Published: January 07, 2009 07:52 am      

SCC helps minority students prepare for college

Community News

The Governor’s Minority Student College Preparation Program (GMSCPP) at Somerset Community College is designed to help minority middle school students in the Somerset and immediate surrounding county area prepare for and think about going to college.

The long-term goal is to increase postsecondary enrollment of traditionally underrepresented minority groups in Kentucky academic institutions.

The Somerset Community College GMSCPP program has been in existence for eight years. It involves a summer camp component, as well as monthly activities during the academic school year.

During the current academic school year, the GMSCPP students have participated in the following activities and events thus far: the August event consisted of a back-to-school trip to the Williamsburg Water Park; the September activity involved a trip to Eastern Kentucky University for a tour of the campus and attendance at an EKU football game; the October activities included a trip to the Wonderworks Museum in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., for a full day of hands-on learning in the fields of science and technology; in November, the GMSCPP students participated in Operation Christmas Child at Beacon Hill Baptist Church; and in December, there was a Christmas reception held to recognize the students and their parents for their participation in the program this current academic year and to encourage the students.

“The SCC staff and faculty have been a consistent source of support, assistance and encouragement to our students and I sincerely thank you very much,” said George Martinez, coordinator of the SCC GMSCPP Program.

“In addition, the SCC Office of Cultural Diversity has provided ongoing mentorship, input and guidance to our program,” Martinez added.

“Past directors of the SCC GMSCPP Program, Terri Lynn Reynolds and Natalie Gibson, paved the way for the program to be a positive experience for the GMSCPP students and SCC college community as a whole. The collaboration from everyone has always been wonderful. This fall Xia Zhiming, an assistant professor in the SCC Business and Technology Division, accompanied the group on the trip to EKU and Dr. Roger Tate, an SCC professor and chair of the Social Sciences Division, attended the Christmas reception for the students,” Martinez said.

Middle school students currently participating in the SCC GMSCPP Program are Demitrius Peevy, Joey Hines, Katelyn Bess, Desire Napier, Micah Cunningham, Kelsie Whitson, Maria Martinez, Savaghn Alexander and Clorissa Covington.

If you would like to assist with the GMSCPP Program or if you know a middle school student who should be participating in the program, contact George Martinez at 606-451-6698.

“Always know that your positive involvement in the lives of young students will pay off and be beneficial to you as well. I thank all those who have been participating with the program all along and thank those who will participate with the program in the future,” Martinez said.

Somerset Community College is a comprehensive two-year institution of higher education. SCC has campuses in Somerset and London, centers in Clinton, McCreary, Casey, and Russell counties. The Web site is:

www.somerset.kctcs.edu

Call for admission and registration information toll free at 1-877-629-9722.

KCTCS serves the Commonwealth through 16 community and technical college districts that form a seamless system of 62 campuses open or under construction. KCTCS colleges change lives by providing accessible and affordable education and training through academic and technical associate degrees; diploma and certificate programs in occupational fields; pre-baccalaureate education; adult, continuing and developmental education; customized training for business and industry; and distance learning. For more information, visit:

www.kctcs.edu