Podcast - Bobcat Chat

00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:04,310 [Announcer]
[upbeat music] 

00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:09,580 [Announcer]
Hello and welcome to Bobcat Chat. 

00:00:13,820 --> 00:00:29,640 [Calab Tate]
Hello and welcome back to Bobcat Chat, a podcast where we chat with people about the awesome stuff happening at Haywood Community College. Today, I am joined by Dr. Shelley White, the president of Haywood Community College. Dr. White, thank you so much for joining us on the pod today. 

00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:31,370 [Dr. Shelley White]
Thank you, Calab. It's great to be here. 

00:00:31,370 --> 00:00:49,610 [Calab Tate]
Yeah. Glad to have you. So without further ado, we'll just jump right in. We're doing our end-of-the-year kind of retrospection episode. Um, as the president of the community college, you're involved with so much of what we do day-to-day, so it'll be really good to kinda connect with you and see what we've been into. So thank you for being here. 

00:00:49,610 --> 00:00:50,720 [Dr. Shelley White]
You're welcome. 

00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:56,860 [Calab Tate]
So first question: how would you describe 2025 in one word at Haywood Community College? 

00:00:57,900 --> 00:01:21,440 [Dr. Shelley White]
So first, I just would like to thank you for this opportunity. I think it is a great time of the year to look back on where we've been and look ahead to where we're going. Uh, I know it's a, a time of reflection but also a time of looking ahead. So, um, to jump in and answer your question, I would say one word that would describe 2025 to me for Haywood Community College is resilience. 

00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:21,830 [Calab Tate]
Mm-hmm. 

00:01:21,830 --> 00:01:42,020 [Dr. Shelley White]
And that word resilience, um, I think there's just so much, um, within that that speaks to the, the spirit of our institution, the, the values that we hold to support our community, and, you know, most certainly in this year following Hurricane Helene, um, I, I've definitely seen that resilient spirit alive and well here at Haywood. 

00:01:42,020 --> 00:01:45,450 [Calab Tate]
Yeah. Resilience, it's, it's one of my-- one of those words that 

00:01:46,520 --> 00:01:58,520 [Calab Tate]
it is the, it is the road that is to walk. Like, you say the word, but every time that I've had a, a series or an event or, uh, a season where I've been resilient, when I say the word, I think about all the people. 

00:01:58,520 --> 00:01:58,679 [Dr. Shelley White]
Mm-hmm. 

00:01:58,680 --> 00:02:00,900 [Calab Tate]
Right? 'Cause it's all the people at Haywood Community College. 

00:02:00,900 --> 00:02:01,880 [Dr. Shelley White]
That's right. 

00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:08,580 [Calab Tate]
Uh, all right. So, um, how do you think the college community grew and evolved over the year, speaking of resilience? 

00:02:08,580 --> 00:04:04,100 [Dr. Shelley White]
Sh- of course. So when you think about that, um, in the frame, especially at the beginning of the year, um, coming off of Hurricane Helene, I think that that, um, ac- uh, kind of response that we had, it allowed us to look at really how we do everything, how we respond to students, how we support students, how we, um, are positioned to respond in an emergency. Um, it really just allowed us the opportunity to look at what we're doing and, um, also with how we're partnering with people within the community, other agencies, organizations. And in every one of those situations, it, um, kind of challenged us to dig deeper. So how can we support students more? How can we be more prepared for an emergency? And then how can we deepen those partnerships within the community? So I think, especially the first part of the year, was really focused on that, um, just kind of pausing, um, uh, you know, just following all of the activity of the latter part of 2024. But also then kind of, uh, you know, just pulling up our bootstraps and saying, "Okay, how do we move forward?" And really, the second part of the year for me was all about celebration. As we launched into the fall semester and the celebration of our 60th anniversary as a college, um, community college here in Haywood County, it was a time to, again, reflect on the past 60 years, what Haywood Community College has meant to this community, all of the people that we've been able to engage with and educate and train and, and see grow, um, either through their own careers or careers here at the college or both. Um, and again, those partnership, um, touches out in the community. So I think kind of ending the year on that note of celebration and just appreciation for the college and, and everyone who's been involved, um, was just a really special time. 

00:04:04,100 --> 00:04:06,460 [Calab Tate]
It was really good to get everybody back together. 

00:04:06,460 --> 00:04:08,360 [Dr. Shelley White]
Mm-hmm. Almost like a family reunion. 

00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:33,260 [Calab Tate]
Yes. 'Cause there had been so much activity that had... I mean, very early on with, with some of the stuff that had gone on, we were very, you know, in our pods, very closely working together. But then as things moved on and the scope kinda widened up over the course of the year, it's like we kinda went our separate ways, and we're doing our things in our own little departments. But bringing everybody back together like that, I did, I, I do agree, I think it was a very good bow on top- 

00:04:33,260 --> 00:04:33,790 [Dr. Shelley White]
Absolutely 

00:04:33,790 --> 00:04:35,640 [Calab Tate]
... the, the whole thing. 

00:04:35,640 --> 00:04:35,719 [Dr. Shelley White]
Yeah. 

00:04:35,720 --> 00:04:50,170 [Calab Tate]
Um, so for this year, what, what improvements or changes have happened to our campus this year for people who might have not come to campus this year or had a little bit of a break from being around in, in town? They might be listening to this pod from abroad, so- 

00:04:50,170 --> 00:04:50,580 [Dr. Shelley White]
Yeah. Sure 

00:04:50,580 --> 00:04:51,480 [Calab Tate]
... what's changed on campus? 

00:04:51,480 --> 00:06:50,904 [Dr. Shelley White]
Um, first I just wanna give a shout-out and some kudos to Ian Cernak and his teams. Um, our maintenance and, uh, arboretum crews, they have been doing a tremendous work across campus, just, um, kind of keeping things, um, looking wonderfully and really leaning into the seasons that we experience here and just, um, you know, whether it's, you know, kind of utilizing the time in the summer to make sure our buildings are in, in top condition for our students returning or, you know, just, uh, looking at the seasons that we experience with our, our forested campus and just making sure that everything is beautiful. I just wanna, you know, give a shout-out there. Um, along the facility side of things, we have definitely seen a major push forward on some of our facility investments, um, for new and expanded programs here at the college. Um, the first is our Workforce Outdoor Training site. That's just down the road, um, on the left on Jones Cove Road. That will be the home base for our CDL truck driver training, as well as the line worker program, and it will also be able to serve as the public safety driving facilitySo for BLET and other, uh, public safety driving requirements and needs for those classes, this is going to be, um, just a sig- um, significant and, um, important facility for us moving forward. It's gonna have an outdoor training pavilion, um, as well as plenty of open space there for our driving programs. Um, and, and literally, I, I do see that really drawing students in, uh, for that unique experience, uh, right here at the college. So, um, we're winding up, you know, h- here at the end of the year, we're winding down, but that project is starting to wind down. W- I think we'll see that completion in early 2026. Uh, we're looking forward to doing a, a kind of a ribbon cutting, grand opening of that, and then, uh, really, um, get to work on, on moving those programs there and getting that, um, all in use. 

00:06:50,904 --> 00:06:58,604 [Calab Tate]
Yeah. I mean, when we, when we say it all at once, all the stuff that, that, that went on, a lot has grown and, and a lot of ground broken. [chuckles] 

00:06:58,604 --> 00:07:28,024 [Dr. Shelley White]
Mm-hmm. Yes. And a lot of movement. And, you know, being in, you know, working with facilities, a lot of that, uh, work happens, and it may take years, um, and in some cases decades, to get the funding pieces right in place, the timing on, you know, whether it's workforce, labor partners, um, construction, bidding, all of that. But when the stars align and we have all of those pieces in place, to see that work move forward, it's, it's very rewarding and, and definitely impactful for our students and community. 

00:07:28,024 --> 00:07:36,314 [Calab Tate]
Very good. Very, very good. So speaking of breaking ground, looking at that kind of landscape of Haywood County in itself. 

00:07:36,314 --> 00:07:36,344 [Dr. Shelley White]
Mm-hmm. 

00:07:36,344 --> 00:07:47,784 [Calab Tate]
So outside of just the college's campus, we deal so much with, you know, our partners in Haywood County, and very much so community being our, cheesy as it is- 

00:07:47,784 --> 00:07:48,054 [Dr. Shelley White]
[chuckles] That's right 

00:07:48,054 --> 00:07:49,734 [Calab Tate]
... middle name. We're very involved- 

00:07:49,734 --> 00:07:49,734 [Dr. Shelley White]
Yes 

00:07:49,734 --> 00:07:55,424 [Calab Tate]
... 'cause we send students out, and we have instructors that come in. So looking at the landscape of Haywood County- 

00:07:55,424 --> 00:07:55,454 [Dr. Shelley White]
Mm-hmm 

00:07:55,454 --> 00:07:58,484 [Calab Tate]
... what did that broad picture look like this year? 

00:07:59,064 --> 00:09:25,084 [Dr. Shelley White]
So I would say Haywood County also was able to demonstrate resilience over this past year. Um, a- and now, you know, kind of a year plus past Helene, um, there's data that backs that up. Um, we're seeing, um, you know, for counties who were significantly impacted by Helene, we're seeing, um, I guess less of a, of an impact, less of a, of, I'd say long term, you know, in terms of economic rebounding, workforce rebounding, um, even tourism. So yes, our tourism numbers are down for 2025, but we're not as down as some of our surrounding areas who also experienced significant impacts. So to me, what that means is that Haywood County is positioned for positive momentum, positive growth as we move into 2026, uh, whether that's, you know, around economic development announcements, workforce investments, those kinds of things. Um, it gives me a lot of optimism and, um, just, uh, encouragement as we look ahead into 2026. 'Cause I feel like, um, yes, um, there are Helene impacts, yes, it was bad, yes, we're- we've, we've seen the opportunity to, um, conne- connect with funds and things like that to recover, um, and that work is still happening. Um, but it's encouraging to see that there is momentum, um, to kind of look beyond that recovery and where we'll be, um, over the next few years. 

00:09:25,084 --> 00:09:31,163 [Calab Tate]
That's awesome. It's always good to, to see that, I mean, to, to revisit the word resilience- 

00:09:31,164 --> 00:09:31,194 [Dr. Shelley White]
Mm-hmm 

00:09:31,194 --> 00:09:35,524 [Calab Tate]
... of just how strong the feelings that people have about visiting here- 

00:09:35,524 --> 00:09:35,764 [Dr. Shelley White]
Mm-hmm 

00:09:35,764 --> 00:09:36,914 [Calab Tate]
... being in Haywood County. 

00:09:36,914 --> 00:09:36,944 [Dr. Shelley White]
Mm-hmm. 

00:09:36,944 --> 00:09:38,864 [Calab Tate]
That's something that's stronger than ups and downs- 

00:09:38,864 --> 00:09:39,484 [Dr. Shelley White]
Mm-hmm 

00:09:39,484 --> 00:09:41,234 [Calab Tate]
... and seasonal changes abroad, so. 

00:09:41,234 --> 00:09:41,824 [Dr. Shelley White]
Yeah. Absolutely. 

00:09:41,824 --> 00:09:56,124 [Calab Tate]
That's really heartening. It's been heartening for me to see as well. Um, so looking towards kind of some technology questions and things like that, what new technologies or, or learning methods were introduced this year at the college specifically? 

00:09:56,124 --> 00:09:56,924 [Dr. Shelley White]
Okay. So 

00:09:58,324 --> 00:12:19,624 [Dr. Shelley White]
I'm excited to see the momentum that we have gained with how we are approaching artificial intelligence. Um, this is something that, you know, as an educational institution, we can't ignore the advancements that are being made in artificial intelligence. Um, as hesitant as some folks may feel or be about that, um, it-- the workforce, the world and the workforce are certainly changing, and it is our responsibility to help ensure that our students are prepared for that workforce. And so it is important for us to be on that cutting edge. So I feel like, um, and this is something we need to be proud of, that HCC has established itself as a thought leader in the AI space among higher education institutions in the West. Um, you know, early on, uh, with investments that, um, our, uh, staff member, a dedicated staff member, Tim Scapeen, has taken to be, um, you know, educated and, and leading not only state, local, but internationally, um, being involved in, um, advancements being made in AI and establishing the AI work group here to help our e- employees, our faculty and staff to really get hands-on and, and throw ideas out and see how those ideas might be able to be positioned into, you know, teaching tools and, you know, best practices that can be used in the classroom or within the work environment. Um, to kind of build on that, this semester we've developed the, or, or initiated the AI steering committee, which is a cross-functional group of folks that are, um, you know, at, at all spectrum, all levels of, um, comfort and involvement with AI at this point. And so we wanted to get all of those voices at the table, and as we look towards, um, how we're gonna be, um, you know, looking at policies, looking at practices that we institute here at the community college. So I think that's, that's exciting. And then also the involvement that we've had, our employees have had in our community, regional, and state level convenings related to AI. It's important for us to share, um, our expertise and, and knowledge at those levels and, you know, really again, I believe being recognized as a leader in that space within higher ed. So, um, it's exciting to see and look forward to that continued involvement.

00:12:20,374 --> 00:12:38,194 [Calab Tate]
It's in the, the conversation around artificial intelligence has been a big one this year, and it's, uh, I work-- I'm someone who works pretty closely with Dr. Capene, so it's been really cool to hear things that he said, "Oh, this will be that next thing," or, "This is something that we need to start considering," or, "This is a new exciting part of this." 

00:12:38,194 --> 00:12:38,754 [Dr. Shelley White]
Mm-hmm. 

00:12:38,754 --> 00:12:46,614 [Calab Tate]
And then weeks later, weeks and weeks later, I'll see it on like, you know, the news or something like the, the world's finally catching up. So it is really awesome- 

00:12:46,614 --> 00:12:46,704 [Dr. Shelley White]
Yeah. 

00:12:46,704 --> 00:12:59,954 [Calab Tate]
... as a community college just-- And I'm so proud of us for that because we do capitalize and utilize and enrich and empower those people that work at the institution that are subject matter experts. 

00:12:59,954 --> 00:13:00,634 [Dr. Shelley White]
Mm-hmm. 

00:13:00,634 --> 00:13:03,314 [Calab Tate]
It's such a wide, you know, spectrum- 

00:13:03,314 --> 00:13:03,323 [Dr. Shelley White]
Mm-hmm. 

00:13:03,323 --> 00:13:07,634 [Calab Tate]
... of people with all these different disciplines that bring so much to the table. 

00:13:07,634 --> 00:13:07,734 [Dr. Shelley White]
Mm-hmm. 

00:13:07,734 --> 00:13:09,944 [Calab Tate]
And we're able to do those roundtables of steering committees- 

00:13:09,944 --> 00:13:10,074 [Dr. Shelley White]
Yeah. 

00:13:10,074 --> 00:13:12,674 [Calab Tate]
... that we can really drive forward in a really powerful way. 

00:13:12,674 --> 00:13:13,294 [Dr. Shelley White]
Mm-hmm. Absolutely. 

00:13:13,294 --> 00:13:14,594 [Calab Tate]
I think that's really awesome. 

00:13:14,594 --> 00:13:16,254 [Dr. Shelley White]
Mm-hmm. 

00:13:16,254 --> 00:13:17,654 [Calab Tate]
[coughs] Okay, so 

00:13:18,754 --> 00:13:22,174 [Calab Tate]
speaking of learning things and, and, and school. [chuckles] 

00:13:22,174 --> 00:13:22,714 [Dr. Shelley White]
Yes. 

00:13:22,714 --> 00:13:27,974 [Calab Tate]
Um, so personally, what, what lessons did you take away from this year, Dr. Wiley? 

00:13:27,974 --> 00:15:13,734 [Dr. Shelley White]
Sure. And, and this is, uh, the way I approached this was looking at, um, what did I take away from, you know, the institution. Like, um, how have we grown? You know, what, what-- where are we at as we look at the, the end of the year here, 2025? So lessons for me, HCC is strong. So as we think about that resilience, as we think about what we've been through, as we think about the past 60 years, um, HCC is strong. We are well-positioned within the community to lead. Um, we are, you know, advocating for resources, and we are, um, I, I would say resourced in a way that allows us to, to do, uh, impactful things in our community. Of course, we could do more with more. Um, and we would, we would certainly appreciate that opportunity, and we, we work for that. But I believe that it is important, um, to recognize that we are, um, doing, doing wonderful work within our community, and we are being recognized for that. I think it's important to, um, kind of stop and say, "You know what? Um, we are a leader in, in certain things." We are, um, being recognized, whether, you know, it's our, our marketing team, whether it's our programs, our, our faculty and staff, you know, doing great things out in the community. Um, we are being recognized, and that is, um, something to be proud of. And again, as we look back at, you know, how we responded in challenges and also as we, you know, again celebrated that, uh, 60-year milestone, um, we are vital to our community and vital to our region. And, um, so those are some things that I, uh, have kind of taken away from 2025 as been kind of in that reflective, uh, spirit. 

00:15:13,734 --> 00:15:18,674 [Calab Tate]
Yeah. Yeah, proud, proud to be a part of it, you know. So many people doing so many good things. 

00:15:18,674 --> 00:15:19,274 [Dr. Shelley White]
Mm-hmm. 

00:15:19,274 --> 00:15:29,974 [Calab Tate]
Um, okay, so as we're transitioning towards looking ahead, right, what are those top priorities for you for HCC in 2026? 

00:15:29,974 --> 00:16:38,583 [Dr. Shelley White]
Yes. So I've positioned these some, somewhat in question. So, um, first for me is how do we lead in a post-Helene landscape? So yes, um, you know, Helene recovery is still front and center for our region, and so how do we position ourselves to lead in this landscape? Um, whether that's, uh, looking at, uh, our involvement in economic and workforce kind of development announcements and things like that, um, or, you know, as we look at our programmatic mix in terms of being responsive to our, uh, workforce needs in the community. Um, you know, that's exciting to me, and I believe will be a driver of much of our work in 2026, is how do we continue to lead in this, uh, beyond recovery kind of time period. Um, next for me, timing-wise, um, as we go into the spring, we're gonna be wrapping up our five-year strategic plan. And so, uh, that is, uh, definitely a milestone, and we've made some major strides here at this institution under our current five-year strategic plan. There is a lot of, um, uh, 

00:16:39,914 --> 00:18:22,004 [Dr. Shelley White]
great work that's happened, um, as a result of that plan and impactful work and, um, you know, just, you know, being able to see that in the data and in the outcomes. Um, so what we've decided is we're not gonna start at square one when we're looking at our next strategic plan because we've got such great momentum with the current plan. Um, we're gonna kinda keep that rolling and, and want to, um, really adopt as much as we can from the current plan and then make adjustments as we look into 2026, um, and beyond for our next, um, five-year plan, if that's what we decide to, to do in terms of timeframe. Um, so in the spring, we'll be, uh, working on that, getting feedback from across the institution as well as from our strategic planning task force, which includes, um, members of the community and partners. So, um, we will be going through that process, but it will be, um, kind of a process that acknowledges the success of the current plan and builds on that as we look to the future. Um, and then the third thing I feel like, um, is a top priority for us as an institution is continue telling our story. Um, we don't want anybody in Haywood County, really anybody in Western North Carolina, to not know about us and not know about the great work that's happening here. So as much as we can to tell our story about our students, tell our story about our graduates, tell our story about our partnerships and the opportunities that are here, um, you know, really dig in and, and tell our story wherever we are. And, and we all-- Well, we're gonna get to that, but we can all can be ambassadors for the college, um, as we're doing our work and going about our, our days here, um, in our community.

00:18:23,366 --> 00:18:40,225 [Calab Tate]
Um, [clears throat] one of those unique wins that you mentioned that I happened to be around for was that, that strategic plan element that one of the few times in, in my professional career where we're sitting at the end of such a long stint of time and so much work that went into it. 

00:18:40,226 --> 00:18:41,126 [Dr. Shelley White]
Mm-hmm. 

00:18:41,126 --> 00:18:45,696 [Calab Tate]
And I think that speaks to the power and the progress of the plan that we put together. 

00:18:45,696 --> 00:18:45,916 [Dr. Shelley White]
Mm-hmm. 

00:18:45,916 --> 00:18:47,346 [Calab Tate]
It's like, this is going so good- 

00:18:47,346 --> 00:18:47,396 [Dr. Shelley White]
Mm-hmm. 

00:18:47,396 --> 00:18:49,906 [Calab Tate]
-let's keep going and not write a, a fresh new one. 

00:18:49,906 --> 00:18:50,246 [Dr. Shelley White]
Right. 

00:18:50,246 --> 00:18:52,966 [Calab Tate]
There was no shaking of the edge sketch. It was, "What's next?" 

00:18:52,966 --> 00:18:53,566 [Dr. Shelley White]
Mm-hmm. 

00:18:53,566 --> 00:18:55,006 [Calab Tate]
We took the hill. What's the next hill- 

00:18:55,006 --> 00:18:55,216 [Dr. Shelley White]
That's right. 

00:18:55,216 --> 00:18:57,146 [Calab Tate]
-we're gonna take? It's just, it's a good feeling. 

00:18:57,146 --> 00:18:57,326 [Dr. Shelley White]
Yeah. 

00:18:57,326 --> 00:18:57,816 [Calab Tate]
[chuckles] 

00:18:57,816 --> 00:18:57,846 [Dr. Shelley White]
For sure. 

00:18:57,846 --> 00:19:02,566 [Calab Tate]
Very good feeling. So kinda coming down at the, at the project level- 

00:19:02,566 --> 00:19:02,756 [Dr. Shelley White]
Mm-hmm. 

00:19:02,756 --> 00:19:07,286 [Calab Tate]
-for the next year, what are some projects that are coming up that you're excited about? What are some of those? 

