College fair offers plenty of choices
WAYNESBURG – Juniors and seniors from the five Greene County high schools who attended a college fair at National Guard Readiness Center at EverGreene Technology Park were given more to think about during Thanksgiving than turkey, gratitude and shopping.
The students had an opportunity to gather materials from representatives of more than 60 colleges, military recruiters, the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, Career Link and others. The options offered plenty for students.
“It actually made my decision harder,” said Carmichaels Area High School senior Stephanie Mitchell. “It really opened up the number of colleges I can go to.”
After collecting brochures like a trick-or-treater on Halloween, Mitchell was loaded with new college options.
“I have a lot to think about. I’m really going to have to take all of this home, sort through it and narrow it down to decide which colleges I want to visit,” she said. “I had no idea.”
More than 200 students attended the fair. Where schools from as far away as Alabama and as nearby as Westmoreland County Community College pitched credentials to students.
“We are 15 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh with access to internships, ball games and entertainment right down the road,” said Meredith Sortwell, freshman adviser at La Roche College.
Sortwell said the placement is ideal for students who don’t necessarily want to live in the city but still have the benefits of being close to it.
Sara Krah, an admissions representative and recruiter for the Douglas Education Center in Monessen, said, “We don’t want to be the best kept secret in the area anymore.”
Krah talked about the extensive list of programs the school offers in a downtown it is helping to revitalize. Douglas purchased many of the buildings in the depressed community, turning them into state-of-the-art learning facilities that offer associate degrees and certifications in graphic design, cosmetology, fantasy art, special makeup affects, health programs and energy-related fields. There is even an opportunity to receive a CDL license from the school.
Krah said the biggest selling point is the instructional staff at Douglas. Krah noted Tom Savini, well-known for his makeup expertise in such films as, “Friday the 13th,” “Dawn of the Dead” and “Creepshow,” was the creative force behind the makeup special affects program. Dorian Cleavenger, who was hand-selected in January by Director George Lucas of “Star Wars” fame to include his work in a collection from the 100 best working artists, illustrators, cartoonists and designers from around the world, is a program director and instructor at the school.
“We’re a small school with a lot of one-on-one instruction,” Krah said. “We get to know our students, which is great.”
Located yards away from the Readiness Center, the Greene County satellite of WCCC provides students with “excellent, quality programs at an affordable cost,” said Jimmy Pirlo, admissions coordinator.
WCCC nursing student Seth Courtwright said the nursing program’s schedule is perfect for him.
“It works well with my schedule, so I am able to work and not struggling for money while I am in school,” Courtwright said. “Flexibility is one of the great things about WCCC.”
Amy Widdup, coordinator for the Greene County education center of WCCC, said it is “more than just a college.”
“We are job training and building skills for people to advance in their careers, rather than just start them out,” Widdup said.
Widdup said WCCC is perfect for those who already earned a certified nursing assistant or licensed practical nursing degrees to be able to continue working in those areas while advancing in the field of nursing.
In addition to nursing, WCCC offers associates degrees in horticulture, engineering science, criminal justice, photography and culinary arts among its many choices.
“We have articulation agreements with more than 30 colleges and universities,” Widdup said. Agreements such as these make it possible for students to transfer credits from one school to another to advance from one degree to the next.
It was easy to see how Mitchell, who is undecided on a field of study, would be left “feeling a bit overwhelmed,” but overall “happy to have had the opportunity to see so much more of what is out there.”
Carmichaels Guidance Counselor Cory VanSickle echoed the sentiments of many of the college representatives in attendance when she said the fair was a great idea.
“I think it went very well,” she said. “It was nice to have everyone in one place and all the schools able to attend.”