Gandy, encourages career and educational exploration for Smallwood and his siblings, who are all homeschooled.
“We always try to expose them to whatever they might show any kind of interest in so they can have a better understanding of what it entails,” Gandy said. “I thought this was the perfect opportunity for him to get some knowledge from the people who are actually teaching the courses and who are heads of the programs so he could ask questions.”
For more information on WCC’s academic programs, visit our website.
About Wayne Community College
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 around 10,000 individuals annually as well as businesses, industry, and community organizations with high quality, affordable, accessible learning opportunities, including more than 150 college credit programs. WCC’s mission is to meet the educational, training, and cultural needs of the communities it serves.