00:19:07,286 --> 00:19:10,136 [Dr. Shelley White]
Sure. So this, I don't think it's too early to talk about this- 

00:19:10,136 --> 00:19:10,136 [Calab Tate]
[chuckles] 

00:19:10,136 --> 00:22:19,406 [Dr. Shelley White]
... because we will be hearing about it in 2026. I actually just got off of a call this morning that gives me a lot of, um, excitement towards this particular initiative. Um, so if you'll recall, a couple of years ago, we were involved and invited to be an NC Reconnect school from the John and Belk Endowment. They are incredible partners with higher education in North Carolina and have really infused, um, enthusiasm and excitement and funding, um, into community colleges that are doing great work to do even more. And so, you know, we did see some incredible results from that NC Reconnect initiative. Um, I'm excited to say that they've, you know, they're continuing that work with Reconnect, and they're inviting more colleges and all of that, and we are, of course, using, um, things that we learned, lessons learned, resources to, to continue those processes here. But they have an eye, especially for Western North Carolina, to see how investments could be made, um, in, with colleges around what's called a Good Jobs Framework. So really taking the time to say, okay, what does that economic and workforce landscape look like in Western North Carolina post-Helene? What is that timeframe towards recovery look like, and how can they equip community colleges to, uh, link up, sync up with, like, that new, um, outlook, that new momentum for recovery? And so, um, there's going to be some, uh, opportunities for Haywood Community College to be connected to that work. Um, right now we're talking about doing, you know, a couple of months of, um, kind of data analysis. What does the current landscape look like? And then really dig in on, okay, for us to really, and, you know, here's a phrase, move the needle, um, during this season with whether it's like work-based learning opportunities, whether it's pathways to very specific high-wage, high-demand jobs, um, we would be, um, having the opportunity to kind of revisit this within a similar, I'm gonna say within a similar framework from how we worked with NC Reconnect. Um, just that collegial partnership, uh, working together and coming up with some pretty exciting strategies for, uh, responding at this time. So, um, the other thing I'll say about that is it really will link to the new Workforce Pell that's coming, um, in latter 2026. Um, so that's a federal initiative, and we'll be, um, applying that here locally, so that means more access to students, um, in our shorter-term workforce programs that qualify. A-and this, uh, job, Good Jobs Framework will align with that, uh, as well. So anytime our friends at the Belk Endowment are involved, I get excited. I believe that they help us do our best work. Um, and it's, um, uh, their willingness and intensity to invest in the work that we do I think is incredible. So, um, they really do help us do, um, our jobs, uh, even better. So thank you, uh, Belk Endowment. 

00:22:19,406 --> 00:22:21,976 [Calab Tate]
Yes. Yes. Big ups to the Belk Endowment- 

00:22:21,976 --> 00:22:22,016 [Dr. Shelley White]
That's right. 

00:22:22,016 --> 00:22:22,576 [Calab Tate]
-for sure. 

00:22:22,576 --> 00:22:22,586 [Dr. Shelley White]
Yeah. 

00:22:22,586 --> 00:22:27,226 [Calab Tate]
They're huge, huge, huge, uh, folks that, that make so much possible. 

00:22:27,226 --> 00:22:27,806 [Dr. Shelley White]
Mm-hmm. 

00:22:27,806 --> 00:22:33,636 [Calab Tate]
Um, but the, the community college system as a whole being that vehicle for life change and economic development- 

00:22:33,636 --> 00:22:34,036 [Dr. Shelley White]
Mm-hmm. 

00:22:34,036 --> 00:22:37,006 [Calab Tate]
-is something that I really like. That we get to play a part- 

00:22:37,006 --> 00:22:37,076 [Dr. Shelley White]
Mm-hmm. 

00:22:37,076 --> 00:22:38,146 [Calab Tate]
-in something so big- 

00:22:38,146 --> 00:22:38,536 [Dr. Shelley White]
Absolutely. 

00:22:38,536 --> 00:22:39,446 [Calab Tate]
-is really fun. 

00:22:39,446 --> 00:22:39,986 [Dr. Shelley White]
It sure is. 

00:22:39,986 --> 00:22:41,665 [Calab Tate]
That's, that's, quote-unquote, that's the work. 

00:22:41,665 --> 00:22:42,126 [Dr. Shelley White]
That's it. 

00:22:42,126 --> 00:22:47,486 [Calab Tate]
[chuckles] That's the work. So people hearing about all these big things coming up, if they're excited- 

00:22:47,486 --> 00:22:47,576 [Dr. Shelley White]
Mm-hmm. 

00:22:47,576 --> 00:22:50,896 [Calab Tate]
-how would the students, faculty, staff, somebody listening to this podcast- 

00:22:50,896 --> 00:22:50,896 [Dr. Shelley White]
Sure. 

00:22:50,896 --> 00:22:54,006 [Calab Tate]
-how do they get involved with the future of HCC? 

00:22:54,006 --> 00:24:28,696 [Dr. Shelley White]
So, you know, to me, the response here is simple. It's, it's all about showing up. And I know it's like, it's like showing up is, is, I don't know what the percentage is, but it's like, just, just show up is, and that's the important thing. Um, and I would just say there's so many opportunities to connect with the work here at, at HCC and the, um, excitement, activities, whether it's outreach to our community, outreach to our students, and for students, um, connection within, whether it's SGA or clubs or Phi Theta Kappa. You know, there's so many ways to get connected. Um, and I would just say if, if there's an interest, you know, starting with SGA, I mean, we have a, a very, um, robust student life, um, organization here, and just, uh, I know that they are more than happy to have students connect there. Um, with our employees, I would say coming to events, coming to activities, um, and really, you know, if you... Beyond that, just talking to each other. Um, I believe, you know, we've, we've said this so many times, HCC is family, and our size, it affords us the opportunity to strengthen our relationships intentionally. And, you know, if we don't know each other, that's on us. You know, we, we really do have the opportunity to connect, um, to get to know each other. How can we best work together? Um, we're all here to support the mission of serving our community, and, um, if we can align around that, and if we can circle up around that, then, uh, we can do even, uh, more wonderful things.

00:24:30,670 --> 00:24:32,040 [Calab Tate]
You know, just be you, right? 

00:24:32,040 --> 00:24:32,190 [Dr. Shelley White]
Mm-hmm. 

00:24:32,190 --> 00:24:35,669 [Calab Tate]
Just like speaking back to the, all the different types of people that work here. 

00:24:35,670 --> 00:24:36,670 [Dr. Shelley White]
Mm-hmm. 

00:24:36,670 --> 00:24:37,470 [Calab Tate]
Show up. 

00:24:37,470 --> 00:24:37,489 [Dr. Shelley White]
Sure. 

00:24:37,490 --> 00:24:46,670 [Calab Tate]
I like that. I've heard, uh, Susannah High works down in student services. She, she, she's talked about that a lot, is just show up, you know? It's all about how you show up. 

00:24:46,670 --> 00:24:47,290 [Dr. Shelley White]
Mm-hmm. 

00:24:47,290 --> 00:24:48,360 [Calab Tate]
And it's our smiles. 

00:24:48,360 --> 00:24:48,390 [Dr. Shelley White]
Mm-hmm. 

00:24:48,390 --> 00:24:53,870 [Calab Tate]
It's our professional, you know, what we bring to the table, but together we're better. 

00:24:53,870 --> 00:24:54,510 [Dr. Shelley White]
That's right. 

00:24:54,510 --> 00:25:06,270 [Calab Tate]
Together we're better. Um, okay, so all right, in that kind of wrap up here, if you could give one message to the Bobcat community as we close the year, what would that be, Dr. Wyatt? What's that message? 

00:25:06,270 --> 00:25:42,570 [Dr. Shelley White]
Well, well, if I could give one message to our community, I would just say thank you. Uh, thank you for everything that you've done throughout the year, um, for our students. Um, students, uh, thank you for investing your time, um, in yourselves, uh, as you've taken the opportunity to come and learn here, um, at Haywood Community College. And to our employees, thank you for, um, giving your time and your talents to invest in our student population and our community. Um, it really does take our whole village to make this happen, 

00:25:43,930 --> 00:26:10,490 [Dr. Shelley White]
and I know that it is hard work day in and day out. So I would just encourage you, um, here at the end of the year to take this opportunity to rest and recharge, and then return in January 2026 with a renewed focus to serve our students, um, and our community. And just again, thank you for all your hard work and look forward to working with you in 2026. 

00:26:10,490 --> 00:26:19,500 [Calab Tate]
I can't think of any better way to, any better note to end the pod on. Dr. Wyatt, thank you so much for joining us here on Bobcat Chat. [upbeat music] 

00:26:19,500 --> 00:26:41,430 [Announcer]
Bobcat Chat is a production of Haywood Community College. HCC is located in Clyde, North Carolina. If you'd like to learn more about our great college, visit us online at www.haywood.edu. That's H-A-Y-W-O-O-D.edu. 

00:26:42,990 --> 00:26:47,970 [Announcer]
[upbeat music]

00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:04,310 [Announcer]
[intro music] 

00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:09,580 [Announcer]
Hello and welcome to Bobcat Chat. 

00:00:13,980 --> 00:00:32,689 [Calab Tate]
Hello listeners, and welcome to Bobcat Chat, a podcast where we bring all things HCC together and talk about all the exciting stuff happening on our beautiful campus. Hello and welcome to the show, Hylah. Thank you for being with us today. If, if you don't mind, would you introduce yourself for our listeners at home? 

00:00:32,689 --> 00:00:48,800 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Hi, absolutely. Um, so my name is Hyla Berenbaum. I am the executive director of College Advancement, which also means I'm the foundation director, so anything money related, um, donations, scholarships, comes through me. 

00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:49,400 [Calab Tate]
Wonderful. 

00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:49,840 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yay. 

00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:52,580 [Calab Tate]
Lots of fun stuff. We're trying to unpack it on the episode today. 

00:00:52,580 --> 00:00:52,860 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes. 

00:00:52,860 --> 00:01:13,260 [Calab Tate]
Speaking of which, in this episode, we'll be talking about the week of Haywood Community College's sixtieth anniversary celebration, a community event that looks back upon sixty years of impact here at Haywood Community College and kind of welcoming people into that, kind of that, that very, very awesome story that we've lived so far. 

00:01:13,260 --> 00:01:30,400 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes. I can't believe sixty years is upon us. I wasn't here for our fiftieth, um, but it's just amazing that we have been here in Haywood County for sixty years and had such an impact on so many different types of students and professions and, uh, programs. So, um, let's dive in. 

00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:47,480 [Calab Tate]
Here we go. So we're gonna go ahead and start looking backward with our legacy and history, kind of talking about the college's history there. So looking at the founding of Haywood Community College back in nineteen sixty-five, let's talk a little bit about how things began. [laughs] 

00:01:47,480 --> 00:01:48,450 [Hylah Birenbaum]
How it all began. 

00:01:48,450 --> 00:01:49,400 [Calab Tate]
Back in the day. [laughs] 

00:01:49,400 --> 00:02:55,829 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes. Um, well, obviously we just did not pop up and say, "Hey, we're gonna have a, a technical college here." Um, we actually-- What's interesting is Mr. Friedlander, who was CEO of Daco Corporation way back in the day, uh, and he was a big philanthropist for the community and for the county, um, had some employees and started, uh, a research committee from some of his employees. And they wanted to do some digging to see if Haywood County could sustain their own community college or technical college, or if we needed to become a part of another one, as in AB Tech, which is in Buncombe County. And so this research committee did some traveling back and forth to Raleigh to just see if it was viable, and sure enough, obviously, as we know it today, it was viable enough. Uh, but then Mr. Friedlander donated the property where Haywood Community College sits to start-- I'm gonna go back and forth with Haywood Tech then and Haywood Community College now. But yeah, they started Haywood Tech way back when in nineteen sixty-five. So- 

00:02:55,829 --> 00:02:56,940 [Calab Tate]
Way back in nineteen sixty-five. 

00:02:56,940 --> 00:02:57,440 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes. 

00:02:57,440 --> 00:03:10,460 [Calab Tate]
That intentionality, right? When we're talking about the history of Haywood Community College, when I give tours to people now, they say, you know, sometimes they say, "Wow, this is basically-- it looks like a university campus. There's so many trees." 

00:03:10,460 --> 00:03:10,840 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes. 

00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:12,240 [Calab Tate]
Well, there's a reason for that. 

00:03:12,240 --> 00:03:12,410 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yeah. 

00:03:12,410 --> 00:03:19,300 [Calab Tate]
There's intentionality that, that is, is kind of institutionalized, to use a term, uh, through that donorship. 

00:03:19,300 --> 00:03:19,640 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm. 

00:03:19,640 --> 00:03:28,940 [Calab Tate]
And, and through those, those years and years of that, you've got things like the fact that we have such a forested campus. Well, forestry was very important to Abraham Friedlander- 

00:03:28,940 --> 00:03:29,170 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes 

00:03:29,170 --> 00:03:47,100 [Calab Tate]
...or A.L. Friedlander, and it's kind of in that, in that diction of when you-- "Well, I'm gonna give you the money to start this thing up, but you gotta do X, Y, and Z 'cause that's important to me." And, and I know that we like it 'cause we're attracted to Haywood Community College as employees because we like the same kinds of things. I like the fact there's a dahlia garden on campus. 

00:03:47,100 --> 00:03:47,740 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Right. 

00:03:47,740 --> 00:03:48,660 [Calab Tate]
Stuff like that. 

00:03:48,660 --> 00:04:26,500 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yeah. Mr. Friedlander was, uh, a horticulturalist himself. Uh, he raised dahlias, um, and he just wanted a setting that was appealing to students, um, more into the woods to create a healthier environment for people to learn and study. And horticulture, along with nursing and then clay and the pottery program, were one of our first programs offered at the college. And so to bring that horticulture to campus and create a campus with an environment with, you know, trees that are now over a hundred years old, um, he stipulated that we always should have a dahlia garden on our property. And then having, you know, like the rhododendron garden, which came back in the mid-eighties or so- 

00:04:26,500 --> 00:04:26,550 [Calab Tate]
Mm-hmm 

00:04:26,550 --> 00:04:46,719 [Hylah Birenbaum]
... but just, you know, incorporating the nature of our area into a campus where our students can learn depending upon whatever their program was, whether it was clay or workforce development now, or, you know, the horticulture. Um, it's just a great, fun, wonderful campus to learn and thrive on. 

00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:47,580 [Calab Tate]
Yeah. And it's- 

00:04:47,580 --> 00:04:48,000 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes 

00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:59,340 [Calab Tate]
...when, when we, when we talk about what those first few notes in our story were, it's amazing to see that those are still some of the strongest notes that we have. We have so much going on now. 

00:04:59,340 --> 00:04:59,720 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yep. 

00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:04,800 [Calab Tate]
But when you talk about creative arts and the natural resources elements of things in nursing- 

00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:05,020 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm 

00:05:05,020 --> 00:05:10,020 [Calab Tate]
...those are still cornerstones of our institution here and very well represented here on campus. 

00:05:10,020 --> 00:05:11,180 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes, exactly. 

00:05:11,180 --> 00:05:11,200 [Calab Tate]
To this day. 

00:05:11,200 --> 00:05:11,800 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes. 

00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:14,299 [Calab Tate]
Due in no small part to donorship. 

00:05:14,300 --> 00:05:14,460 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm. 

00:05:14,460 --> 00:05:24,490 [Calab Tate]
So kind of dovetailing that in, like Abraham or A.L. Friedlander and, and just the role of donorship in Haywood Community College as the foundation director uniquely. 

00:05:24,490 --> 00:05:24,540 [Hylah Birenbaum]
[laughs] 

00:05:24,540 --> 00:05:31,120 [Calab Tate]
Uh, you can kind of speak-- Can you speak to that a little bit for our listeners and that role of donorship through the years, kind of coming up into the present day? 

00:05:31,120 --> 00:06:52,216 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Well, I mean, we-- there's so many partners. I mean, and our, our-- We have a very close-knit community here in Haywood County, and we all work well together. You know, when we were looking to build a new nursing building, you know, the hospital stepped up and became a huge donor to our campus and to our community to help build a state-of-the-art nursing school with high-fidelity mannequins, you know, all sorts of manic-mannequins, uh, the amortage table. Um, and then just besides the hospital, I mean, other donors. You know, Cataloochee Ranch and the SWAG, um, the Colquitts have supported us and our tourism program, um, Harrah's Casino, the Chamber of Commerce. You know, we got grants from the TDA, the Tourist Development Authority, to help us build our disc golf trail as well as our new hiking trail. Um, there's so many. I mean, from a small mom-and-pop business like Overbay Insurance and Bishop Financial to Pine Gate Renewables in Asheville, who stepped up during the hurricane to help our students get through a horrible, um, disaster that really affected so many lives, um, on campus. So I mean, uh-When it, when you have a small community that is so tight-knit and comes together, it's such a beautiful thing to see and just be a part of. It just, it just warms your heart and makes you realize how an amazing job you're doing in helping the students. 

00:06:52,216 --> 00:07:00,216 [Calab Tate]
Yeah. And having worked here for 10 years now, it's, you start to really realize that it's the community- 

00:07:00,216 --> 00:07:00,676 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes 

00:07:00,676 --> 00:07:01,776 [Calab Tate]
... that is the college. 

00:07:01,776 --> 00:07:02,136 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Right. 

00:07:02,136 --> 00:07:06,556 [Calab Tate]
It's cheesy to say it, but when you look around, you know, John Overbay, I mean, you say Overbay Insurance- 

00:07:06,556 --> 00:07:06,566 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes 

00:07:06,566 --> 00:07:07,556 [Calab Tate]
... I think about John. 

00:07:07,556 --> 00:07:07,756 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yep. 

00:07:07,756 --> 00:07:13,516 [Calab Tate]
I think about people like him and, and just the, the board members, getting to know them on the different boards that we have. 

00:07:13,516 --> 00:07:14,236 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm. 

00:07:14,236 --> 00:07:15,856 [Calab Tate]
Those are the people of Haywood County. 

00:07:15,856 --> 00:07:16,226 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Exactly. 

00:07:16,226 --> 00:07:32,656 [Calab Tate]
And they think it's important. You look at the academic side of the house, right? Every program here has those advisory, you know, elements where people who are in the workforce are saying, "This is what I would need in an employee, so I'm going to advise and enrich that program with those elements as well." 

00:07:32,656 --> 00:07:33,316 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm. 

00:07:33,316 --> 00:07:36,266 [Calab Tate]
So it's, it's what Haywood County needs is what we're gonna give them, whatever that looks like. 

00:07:36,266 --> 00:08:10,776 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Right. But then on the other side, we also have some donors who had a, a house here part of the year. You know, they lived somewhere else, but they had the passion of higher education. They believed in what we were doing, and they wanted to make sure that our students had the, the financials area to, to continue on, uh, and make a big donation to say, you know, "We wanna make sure your students succeed. We're not from here, we don't live here, but we have a house here. We love the mountains, we love to visit, and we're gonna leave our legacy behind so your students will be able to carry that forward and help them succeed." So- 

00:08:10,776 --> 00:08:11,466 [Calab Tate]
It's impossible without them 

00:08:11,466 --> 00:08:20,416 [Hylah Birenbaum]
... it, it's... Yeah, exactly. So it's not just, like, the local people, it's people that just love our area and that are passionate about helping our students. 

00:08:20,416 --> 00:08:22,276 [Calab Tate]
I love that 'cause it's, it's, it's all of us. 

00:08:22,276 --> 00:08:22,776 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yep. 

00:08:22,776 --> 00:08:25,746 [Calab Tate]
It, it... Year-round and part-time too. 

00:08:25,746 --> 00:08:25,756 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm. 

00:08:25,756 --> 00:08:28,126 [Calab Tate]
And doing a lot of work with the Chamber of Commerce myself. 

00:08:28,126 --> 00:08:28,276 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes. 

00:08:28,276 --> 00:08:31,116 [Calab Tate]
People oftentimes will say, "Well, I'm only here half the week." You're one of us. 

00:08:31,116 --> 00:08:32,076 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Exactly. 

00:08:32,076 --> 00:08:32,386 [Calab Tate]
Welcome in. 

00:08:32,386 --> 00:08:32,396 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yep. 

00:08:32,396 --> 00:08:32,526 [Calab Tate]
Haywood County. 

00:08:32,526 --> 00:08:33,276 [Hylah Birenbaum]
We're all family. 

00:08:33,276 --> 00:08:34,086 [Calab Tate]
Yeah, we're all family. 

00:08:34,086 --> 00:08:34,095 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm. 

00:08:34,096 --> 00:08:36,096 [Calab Tate]
We're all in the woods together. [laughs] 

00:08:36,096 --> 00:08:36,106 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Literally. 

00:08:36,106 --> 00:08:36,916 [Calab Tate]
As they say. 

00:08:36,916 --> 00:08:38,256 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes. Uh-huh. 

00:08:38,256 --> 00:08:57,996 [Calab Tate]
Um, so kind of looking, we, I feel like we've gotten a pretty good bead on the past in talking about those elements. So kind of coming into the present day and, and talking about the culture of Haywood Community College, maybe for some of our listeners that might have heard about us and they, they want us to unpack that a little bit, um, what is HCC to you specifically? 

00:08:57,996 --> 00:08:58,006 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm. 

00:08:58,006 --> 00:09:02,516 [Calab Tate]
And I love asking this to different folks 'cause I could say, "What's our mission, vision, values?" 

00:09:02,516 --> 00:09:02,916 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Right. 

00:09:02,916 --> 00:09:06,836 [Calab Tate]
But when I ask you this question, I'm gonna get it through the lens of donorship- 

00:09:06,836 --> 00:09:06,856 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm 

00:09:06,856 --> 00:09:11,275 [Calab Tate]
... philanthropy, advocacy, through the foundation. So HCC, what is it to you? 

