The Garden City Telegram
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GCCC reaches beyond education, into community
Published 9/12/2009 in GCCC Anniversary
By DIANE ELLIOTT
Garden City Community College exists to serve traditional and nontraditional students in a variety of ways. There are the ways you would normally think of -- college classes that transfer to a four-year university or semester-long classes to supplement knowledge in a certain area.
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Brad Nading/Telegram — John Vanatta works on creating a building out of blocks to sit along the tracks in July 2008 in an electric LEGO train class at Garden City Community College's Kid College.
But the college's mission is much broader.
GCCC aims to "produce positive contributors to the economic and social well-being of society" by focusing on five areas -- essential skills, work preparedness, academic advancement, personal enrichment and workforce development, according to its Web site.
"The word community is in their name for a reason," said Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce President Paul Joseph. "The GCCC is the go-to educational institution for all educational needs in the community, which is a different mission than the public schools. Anything else you need, they provide. You can ask for training, a particular economic symposium, whatever. They cover a wide gamut of educational needs — vocational, educational and workforce training."
Indeed, if you look at the college's available programs, the list is long.
It includes the divisions of business and information systems, fine arts, humanities, health, physical education and recreation, science, mathematics, social science, technical education, learning services and continuing education and community services.
"We provide courses for students to transfer, to go to work, courses for people who are already working and need to upgrade their skills," said GCCC President Carol Ballantyne. "We provide GED and adult basic education for people who may not have finished their educations, plus English as a Second Language. Then we provide activities and courses for the general public, like the theater, sports, personal enrichment and Kids' College. We are a community gathering place."
Beyond the learning aspect of the college's mission, Ballantyne said the college tries to be a good partner in the community.
Its reach goes far. The college is the No. 4 employer on Finney County Economic Development Corp.'s list of major employers with 500 employees.
"Whatever we can do to let the community know we're here, we try to do," Ballantyne said.
College students and staff volunteer across the community in many organizations, and community members also volunteer at the college, said Steve Quakenbush, director of information services.
One relationship that has grown is between the college and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Finney and Kearny Counties.
Big Brothers Big Sisters Director Tammy Davis said college staff serve as board members and volunteers and college students make up about 75 percent of the volunteers that participate in the BBBS school-based mentoring program.
The GCCC students spend time either during or after school with USD 457 students to provide help with school work and provide someone for the youngsters to talk to.
BBBS screens the applicants, checking backgrounds, and provides orientations so the college students can be prepared to recognize signs of gang activity, depression or other issues youth may struggle with. Some classes provide college credit or project credits, depending on the work the college students do with the students.
"This program is a prevention program," Davis said. "We try to keep the children out of trouble."
In addition, the college students provide a window to the future for the students, who may not know anyone else attending college. Summer program participants also get a chance to tour the college each summer, talking to financial aid representatives and admissions representatives.
"The college acts as a positive incentive," Davis said. "If we can provide them positive experiences with education and GCCC, they'll see that as a possibility for themselves."
Davis said the partnership with the college has grown over the last 12 years. Organizations like Black Student Union and the Student Government Association also help with activities and fundraising.
"The college has really been there for the community in this program," she said. "We kind of go hand in hand now."
Ballantyne said this sort of relationship provides the college with a chance to give back to the community.
"There's somebody from the college on a lot of things, and we do what we can to see if we can help, or see how it fits with our mission," Ballantyne said. "This is a really nice size community for the college because we can be involved. They know us, and we know them."
Joseph said having a college in town makes a big difference to businesses.
"You can't put a number on the value — it's incalculable" he said. "Businesses would much rather move to a community with a strong community college than one without. The difference is night and day."
On the Web:
Listen to a podcast of Steve Quakenbush, information services director with Garden City Community College, discussing the history of the college and Sunday's 90th anniversary celebration at GCTelegram.com/podcasts.
Garden City Community College: www.gcccks.edu
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