‘Week of Welcome’ Scheduled for Jan. 14-18

WINTERVILLE—With the 2019 Spring Semester in full swing, the Pitt Community College Center for Student Activities is preparing to roll out the red carpet for students and officially welcome them to campus.

The “PCC Week of Welcome,” which was first held in 2015, will take place Jan. 14-18 and feature activities designed to benefit the community, foster school pride, and bridge the gap between students and campus clubs/organizations.

“’PCC Week of Welcome’ is a series of events designed to quickly familiarize and engage students with campus,” said PCC Student Activities Coordinator Katelynn Speas. “We have found it to be an effective way for the college to make students feel right at home early in the semester.”

Speas says activities will begin Monday morning with “Lend a Hand: Fun Do-It-Yourself Volunteer Projects.” Students who participate, she says, will turn old t-shirts into scarfs for area cancer patients and dog toys for distribution at Pitt County Animal Services, Friends of the Pitt County Animal Shelter, and the Humane Society of Eastern Carolina.

“Student and community engagement is one of PCC’s core values, so establishing an event that encourages students to participate in community service is part of our mission to help them develop into well-rounded citizens eager to serve the community,” Speas said.

Tuesday’s slate features “PCC Explore: Club & College Fair” in the Craig F. Goess Student Center, which is essentially a one-stop shop for Pitt’s student support services. Speas says the fair will offer students detailed information on campus resources and give those interested in joining clubs/organizations a better idea of what is available.

“The fair is a great opportunity for students to get connected with members of the campus community and find out how they can become more actively involved on campus outside of the classroom,” Speas said. “The start of a new semester is also an ideal time to promote the many resources PCC has available to help students overcome the barriers that make it difficult for them to complete their educational goals.”

On Wednesday, students will have a chance to network with peers and make plans for their future success. Titled “EnVision Your Life,” the program will help participants realize that even though life is going to present them with challenges, they can still achieve their goals through accountability and planning.

Rounding out the “Week of Welcome” will be the 7th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute Breakfast and a presentation on the new Moodle layout on Thursday and Free Coffee Friday.

The MLK tribute, Speas says, will feature Dr. Paul R. Cunningham, retired dean of East Carolina University’s (ECU) Brody School of Medicine, as keynote speaker. She says there will also be a scholarship presentation in memory of Dr. Andrew Best, a pioneering physician who led efforts to desegregate and change discriminatory policies at Pitt County Memorial Hospital (now Vidant Medical Center) and ECU.

“PCC Week of Welcome” – now in its fourth year – is part of a concerted effort by PCC administrators, faculty and staff to increase student retention and emphasize to students the importance of completing their educational endeavors, whether it’s a degree, diploma or certificate.

01/11/2019