00:09:11,276 --> 00:10:37,376 [Hylah Birenbaum]
To me. Um, and I've only been at the college for, it'll be four years this October, um, and I was not in higher education before this, but I'll tell ya, it, it's seeing the students, meeting them face to face, hearing their stories, it, it provides hope for people that are in a cycle that they just can't get out of, that they want to. You know, there's some students who are just stuck, and they don't know how to better themselves and move forward, and HCC and having the scholarships and the programs we offer gives them that step and that boost and the support, um, that they need. You know, they might not have family. They might be 28 years old with two kids, and their parents are both deceased, or they're estranged from their parents, and they need that someone to be their cheerleader. And I love being the cheerleader and, and getting to know the students on a more personal level and helping them succeed and getting them the tools that they need to, to just see them grow, you know? And there is one student who, um, I'm following along. She graduated here and is onto a four-year college, and we're staying in touch, you know? I can't wait to see her next steps, you know? And, and just... I mean, that is one tiny example. There's so many others who, um, the potential is just out there. I mean, they can really do whatever they wanna do, and knowing that we have helped them with those first steps is beautiful. 

00:10:37,376 --> 00:10:42,486 [Calab Tate]
That's amazing. The, the word that you said that, that rang, right? Whenever I ask that question- 

00:10:42,486 --> 00:10:42,616 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm 

00:10:42,616 --> 00:10:51,196 [Calab Tate]
... to people, and I ask it often, like, "What is this to you? What is this thing that we're doing? What does that mean to you?" I always latch onto one word, and the word you said was hope. 

00:10:51,196 --> 00:10:51,996 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm. 

00:10:51,996 --> 00:10:53,616 [Calab Tate]
And it's one of those words- 

00:10:53,616 --> 00:10:53,856 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yep 

00:10:53,856 --> 00:10:59,836 [Calab Tate]
... that you can stretch it over an entire canvas, and it can tell an entire lifelong story. 

00:10:59,836 --> 00:11:00,295 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm. 

00:11:00,296 --> 00:11:01,586 [Calab Tate]
But I love that. Hope. 

00:11:01,586 --> 00:11:01,776 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes. 

00:11:01,776 --> 00:11:22,916 [Calab Tate]
It's an amazing answer. So talking about extending that hope to people in Haywood County, the people that not only within this college but are partners and the people outside, so what partners have been the most impactful in the more recent day? We've talked about the TDA. We've talked about some of those folks. Those guys are, those guys and gals are very important to making sure that we- 

00:11:22,916 --> 00:11:23,046 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yeah 

00:11:23,046 --> 00:11:24,276 [Calab Tate]
... can give that hope to people. 

00:11:24,276 --> 00:11:48,316 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Exactly. Yeah. And then the, the list I gave of the, the, the businesses, you know, both small and large in the community, I mean, they, they help make us, um, part of it. I mean, our sponsorships for our events, you know, the, the scholarships, the donations. Um, I had a woman come in a couple months ago, and she just started an endowment of $50,000 just out of the blue. 

00:11:48,316 --> 00:11:48,526 [Calab Tate]
Just started one up. [laughs] 

00:11:48,526 --> 00:11:55,746 [Hylah Birenbaum]
She said, "My, my friend told me I need to give you money, and here it is, and, um, here... Just we'll, we'll go." And it's just like, 

00:11:56,876 --> 00:11:57,586 [Hylah Birenbaum]
wow. 

00:11:57,586 --> 00:11:57,596 [Calab Tate]
[laughs] 

00:11:57,596 --> 00:12:26,296 [Hylah Birenbaum]
And but that's part of the community. This other person outside of the college told her that she needed to come here and make an endowment and help these students out. So I mean, that's the community talking because they know the power of what we can do and help the students. Um, so then it's just exciting to see that little, you know, I hate to say the spiders, but, you know, everyone trickling out to help each other out, and then just that communication because there's so many different programs. There's so many different people out there, and, and how can we help others? 

00:12:26,296 --> 00:12:27,716 [Calab Tate]
Yeah. It's your, your network. 

00:12:27,716 --> 00:12:28,476 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Exactly. Yep. 

00:12:28,476 --> 00:12:31,216 [Calab Tate]
And when they start coming to us, that means that we're doing something right. 

00:12:31,216 --> 00:12:31,576 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yep. 

00:12:31,576 --> 00:12:33,356 [Calab Tate]
Or we're doing something that people can believe in. 

00:12:33,356 --> 00:12:33,916 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm. 

00:12:33,916 --> 00:12:35,496 [Calab Tate]
Um, and hope is that. 

00:12:35,496 --> 00:12:36,886 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes. Definitely. 

00:12:36,886 --> 00:12:46,032 [Calab Tate]
Um, speaking about doing something that people can believe in and kind of some of the, the action, uh, kind of-Maybe a little bit of a, a more somber note looking backward just a little bit. 

00:12:46,032 --> 00:12:46,552 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm. 

00:12:46,552 --> 00:12:48,772 [Calab Tate]
Um, maybe back this time last year- 

00:12:48,772 --> 00:12:49,122 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Oh, gosh. Yeah 

00:12:49,122 --> 00:12:55,312 [Calab Tate]
...and kind of looking at the flood, do you have a, um, a favorite story? Kind of putting it that way is a little bit- 

00:12:55,312 --> 00:12:55,672 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm 

00:12:55,672 --> 00:13:07,072 [Calab Tate]
... but, like, do you have a story that sticks out to you in your memory from Haywood Community College's action and your part of that when it came to the floods that, that kind of, that impacted western North Carolina? 

00:13:08,112 --> 00:13:32,302 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yeah. Um, there's... It i- it's a, a sombering, you know, story to, to look back on, and there's a couple of takeaways on that. One of them was back in Nove- no, I think it was in March of that year, we got a unrestricted donation from an estate. The, the person died, and they left us a, a nice sum of money, but without any rules. It was totally unrestricted. 

00:13:32,302 --> 00:13:32,302 [Calab Tate]
Mm. 

00:13:32,302 --> 00:15:13,532 [Hylah Birenbaum]
And so I put it in an account and let it sit there for a moment, and then the hurricane happens. And so I immediately text my board saying, "Can we transfer that money to start Haywood Strong so we can start helping our students?" And by text message, within probably, like, 48 hours, I had a board approval of my foundation board. We started Haywood Strong. We were able to start helping our students out, and then more donations started pouring in to help our students, um, which was amazing. I mean, I think we gave out probably $97,000 in assistance to our students, and we received, you know, $150,000 in donations. I mean, it was just a beautiful... unfortunately, a beautiful way to come together out of a tragedy, but, you know, that time, that's what happens sometimes. Um, there, there are two students that just stand out. Um, one of them came in, and she was living in a camper with her three kids, and they were a little bit older kids, like teenagers type of thing. And, uh, I said, you know, "How can I help you?" And I said, "Pretend I have a magic wand, you know, and I'm gonna grant you three wishes, you know, what can I do?" And she was like, "Well, I need some boots for the kids because it's, it all got kind of washed away. I would love some winter clothes for them." And she's like, "The camper I'm staying at doesn't have the best internet service because of the trees. I would love a Starlink." And I'm like, "Ooh. Okay." I said, "Two of those threes I can definitely get. I can get the boots, and I can get the clothes. That's not a problem." And this was on a Friday. I said, "Come back Monday, and let's talk about that Starlink. I need to know how to figure it out and maneuver. I don't know much about Starlink." 

00:15:13,532 --> 00:15:13,732 [Calab Tate]
Yeah. 

00:15:13,732 --> 00:15:16,212 [Hylah Birenbaum]
And I said, "We'll, we'll figure it out." And so 

00:15:17,272 --> 00:15:27,552 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Saturday, I'm scrolling on Facebook, and a friend of mine happened to just post, "I ordered a Starlink, and I accidentally got two. Who needs it?" 

00:15:27,552 --> 00:15:28,412 [Calab Tate]
[laughs] 

00:15:28,412 --> 00:15:34,152 [Hylah Birenbaum]
And so I messaged him very quickly, and I said, "I need it. Please. Now." 

00:15:34,152 --> 00:15:34,712 [Calab Tate]
Make it happen. [laughs] 

00:15:34,712 --> 00:15:39,832 [Hylah Birenbaum]
And so, um, I had the, you know, the company credit card, which I hooked up to Venmo- 

00:15:39,832 --> 00:15:40,462 [Calab Tate]
[laughs] 

00:15:40,462 --> 00:16:00,022 [Hylah Birenbaum]
... to pay him on Monday, where I met him in Asheville, and he gives me the Starlink, and I give him the Venmo. And then my student comes in Monday afternoon, and the Starlink's on the floor. And she's looking at me like, "H- how did you do that?" And I said, "I have no idea. The stars just aligned, literally." 

00:16:00,022 --> 00:16:00,022 [Calab Tate]
Yeah. 

00:16:00,022 --> 00:16:51,552 [Hylah Birenbaum]
"And here it is, and it is yours." And she was as dumbfounded as I was, but it, it happened. Again, the community just stepped up and reached out, um, which is beautiful. Um, and then the second story is, is a quick one. [clears throat] There's another student who lost everything, um, and he was staying at Pathways. Um, and besides losing everything, he also lost his moped in the floods. So not having a home and not having a moped to get you anywhere, he was just at his wit's end, but he was very reserved. He did not wanna ask for help. He's like, "I'm okay. I'm in Pathways. At least I have a shelter." And I said, "But I, I can get you some clothes." I bought him tons of new clothes to help him and just get over that next step. And then I found out that Amazon sells mopeds. 

00:16:51,552 --> 00:16:53,402 [Calab Tate]
[laughs] Who would've thought? 

00:16:53,402 --> 00:16:53,472 [Hylah Birenbaum]
So- 

00:16:53,472 --> 00:16:53,942 [Calab Tate]
I didn't know that 

00:16:53,942 --> 00:16:55,612 [Hylah Birenbaum]
... with my handy dandy credit card- 

00:16:55,612 --> 00:16:55,982 [Calab Tate]
There you go 

00:16:55,982 --> 00:17:07,012 [Hylah Birenbaum]
... I bought him a moped on Amazon, had it delivered here to our loading dock, and then he and a buddy of his put it together, and voila. 

00:17:07,012 --> 00:17:07,072 [Calab Tate]
Mm. 

00:17:07,072 --> 00:17:17,172 [Hylah Birenbaum]
He had a brand-new moped that was priced actually pretty reasonably. It was, like, $800 plus shipping, but I was able to get him a moped- 

00:17:17,172 --> 00:17:17,182 [Calab Tate]
Amazing 

00:17:17,182 --> 00:17:25,562 [Hylah Birenbaum]
... which was amazing. And he, seeing his reaction when that crate was unboxed and h- then having him kind of scoot off, 

00:17:26,772 --> 00:17:43,162 [Hylah Birenbaum]
you know, it's one of those things that just gives you chills of just saying, "Look at what we did," you know? Look at how we helped these students and how we made an impact on their lives that some of them have told me they will never forget. And when they get older or they get more established in their careers, they will pay it back. 

00:17:43,162 --> 00:17:43,282 [Calab Tate]
Yeah. 

00:17:43,282 --> 00:17:56,122 [Hylah Birenbaum]
And you know that they will because we helped them so much with just out of the blue things. I mean, it's just, uh, one of those moments where, you know, you don't become the foundation director, you become a therapist. 

00:17:56,122 --> 00:17:56,132 [Calab Tate]
Mm-hmm. 

00:17:56,132 --> 00:18:21,212 [Hylah Birenbaum]
You become a friend. You become a person that gives hugs all the time, you know? And I, and I was that person, and I never gave so many hugs and just helping people and, and giving out, unfortunately, my cell phone number so they could contact me anytime if they needed me. Um, but it, but knowing that they had someone here that could help them, that, that paid dividends. That's, that's what mattered to me. 

00:18:21,212 --> 00:18:22,092 [Calab Tate]
So worth it. 

00:18:22,092 --> 00:18:22,762 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yeah. 

00:18:22,762 --> 00:18:28,132 [Calab Tate]
Um, people start, uh, here at Haywood Community College, I've gotten a question over the years, they say, you know, 

00:18:29,832 --> 00:18:44,092 [Calab Tate]
"When am I gonna get it?" Or they might be asking, you know, "What, what is this? What is it like to work in community college?" If they haven't worked in the community college system. And, you know, more often than not, I say, you know, "You know, you're here for the right reason. You're here to help people." 

00:18:44,092 --> 00:18:44,442 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm. 

00:18:44,442 --> 00:18:48,232 [Calab Tate]
"Wait for that first time you really get to change a life." 

00:18:48,232 --> 00:18:48,752 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Right. 

00:18:48,752 --> 00:18:57,262 [Calab Tate]
When you get to be the person that says, "Actually-"Your life isn't gonna go the way that you think it is in this, this other direction. 

00:18:57,262 --> 00:18:57,582 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm. 

00:18:57,582 --> 00:18:59,482 [Calab Tate]
You are worth this. 

00:18:59,482 --> 00:18:59,621 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Right. 

00:18:59,622 --> 00:19:01,202 [Calab Tate]
You have this opportunity. 

00:19:01,202 --> 00:19:03,942 [Hylah Birenbaum]
And the reason why we helped them too is we didn't want them to quit. 

00:19:03,942 --> 00:19:03,981 [Calab Tate]
Yes. 

00:19:03,982 --> 00:19:22,682 [Hylah Birenbaum]
We didn't want the lack of a moped or the lack of Starlink to have them drop out and say, "Okay, life's happening. I can't deal with school right now. I'm gonna stop." We wanted to give them a reason to continue, and, and that hurricane or whatever that pause was, was not gonna be their reason for not continuing at HCC. 

00:19:22,682 --> 00:19:22,702 [Calab Tate]
Yeah. 

00:19:22,702 --> 00:19:23,762 [Hylah Birenbaum]
So, yep. 

00:19:23,762 --> 00:19:24,422 [Calab Tate]
That's who we are. 

00:19:24,422 --> 00:19:25,002 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yep. 

00:19:25,002 --> 00:19:25,722 [Calab Tate]
That's awesome. 

00:19:25,722 --> 00:19:26,262 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm. 

00:19:26,262 --> 00:19:27,282 [Calab Tate]
Um, so 

00:19:28,302 --> 00:19:29,802 [Calab Tate]
that's, that's what we've done. 

00:19:29,802 --> 00:19:30,142 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes. 

00:19:30,142 --> 00:19:31,122 [Calab Tate]
All of the awesome. 

00:19:31,122 --> 00:19:31,702 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes. 

00:19:31,702 --> 00:19:34,142 [Calab Tate]
We're here to talk about celebrating that. 

00:19:34,142 --> 00:19:34,702 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Exactly. 

00:19:34,702 --> 00:19:45,122 [Calab Tate]
The 60th celebration. Let's dive into the actual event. It's the thing we're here to kinda talk about specifically with that invitation to our listeners at home. So who all can come to this event? 

00:19:45,122 --> 00:19:46,642 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Anybody who wants to come. 

00:19:46,642 --> 00:19:46,682 [Calab Tate]
[laughs] 

00:19:46,682 --> 00:20:01,422 [Hylah Birenbaum]
It is an open, open invitation, whether you are a graduate, an alumni, you served on a board, you were faculty. If you are just passionate and just wanna come enjoy the festivities, um, yes, anyone is welcome to come. 

00:20:01,422 --> 00:20:02,262 [Calab Tate]
If you like hope- 

00:20:02,262 --> 00:20:02,272 [Hylah Birenbaum]
It's- 

00:20:02,272 --> 00:20:03,741 [Calab Tate]
... which hopefully is everybody. 

00:20:03,742 --> 00:20:03,982 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes. 

00:20:03,982 --> 00:20:05,062 [Calab Tate]
You know, come on out. 

00:20:05,062 --> 00:20:05,082 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm. 

00:20:05,082 --> 00:20:08,402 [Calab Tate]
Come on out. So what can they expect on, on the day of the event? 

00:20:08,402 --> 00:21:00,881 [Hylah Birenbaum]
So the event is, again, it's Thursday, uh, September 18th, uh, 2:00 to 5:00 PM. Remarks will start around 2:30. Um, we are gonna have kind of a, a look back and a look forward on a couple different topics of like faculty, um, students, the, the campus itself, um, and just our vision, and like the look back and the look forward. And we have guest speakers coming from all, all walks of all assets of those different looking backs and looking forward. Um, we have an amazing commemorative video that we're gonna play, um, really highlighting the impact of HCC in the community, interviewing a lot of wonderful people, um, who were on the board of trustees or faculty, who started here as a student and then worked their way up to becoming a district judge. You know, everyone... I mean, it's impact, you know? 

00:21:00,881 --> 00:21:01,041 [Calab Tate]
Yeah. 

00:21:01,041 --> 00:21:15,782 [Hylah Birenbaum]
How has HCC impacted people's lives? And it's just, the video is amazing. We have a commemorative book, which is beautiful. Um, and then the, the closure of the festivities will be the introduction of our new art trail. 

00:21:15,782 --> 00:21:16,862 [Calab Tate]
Ooh, tell us about that. 

00:21:16,862 --> 00:21:24,722 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Uh, this is, this is my doing. It's, um, one of those things you, you know. Anyhow, so we have a professional crafts program- 

00:21:24,722 --> 00:21:24,792 [Calab Tate]
Mm-hmm 

00:21:24,792 --> 00:21:28,542 [Hylah Birenbaum]
... which is amazing. So we have wood, jewelry, fiber, and clay. 

00:21:29,702 --> 00:21:55,602 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Beautiful pieces of art, beautiful things that our students create that they sell. Maybe they open up their own gallery or go to another gallery or whatnot. And then looking around campus, I noticed that we don't have any art on campus. We have beautiful plants and trees and dahlias, but there's no art. And we have an amazing professional crafts program. We should highlight our art. 

00:21:55,602 --> 00:21:55,972 [Calab Tate]
Mm-hmm. 

00:21:55,972 --> 00:22:15,962 [Hylah Birenbaum]
And so I've worked with four artists, um, Stebo, uh, who has done the banjo players in downtown Waynesville. He is doing a eight-foot gong that is gonna be called our har-Harmonic Intersection. Um, it's in a newly renovated zen garden, which I did not know we had a zen garden on campus. 

00:22:15,962 --> 00:22:16,382 [Calab Tate]
Ooh. 

00:22:16,382 --> 00:22:26,422 [Hylah Birenbaum]
But it's being restored, so we have a zen garden. Um, Josh Cote is another artist. He's doing Waiting with Clyde, so it's a six-foot-tall 

00:22:27,822 --> 00:22:28,742 [Hylah Birenbaum]
spiral 

00:22:29,802 --> 00:22:30,522 [Hylah Birenbaum]
spun 

00:22:31,562 --> 00:22:33,302 [Hylah Birenbaum]
metal bobcat- 

00:22:33,302 --> 00:22:33,312 [Calab Tate]
[laughs] 

00:22:33,312 --> 00:22:55,032 [Hylah Birenbaum]
... that's sitting on a park bench, um, with his arm out so you can kinda take a photo sitting next to him. Um, Billy Smith did a beautiful mural on one of our buildings. He's titled his piece called Woven Elements. It really highlights all of our major programs that we offer. And then the last piece, uh, it's, uh, amazing. Grace Cathey, well-known, you know- 

00:22:55,032 --> 00:22:55,111 [Calab Tate]
Mm-hmm 

00:22:55,111 --> 00:23:20,582 [Hylah Birenbaum]
... artist in town, she did a beautiful dahlia, and she's titled it Mr. Freelander and His Dahlias, and that will be the start of the dahlia garden. So four pieces. We're going to add a new piece every year, um, so I am looking at working with another artist in town and create a new piece for the new year, and hopefully, we can add more pieces as the years go on or as more donations come in. 

00:23:20,582 --> 00:23:20,622 [Calab Tate]
That's amazing. 

00:23:20,622 --> 00:23:21,862 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Intense donations. 

00:23:21,862 --> 00:23:22,282 [Calab Tate]
[laughs] 

00:23:22,282 --> 00:23:23,182 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes. 

00:23:23,182 --> 00:23:24,122 [Calab Tate]
Come be a part of that. 

00:23:24,122 --> 00:23:25,102 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Exactly. 

00:23:25,102 --> 00:23:25,472 [Calab Tate]
Yeah. 

00:23:25,472 --> 00:23:25,522 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes. 

00:23:25,522 --> 00:23:31,542 [Calab Tate]
If you want to be a part of, of, again, that life-changing moment, this is open for everybody. 

00:23:31,542 --> 00:23:38,422 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Well, and also, we want the community to know that you are welcome to come to campus. You don't have to just take a class. You know- 

00:23:38,422 --> 00:23:38,452 [Calab Tate]
Yeah 

00:23:38,452 --> 00:24:08,102 [Hylah Birenbaum]
... you don't have to be a curriculum student or a con ed student. You don't have to take beekeeping or accounting. You can come and walk on our campus. You can do the disc golf trail. You can hike. You can run our 5K race. You can walk with your dogs. You can have your prom photos taken. You can now explore our art trail. Our campus is the hub of Haywood County, and it's part of our community, and everyone is welcome. We want to be, "This is your backyard as well as ours." 

00:24:08,102 --> 00:24:09,802 [Calab Tate]
Oh, wow. You wrapped that one up with a bow. 

00:24:09,802 --> 00:24:09,821 [Hylah Birenbaum]
[laughs] 

00:24:09,822 --> 00:24:11,702 [Calab Tate]
So nice. It is. It's that hub. 

00:24:11,702 --> 00:24:12,462 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm. 

00:24:12,462 --> 00:24:19,702 [Calab Tate]
Uh, you know, you working here day to day, you see just about everybody coming and going. You see people from con ed, curriculum, and everything in between. 

00:24:19,702 --> 00:24:19,732 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes. 

00:24:19,732 --> 00:24:25,202 [Calab Tate]
All those community groups. Um, so that's the event, right? That's, that's what's going on. 

