PRESQUE ISLE – A month-long series of special events are under way at Northern Maine Community College as the campus is celebrating Community College Month in April.
More than two dozen activities are taking place, and, while some are geared for the campus community, a number of them are free and open to the public.
“The month of activity reflects the very essence and vitality of the College and the surrounding community,” said Karen Gonya, NMCC assistant director of development and college relations. “Students, faculty, staff, community friends and many others have scheduled events to showcase the campus community and the teaching and learning that happens here every day.”
A Celebration of Literature will be taking place throughout the month in honor of both National Community College Month and National Poetry Month, with a reading series featuring both guest writers, as well as students from the College. The reading series will take place April 10, 17 and 24 at noon in the College’s library. Each of the days will feature a specific genre of writing: poetry, fiction and non-fiction. Community members who enjoy literature are invited to come to the College and hear original work by both experienced, published writers and talented beginners.
The NMCC Student Senate is sponsoring an evening of demonstrations of ESP and hypnosis by entertainer Ronny Romm, which is open to the public at no admission charge Thursday, April 10 at 6:30 p.m. in the College gymnasium. The entertainer has performed for colleges, conventions, cruises, clubs and resorts around the country. According to reviews posted on the Web site Comedians USA, Romm holds the audience spellbound with his amazing demonstrations of ESP and with his hilarious use of hypnosis.
Area residents have only a few opportunities left in April to take advantage of the College’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, offered annually by senior accounting program students. The popular program’s last sessions for this tax season are April 9-10 and April 15, beginning at 1 p.m. daily in the Edmunds Conference Center.
April 16 is Fire Safety Awareness Day. Sponsored by the State Fire Marshall’s Office and the Presque Isle Fire Department, a series of daylong events will include safety awareness and educational displays, as well as demonstrations in the Christie Building Lobby in the morning between 8-11 a.m. The afternoon and evening will feature two offerings of educational sessions on residential fire sprinkler usage, with the inventor of a common type of sprinkler systems serving as the presenter. The sessions will take place at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Members of the public are invited to come and help the College celebrate the grand opening of its new off-campus center in Madawaska Thursday, April 17. Those interested in learning more about classes and training available from NMCC in the St. John Valley are encouraged to stop by the new center, located in Madawaska High School, anytime between 4-6 p.m.
On Saturday, April 19, the NMCC Student Senate will host its annual “Support Maine Veterans” volleyball tournament. Proceeds from the event, which will be held in the college gymnasium beginning at 9 a.m., will be donated to the activity fund at the Maine Veterans’ Home in Caribou. Individuals and teams interested in participating in the tournament should contact Dennis Albert at 768-2757.
Members of the NMCC chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges, are planning to host an Environmental Fair in honor of Earth Day Tuesday, April 22. They are seeking area businesses that sell products and provide services that are environmentally friendly to participate in the fair. Examples of the types of business or products that could be included are: vehicles that are hybrids or have high miles per gallon, “green” building materials, recycling services, products that are made from recycled materials, organic farmers, bicycle shops, kayak and canoe dealers, plumbing fixtures that use less water, and more. Anyone interested in participating in the Environmental Fair or wanting more information should contact Lori Googins at 768-2782.
On Friday, April 25, the NMCC continuing education division will celebrate Administrative Professionals week with a daylong conference dedicated to the individuals who truly make offices throughout Aroostook County run smoothly. The conference will feature both professional development and personal enrichment workshops. For more information or to register for the event, contact the NMCC continuing education division at 760-1155.
After having celebrated the Madawaska off-campus center earlier in the month, College officials will celebrate the off-campus center in Houlton Monday, April 28. NMCC and the University of Maine at Presque Isle will jointly host an open house at the Houlton Higher Education Center from 4-6 p.m. for those interested in learning more about higher education opportunities in the southern Aroostook area.
The final week of April will feature a community celebration and barbecue co-hosted by NMCC and the Presque Isle Kiwanis Club. The event will celebrate the near completion of the 31st home constructed by NMCC trade and technical occupation students and faculty through the Sinawik project. Since its inception in 1976, NMCC has constructed 31 homes, which are now located in various Aroostook County communities. The barbecue, which is free and open to the public, will be held Tuesday, April 29, between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. in the residential construction lab of the Mailman Building.
April 29 also marks the kick-off of the three-day silent auction held annually by students in the residential construction program. The quality handcrafted wood products that range from birdhouses and outdoor furniture to decorative shelving units and coffee tables are made by the students. Proceeds from the auction are used to purchase tools for graduating seniors in the residential construction program. The public is encouraged and invited to view the items and place bids at the community celebration/barbecue in the residential construction lab April 29, or in the Christie lobby April 30 and May 1.
The month concludes with the annual Totally Trades conference hosted on campus through a collaboration between NMCC, Women, Work and Community, the Maine Department of Transportation, and Louisiana Pacific. The daylong event, designed to encourage eighth-grade and high school girls to pursue careers in the trade and technology areas, includes several hands-on workshops ranging from highway construction and heavy equipment operation to metal fabrication and plumbing and heating.
Many other campus activities are scheduled to coincide with Community College Month, including several recognition events to honor individual students and numerous student groups.
For more information on April events at NMCC, contact the development and college relations office at 768-2809.
