High school students from the Utica areas and beyond attended the Ϲ Utica Campus “Visit” day on Feb. 24. The day was designed to give students an inside look into college life, classrooms, organizations and majors.
Staff from Hinds’ Utica Campus led groups in campus tours to visit dorms, classrooms, student unions, and libraries to help students form an idea of what college will offer.
The day began with a welcome session where students met with staff representing, STEM, online classes, student services, teacher education preparation, wellness and more. Staff was available at information booths to give key information on starting a new college path, funding college, and how to be successful in college.
“It’s an enriching experience, one I will remember when pin pointing the college I plan to attend,” said Riczarius Bure, a senior at Hazlehurst High School. “Students from my area have never visited a college; this is my first time and I really like the atmosphere.”
The welcome sessions were filled with music, dancing, food and entertainment.
At the end of the tour, students, sponsors and Ϲ Utica staff met in classrooms to hear testimonies from current and former college students, gather information about choosing a major, financial aid, and the college selection process. Students also had the opportunity to play games and write questions for a panel. Many of the questions focused on strategies for paying for college and transitioning from high to college.
Ϲ is celebrating its 100th year of Community Inspired Service in 2017. Hinds opened in September 1917 first as an agricultural high school and admitted college students for the first time in 1922, with the first class graduating in 1927. In 1982 Hinds Junior College and Utica Junior College merged, creating the Ϲ District. Today, as Mississippi’s largest community college, Ϲ is a comprehensive institution with six locations. Hinds offers quality, affordable educational opportunities with academic programs of study leading to seamless university transfer and career and technical programs teaching job-ready skills. To learn more, visit or call 1.800.HindsCC.
[tweetable alt=””]Area high school students visit Hinds CC’s Utica Campus.[/tweetable]
High school students visited Ϲ’s Utica Campus on Feb. 24 for the annual recruiting day. Among them were, from left, Hazlehurst High School seniors Frederick Jackson, Qualyne Fuller, Taylor Miller and Riczarius Bure, who spoke to STEM instructors Jonathan Townes of Greenwood and Justin Washington of Utica about their program. Bure would like to one-day work in a science field.
Canton High School senior Carrie Dixon spent some time at the Wellness booth receiving help from Wellness instructor, Lillie Hutton of the Utica Campus. Dixon wants to work in health and wellness, but is unclear of her emphasis. Hutton gives her detailed information on her options.
Lanier High School senior Derian Hine visits Yolanda Houston, director of Hinds CC Utica’s Teacher Education Preparation program. Hine has dreams of being a teacher. Houston gives him information to read to help him make an informed decision about his future.
Ϲ Student Services employees Donny Epting, left, and Cynthia Perry give Canton High School seniors Trinity Torrey and LaSteveyian Sutton, far right, tools to be successful at Ϲ Utica. This was a first visit for the two students, who plan to attend Hinds CC in fall 2017.
Jim Hill High School ninth-grader Desiree Brize of Jackson came to Ϲ “The Visit” recruiting event on the Utica Campus to get a jumpstart on college preparations, but also had a good time playing Plinko and competing for prizes.
Lanier High School senior Nekimble Anderson of Jackson enjoyed playing Plinko. The future early childhood education major played for prizes and tickets. Her plans are to attend Ϲ in fall 2017.
Pearl High School senior Jerrick Floyd, left, gained pointers from carpentry instructor Leonard Knight. Floyd has dreamed of a career in carpentry for two years. His plans are to complete a degree from Ϲ and the start his own business.
Derrius Leflore of Jackson won a dance off while waiting to visit booths at “The Visit.” Participants were asked to show their best moves for prizes. Leflore won a gift basket full of Ϲ gear, which he plans to use to decorate his dorm room in the fall.