00:24:25,202 --> 00:24:25,422 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yep. 

00:24:25,422 --> 00:24:31,602 [Calab Tate]
But looking ahead, right, here's the big picture. We're zooming way back out. For the next 60 years- 

00:24:31,602 --> 00:24:31,982 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Oh, gosh 

00:24:31,982 --> 00:24:34,282 [Calab Tate]
... right, you know, the podcast question here. 

00:24:34,282 --> 00:24:35,082 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm. 

00:24:35,082 --> 00:24:40,142 [Calab Tate]
What's your prediction for the next 60 years of Haywood Community College? 

00:24:40,142 --> 00:24:56,192 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Well, um, as you know, we have broke ground on some workforce training things with our new H, um, CDL, uh, certificate program for truck driving and line working, so those type of programs with workforce development are gonna grow because the trades are, are desperately needed. 

00:24:56,192 --> 00:24:56,222 [Calab Tate]
Yes. 

00:24:56,222 --> 00:26:05,058 [Hylah Birenbaum]
You know, we all have plumbing in our house, and who's gonna fix our plumbing? Um, with our high tech center-With our construction and HVAC and electrical, I mean, all of those things are gonna be front and center because those tools of the trade are never gonna go away. So I feel that's gonna continue to grow. Um, we live in a beautiful area. Um, the Smokies is one of the most na- visited national parks, and our tourism program is growing. This is now expanded, uh, and I can see that growing more. I'm sure there'll be other programs that will be added and some other programs that will fall away that just happen because of life and attrition. Um, but we will definitely continue to grow, um, and with our three campuses. You know, we have the West Waynesville Campus, which has our EMS program. We have the High Tech Center, which will have the construction and the plumbing and automotive at some point in time, and then we have our main campus, which has so much other things now with the CDL program and lineworking. Um, so I think, I think we'll just grow and thrive. I will not probably be around at that time, but hopefully whoever's in my place will do a fantastic job. 

00:26:05,058 --> 00:26:07,337 [Calab Tate]
It's a strange thought after I asked that question. 

00:26:07,337 --> 00:26:07,468 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes. 

00:26:07,468 --> 00:26:08,278 [Calab Tate]
You might not be here. 

00:26:08,278 --> 00:26:09,497 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Exactly. I- 

00:26:09,498 --> 00:26:09,578 [Calab Tate]
Um, but maybe I will- 

00:26:09,578 --> 00:26:13,438 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yeah, I'll be over 100 by then, so that, I'd probably say that would be a hard no. 

00:26:13,438 --> 00:26:14,428 [Calab Tate]
Maybe a hard no. 

00:26:14,428 --> 00:26:14,438 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yeah. Yeah. 

00:26:14,438 --> 00:26:15,658 [Calab Tate]
We'll be, we'll, we'll be somewhere else. 

00:26:15,658 --> 00:26:16,398 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Exactly. 

00:26:16,398 --> 00:26:35,678 [Calab Tate]
Um, but yeah, like you said, it, it, it's going to be... That's, that's-- It's a hard question to ask, to answer for some different types of businesses, I would assume. Um, but for Haywood Community College, it's no matter what time it is, people are going to be in a place in their life, and they're gonna want to be somewhere else. 

00:26:35,678 --> 00:26:36,618 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm. 

00:26:36,618 --> 00:26:38,358 [Calab Tate]
And there's gonna be people here. 

00:26:38,358 --> 00:26:38,938 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes. 

00:26:38,938 --> 00:26:39,538 [Calab Tate]
Right here- 

00:26:39,538 --> 00:26:39,868 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Exactly 

00:26:39,868 --> 00:26:41,018 [Calab Tate]
... helping them get there. 

00:26:41,018 --> 00:26:41,278 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes. 

00:26:41,278 --> 00:26:54,738 [Calab Tate]
Um, excellent answer. So kind of circling back around, wrapping up the right way, uh, hit us with the 60th celebration event details one more time for our listeners so we can make sure that they're plugged in, that they know what, when, where, how. 

00:26:54,738 --> 00:27:53,988 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes. Okay. So it is Thursday, September the 18th in our Hemlock Building. So that is the first building when you come on campus on the left. It'll be in our auditorium, 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Uh, remarks start at 2:30, so please definitely be there before 2:30 would be lovely. Uh, it probably should last until about 4:00 or so, and then I will be doing some tours of our art trails. We'll have, I think, three tours, maybe like 3:45, 4:00-ish, 4:15, 4:30, somewhere around there. Um, so we'll do guided tours. Hopefully, the artists will be there as well. Uh, we'll have the commemorative book that is available. The video will play at the end of our speakers. We'll have some refreshments available. Um, of course, we'll take any donations that come in at any time. Uh, but it should be a fun, just joyous celebration of our anniversary, our birthday, just everything HCC and, and celebrating what we've done and, and how many students we've helped. So it'll be- 

00:27:53,988 --> 00:27:54,718 [Calab Tate]
Hope you'll be a part of this. 

00:27:54,718 --> 00:27:56,118 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Exactly. It'll be fun. 

00:27:56,118 --> 00:28:32,878 [Calab Tate]
[chuckles] Uh, for those of you at home, you can find details as we get closer to the event on our social. So obviously, shameless plug here, you know, Haywood Community College, find us on social media platforms. Get plugged in, follow that, kind of keep a, keep an eye on those feeds. If you need specific details, we've got www.haywood.edu. You can find that 60th celebration detail page there as well. Without further ado, Hila, thank you so much for joining us today on this episode of Bobcat Chat, and thank you for everything that you do, everything that you've done, everything that we're gonna continue to do for a few more years. Maybe not 60 more, but we'll give it a shot. 

00:28:32,878 --> 00:28:33,358 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Absolutely. 

00:28:33,358 --> 00:28:38,078 [Calab Tate]
Um, have a great day at home, and we will see you at the celebration. [outro music] 

00:28:38,078 --> 00:28:40,678 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Sounds good. 

00:28:40,678 --> 00:29:06,438 [Announcer]
Bobcat Chat is a production of Haywood Community College. HCC is located in Clyde, North Carolina. If you'd like to learn more about our great college, visit us online at www.haywood.edu. That's H-A-Y-W-O-O-D.E-D-U. [outro music]

00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:04,300 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
[upbeat music] 

00:00:05,440 --> 00:00:09,580 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Hello, and welcome to Bobcat Chat. 

00:00:14,180 --> 00:00:32,420 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Hello, and welcome to Bobcat Chat. My name is Tim Scapin. I'm part of the engagement team here at HCC, and we have a special guest this podcast episode as we talk about Community College Month. So special guest, could you please introduce yourself for the audience? 

00:00:32,420 --> 00:00:38,420 [Shane McElrath]
[laughs] Hi, I'm Shane McElrath, and I teach English here at Haywood Community College. 

00:00:38,420 --> 00:00:41,240 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Yes. Thank you, Shane. I thought I saw you around here somewhere. 

00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:41,980 [Shane McElrath]
A time or two. [laughs] 

00:00:41,980 --> 00:01:06,670 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Yes, a time or two. Yes. So Shane is one of our amazing instructors that does a lot of cool stuff in her course, courses. So, uh, since this is Community College Month, we thought we'd have a chat, and, uh, a special kind of angle on this episode is, uh, I myself went to community college, uh, as a youthful learner, I guess- 

00:01:06,670 --> 00:01:06,680 [Shane McElrath]
[laughs] 

00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:20,320 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
... out of high school, and then also as an adult learner, and then Shane went to community college. She went to HCC. So we're kind of looking at her s- perspective from a student, and then eventually working- 

00:01:20,320 --> 00:01:20,640 [Shane McElrath]
Mm-hmm 

00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:33,400 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
... and teaching at a community college, especially the one that she went to. So, uh, can you share a little about your journey and, like, what brought you to HCC as a student? 

00:01:33,400 --> 00:02:25,520 [Shane McElrath]
Mm. Uh, it's a little bit of a long one. So I, I actually, I started as a dual enroller as a wee, a wee high school student, and the big draw there for what brought me primarily to HCC was that, uh, I got the freedom to go off campus for [laughs] for a period of time, so I got to... I had just gotten my license, and so there was that, like, I'm a, you know, it's like I'm a big kid and I get to drive my car over on campus and I get to, you know, be a college student for a period of time, for an hour and 20 minutes, even though the class was actually with other high school students, it wasn't really like a college experience. Um, but when I graduated high school, I actually came back here to, uh, and I thought I was gonna do the jewelry program. And so, yeah, uh, things changed a little bit. I, um, I did that program for, for a period, but yeah, that's how I got started at Haywood. 

00:02:25,520 --> 00:02:34,780 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
That's funny, um, you saying, 'cause now you teach English, um, and you thought about the jewelry program, 'cause community college is a great way to... places to explore. 

00:02:34,780 --> 00:02:35,500 [Shane McElrath]
Oh, yeah. For sure. 

00:02:35,500 --> 00:02:37,180 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Uh, and 

00:02:38,460 --> 00:02:51,950 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
I really didn't know what I wanted to do. The community college I went to had a nursing program, and I was like, "Oh, that sounds fun." So then I took, like, one semester of courses and I'm like, "Oh, not for me," you know? 

00:02:51,950 --> 00:02:51,960 [Shane McElrath]
[laughs] 

00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:54,030 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Bless the people that work in that profession. 

00:02:54,030 --> 00:02:54,489 [Shane McElrath]
[laughs] 

00:02:54,489 --> 00:02:56,960 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
But I was allowed, you know, I was allowed to go off, 

00:02:58,280 --> 00:03:02,600 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
I guess off on a different course, and then realized, oh, 

00:03:03,940 --> 00:03:06,980 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
I went back on the just getting my general ed stuff done. But- 

00:03:06,980 --> 00:03:07,609 [Shane McElrath]
Mm-hmm. That's what I did 

00:03:07,609 --> 00:03:12,920 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
... um, you know, it was cool that you... I nev- I didn't know that you were thinking about that program at one point. 

00:03:12,920 --> 00:03:14,780 [Shane McElrath]
I did it. I did it for a year actually. 

00:03:14,780 --> 00:03:15,400 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Okay. 

00:03:15,400 --> 00:03:48,020 [Shane McElrath]
I did a couple gen ed classes in my first two semesters. I actually [laughs] I actually had, uh, Dean Heiberg as my public speaking teacher, and Margaret Students in my first semester, uh, as an official, official college student. Uh, but I did the first two semesters of just part-time doing gen ed, and then, uh, I did a year of the jewelry program, and after doing a year of it, I realized that [sighs] yeah, it wasn't gonna be... It was, it was something that it was a cool thing to be learning for me, but I wasn't somebody who was gonna be as successful as the other people- 

00:03:48,020 --> 00:03:48,350 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Yeah 

00:03:48,350 --> 00:04:00,620 [Shane McElrath]
... that were down there, that they were making really amazing stuff, and I just kept, uh, I just kept being called back to do something other than, other than jewelry, so yeah. [laughs] Didn't know that about you in the nursing program either. Did you take- 

00:04:00,620 --> 00:04:00,630 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Yeah 

00:04:00,630 --> 00:04:02,660 [Shane McElrath]
... did you take a couple classes or d- a couple- 

00:04:02,660 --> 00:04:10,720 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Yeah. It was, like, just a couple classes in a semester, and then, I mean, it wasn't even like... It was like A&P. 

00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:11,540 [Shane McElrath]
Okay. I was gonna ask- 

00:04:11,540 --> 00:04:11,770 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
And it was- 

00:04:11,770 --> 00:04:13,060 [Shane McElrath]
... if it was like intro to- 

00:04:13,060 --> 00:04:15,700 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
No, I wasn't even in the nursing stuff. It was just, like... 

00:04:16,780 --> 00:04:19,880 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Yeah. It, it, a higher power was telling me, "Man, this ain't- 

00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:20,070 [Shane McElrath]
[laughs] 

00:04:20,070 --> 00:04:22,220 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
... this is, this is not for you." Uh, so- 

00:04:22,220 --> 00:04:25,620 [Shane McElrath]
A&P alone and learning all the parts of the body was enough for you? No. 

00:04:25,620 --> 00:04:31,370 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
It was like the muscle, which muscle cell is what. I mean, and, you know, things turned out well. 

00:04:31,370 --> 00:04:31,400 [Shane McElrath]
[laughs] 

00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:37,600 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
I think things happen for reasons, and we kind of, our journeys are crafted in a certain way. 

00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:37,900 [Shane McElrath]
Yeah. 

00:04:37,900 --> 00:04:42,320 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
So, uh, I ended up here, which is, uh, the best thing that could've happened, so. 

00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:43,180 [Shane McElrath]
Which is good for us. 

00:04:43,180 --> 00:04:44,760 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
And now we're recording this episode. 

00:04:44,760 --> 00:04:45,460 [Shane McElrath]
Look. 

00:04:45,460 --> 00:04:45,670 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
It was all meant to be. 

00:04:45,670 --> 00:04:46,740 [Shane McElrath]
Look at... Oh, circle of life. 

00:04:46,740 --> 00:04:47,540 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Yes. 

00:04:47,540 --> 00:04:48,159 [Shane McElrath]
[laughs] 

00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:49,400 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Oh, that's copyright. Can't say that. 

00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:52,260 [Shane McElrath]
So we can't clip it. [laughs] 

00:04:52,260 --> 00:04:55,300 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Um, so, so you went to, what, Western? 

00:04:55,300 --> 00:04:55,630 [Shane McElrath]
I did. 

00:04:55,630 --> 00:04:55,700 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Yeah. 

00:04:55,700 --> 00:05:00,719 [Shane McElrath]
So I actually, I went to... So I was here first. I got my associate's, and then I went to UNC Asheville. 

00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:01,340 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Okay. 

00:05:01,340 --> 00:05:06,630 [Shane McElrath]
I thought that I was gonna do, um... I mean, we jump around, right? So, like- 

00:05:06,630 --> 00:05:06,630 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Yeah 

00:05:06,630 --> 00:05:41,540 [Shane McElrath]
... that's what I like students to know is f- take, take some different classes. Figure it out. It's okay to change your major. Um, but when I went in to UNCA for, you know, five seconds I thought I was gonna do psychology and be a counselor, but that shifted really quickly because forever I've wanted to teach in some capacity, but I've resisted it all along the way. Uh, but yeah, I did UNC Asheville, and I, um, I did a English major with a creative writing minor, and then I transferred over to Western to finish out with my master's so I could teach at community college level. 

00:05:41,540 --> 00:05:41,560 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Okay. 

00:05:41,560 --> 00:05:42,060 [Shane McElrath]
Yeah. 

00:05:42,060 --> 00:05:44,040 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Oh, cool. So, um, 

00:05:45,500 --> 00:05:50,760 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
l- it, it... [laughs] This question, it, it, it, this... I'll j- I guess I'll basically just state it- 

00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:51,010 [Shane McElrath]
[laughs] 

00:05:51,010 --> 00:06:07,484 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
... out loud. So when did you realize you wanted to come back to HCC, this time as an instructor? But, like, how, how did that-It may not be an easy, you know, short one answer, but like how did that manifest itself? How did you- 

00:06:07,484 --> 00:06:08,624 [Shane McElrath]
[laughs] 

00:06:08,624 --> 00:06:12,584 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
... c-come upon HCC as an, as an instructor? 

00:06:12,584 --> 00:06:12,904 [Shane McElrath]
Oh, man. 

00:06:12,904 --> 00:06:14,184 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
As an instructor. 

00:06:14,184 --> 00:07:28,614 [Shane McElrath]
Um, well, first of all, I just never... I don't know if HCC couldn't shake me or I couldn't shake HCC. I don't really know. But, um, I... So I tutored with us when I was a student here, and then there was a really small gap, and then I tutored, uh, once I got my undergrad here. And so anyway, just connected to Haywood throughout my learning journey. Um, and so I, I did have a realization, it was probably... I was at UNCA, and I, I had the realization that I didn't wanna do a public teaching licensure, that it was gonna add... There was a set amount of time that it was gonna add to my timeline before I graduated, but I also realized after my first education class, just the intro to education, I was like, "I am not meant to be in public education. I wanna do higher ed," but I didn't want a doctorate, and I didn't wanna teach at a university. Um, so there was this realization. I'd, I knew that I wanted to teach, but I wasn't sure where, and I hadn't really set my bar up into the community college rung, um, until, yeah, I'd had my first education class. I realized that that was not happening, and there was a lot more... There was just so much with the K through 12 sector that I'd, I'd... I wanted to just focus on learning and teaching, and I really love adult learners. 

00:07:28,614 --> 00:07:28,624 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Yeah. 

00:07:28,624 --> 00:07:42,704 [Shane McElrath]
And so I don't know that I'd had that realization. I say adult learners. I like all learners, but I, I don't know that I had the realization, um, necessarily that it would be s-specifically community college. I don't, I don't... Anyway. 

00:07:42,704 --> 00:07:43,154 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Well, why did you- 

00:07:43,154 --> 00:07:43,944 [Shane McElrath]
Flip that back. 

00:07:43,944 --> 00:07:48,924 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
As far as, like, the adult learners, you, you teach students from early college- 

00:07:48,924 --> 00:07:49,604 [Shane McElrath]
Yeah, it's a big mix 

00:07:49,604 --> 00:07:50,684 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
... all the way through 

00:07:51,804 --> 00:07:52,904 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
whatever age you can think of. 

00:07:52,904 --> 00:07:54,064 [Shane McElrath]
Oh, I just put a plus sign. 

00:07:54,064 --> 00:07:54,174 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Yeah, plus. 

00:07:54,174 --> 00:07:55,384 [Shane McElrath]
So I do, like, 14 plus. 

00:07:55,384 --> 00:07:56,944 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
It's like you're Legos. Like nu- 

00:07:56,944 --> 00:07:57,924 [Shane McElrath]
[laughs] 

00:07:57,924 --> 00:08:00,004 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
... like 9 through 99 plus. 

00:08:00,004 --> 00:08:00,214 [Shane McElrath]
Yes. 

00:08:00,214 --> 00:08:00,244 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Um, yeah. 

00:08:00,244 --> 00:08:03,064 [Shane McElrath]
Community colleges are for 14 plus. 

00:08:03,064 --> 00:08:09,304 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Yes, exactly. So, I mean, I, I think it's a cool thing about community colleges is c- you get the full array. 

00:08:09,304 --> 00:08:27,334 [Shane McElrath]
That's actually what really... So I had this... That's part of that, yes, that's... You're helping me answer this previous question. There was this realization that I had that I could have the fun of high schoolers and learn, and have teenagers in my classroom without all of the, well, we'll just say that there's added layers to public education. 

00:08:27,334 --> 00:08:27,344 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Yes. 

00:08:27,344 --> 00:08:30,904 [Shane McElrath]
So without all of that, but then I also got to have people like my dad- 

00:08:30,904 --> 00:08:31,044 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Mm-hmm 

00:08:31,044 --> 00:08:39,704 [Shane McElrath]
... who, he went here too, um, whenever he was in his 50s, so that I would get this just, like, broad net of every learner I could pos-possibly have wanted to have taught- 

00:08:39,704 --> 00:08:39,834 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Mm-hmm 

00:08:39,834 --> 00:08:57,084 [Shane McElrath]
... there, except for kids, right? But if I really wanted to go hang out with some youngins, I can go down to the, the RCAC, go hang out with it in the early childhood development sector. Um, but yeah, the, I got to have all of the learners in, sometimes in one classroom, sometimes separated into early college, but when I, when I realized that, I was sold. 

00:08:57,084 --> 00:08:57,544 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Yeah. 

00:08:57,544 --> 00:08:59,544 [Shane McElrath]
[laughs] 

00:08:59,544 --> 00:09:19,244 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Um, so we kind of, this kind of leads back into that previous question. So what do you think makes community colleges like HCC so special or val-valuable, especially for students who are just starting out or looking for a new beginning, looking to come back and finish a degree or retool? 

00:09:19,244 --> 00:09:19,664 [Shane McElrath]
Hmm. 

00:09:19,664 --> 00:09:23,504 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
So what does, what does HCC offer those individuals? 

00:09:25,064 --> 00:10:52,034 [Shane McElrath]
We are able to work with students on a more, I would argue, more individualized level because, you know, when we think about... When I think about having been here versus transferring and going to UNCA and then even transferring into, uh, Western, it's that, you know, here we have, what, 1,500 students? I'm not really sure. But then it just, it triples when you get to UNCA, and then that number triples when you get to Western, and it's not that they don't offer really personal or, like, you know, different relationships as far as being on campus, but I think that what's really awesome about us is that, you know, you are gonna make relationships with the people that you meet. Um, yeah, hopefully longer lasting ones that will carry over into, you know, when you're working through a different program, when you're graduating, all of those things. So I would say what is unique or what we offer at community college level, but specifically at HCC, is that, yeah, we all get to get on each other's level. You're gonna have some, you're gonna have classes that are smaller to where you feel like, you know, your instructors know your first name. So it's, it is on a personal level, and they'll meet you where you are. Um, that's something that it sort of feels like it's a sink or swim situation sometimes when you go into a bigger university that there's not a lot of hands that are able to, like, even acknowledge or recognize to reach out whenever you might be feel like you're drowning and stuff. Uh, and I feel like that's something that we work really hard on here is that we really try to, um, 

00:10:53,064 --> 00:10:57,924 [Shane McElrath]
acknowledge, you know, like, if, if we do see a student struggling on the instructor side, um, 

00:10:58,984 --> 00:11:02,604 [Shane McElrath]
there's hopefully gonna be that communication piece of it and everything. So, yeah. 

00:11:02,604 --> 00:11:09,684 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Yeah, I, I think the, you know, we, we do have a smaller student-teacher ratio. Um, also I th- I think 

00:11:10,964 --> 00:11:12,084 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
the, since we're, 

00:11:13,104 --> 00:11:15,264 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
you know, a smaller campus, 

00:11:16,624 --> 00:11:56,084 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
um, you know, I, you see s- you start to learn... Like, I teach a couple cla- classes that are online, so I don't usually... Sometimes I see, like, students I taught. They're like, "Oh, hey, I was in your class." Like, there was a forestry student, and he remembered me. I was like, "That's cool." Um, but, uh, you know, it's, uh, you start to learn the students. Like, I s- I see students I helped once with some project, and I get to see them as they move through their journey here and ask them how they're doing and if they need any help with anything tech-wise. And also, like, the support services we have, um, like when I went to school, back to school at a community college, I think one of the key reasons that I was successful was I had a really good advisor- 

00:11:56,084 --> 00:11:56,624 [Shane McElrath]
Mm 

00:11:56,624 --> 00:12:00,064 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
... that would take the time to meet with me because I was very unsure- 

00:12:00,064 --> 00:12:00,324 [Shane McElrath]
Yeah 

00:12:00,324 --> 00:12:07,620 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
... of what I was doing, and he, he had a, a immense amount of patienceAnd kind of empathy [laughs]- 

00:12:07,620 --> 00:12:07,800 [Shane McElrath]
Yeah 

00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:28,540 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
... for, for especially people going back. And I know, um, you know, faculty advisors really help with planning kind of the trajectory of students as they move through whatever program they're in, you know, whether they- they're just coming for their certificate or diploma or their, the, you know, associates and transferring. 

00:12:29,660 --> 00:12:31,310 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
So, uh, I see that. 

00:12:31,310 --> 00:12:31,320 [Shane McElrath]
Yeah. 

00:12:31,320 --> 00:12:35,600 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
You know, when I walk down the hall, I see it with you meeting with students- 

00:12:35,600 --> 00:12:36,140 [Shane McElrath]
Mm-hmm 

00:12:36,140 --> 00:12:58,160 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
... um, one-to-one and helping them along. So I think that's really a cool thing here. You're, uh... it seems like the, uh, we're really good at establishing relationships and, like, sustaining relationships with students to help foster and facilitate their success. It's not just, like, transactionary, uh, education. 

00:12:58,160 --> 00:12:59,160 [Shane McElrath]
Right. Like I have you- 

00:12:59,160 --> 00:12:59,200 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
You know? 

00:12:59,200 --> 00:13:02,280 [Shane McElrath]
I had you in fall of 2022, I'll never see you again- 

00:13:02,280 --> 00:13:02,410 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Yeah 

00:13:02,410 --> 00:13:03,280 [Shane McElrath]
... sort of exchange. 

00:13:03,280 --> 00:13:04,240 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Transactional. What a- 

00:13:04,240 --> 00:13:04,250 [Shane McElrath]
Yeah 

00:13:04,250 --> 00:13:05,960 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
... transactionary. I just made a word up. 

00:13:05,960 --> 00:13:06,280 [Shane McElrath]
Yeah. 

00:13:06,280 --> 00:13:31,920 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Um, you know, yeah, exactly. So it's not like you're in my class, here's the, the information and you're gonna, you're gonna spit it out back in a test. No, you really, you know, uh, I see folks circle around and know they can rely on you for help in the future or like, hey, you know, guidance or other support. So, um, I see that just from an internal side, and I think that's a pretty cool thing. Um- 

00:13:31,920 --> 00:13:32,260 [Shane McElrath]
Yeah. Yeah 

00:13:32,260 --> 00:13:32,800 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
... you know. 

00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:54,520 [Shane McElrath]
I think that's one... that's something that I love as a teacher, um, that I didn't get whenever I was, like, at a bigger school. Um, like, I, I see students, like you were saying, I see them in the hallways. But I, some of them I'll see for four years, so some of them will start as freshmen over on the early college side, and then seeing the difference just, I mean, one, physically, like [laughs] over the four years of growth. 

00:13:54,520 --> 00:13:54,580 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Yeah. 

00:13:54,580 --> 00:14:50,930 [Shane McElrath]
Um, but then also, like, as, as far as, you know, academically, um, that they, they're growing too, but getting to see students outside of the one semester. I get to see them, uh, like you were saying, through the, the hallways and stuff, but actually, you know, on several occasions over and over and over again, I get to see them, and that's something that, you know, I would have a class with a student and then literally never see them again at the other places. And so another thing that I love about it is that we all participate in graduation, and that's not something that I got to be involved in before. And it's, it's not just another thing that we have to do. Like, I love graduation. It's one of my favorite things. And I'll go through the list and I'll check, and I'll be like, "Oh, I had this student, I had this student." Um, but that, like, you know, like we get to celebrate with them in that way too. It almost feels, it almost feels selfish that we get to, like, take a bite out of that too, but it's really cool that we get to not only, you know, like witness it, see it, we're on the stage for it, but just really, like, again, like rallying around students, celebrating with students, that's one of my favorite- 

00:14:50,930 --> 00:14:50,930 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Yeah 

00:14:50,930 --> 00:14:51,440 [Shane McElrath]
... parts too. 

00:14:51,440 --> 00:14:59,739 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
No, that's good to hear. I think it's cool 'cause it's like the culmination of their journey here with us, and then you're allowed to, you know, take part in that- 

00:14:59,740 --> 00:15:00,090 [Shane McElrath]
Yeah 

00:15:00,090 --> 00:15:19,799 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
... and share in that. 'Cause it is an exciting time, you know? I mean, graduating, whether that's, you know, you're gonna move on to something else or into the workforce or, you know, whatever your future holds, um, I think it's pretty cool that you're, you're, you value that aspect of your job. 

00:15:19,800 --> 00:15:20,280 [Shane McElrath]
Mm-hmm. 

00:15:20,280 --> 00:15:23,860 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Um, and that's just, yeah, that's coming up around the corner s- pretty soon, so. 

00:15:23,860 --> 00:15:25,220 [Shane McElrath]
Two weeks. Two weeks. 

00:15:25,220 --> 00:15:38,530 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Um, so, so how do you use your own experience as a former student to connect with and inspire your students today? Like, how does your experience inform your current practices as a, 

00:15:39,720 --> 00:15:41,160 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
as a educator? 

00:15:41,160 --> 00:16:16,010 [Shane McElrath]
Oh, man. Um, [laughs] it helps in conversations with students, it helps give me perspective, um, in terms of, like, yeah, I, I do get that you are working two jobs and that one of those might be night shift, and you might also be supporting your parents. You know, that's, that was my situation. That's why I came to a community college is that I, you know, I had certain responsibilities and so it does help give me perspective. Um, you know, like, if I see a student that might be seeming really distant in class, well, you know, I've got some ideas about what might be happening. We might've stayed up too late video gaming. We might have worked third shift, right? 

00:16:16,010 --> 00:16:16,040 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Yeah. 

00:16:16,040 --> 00:16:51,960 [Shane McElrath]
So there, it comes out in that way. Uh, it comes out in the ways of, you know, how I design the classes too and what I think is important for us to talk about. Um, but it, it comes up often. You know, I'll, I, I think story and s- sharing story is a really important part of the exchanges in our classrooms or just being human in general. And so, you know, I give them snippets of, of what my experiences were to really, like, normalize, like, hey, you might feel like you're not on track, or you might feel like this reading's really hard. I have to take notes in the margins too, right? So just trying to kind of normalize the struggle bus that learning can be and that there is discomfort in learning, and that's totally normal- 

00:16:51,960 --> 00:16:52,020 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Yeah 

00:16:52,020 --> 00:17:02,580 [Shane McElrath]
... and that's part of growth, right? And so we talk through some of those things, but it comes up, it comes up often and it, I feel like it gives me, um, it gives me some credibility, but it all, it helps make my job easier too. 

00:17:02,580 --> 00:17:06,160 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
I often stand at the, uh, the stop for the discomfort bus. 

00:17:06,160 --> 00:17:07,000 [Shane McElrath]
[laughs] 

00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:07,270 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
And, uh, 

00:17:08,720 --> 00:17:15,050 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
that's, yeah. I'm often there. And I, I just sit, I sit right in the front of the discomfort bus. 

00:17:15,050 --> 00:17:16,120 [Shane McElrath]
Oh, you pull the horn. 

00:17:16,120 --> 00:17:17,930 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Often, and often driving the discomfort bus. [laughs] 

00:17:17,930 --> 00:17:19,440 [Shane McElrath]
[laughs] 

00:17:19,440 --> 00:17:35,420 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
The, uh, yeah, so that's a good one. No, I, I think perspective is a big thing. Like, um, if I'm teaching a class, everything I do is first all looking through the lens of the student and realizing, like, you're not just a student, you're, it's the whole package. It's that- 

00:17:35,420 --> 00:17:35,920 [Shane McElrath]
Yeah 

00:17:35,920 --> 00:17:38,870 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
... it's that holistic teaching that I know you do. 

00:17:38,870 --> 00:17:38,960 [Shane McElrath]
Yeah. 

00:17:38,960 --> 00:17:42,670 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Um, yeah, and Shane and I can talk, like, for hours about teaching the right way. [laughs] 

00:17:42,670 --> 00:17:44,320 [Shane McElrath]
[laughs] We need to do that over the summer. 

00:17:44,320 --> 00:18:00,680 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
So, yeah, we can have a whole, a whole series of podcasts on that. But, uh, yeah, it's the whole student and knowing that they have things at home, the challenges. Like, I went back to school, um, for my undergrad. It was, I was going full-time, like four nights a week from 6:00 to 10:00. 

00:18:00,680 --> 00:18:00,810 [Shane McElrath]
Man. 

00:18:00,810 --> 00:18:03,200 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Had a kid, worked a full-time job, so. 

00:18:03,200 --> 00:18:03,600 [Shane McElrath]
Oh, wow. 

00:18:03,600 --> 00:18:14,628 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
You know, luckily I had instructors that realized, oh, you have other things happening. [laughs] Maybe I can give you some grace. So, and I, I know it's-That's what I appreciate about you, is that you look at the whole student. 

00:18:14,628 --> 00:18:15,578 [Shane McElrath]
I try. 

00:18:15,578 --> 00:18:15,608 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Yeah. 

00:18:15,608 --> 00:18:16,048 [Shane McElrath]
Sometimes- 

00:18:16,048 --> 00:18:16,438 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Well, you show- 

00:18:16,438 --> 00:18:17,298 [Shane McElrath]
... I miss it, but yeah, hey 

00:18:17,298 --> 00:18:19,228 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
... yeah, it's hard 'cause you have like, you know, 

00:18:20,448 --> 00:18:29,388 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
what you're gonna get out of the class, but you need to take into account that they have other things, you know, on their plate, and it's, uh, 

00:18:30,428 --> 00:18:31,268 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
yes. 

00:18:31,268 --> 00:18:31,288 [Shane McElrath]
Yeah. 

00:18:31,288 --> 00:18:36,928 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Learning isn't always easy. Just being, you know, going through life sometimes- 

00:18:36,928 --> 00:18:38,448 [Shane McElrath]
I was gonna say, life'n ain't easy. 

00:18:38,448 --> 00:18:39,688 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Life, life'n ain't- 

00:18:39,688 --> 00:18:40,248 [Shane McElrath]
Life'n ain't easy. 

00:18:40,248 --> 00:18:41,888 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Life'n, that's my new bumper sticker. 

00:18:41,888 --> 00:18:43,028 [Shane McElrath]
You turned [laughs] 

00:18:43,028 --> 00:18:44,497 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Life'n. L-I-F-I-N- 

00:18:44,497 --> 00:18:44,508 [Shane McElrath]
Life'n. Life'n 

00:18:44,508 --> 00:18:47,548 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
... apostrophe A-E-Z. 

00:18:47,548 --> 00:18:47,658 [Shane McElrath]
A-E-Z. 

00:18:47,658 --> 00:18:47,658 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
That's- 

00:18:47,658 --> 00:18:48,348 [Shane McElrath]
Learn it ain't easy 

00:18:48,348 --> 00:18:49,248 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
... trademark. 

00:18:49,248 --> 00:18:50,247 [Shane McElrath]
[laughs] 

00:18:50,248 --> 00:18:50,298 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Yes. 

00:18:50,298 --> 00:18:51,668 [Shane McElrath]
We create- we branded that today. 

00:18:51,668 --> 00:18:52,098 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
That's it. 

00:18:52,098 --> 00:18:53,168 [Shane McElrath]
[laughs] 

00:18:53,168 --> 00:19:05,548 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Oh, boy. All right. So, um, what, what's, what's one piece of ad- of advice you always try to give s- students? That could be like a, a broad or- 

00:19:05,548 --> 00:19:05,608 [Shane McElrath]
Oh 

00:19:05,608 --> 00:19:09,488 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
... you can think of some kinda like specific- 

00:19:09,488 --> 00:19:09,808 [Shane McElrath]
Oh 

00:19:09,808 --> 00:19:12,948 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
... any, any... What would your, your other bumper sticker say? 

00:19:12,948 --> 00:19:14,808 [Shane McElrath]
I'll be so philosophical, all right? 

00:19:14,808 --> 00:19:15,308 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Oh, boy. 

00:19:15,308 --> 00:19:15,888 [Shane McElrath]
Here we go. 

00:19:15,888 --> 00:19:16,548 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Okay. 

00:19:16,548 --> 00:19:19,068 [Shane McElrath]
Communicate and check your email. [laughs] 

00:19:19,068 --> 00:19:23,288 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
[laughs] Oh, and your, your HCC email. 

00:19:23,288 --> 00:19:24,588 [Shane McElrath]
Yes, not your personal- 

00:19:24,588 --> 00:19:24,598 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Yes 

00:19:24,598 --> 00:19:29,208 [Shane McElrath]
... Yahoo, uh, cutie99@h- @yahoo.com. 

00:19:29,208 --> 00:19:29,288 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Yeah. 

00:19:29,288 --> 00:19:29,718 [Shane McElrath]
No. Your- 

00:19:29,718 --> 00:19:30,548 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
At AOL. 

00:19:30,548 --> 00:19:32,548 [Shane McElrath]
[laughs] I still have a Hotmail account. 

00:19:32,548 --> 00:19:32,988 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Yes. 

00:19:32,988 --> 00:19:33,988 [Shane McElrath]
Let's, let's not talk- 

00:19:33,988 --> 00:19:34,468 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
That's okay 

00:19:34,468 --> 00:19:49,807 [Shane McElrath]
... about that. Let's date ourselves. Um, no, communication is, is huge. Like we were just talking about this idea of, of holistic teaching or education and like this, like thinking about the fact that whole humans are in our classes. Whole humans are teaching you as well. Um, and so- 

00:19:49,808 --> 00:19:49,848 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Mm-hmm 

00:19:49,848 --> 00:20:38,648 [Shane McElrath]
... in order for me sometimes to, you know, like have the full perspective, sometimes you've gotta, you gotta, you gotta communicate, you gotta reach out. So I tell them that if you're silent, that's telling me, especially if you're an online student, if they're silent, you know, the assumption is that everything is going okay, it's going, it's going fine. And so communication is a, is a big thing. Um, whether that's gonna be an email, if it's that you catch your instructors after class. You know, I'm not saying, you know, gush everything that's going on in your personal life. I'm just saying make those, make those connections, have those communications. It, it doesn't have to be, you know, like when you're gonna miss a class, but just taking a- taking advantage of the space that you're in, um, and communicating with your instructors is... Not just instructors, everybody on campus, right? Building relationship with other people. Connect and communicate, I guess that's what I'm getting at. 

00:20:38,648 --> 00:20:54,628 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Well, I mean, the communication part is a good life skill anyway, 'cause... And like for online students, if you go off the radar, as an instructor, you know, that's invested in the process, it's, it's challenging because like I'm genuinely like worried about you- 

00:20:54,628 --> 00:20:54,868 [Shane McElrath]
Mm-hmm 

00:20:54,868 --> 00:20:59,828 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
... as a person if like you're engaged for a couple weeks and then like I can't get ahold of you. 

00:20:59,828 --> 00:21:00,188 [Shane McElrath]
Mm-hmm. 

00:21:00,188 --> 00:21:09,348 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Um, you know, I'll send emails, call. I've sent like, you know, um, notes in the mail like, "Hey, you just-" 

00:21:09,348 --> 00:21:09,448 [Shane McElrath]
[laughs] 

00:21:09,448 --> 00:21:11,768 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
I can't, we can't say, you know, 'cause FERPA, but like- 

00:21:11,768 --> 00:21:12,328 [Shane McElrath]
Right. Right 

00:21:12,328 --> 00:21:15,348 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
... "Hey, can you just, this is your instruct- Can you just let me know, call me." 

00:21:15,348 --> 00:21:16,708 [Shane McElrath]
Yeah. I'm checking in. 

00:21:16,708 --> 00:21:20,767 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Um, just checking in, yeah. Es- especially like during, you know, the hurricane. I know other things- 

00:21:20,768 --> 00:21:21,348 [Shane McElrath]
Oh, yeah 

00:21:21,348 --> 00:21:22,058 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
... things happened. 

00:21:22,058 --> 00:21:22,068 [Shane McElrath]
That was- 

00:21:22,068 --> 00:21:29,588 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
But, but even, you know, post-hurricane, it's still, um... You know, I, I worry to make sure you're good. 

00:21:29,588 --> 00:21:29,748 [Shane McElrath]
Yeah. 

00:21:29,748 --> 00:21:33,188 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
But also it's a good practice because, uh, it's, it... 

00:21:34,408 --> 00:21:40,767 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
You know, I had some, I had some students that, you know, m- you, you may have some kind of medical... Something happened. 

00:21:40,768 --> 00:21:41,008 [Shane McElrath]
Yeah. 

00:21:41,008 --> 00:21:58,808 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
You know? And, and I, I have grace as far as like deadlines. If you're, if you're experiencing some hardship then, you know, there, there m- I'm not gonna speak for all instructors, but there may be something they could do to, to be a little more flexible. 

00:21:58,808 --> 00:21:59,308 [Shane McElrath]
Yeah. Yeah. 

00:21:59,308 --> 00:22:10,628 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Um, so but we don't know unless you say something. Like for assignments, if you're having a hard time, I tell my students, "I don't want you to sit there and become so frustrated- 

00:22:10,628 --> 00:22:11,148 [Shane McElrath]
Mm 

00:22:11,148 --> 00:22:25,168 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
... that you just like go, 'Forget about it.' Um, just let me know." Like to, and, and students, once I communicate that a few times, students are really good about saying, "Hey, this particular activity, this is getting wonky." 

00:22:26,548 --> 00:22:47,828 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
And then usually, like all the time in this course, you know, it's, I can resolve it with them. Um, because I don't want you to get frustrated because, you know, these s- anything can be a catalyst. Like these good experiences can be a catalyst to carry on, and unfortunately, bad experiences can be a catalyst to like, you know, eject. 

00:22:47,828 --> 00:22:47,988 [Shane McElrath]
Yeah. 

00:22:47,988 --> 00:22:49,428 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Which we don't want to happen. 

00:22:49,428 --> 00:22:49,788 [Shane McElrath]
No. 

00:22:49,788 --> 00:22:55,288 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Because we genuinely care about the success and health of our students- 

00:22:55,288 --> 00:22:55,428 [Shane McElrath]
Mm-hmm 

00:22:56,488 --> 00:23:00,528 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
... to persevere and carry on. But, um, that's a big answer for the communication. [laughs] 

00:23:00,528 --> 00:23:01,288 [Shane McElrath]
No, that's huge. 

00:23:01,288 --> 00:23:01,608 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
But- 

00:23:01,608 --> 00:23:01,738 [Shane McElrath]
That's a- 

00:23:01,738 --> 00:23:05,348 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
... you know, we can't do that unless like you check your HCC email. [laughs] 

00:23:05,348 --> 00:23:08,348 [Shane McElrath]
You check your emails. That's, that's where we're most, that's where we're most often- 

00:23:08,348 --> 00:23:08,358 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Do it- 

00:23:08,358 --> 00:23:09,188 [Shane McElrath]
... communicating. 

00:23:09,188 --> 00:23:09,678 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Yes. 

00:23:09,678 --> 00:23:09,708 [Shane McElrath]
Um. 

00:23:09,708 --> 00:23:12,768 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Do it regularly and, uh, and often. 

00:23:12,768 --> 00:23:13,328 [Shane McElrath]
Often. Often. 

00:23:13,328 --> 00:23:14,588 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
And that's the same thing. 

00:23:14,588 --> 00:23:15,768 [Shane McElrath]
I mean, it's good to have- 

00:23:15,768 --> 00:23:15,877 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
But- 

00:23:15,877 --> 00:23:20,418 [Shane McElrath]
It's good to have a boundary as far as what your, you know, like checking email stuff looks like. 

00:23:20,418 --> 00:23:20,448 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Yeah, your capacity is. 

00:23:20,448 --> 00:23:32,738 [Shane McElrath]
So I mean, if you don't wanna, if you don't wanna put an app on your phone, I will say that was something that was helpful for me and just that it gave me an alert, doesn't mean that I always have to have it open. Uh, but then I can also turn it off in the evenings, right? 

00:23:32,738 --> 00:23:32,788 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Oh, yeah. 

00:23:32,788 --> 00:23:39,128 [Shane McElrath]
So having some, some digital boundaries there. So I make it to where my email won't come in after a certain time, so they can do that as well- 

00:23:39,128 --> 00:23:39,138 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Yeah 

00:23:39,138 --> 00:24:02,728 [Shane McElrath]
... if it makes their lives easier. But, but yeah, es- and especially as an online student, you know, you were talking about like, we care about our, we, of course, we care about our students, you know, if you're frustrated or you're, it's getting to a point where it feels like it's escalating or you're, you're getting disengaged or demotivated, reaching out. Um, students often feel, you know, I, I have students tell me all the time, they're like, "I'm sorry that I have so many questions," or, "I'm sorry, but I wanna ask..." Don't apologize. 

00:24:02,728 --> 00:24:02,748 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
No. 

00:24:02,748 --> 00:24:03,887 [Shane McElrath]
Ask those questions. 

00:24:03,888 --> 00:24:04,588 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Yeah. 

00:24:04,588 --> 00:24:25,756 [Shane McElrath]
That's what we're here for, and your silence again tells us that things are going well. And so if you have a question and you've looked everywhere and you can't find it, don't just stay silent. That's one of the, you know, challenges of being in an online class. Um, in person it's a little easier 'cause, you know, you can raise your hand or you can linger afterwards and ask those questions. But-Sometimes students feel like it's gotta be some big deal to send an email, and it, it doesn't 

00:24:25,756 --> 00:24:32,986 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Oh, no. Yeah, I mean, I, I always communicate also. Like, literally, [laughs] I- in a week module I probably say it five, six times. 

00:24:32,986 --> 00:24:33,026 [Shane McElrath]
[laughs] 

00:24:33,026 --> 00:24:34,575 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
"If you have a question, let me know." 

00:24:34,576 --> 00:24:35,015 [Shane McElrath]
Yes. 

00:24:35,016 --> 00:24:44,936 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Like, and I don't care if it's, if you think it's like nonsensical question, it's not. If it popped into your head, then it has some validity- 

00:24:44,936 --> 00:24:45,836 [Shane McElrath]
Mm-hmm 

00:24:45,836 --> 00:24:48,966 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
... and please express that question. 

00:24:48,966 --> 00:24:49,096 [Shane McElrath]
Mm-hmm. 

00:24:49,096 --> 00:24:53,056 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Um, because I'd rather have it answered- 

00:24:53,056 --> 00:24:53,676 [Shane McElrath]
Mm-hmm 

00:24:53,676 --> 00:24:56,276 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
... than it just kinda hanging in the ether- 

00:24:56,276 --> 00:24:56,516 [Shane McElrath]
Yeah 

00:24:56,516 --> 00:24:57,356 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
... and never get answered. 

00:24:57,356 --> 00:24:57,396 [Shane McElrath]
Yeah. 

00:24:57,396 --> 00:24:59,596 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
So yes, if you have a question, ask. 

00:24:59,596 --> 00:25:00,926 [Shane McElrath]
And it, it helps with course design. 

00:25:00,926 --> 00:25:06,836 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
And... Yes. And oftentimes it's something with a module that's, that's back to wonkiness. 

00:25:06,836 --> 00:25:06,866 [Shane McElrath]
[laughs] 

00:25:06,866 --> 00:25:09,556 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Um, that it's like I didn't know- 

00:25:09,556 --> 00:25:09,976 [Shane McElrath]
Mm-hmm 

00:25:09,976 --> 00:25:11,436 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
... that was kind of a glitchy thing- 

00:25:11,436 --> 00:25:11,496 [Shane McElrath]
Mm-hmm 

00:25:11,496 --> 00:25:19,896 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
... and I was able to resolve it, and it probably affected, you know, more than one person. And it, it served a purpose of a greater value- 

00:25:19,896 --> 00:25:20,076 [Shane McElrath]
Yeah 

00:25:20,076 --> 00:25:22,736 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
... than just like, you know, a simple query. 

00:25:22,736 --> 00:25:23,096 [Shane McElrath]
Yeah. 

00:25:23,096 --> 00:25:27,196 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
So yeah, have questions, ask your instructor. Yes. 

00:25:27,196 --> 00:25:28,756 [Shane McElrath]
Connect and communicate. 

00:25:28,756 --> 00:25:30,496 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Connect and communicate. 

00:25:30,496 --> 00:25:31,316 [Shane McElrath]
Find a community- 

00:25:31,316 --> 00:25:31,366 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
That's it 

00:25:31,366 --> 00:25:33,206 [Shane McElrath]
... of people outside of your instructors too. 

00:25:33,206 --> 00:25:33,916 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Yeah, and it's part of your- 

00:25:33,916 --> 00:25:34,616 [Shane McElrath]
Make friends 

00:25:34,616 --> 00:25:49,136 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
... yeah, it, it's, it's part of your support system. What, you know, the, the whole community of learning, um, one thing that got me through school was having just a, we were in a cohort, I just relied on them for like questions. 

00:25:49,136 --> 00:25:49,155 [Shane McElrath]
Yeah. 

00:25:49,156 --> 00:25:56,516 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Like, ask your instructor, but also you could be like, you can clarify things with your, with your compatriots in a class. 

00:25:56,516 --> 00:25:56,875 [Shane McElrath]
Yeah. 

00:25:56,876 --> 00:26:10,896 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Like, "Oh, hey, when's this assignment due?" Like, you know, ask the instructor, but it's good to have other friends to rely on, um, to communicate with and get ideas from, and that's just a, you know, a common human practice is to 

00:26:11,916 --> 00:26:13,326 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
[laughs] get- 

00:26:13,326 --> 00:26:13,326 [Shane McElrath]
It'll- 

00:26:13,326 --> 00:26:14,926 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Get in the, get in the herd. 

00:26:14,926 --> 00:26:17,056 [Shane McElrath]
[laughs] That's it. It'll help you persist. 

00:26:17,056 --> 00:26:17,436 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
That's it. Yes. 

00:26:17,436 --> 00:26:18,816 [Shane McElrath]
It'll feel like support. 

00:26:18,816 --> 00:26:22,536 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
And plus you're developing those interpersonal skills that are necessary for- 

00:26:22,536 --> 00:26:22,546 [Shane McElrath]
Oh 

00:26:22,546 --> 00:26:26,336 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
... achieving, uh, good things in the workforce. 

00:26:26,336 --> 00:26:27,736 [Shane McElrath]
Number one thing the workforce- 

00:26:27,736 --> 00:26:27,746 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Yes 

00:26:27,746 --> 00:26:29,856 [Shane McElrath]
... and employers are looking for 

00:26:29,856 --> 00:26:31,556 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Those soft skills. Oh, soft skills. 

00:26:31,556 --> 00:26:32,635 [Shane McElrath]
[laughs] 

00:26:32,696 --> 00:26:33,576 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Very important. 

00:26:34,636 --> 00:26:38,436 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Okay. So our, our final question- 

00:26:38,436 --> 00:26:38,936 [Shane McElrath]
Uh-oh 

00:26:38,936 --> 00:26:39,236 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
... is 

00:26:40,956 --> 00:26:43,036 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
in the future. 

00:26:43,036 --> 00:26:44,686 [Shane McElrath]
[laughs] 

00:26:44,686 --> 00:26:54,926 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
The fu- the future. Uh, so if you could send one message to a prospective student listening to this podcast somewhere on the globe- 

00:26:54,926 --> 00:26:55,296 [Shane McElrath]
[laughs] 

00:26:55,296 --> 00:26:55,776 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
... or in, 

00:26:56,876 --> 00:26:59,456 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
you know, some aliens picking them up in outer space, 

00:27:00,936 --> 00:27:10,076 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
um, some student that's considering community college or HCC, uh, what would your one message be to that student? 

00:27:11,576 --> 00:27:14,436 [Shane McElrath]
Do it. [laughs] 

00:27:14,436 --> 00:27:16,026 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Just d- oh, no, can't say just do it. 

00:27:16,026 --> 00:27:16,776 [Shane McElrath]
Oh, we can't say that either. 

00:27:16,776 --> 00:27:18,076 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Copyright infringement. 

00:27:18,076 --> 00:27:48,296 [Shane McElrath]
[laughs] Oh, I encourage it, do it. You hear us all the time talking about like education changes everything. It does. It does. From personal perspective to opportunities and doors that open. Uh, whether it's that you wanna, you know, consider a continuing ed class and try, you know, just, uh, something like a painting class just to get on campus, do it. Or a, you know, toe dip in. You don't have to be full-time. If you've wondered what it would be like to be in a classroom, try one- 

00:27:48,296 --> 00:27:48,306 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Yeah 

00:27:48,306 --> 00:27:50,056 [Shane McElrath]
... out. Um- 

00:27:50,056 --> 00:27:52,516 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Yeah, I mean, it's the hardest step is just like the first- 

00:27:52,516 --> 00:27:53,136 [Shane McElrath]
The start 

00:27:53,136 --> 00:27:55,996 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
... that's another, that's another bumper sticker. 

00:27:55,996 --> 00:27:56,566 [Shane McElrath]
The start. 

00:27:56,566 --> 00:27:56,576 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
But- 

00:27:56,576 --> 00:27:59,475 [Shane McElrath]
And the build up in our head, right? So like the hardest part is- 

00:27:59,476 --> 00:28:00,496 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Well, yeah. Yes 

00:28:00,496 --> 00:28:16,696 [Shane McElrath]
... we're gonna build it up and it's gonna seem like, I mean, that's just naturally what we do, but, you know, like the one, we might have one small concern about whether or not we should or we shouldn't do it, and then that big loud inner critic voice that's telling you you shouldn't do it starts listing out all these reasons why you can't. But there's- 

00:28:16,696 --> 00:28:18,396 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Well, it's like imposter syndrome too. 

00:28:18,396 --> 00:28:18,836 [Shane McElrath]
Yeah. 

00:28:18,836 --> 00:28:19,876 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Like I went through that- 

00:28:19,876 --> 00:28:19,885 [Shane McElrath]
Mm-hmm 

00:28:19,885 --> 00:28:20,856 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
... severely. 

00:28:20,856 --> 00:28:21,986 [Shane McElrath]
Been there, felt that- 

00:28:21,986 --> 00:28:22,026 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
When I went, you know- 

00:28:22,026 --> 00:28:22,926 [Shane McElrath]
... tremendously too 

00:28:22,926 --> 00:28:47,775 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
... s- started App State with my master's, like I didn't wanna wear an App State T-shirt until I was like one semester through, 'cause what if I can't do it and I fail? And like, well, you know, it, it, we had a, I had a good support system there, of really good instructors, and everything worked out. But yeah, there's s- some things you need to get over, but luckily we have, you know, if you're thinking about it, we have success coaches you can meet with. 

00:28:47,776 --> 00:28:47,996 [Shane McElrath]
Mm-hmm. 

00:28:47,996 --> 00:28:54,516 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
And then we have faculty advisors. Um, we have a lot of good opportunities to help with your financial situation. 

00:28:54,516 --> 00:28:54,956 [Shane McElrath]
Mm-hmm. 

00:28:54,956 --> 00:29:07,536 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
It's like you can, there's some free tuition opt- options, uh, scholarships. I know our foundation helps with that. So I think we do a lot institutionally to help support the first step. 

00:29:07,536 --> 00:29:08,215 [Shane McElrath]
Oh, yeah. 

00:29:08,216 --> 00:29:12,196 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Getting, getting in, and then also helping sustain. 

00:29:12,196 --> 00:29:12,595 [Shane McElrath]
Mm-hmm. 

00:29:12,596 --> 00:29:23,116 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Because once you get over, we, we, we want you to continue your journey here. Um, and you know, I, I think we do a lot to support student success. 

00:29:24,336 --> 00:29:25,716 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
But I kinda hijacked your question. 

00:29:25,716 --> 00:29:26,736 [Shane McElrath]
No, I love it. 

00:29:26,736 --> 00:29:26,756 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
So [laughs] 

00:29:26,756 --> 00:29:30,256 [Shane McElrath]
This, we're, we're co-, we're co-answering, right? [laughs] 

00:29:30,256 --> 00:29:32,876 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
But, uh, yes. So you- the just do it, there you go. 

00:29:32,876 --> 00:29:33,256 [Shane McElrath]
We're both. 

00:29:33,256 --> 00:29:33,816 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Uh. 

00:29:33,816 --> 00:29:34,756 [Shane McElrath]
We're both. Yeah. 

00:29:34,756 --> 00:29:36,376 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
And Mikey's gonna pick that up and that's- 

00:29:36,376 --> 00:29:37,936 [Shane McElrath]
Oh, you weren't supposed to add the just. 

00:29:37,936 --> 00:29:38,956 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Oh, no. 

00:29:38,956 --> 00:29:39,536 [Shane McElrath]
D- do it. 

00:29:39,536 --> 00:29:40,236 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Do it. 

00:29:40,236 --> 00:29:41,496 [Shane McElrath]
Do, do it. 

00:29:41,496 --> 00:29:41,696 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Just do it. 

00:29:41,696 --> 00:29:56,286 [Shane McElrath]
Uh, no ma- yeah, I guess it would be, advice wise, like no matter where you are in the scheme of it, whether you're like feeling really confident, you're questioning yourself or, or wherever you are, um, somebody on this campus would be eager to have a conversation- 

00:29:56,286 --> 00:29:56,286 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Oh, oh 

00:29:56,286 --> 00:30:07,286 [Shane McElrath]
... with you and answer any of those questions. And then like, you know, like you were saying, that there's just so many ways that we've worked as an institution to figure out what some of the most common barriers might be. 

00:30:07,286 --> 00:30:07,336 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Yeah. 

00:30:07,336 --> 00:30:27,176 [Shane McElrath]
And so if you have those perceived, real, perceived, any, whatever the, with the barriers that you have that you're concerned about, like leaping over those hurdles, there's a lot of assists along the way, and that doesn't end once we get you in the door. Like we've been, you know, consistently trying to sort of echo through this whole thing is like there's-There's a lot of hands on deck for the whole process. 

00:30:27,176 --> 00:30:27,276 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Yeah. 

00:30:27,276 --> 00:30:27,756 [Shane McElrath]
Right? 

00:30:27,756 --> 00:30:31,936 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Well, plus if you're interested in a particular program, you can come and check it out. 

00:30:31,936 --> 00:30:32,556 [Shane McElrath]
Yeah. 

00:30:32,556 --> 00:30:51,996 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
You can schedule a tour. Um, you know, if you're into automotive stuff and, or machine, or whatever you're into, art, the professional crafts, um, you know, come talk to folks that... or whomever's teaching that, those classes. Uh, they'd be more happy to show you what's going on and what to expect. 

00:30:51,996 --> 00:30:52,616 [Shane McElrath]
Mm-hmm. 

00:30:52,616 --> 00:30:59,456 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Uh, I know, I know that's... 'Cause anytime I talk to someone about a program, you know, we're doing some kind of media for that program- 

00:30:59,456 --> 00:30:59,916 [Shane McElrath]
Mm-hmm 

00:30:59,916 --> 00:31:03,316 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
... you know, the first thing is like, "Oh, just come out and then talk to us." 

00:31:03,316 --> 00:31:04,406 [Shane McElrath]
Come get curious. All right. 

00:31:04,406 --> 00:31:04,416 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Yeah. 

00:31:04,416 --> 00:31:06,856 [Shane McElrath]
We're gonna take it back. It's not just do it, it's come get curious. 

00:31:06,856 --> 00:31:08,065 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Yeah. Or, or you know, like you're saying- 

00:31:08,065 --> 00:31:08,065 [Shane McElrath]
[laughs] 

00:31:08,065 --> 00:31:10,056 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
... like the one class. I, I always think of, 

00:31:11,176 --> 00:31:19,736 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
you know, um, the... 'cause I was an adult learner, that, that I got complacent in a job and I finally realized that I needed to, 

00:31:20,836 --> 00:31:25,336 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
you know, like, use a- get ed- use edu- education was the key- 

00:31:25,336 --> 00:31:25,636 [Shane McElrath]
Mm-hmm 

00:31:25,636 --> 00:31:28,776 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
... to achieving what I wanted to achieve. 

00:31:28,776 --> 00:31:29,356 [Shane McElrath]
Yeah. 

00:31:29,356 --> 00:31:35,476 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
So then I went back and just, I just think about like the, the parent that's like, 

00:31:36,556 --> 00:31:42,996 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
"I'd really like to just start and maybe consider something that could help me change my trajectory." 

00:31:42,996 --> 00:31:43,416 [Shane McElrath]
Yeah. 

00:31:43,416 --> 00:31:47,636 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Um, if you're in some, you know, a profession and you're like, "I need to retool." 

00:31:47,636 --> 00:31:48,356 [Shane McElrath]
Mm-hmm. 

00:31:48,356 --> 00:32:18,956 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Um, and I really, I've always been into like, working with my hands and they're like, "Oh, machining looks cool." Just come, come check it out. Uh, we have opportunities, like I said, to, to help with the financial part and, um, help, you know, get you on track and then eventually, uh, you know, through these programs. But yeah, the first step is just kind of coming to check it out and exploring and, uh, you never know what difference an education can make, you know, in your life. 

00:32:18,956 --> 00:32:19,556 [Shane McElrath]
Mm-hmm. 

00:32:19,556 --> 00:32:22,076 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
So I'm a product of that. 

00:32:22,076 --> 00:32:22,976 [Shane McElrath]
Mm-hmm. 

00:32:22,976 --> 00:32:23,916 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
It's good stuff. 

00:32:23,916 --> 00:32:24,506 [Shane McElrath]
I am too. 

00:32:24,506 --> 00:32:27,716 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
And it all started at a community college. 

00:32:27,716 --> 00:32:28,416 [Shane McElrath]
It sure did. 

00:32:28,416 --> 00:32:29,076 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Yes. 

00:32:29,076 --> 00:32:30,256 [Shane McElrath]
Yeah. 

00:32:30,256 --> 00:32:34,896 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
So, uh, yes, thank you, Shane, for sharing in this episode. 

00:32:36,036 --> 00:32:40,676 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Um, we don't have any quick-fire questions. Usually we have rapid fire questions. 

00:32:40,676 --> 00:32:41,316 [Shane McElrath]
Ah. 

00:32:41,316 --> 00:32:44,416 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
I forgoed, though. Is that a word? Forgoed? 

00:32:44,416 --> 00:32:45,356 [Shane McElrath]
Oh, I forgoed. We have forgone. [laughs] 

00:32:45,356 --> 00:32:48,536 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
I have forgoed those. Forgone those. 

00:32:48,536 --> 00:32:49,576 [Shane McElrath]
[laughs] 

00:32:49,576 --> 00:32:52,666 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
There you go. It's all proper English. That was a test. 

00:32:52,666 --> 00:32:53,655 [Shane McElrath]
When in, when in doubt, just- 

00:32:53,656 --> 00:32:54,156 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
You- 

00:32:54,156 --> 00:32:55,496 [Shane McElrath]
... shift the sentence. [laughs] 

00:32:55,496 --> 00:33:01,996 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
You passed because, you know, you're the English instructor. I apparently have not mastered- 

00:33:01,996 --> 00:33:02,456 [Shane McElrath]
Oh, hush 

00:33:02,456 --> 00:33:13,336 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
... this language yet. So, um, yeah, just, uh, thanks for talking about this and your journey and if you want to talk to Shane about English stuff or anything HCC- 

00:33:13,336 --> 00:33:13,996 [Shane McElrath]
Oh, ho 

00:33:13,996 --> 00:33:14,556 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
... yeah. 

00:33:14,556 --> 00:33:14,796 [Shane McElrath]
Do it. 

00:33:14,796 --> 00:33:16,676 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Just, uh, just do it. 

00:33:16,676 --> 00:33:17,596 [Shane McElrath]
Just do it. [laughs] 

00:33:17,596 --> 00:33:19,226 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
And, uh... Oh, no, I said it. 

00:33:19,226 --> 00:33:20,125 [Shane McElrath]
Check it out. Get curious. 

00:33:20,125 --> 00:33:21,416 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Just, uh, yeah, check out our website. 

00:33:21,416 --> 00:33:21,916 [Shane McElrath]
[laughs] 

00:33:21,916 --> 00:33:29,436 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
It's haywood.edu, and, uh, that's a good place to start or come on campus. Student services is there to help you 

00:33:30,516 --> 00:33:31,736 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
get curious. So- 

00:33:31,736 --> 00:33:35,096 [Shane McElrath]
Even, even if you're not ready to take that next step, come on campus. 

00:33:35,096 --> 00:33:35,106 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Yeah. 

00:33:35,106 --> 00:33:35,996 [Shane McElrath]
We've got one of the most beautiful- 

00:33:35,996 --> 00:33:36,876 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
It's a nice place 

00:33:36,876 --> 00:33:37,416 [Shane McElrath]
... campus- 

00:33:37,416 --> 00:33:38,396 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
We have hiking trails- 

00:33:38,396 --> 00:33:38,496 [Shane McElrath]
Oh 

00:33:38,496 --> 00:33:40,405 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
... and disc golf. It's all free. 

00:33:40,405 --> 00:33:40,436 [Shane McElrath]
Free. 

00:33:40,436 --> 00:33:44,476 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Good stuff. But, uh, thanks Shane for joining us today. 

00:33:44,476 --> 00:33:51,476 [Shane McElrath]
Thanks for having me, Tim. [upbeat music] 

00:33:51,476 --> 00:34:15,436 [Dr. Tim Scapim]
Bobcat Chat is a production of Haywood Community College. HCC is located in Clyde, North Carolina. If you'd like to learn more about our great college, visit us online at www.haywood.edu. That's H-A-Y-W-O-O-D.edu. [upbeat music]

00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:04,310 [Announcer]
[upbeat music] 

00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:09,580 [Announcer]
Hello and welcome to Bobcat Chat. 

00:00:16,020 --> 00:00:31,860 [Michelle Harris]
Welcome everybody to this week's edition of Bobcat Chat. My name is Michelle Harris. I'm the marketing director here at HCC, and this week I have the pleasure of sitting down with Nick Cerda, who is one of our coaches supporting our adult learner initiative here on campus. Welcome, Nick. 

00:00:31,860 --> 00:00:33,700 [Nick Cerda]
Hi, it's nice to be here. 

00:00:33,700 --> 00:01:00,820 [Michelle Harris]
So let's just dive right in. Adult learners is a hot topic, um, in our state regarding, um, adults or anyone looking to return to the classroom. Maybe they've taken some credits here, wanna come back and finish it up. Um, but it's really just an important overall, um, community support that we're leaning into here at HCC. So what are two of the top barriers that you have seen adult learners face? And share a little bit about how HCC is supporting them. 

00:01:00,820 --> 00:01:36,370 [Nick Cerda]
The top two barriers I have seen is when a person chooses to return, when they attended classes in the past, uh, typically it's out of high school, and so coming to college is like what they are required to do and supposed to do. They don't have a ton of other like jobs and family and responsibilities, but as an adult, they do have all those things, and so time is often an encounter. And then the actual, um, hesitation t- to in- to return to school, but all the paperwork that's required. 

00:01:36,370 --> 00:01:36,940 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. 

00:01:36,940 --> 00:01:51,890 [Nick Cerda]
Application, RDS, and all of those type things. And it's not that that's a extremely complicated process, it just takes time. And so basically having the opportunity to tell them it's not that big of a deal, we can help you, um, o- 

00:01:52,940 --> 00:01:56,360 [Nick Cerda]
our coaches are here to help you out with that process. 

00:01:56,360 --> 00:02:02,150 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah, I think that's great, and it's true. Like, you know, people get very nervous about starting something big in their lives. 

00:02:02,150 --> 00:02:02,160 [Nick Cerda]
Mm. 

00:02:02,160 --> 00:02:19,320 [Michelle Harris]
And continuing education is a huge step in someone's life. So having you and some of our other coaches available to say, "Okay, step one, do this application. When you're done, let me know. And then step two..." And kind of taking it in little chunks really helps support kind of getting them onboarded- 

00:02:19,320 --> 00:02:19,329 [Nick Cerda]
Mm-hmm 

00:02:19,329 --> 00:02:25,240 [Michelle Harris]
... and walking them through that process so they don't feel so like nervous about all those different things. 

00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:25,980 [Nick Cerda]
That's right. 

00:02:25,980 --> 00:02:33,380 [Michelle Harris]
Um, so we've been working this past year on a lot of things to support adult learners, and I know I have some of my favorites. 

00:02:33,380 --> 00:02:33,820 [Nick Cerda]
Mm-hmm. 

00:02:33,820 --> 00:02:42,800 [Michelle Harris]
Um, but what are some of your favorites of the things we've really looked to implement here at the college to support, again, adult learners, but that also benefits all the students coming to HCC? 

00:02:42,800 --> 00:03:03,720 [Nick Cerda]
Probably when a person comes in or a person calls in, contacts us, to partner them re- uh, quickly with a coach to help them walk them through the process. And we've actually had the opportunity to tell them, "This is a coach. This is your particular coach who's been trained to help you and walk you through the process 

00:03:05,140 --> 00:03:55,620 [Nick Cerda]
as an adult." And I think w- having that criteria of just we've had classes in adult and we've, we've also attended classes a- as an adult and partner them up with a coach who comprehends what that's like. I s- probably that. Um, and then a couple other resources. One thing we did, um, was have like kits. So if they, uh, come in, they're taking classes, have kids, you know, they're think- during the class thinking, "Oh, I have to cook tonight." So we have kits to provide to take care of that. Um, and then to tell you the truth, it's honestly just telling them, having the ability to tell them, "We have a resource to help you," whether it's IT help, classroom help, tech support, and things like that. 

00:03:55,620 --> 00:03:58,380 [Michelle Harris]
I'm really glad you talked about resources, 'cause those are two of my- 

00:03:58,380 --> 00:03:58,420 [Nick Cerda]
Mm-hmm 

00:03:58,420 --> 00:04:12,670 [Michelle Harris]
... two of my three that I really enjoyed us working on this past year. One is the resources and the events to support those resources and share that out. You know, we do a really good job of trying to, um, get students involved and then also tell them what we've got to help them- 

00:04:12,670 --> 00:04:12,670 [Nick Cerda]
Yes 

00:04:12,670 --> 00:04:26,100 [Michelle Harris]
... throughout the semester. So the resource connection is great, and then the other, um, area that I like is more of a physical space. So we have a space in our admissions area that we call the, the Reconnect Center. 

00:04:26,100 --> 00:04:26,469 [Nick Cerda]
Mm. 

00:04:26,469 --> 00:04:33,440 [Michelle Harris]
And that is a spot where we have resources, um, for students to grab, a spot for their family members to hang out with them- 

00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:33,760 [Nick Cerda]
That's right 

00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:43,760 [Michelle Harris]
... while the coaches are working one-on-one with them. And not only are the coaches in there able to work one-on-one with them, but we have a separate area for them to log in and- 

00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:43,790 [Nick Cerda]
Yes 

00:04:43,790 --> 00:04:48,380 [Michelle Harris]
... you know, get their credentials set up and really kind of have our coach walk them through that process. 

00:04:48,380 --> 00:04:48,800 [Nick Cerda]
Yes, ma'am. 

00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:53,960 [Michelle Harris]
Which again, just makes it that much more comfortable and easier. So I think, I feel like resource is our name in the game here. 

00:04:53,960 --> 00:04:55,100 [Nick Cerda]
For sure. For sure. 

00:04:55,100 --> 00:04:59,520 [Michelle Harris]
And, um, I really like that, um, that initiative and that vibe that we're giving. 

00:04:59,520 --> 00:05:20,539 [Nick Cerda]
Um, yeah, and so to, I keep talking on that, I think having a specific place that they can come to have a computer because it's, it's, um, I think hesitancy to just like request help sometimes. But if we can talk to them when they come in, partner them with a coach, and just tell them like, "It's okay to have questions." 

00:05:20,540 --> 00:05:20,950 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:05:20,950 --> 00:05:24,940 [Nick Cerda]
"It's okay to request resources. It's okay to say, 'I don't know how to log in.'" 

00:05:24,940 --> 00:05:25,090 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:05:25,090 --> 00:05:31,980 [Nick Cerda]
"Or, "I'm trying to figure this out." It's a common problem, but they think it's not. But we can say, "Yeah, it happens all the time. 

00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:35,720 [Nick Cerda]
Here's a computer." Different things like that. 

00:05:35,720 --> 00:05:42,700 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. Um, that's great. I, I love that. And now the exciting part is we've got this horizon that we're on, right? 

00:05:42,700 --> 00:05:42,760 [Nick Cerda]
Mm-hmm. 

00:05:42,760 --> 00:06:02,780 [Michelle Harris]
So we've done a lot of work, um, to put some things in place, and then we're looking forward and saying, "Okay, what else can we do? What else is a need?" Or, "We've been working on this for a while. What do we need to tweak?" So one of the... I wanted to talk a little bit about some of the stuff we're looking for this coming year and then moving us forward into the future as we s- continue to support adult learners. 

00:06:02,780 --> 00:06:55,608 [Nick Cerda]
Yeah. I'd say, you know, one important piece is we want to continue to reach out to recruit people.Um, and that, again, it's, it's not the traditional person who just completed high school, which is great. We want to recruit those people. It's also recruiting people in a current career, but teaching them how college can help them. They come back and get some education. They can go back to work or continue to work, get a promotion, a pay increase, or something like that. And so we wanna continue to do that. Um, and I think really just, um, encouraging people to continue that process. Um, we wanna also continue to helping those that do choose to come back, work, like applying to make that whole process as easy as possible, um, help them through that process. Uh, timing's important too- 

00:06:55,608 --> 00:06:55,618 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:06:55,618 --> 00:06:57,578 [Nick Cerda]
... in a person's life, I think. 

00:06:57,578 --> 00:06:57,648 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:06:57,648 --> 00:07:16,928 [Nick Cerda]
Um, there's times they think about coming back to school, but they just need that one push. And so if we can continue to help that, that would be great. Um, and think as a whole, um, just honing our, I guess, opportunities to provide help to people would be a very important piece. 

00:07:16,928 --> 00:07:26,528 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. And I think that connection that you mentioned, you know, with the, um, with the students and getting them onto the next step in their career, whether it's that- 

00:07:26,528 --> 00:07:26,538 [Nick Cerda]
Yeah 

00:07:26,538 --> 00:07:28,888 [Michelle Harris]
... promotion like you said or something different. 

00:07:28,888 --> 00:07:29,328 [Nick Cerda]
That's right. 

00:07:29,328 --> 00:07:32,898 [Michelle Harris]
Really tying in how what they're doing here at the college is- 

00:07:32,898 --> 00:07:32,898 [Nick Cerda]
Mm-hmm 

00:07:32,898 --> 00:07:34,078 [Michelle Harris]
... gonna make a difference- 

00:07:34,078 --> 00:07:34,078 [Nick Cerda]
That's right 

00:07:34,078 --> 00:07:43,608 [Michelle Harris]
... in their professionalism, and ultimately help support the family in a different way or a new way or a better way, and really how they can help move, you know, move their whole lives forward. 

00:07:43,608 --> 00:07:43,808 [Nick Cerda]
Mm-hmm. 

00:07:43,808 --> 00:07:51,148 [Michelle Harris]
And I love that connector piece. Um, so I wanted to see if you had any success stories- 

00:07:51,148 --> 00:07:51,158 [Nick Cerda]
Sure 

00:07:51,158 --> 00:07:56,038 [Michelle Harris]
... or just any wins that you've seen with the adult learners you've been working with. 

00:07:56,038 --> 00:07:56,048 [Nick Cerda]
Yeah. 

00:07:56,048 --> 00:08:01,188 [Michelle Harris]
Because I think those types of stories are things that future students can really relate to. 

00:08:01,188 --> 00:08:16,268 [Nick Cerda]
Yeah. Um, so two came to mind. We reached out to people who had, uh, taken classes previously last June, I believe it was. And, uh, two people in particular I remember talking to had, like, uh, two classes left- 

00:08:16,268 --> 00:08:16,278 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:08:16,278 --> 00:08:29,948 [Nick Cerda]
... to complete a degree. So just having the opportunity to reach out to them, to connect them to the classes. I didn't have to convince them to come back. I just said, "Hey, you've got two classes left." And they're like, "Hey, yeah, that's a great idea." So having that, 

00:08:31,128 --> 00:08:32,048 [Nick Cerda]
um, I guess 

00:08:33,448 --> 00:08:37,248 [Nick Cerda]
encouraging them to return, they did great in their classes. 

00:08:37,248 --> 00:08:37,488 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:08:37,488 --> 00:08:50,208 [Nick Cerda]
They, they both did fantastic. And so, and I think the hesitancy is, "Well, I had to quit taking classes before. Will I still have, um, like problems, or will the problems I had previously... 

00:08:51,538 --> 00:09:11,818 [Nick Cerda]
" And so just to, um, yeah, encourage them to come back, to watch them do extremely excellent was a great experience. And then a second person I remember reaching out to, she had talked about coming to classes. I encouraged her to apply in August. Put a little pressure on her- 

00:09:11,818 --> 00:09:11,837 [Michelle Harris]
[laughs] 

00:09:11,837 --> 00:09:18,538 [Nick Cerda]
... but she didn't reply. But then, like October comes around, and she goes, "Okay, it's time to take classes now." 

00:09:18,538 --> 00:09:18,548 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:09:18,548 --> 00:09:31,328 [Nick Cerda]
And her plan is, she currently works at a, a company and wants to continue to progress in that company. So just to, like encourage her to do that has been a great experience. 

00:09:31,328 --> 00:09:32,638 [Michelle Harris]
And I think timing is really- 

00:09:32,638 --> 00:09:32,678 [Nick Cerda]
Yeah 

00:09:32,678 --> 00:09:36,398 [Michelle Harris]
... interesting too 'cause that feels like that came up in both of your stories- 

00:09:36,398 --> 00:09:37,148 [Nick Cerda]
For sure 

00:09:37,148 --> 00:09:40,138 [Michelle Harris]
... is, you know, "Okay, I'm not ready now, but two months later, I am." 

00:09:40,138 --> 00:09:40,208 [Nick Cerda]
Yeah. 

00:09:40,208 --> 00:09:43,108 [Michelle Harris]
And if you don't have the mindset to take that leap- 

00:09:43,108 --> 00:09:43,208 [Nick Cerda]
Yeah 

00:09:43,208 --> 00:09:46,238 [Michelle Harris]
... then you're kind of putting up your own barrier before you get started. 

00:09:46,238 --> 00:09:46,748 [Nick Cerda]
That's right. 

00:09:46,748 --> 00:09:55,468 [Michelle Harris]
And I think that is true, and I think that's a good reminder that, okay, yes, most classes start in August, but if you wanna start later, hey- 

00:09:55,468 --> 00:09:55,478 [Nick Cerda]
Mm-hmm 

00:09:55,478 --> 00:09:56,978 [Michelle Harris]
... you can. Or start in spring. 

00:09:56,978 --> 00:09:56,988 [Nick Cerda]
Yeah. 

00:09:56,988 --> 00:10:02,188 [Michelle Harris]
Because we're here whenever they're ready, and you really have to be ready to, to take that dive in. 

00:10:02,188 --> 00:10:02,888 [Nick Cerda]
That's right. 

00:10:02,888 --> 00:10:12,308 [Michelle Harris]
Um, so have there been any common threads that you've seen with the students you've been working with as far as, um, you know, what, what you've seen them want to look for as they return to the classroom- 

00:10:12,308 --> 00:10:12,318 [Nick Cerda]
Yeah 

00:10:12,318 --> 00:10:14,108 [Michelle Harris]
... or things they've learned- 

00:10:14,108 --> 00:10:14,188 [Nick Cerda]
Mm-hmm 

00:10:14,188 --> 00:10:17,208 [Michelle Harris]
... from, about themselves as they've returned to the classroom? 

00:10:17,208 --> 00:10:28,168 [Nick Cerda]
Yeah, there's a few. I kinda talked about 'em previously. I think one common theme is what tripped me up, uh, previously, will it trip me up again? 

00:10:28,168 --> 00:10:28,807 [Michelle Harris]
Right. 

00:10:28,807 --> 00:10:39,308 [Nick Cerda]
And what's always encouraging to see is, um, I have encountered it's not what will trip them up again. They have, um, 

00:10:40,708 --> 00:11:01,628 [Nick Cerda]
completed those challenges, gotten past that, and then once they enter into classes, they're doing fantastic, and then kind of tying into that, they, um, want to hear, like feedback. And just, if I, if I can call them up or contact them and say, "Hey, you're doing a great job in your classes"- 

00:11:01,628 --> 00:11:01,818 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:11:01,818 --> 00:11:02,768 [Nick Cerda]
... that means a ton to them. 

00:11:02,768 --> 00:11:02,778 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:11:02,778 --> 00:11:13,088 [Nick Cerda]
And so just having that group here on campus to help them out, to support them, to encourage them, has been a pretty important piece of all of that. 

00:11:13,088 --> 00:11:18,408 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. And so if someone's looking to return to the classroom, what would you tell them? 

00:11:19,468 --> 00:11:22,908 [Nick Cerda]
Yeah. I'd say they should think about it 'cause it's a- 

00:11:22,908 --> 00:11:23,208 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:11:23,208 --> 00:11:32,188 [Nick Cerda]
... hefty decision. Um, most people we've worked with, just something has happened to encourage them to come back. 

00:11:32,188 --> 00:11:32,398 [Michelle Harris]
Right. 

00:11:32,398 --> 00:11:34,408 [Nick Cerda]
Or, and they've just like, "I'm gonna come back- 

00:11:34,408 --> 00:11:34,518 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah 

00:11:34,518 --> 00:11:35,488 [Nick Cerda]
... I'm gonna do it." 

00:11:35,488 --> 00:11:35,908 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:11:35,908 --> 00:11:42,628 [Nick Cerda]
And it's not something they, like gradually, like float into, but it's like a hard choice. "I'm going back to school." 

00:11:42,628 --> 00:11:43,068 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:11:43,068 --> 00:11:47,928 [Nick Cerda]
So I'd say, you know, it's worth thinking about, but it, it's a good idea as well. 

00:11:47,928 --> 00:11:47,968 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:11:47,968 --> 00:11:58,848 [Nick Cerda]
Like we've got the resources here to help them succeed. Um, we've got... Yeah, we've got it... We've got the resources to help them, but they have to make a choice. 

00:11:58,848 --> 00:12:12,508 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. And I would say too, like I've done some stories with students, and, you know, what I always, one of the questions I ask them is, "What would you say to, to someone wanting to come back or that was in your shoes?" And a lot of what I hear is-Do it. 

00:12:12,508 --> 00:12:12,528 [Nick Cerda]
Mm-hmm. 

00:12:12,528 --> 00:12:13,648 [Michelle Harris]
You know, have the confidence- 

00:12:13,648 --> 00:12:13,658 [Nick Cerda]
Yeah 

00:12:13,658 --> 00:12:22,667 [Michelle Harris]
... in yourself to make that step. And I, I love that piece of advice, and I feel like that's a good combo of, like, when they're ready to do it, they're say, "Yeah, I can do this." 

00:12:22,668 --> 00:12:22,678 [Nick Cerda]
Absolutely. 

00:12:22,678 --> 00:12:24,508 [Michelle Harris]
And then they dive in, like what you just said- 

00:12:24,508 --> 00:12:24,768 [Nick Cerda]
That's it 

00:12:24,768 --> 00:12:36,008 [Michelle Harris]
... and they, like, they jump in and, um, I think that's, you know, that's just great. Um, and one thing I want our listeners to know is why I love the fact that you and I are doing this podcast- 

00:12:36,008 --> 00:12:36,038 [Nick Cerda]
Mm-hmm 

00:12:36,038 --> 00:12:42,788 [Michelle Harris]
... is not only are we involved with bringing adult learners back to the school and things like that, but we ourselves are adult learners. 

00:12:42,788 --> 00:12:42,808 [Nick Cerda]
Yep. Sure. 

00:12:42,808 --> 00:12:48,828 [Michelle Harris]
And so I wanted to just take a little bit, um, to remind listeners that, yes, you can do this at any age. 

00:12:48,828 --> 00:12:49,068 [Nick Cerda]
That, that's it. 

00:12:49,068 --> 00:12:51,968 [Michelle Harris]
Um, so why don't you start first with your adult learner experience? 

00:12:51,968 --> 00:13:04,968 [Nick Cerda]
Sure. So I was in a career for a long time, like, um, like two decades worth, long time. And then I got to thinking, "I don't wanna do this the rest of my professional career." 

00:13:04,968 --> 00:13:05,078 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:13:05,078 --> 00:13:21,918 [Nick Cerda]
"But that's gonna mean I have to go back to school." Um, so I thought about it and I had always talked, like always, like for a couple years I had talked about, "Hey, I'm gonna go back to grad school." Um, and then one day I just woke up and said, "Today's the day I'm gonna apply." Um, I didn't ease into that choice. 

00:13:21,918 --> 00:13:22,098 [Michelle Harris]
[laughs] 

00:13:22,098 --> 00:13:24,818 [Nick Cerda]
I just said, "I'm gonna apply to a grad school today." 

00:13:24,818 --> 00:13:24,888 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:13:24,888 --> 00:13:31,328 [Nick Cerda]
Um, and so that's what I did, and so then I worked on that. But it really was that point, like, "I'm just gonna go for it." 

00:13:31,328 --> 00:13:32,048 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:13:32,048 --> 00:13:37,328 [Nick Cerda]
And it was ... It took a lot of work, took a lot of time and resources. 

00:13:37,328 --> 00:13:37,348 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:13:37,348 --> 00:13:39,828 [Nick Cerda]
But I don't regret it whatsoever. 

00:13:39,828 --> 00:13:48,748 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. And so for me, I took the long route after high school with, um, my bachelor's degree. It probably took me about seven years, you know, working full time- 

00:13:48,748 --> 00:13:48,758 [Nick Cerda]
Mm-hmm 

00:13:48,758 --> 00:13:54,488 [Michelle Harris]
... taking a class at a time, things like that. Trying to find my way of like, what do I like, what don't I like? 

00:13:54,488 --> 00:13:54,507 [Nick Cerda]
Right. 

00:13:54,508 --> 00:13:55,948 [Michelle Harris]
Probably like most people- 

00:13:55,948 --> 00:13:56,068 [Nick Cerda]
Sure 

00:13:56,068 --> 00:14:05,968 [Michelle Harris]
... right out of, you know, high school, like, what on earth do I wanna do? And then I decided to go back in 2020, and I think it was, it was a little bit professional- 

00:14:05,968 --> 00:14:05,998 [Nick Cerda]
Mm-hmm 

00:14:05,998 --> 00:14:07,228 [Michelle Harris]
... but it was also personal. 

00:14:07,228 --> 00:14:07,548 [Nick Cerda]
Right. 

00:14:07,548 --> 00:14:13,108 [Michelle Harris]
And I feel like we have this vibe about, um, a lot of us here at HCC, like we're, you know, that term lifelong learner. 

00:14:13,108 --> 00:14:13,728 [Nick Cerda]
Yeah, for sure. 

00:14:13,728 --> 00:14:25,597 [Michelle Harris]
And I think, you know, I talk to some people about how, you know, they're looking to go on from when they're done at HCC onto their bachelor's or master's or doctorate. And, you know, I hear some of that from them too, is, you know, "People don't understand why I wanna do this." 

00:14:25,597 --> 00:14:25,608 [Nick Cerda]
Yeah. 

00:14:25,608 --> 00:14:32,338 [Michelle Harris]
It's like, sometimes I wanna do it for me. Um, so yeah, I went back to school. You know, my graduation was online, you know- 

00:14:32,338 --> 00:14:32,338 [Nick Cerda]
Yep. Same 

00:14:32,338 --> 00:14:38,048 [Michelle Harris]
... during COVID. I was like, "Oh, great." Um, but I did it. And same vibe as you, like, no regrets. 

00:14:38,048 --> 00:14:38,428 [Nick Cerda]
Yeah. Go on. 

00:14:38,428 --> 00:14:40,928 [Michelle Harris]
Glad I did it. Glad for personal reasons- 

00:14:40,928 --> 00:14:40,958 [Nick Cerda]
Mm-hmm 

00:14:40,958 --> 00:14:49,648 [Michelle Harris]
... for professional reasons. And I think, you know, as adult learners ourselves, we can relate to what our students are going through- 

00:14:49,648 --> 00:14:49,788 [Nick Cerda]
For sure 

00:14:49,788 --> 00:14:55,157 [Michelle Harris]
... and what they might be facing. A lot of them have either children or they might have parents. Either way- 

00:14:55,157 --> 00:14:55,408 [Nick Cerda]
Yes 

00:14:55,408 --> 00:15:06,187 [Michelle Harris]
... in their life, they're taking care of someone outside of themselves and maybe their immediate household. Um, and understanding what those challenges are and to your point of that encouragement, like- 

00:15:06,188 --> 00:15:06,278 [Nick Cerda]
Yeah 

00:15:06,278 --> 00:15:10,648 [Michelle Harris]
... I know during my time at school, you know, I had my counselor comment and be like, "Hey, looks like you're doing great in- 

00:15:10,648 --> 00:15:10,758 [Nick Cerda]
Mm-hmm 

00:15:10,758 --> 00:15:12,708 [Michelle Harris]
... your classes. Is there anything you need?" 

00:15:12,708 --> 00:15:13,028 [Nick Cerda]
Yeah. 

00:15:13,028 --> 00:15:14,308 [Michelle Harris]
And it felt refreshing. 

00:15:14,308 --> 00:15:14,448 [Nick Cerda]
For sure. 

00:15:14,448 --> 00:15:17,918 [Michelle Harris]
And like, okay, someone's paying attention to me on the academic side. 

00:15:17,918 --> 00:15:17,948 [Nick Cerda]
Yeah. 

00:15:17,948 --> 00:15:21,408 [Michelle Harris]
That's cool. Um, so I love that we have that same vibe here- 

00:15:21,408 --> 00:15:21,418 [Nick Cerda]
Yeah. For sure 

00:15:21,418 --> 00:15:39,358 [Michelle Harris]
... and we're, you know, not only the, the faculty are there for them, but they've got this other person, um, that they can kind of hang on to throughout their time with us at HCC. And, um, as you know, you and I went through that, we see how much that meant and how much we believed in that, and that we're trying to instill that moving forward with our students. 

00:15:39,358 --> 00:15:39,407 [Nick Cerda]
For sure. 

00:15:39,408 --> 00:15:43,008 [Michelle Harris]
So, um, well, Nick, thank you so much for joining me today. 

00:15:43,008 --> 00:15:43,268 [Nick Cerda]
Thanks for having me. 

00:15:43,268 --> 00:15:55,248 [Michelle Harris]
Uh, appreciate all the work you're doing and everyone here at HCC is doing to support our adult learners and where it's gonna take us in the future. And just the fact that what we're doing to support adult learners is seeping into all students- 

00:15:55,248 --> 00:15:55,778 [Nick Cerda]
Yeah. For sure 

00:15:55,778 --> 00:16:01,488 [Michelle Harris]
... and in our culture here at the college, and I just think it, it's really gonna go a long way. [upbeat music] 

00:16:02,748 --> 00:16:27,608 [Announcer]
Bobcat Chat is a production of Haywood Community College. HCC is located in Clyde, North Carolina. If you'd like to learn more about our great college, visit us online at www.haywood.edu. That's H-A-Y-W-O-O-D.E-D-U. [upbeat music]

00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:09,860 [Announcer]
[upbeat music] Hello and welcome to Bobcat Chat. 

00:00:14,820 --> 00:00:37,900 [Calab Tate]
Hello, everybody. My name is Calab Tate. I am a member of the marketing and engagement team here at Haywood Community College. This week, we are chatting with Andrew Eisenhower, an instructor in the fish and wildlife side of our natural resources program, and Susan Roberts, an instructor in the biology side of things here at Haywood Community College. Thank you both very much for being with us today. 

00:00:37,900 --> 00:00:38,150 [Susan Roberts]
Thank you for having us. 

00:00:38,150 --> 00:00:50,100 [Calab Tate]
Thank you very much. Um, here we're talk-we're gonna talk today about the WNC Environmental Summit. Um, welcome both of you, and if you could, um, just please take a moment to introduce yourselves to our listeners. 

00:00:51,700 --> 00:01:03,160 [Susan Roberts]
Okay. My name is Susan Roberts, and I teach biology here at Haywood Community College. I've taught for, uh, twenty years here at the school, and I'm extremely passionate about teaching biology. 

00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:08,390 [Andrew Eisenhower]
My name is Andrew Eisenhower. Uh, I am the co-chair of our sustainability committee. 

00:01:09,400 --> 00:01:17,800 [Andrew Eisenhower]
I'm a wildlife biologist, and I teach wildlife management here on campus. Uh, very interested in sustainability, so that's what we're here to talk about mainly. 

00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:31,340 [Calab Tate]
Wonderful. Wonderful. Always been a big fan of how people come together at HCC to make things happen from all different sides of things. Um, so can you unpack a little bit for our listeners how both of you are involved with the summit itself this year? 

00:01:33,080 --> 00:01:42,670 [Susan Roberts]
Sure. So, um, Andrew and I work very closely together. Like he said, he and I are on the sustainability committee here at HCC, and we're committed to, um, 

00:01:43,960 --> 00:01:44,610 [Susan Roberts]
educating, 

00:01:46,020 --> 00:01:58,780 [Susan Roberts]
making a difference, moving the needle, trying to bring awareness so that we can make a difference in our community and do the right things to protect the things that we love, namely our place and our people. 

00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:23,520 [Andrew Eisenhower]
Yeah, and as far as how we're involved, uh, with this conference, uh, Susan has done most of the planning and, and the work for this. She's always touched. She's amazing. Um, and, and I myself have, you know, worked on many grants and, uh, I'm, I'm gonna be a speaker, I think, at the conference and helping, uh, wrangle students and things like that, uh, along with Susan. Um, so that's mainly my role here. 

00:02:23,520 --> 00:02:39,100 [Calab Tate]
Wonderful. Um, now this isn't the first time that HCC has hosted this summit. It is one of our favorite reoccurring events here at the college. So if you could both speak to a little bit about how the summit has evolved over the years, um, from where it started to where it is now. 

00:02:41,260 --> 00:03:14,420 [Susan Roberts]
So the vision for this is to have a conference in western North Carolina where like-minded people can come together and bring the youth with us and really listen to the youth voices, but also bring that conference-level expertise and educate the community and our students and ourselves, really, and just build that synergy around hope and experiential learning and appreciation for this amazing ecosystem that we're in. 

00:03:15,480 --> 00:03:47,000 [Andrew Eisenhower]
Yeah, and we're-- this is the second year we've done the summit. So we're, um... as far as, you know, evolving, it hasn't evolved much, but, uh, last year it was on a Saturday, so this year we're, we're hoping a Friday we'll get more participation, at least from schools around here particularly, uh, because we really want, um, we wanna get with the youth, we want the young people involved with this event, um, because, you know, this is gonna be their responsibility sooner than later. So we, we want them to, to start learning about environmental issues and, and what's going on in the world right now. 

00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:47,440 [Calab Tate]
Wonderful. 

00:03:48,580 --> 00:04:05,180 [Calab Tate]
I, I've always appreciated how we've-- we, we continue with an event as we repeat events year over year. We're really looking at how do we make this thing work for the people that we're trying to serve, the people we're trying to connect with, invite to our campus. It's a big deal. Thank you. Um, 

00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:18,339 [Calab Tate]
so when it comes to the event this year, I know last year's event had a theme or some keynotes that were gonna be hit during that event. Can you guys speak a little bit to the theme of the event this year? 

00:04:18,340 --> 00:05:00,280 [Susan Roberts]
So in our logo, you can see it says, "Inspire hope and take action." So the theme is community. It's about bringing people together and connecting. So we've got, um, keynotes from wildlife biologists talking about conservation and culture, and environmental science is about the environment plus the people that are in it. And we're in such a unique place and such a biodiverse area that we need to protect. What are the threats that we're facing, and how do we take action locally as a community? And how can we inspire each other and come together to make a difference? 

00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:54,040 [Andrew Eisenhower]
Yeah. And being a, a natural resources person or a person that cares about the environment and, and the world itself, it's, it's tough sometimes. It's, it's, uh, you know, we kind of all share this ecological grief, uh, especially the more educated you get, the more you look around, the more you see so much is wrong with the world, um, at least from a natural resources perspective. So being able to get together and discuss and, and say, "Hey, you know, there are things we can do together to, to solve these problems, to make them better," uh, that gives hope, and that's, that's really what this is about. It's, it's getting together to say, "Yeah, there are problems in the world with natural resources management," um, and things have gotten more difficult, particularly recently. But, um, that doesn't mean we can't overcome it, and the way we do that is together, working together to understand and, and, and improve ourselves. 

00:05:54,040 --> 00:05:56,540 [Calab Tate]
Wonderful. Excellent. Thank you. 

00:05:57,740 --> 00:06:07,400 [Calab Tate]
For this event, uh, if you both can take a little bit of time to speak to who is going to be invited to this event, who, who all can come out and enjoy the summit this year?

00:06:08,380 --> 00:06:31,840 [Susan Roberts]
All, everyone is invited. So we're reaching out to local schools. We've got some middle school groups. We've got some high school groups coming in. We have our students here at Haywood Community College, which includes our dual-enrolled students, our early college students, our traditional college students, our faculty and staff, and anyone and everyone in the community and region is invited. 

00:06:32,940 --> 00:06:59,400 [Andrew Eisenhower]
Yeah. Uh, it's not just for kids. Uh, we've, we had, uh, many talks last year that, that I think appealed to adults and entertained the adults that were there. Uh, and the same's gonna happen this year. Uh, so we really want a mix of, of local, you know, students, um, and anybody else who's interested in environmental issues, uh, to come and join us and have some fellowship and talk about, uh, these issues that we're facing. 

00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:28,060 [Calab Tate]
Yes. Very good. [clears throat] For this event, over the years, um, a- and kind of in the past iteration, um, there was a lot of focus on conversation, and having been someone who was around for that event, it was, it was, uh, wonderful to see some of the conversations that were happening. And can you guys, uh, speak to a little bit that conversation that's facilitated by something like an environmental summit here at the community college to have that conversation? 

00:07:28,060 --> 00:07:28,620 [Susan Roberts]
Yeah. So 

00:07:29,680 --> 00:10:01,420 [Susan Roberts]
in the world today, there's a lot of isolation. You know, we feel like we're alone out there, trying to feel and think and, and experience the world, but it's not true. We live in a rich community that is passionate about supporting each other, especially under disasters that we've recently felt. And there's so many people right here in our county and surrounding region that can inspire and provide support and hope. And so, how do we do that? What does that mean? The conversation is bridging these communities and these gaps and finding ways that we can take action. So there are little things that we can do that make a huge difference. Um, right here in Haywood County, we have nonprofit groups that will be at the event, including, um, Haywood Waterways and, um, the North Carolina Wildlife Commission, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the, um, National Park Service, and all of these people are providing opportunities for youth and also for the community to take action. How can you volunteer? How can you collect data? How can you just learn about what's in our backyard and what ways you can help? And there's so many of those, and people just don't know. They don't know how they can plug in. And so, the conversation is we've got retirees moving in, and they wanna know what they can do to protect the environment. We have the young people coming up that are interested in going into science, but we need to provide them the vision of what they can become. What does that look like to be a wildlife biologist? What would that mean for me as a high school student? That's what I want to inspire the youth to. But I also want to let them speak their mind and their heart. What do they care about? What do they wanna see? The older groups in the county, the faculty and staff here at the college, the traditional college students, and the younger voices all need to share how they're feeling with each other so that we can inspire to take and plug people in. And the youth can come alongside the retiree, and now we have an internship. Now we have that bridged gap where students can learn, and the older, um, community members can learn from the youth. 

00:10:01,420 --> 00:10:01,890 [Calab Tate]
Excellent. 

00:10:03,320 --> 00:10:33,440 [Andrew Eisenhower]
Yeah, that, that pretty well covered it. Um, but I would... I will say that, you know, when I was a young person, I didn't know, uh, the career paths that were out there in, in, in environmental things. I thought that was more of a hobby. I, I didn't know you could be a wildlife biologist for a job. I didn't know you get paid to do that. Uh, so just opening people's eyes to the fact that these things exist, and people do them for a job, for a career. You, young person, can do this for a career. I think that's, that's really beneficial. 

00:10:33,440 --> 00:10:51,460 [Calab Tate]
Excellent. And it kind of dovetails into my next question for you two is, you know, everything that we do at Haywood Community College involves partners, even if it is just teaching a single class. Um, what I've seen in my experience working here and helping to put on events like this and other events is 

00:10:52,560 --> 00:11:05,320 [Calab Tate]
there's always this mesh of people from the community that come in. So specifically, um, can you kind of touch on who those partners are for an event like this and, and what they bring to the table there as friends of the college? 

00:11:05,320 --> 00:12:22,276 [Susan Roberts]
Absolutely. Um, our keynote speaker, Dr. Caleb Hickman, is a part of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Um, he's a supervisory fish and wildlife biologist, and he's gonna kick off the talks with how to bridge these worlds. How do we look at things from different perspectives? And what does culture have to do with conservation? It's a really fun and interesting topic and a way to bring in people when you're talking about environmental issues. And the viewpoints from all these different groups are valuable and important, and we need to talk about that and see things from different perspectives. And our second keynote, which is Amber Allen, is gonna help us also look at that perspective. How do we preserve these communities, these landscapes, these culturally rich places that can inform us on, like, cultural resources, um, natural resources? How does this impact businesses? How does this impact tourism? How does this impact, um-What we're learning about and how we view it to conserve it. So the partners just go on from there. You wanna talk about- 

00:12:22,276 --> 00:12:22,756 [Andrew Eisenhower]
Yeah. We've got- 

00:12:22,756 --> 00:12:23,376 [Susan Roberts]
... the next partner? 

00:12:23,376 --> 00:12:29,516 [Andrew Eisenhower]
... uh, Rachel Hart from, um, um... I always get this wrong, Balsam Trust. That is correct actually. 

00:12:29,516 --> 00:12:30,606 [Susan Roberts]
Mm-hmm. 

00:12:30,606 --> 00:12:42,406 [Andrew Eisenhower]
Um, a- a- which is within the Balsam Mountain Preserve, which is what I usually say, which is wrong. Uh, she is part of the trust, so they are the nonprofit part of Balsam Mountain, and she works particularly with, with animals. She's, uh, um, 

00:12:44,136 --> 00:13:47,736 [Andrew Eisenhower]
uh, she's not a rehabber, but she takes animals that have been rehabbed and, and are not able to be returned to the wild, and she uses them as educational animals. So she's gonna have some animals with her and talk about, uh, you know, issues that are facing them, conservation, how to, how to, you know, protect these animals. Um, really, you know, the important thing is just if you can put an animal in front of somebody, they're gonna care a lot more about it. Uh, so that's, that's part of it. Um, that's an important part of it for me. Uh, we're also gonna have the Blue Ridge Electric Vehicle folks that are coming in, uh, to talk about, um, you know, sustainability, uh, in the electric vehicle, uh, market. Uh, we've got youth action labs, uh, for, for our students to break up into and, and, and work on certain issues. Uh, and then we will break out and even further and have some, um, larger discussions. I think we have some panels, uh, that are gonna be involved, uh, with several people on it, including some of the faculty here at Haywood, um, to just get, you know, dive deeper into these issues. 

00:13:47,736 --> 00:14:05,316 [Susan Roberts]
Yeah. We have several guest speakers coming over from Western Carolina University, um, and talking about environmental issues. Um, we've got climatologist Dr. Douglas Rowe, Dr. David Henderson, um, Dr. Sarah Parsons. Um, 

00:14:06,336 --> 00:14:19,396 [Susan Roberts]
uh, people from the, uh, North Carolina, um, Commission, like Dylan Owensby. He's the western regional aquatic wildlife biologist. Um, Preston Jacobsen with Haywood Waterways, um, 

00:14:20,716 --> 00:15:47,016 [Susan Roberts]
and Ronnie Leaper with the, um, North Carolina Climate Office. So the afternoon will be packed with discussion, panels, questions, and information on further understanding the issues here locally. The two main topics will be, um, forest and fish and wildlife conservation, and the change that we're seeing with our waterways and how we can become more resilient, and how these communities need to be conserved as well, um, ecologically. The afternoon, we have youth action labs where students will be able to break into small groups and do hands-on activities. For example, um, Brian Tompkins with the US Fish and Wildlife Service will be teaching them how to plant a pollinator garden. Um, we'll be working with, uh, faculty on campus on planting trees and removing invasive plants. Um, Haywood Waterways will teach us how to put the bamboo mats on those cut banks and pound, um, live stakes into the bank to conserve the sediment from washing away. Um, and we have many, many more. There's like 15 different breakout workshops for the students, and they're all hands-on, um, learning with these different community partners, and we've got like 15 different partners coming, so it's incredible. 

00:15:47,016 --> 00:16:10,356 [Calab Tate]
I love that, and that speaks to, um, the, the work that's put into not only a single time events like this where we host people on campus, but also the longevity of the programming here at the community college as well. Um, always making friends, always looking to, to loop people in and kind of share in that equity of, you know, enriching people through education. I think that's awesome. Um, 

00:16:11,436 --> 00:16:24,256 [Calab Tate]
one of the things that I've noticed about this event and other, uh, other events that are in the same vein on campus is there's a lot of students interacting with students as a part of the event. So what does that look like at, say, this environmental summit? 

00:16:24,256 --> 00:17:16,706 [Susan Roberts]
So the environmental summit is based on the teaching philosophy to put student as leader. It's really to build those leadership skills through experience, so there's no better way to learn about environmental science than to teach it yourself. So you won't see Andrew and I up on the stage. We're gonna put the students up there introducing the speakers, leading the groups, setting up the different booths, the teaching booths. So there'll be community partners also just at the booths teaching, and we have a lot of students that are gonna do that and be a part of that. And so they're doing an enormous amount of the work, and hopefully that will, um, allow us to turn around and write them really good recommendation letters 'cause we have evidence that they were leaders in the community and experience with them teaching and speaking in front of crowds. So we're excited about that. 

00:17:16,706 --> 00:17:36,316 [Calab Tate]
Wonderful. Very good. Um, okay. So, um, before we kinda wrap with date reminders and the important stuff to really have people come out and enjoy this event, are there any final thoughts that you all have about this event? Something that you would like to communicate out with people thinking about coming out for this summit? 

00:17:38,636 --> 00:17:48,676 [Susan Roberts]
I just think come and have fun and learn. Any conversation is gonna be great, and to be inspired and excited by other people, that's a win. 

00:17:48,676 --> 00:18:50,672 [Andrew Eisenhower]
Yeah, exactly. Just come, come out and have fun and learn. Um, the world's in a tough place right now, uh, particularly our country I think in, in terms of natural resources management. Um, there's been lots of, of pretty down news these days. Uh, so let's get together and let's talk about the positives, and let's try to, um, pick each other up and, and know that everything's gonna be okay. We're gonna get there. Um, and in natural resources it's always two steps forward, one tep- step back.Um, that's just the way of the world. So if we can get together and commiserate, um, talk about these issues, know that progress is gonna be made, we are still making progress, but nobody's giving up. We're gonna keep working, um, and just keep talking. That's the important thing. Just keep talking about these issues, the things that are affecting our world. Um, a- and, and that's what matters. That's, that's gonna be the big deal here is come, come with your questions, come with your ideas, come with thoughts and concerns and, and let's discuss them and, and get to some, some answers. 

00:18:50,672 --> 00:19:01,552 [Calab Tate]
Good stuff. Good stuff. Um, do we want, uh, people... When they, when they come out or they're thinking about coming out, is there a registration process that they need to go through? Do they show up? What does that look like, guys? 

00:19:01,552 --> 00:19:12,092 [Susan Roberts]
Yeah. So there is a registration on the website for the Environmental Summit, um, but you can also just walk in the door as well. The event is completely free, 

00:19:13,132 --> 00:19:23,632 [Susan Roberts]
and it is on Friday, March the 21st from 9:00 AM. That is when we will begin with our keynote speaker, and we'll end around 2:00. 

00:19:23,632 --> 00:19:46,532 [Calab Tate]
Wonderful. Location of this event is gonna be in the auditorium lobby, Hemlock Building right here on campus. When you're driving up the main strip, kind of coming onto campus, there's these big flagpoles on your left. That's how you know where you'll be parking for the party. So without further ado, Susan, Andrew, thank you so much for your time on this episode. Thank you for everything you do for the community and for the college. 

00:19:46,532 --> 00:19:46,932 [Susan Roberts]
Thank you. 

00:19:46,932 --> 00:19:47,672 [Calab Tate]
Thank you so much. 

00:19:47,672 --> 00:19:48,252 [Andrew Eisenhower]
Thanks for having us. 

00:19:48,252 --> 00:20:17,912 [Announcer]
Mm-hmm. Ladies and gentlemen, we'll see you soon. [outro music] Bobcat Chat is a production of Haywood Community College. HCC is located in Clyde, North Carolina. If you'd like to learn more about our great college, visit us online at www.haywood.edu. That's H-A-Y-W-O-O-D.edu. [outro music]

00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:04,310 [Announcer]
[upbeat music] 

00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:09,580 [Announcer]
Hello and welcome to Bobcat Chat. 

00:00:14,880 --> 00:00:32,140 [Calab Tate]
Hello, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome back to Bobcat Chat. My name is Calab Tate, and I will be your co-host. I am here with Danielle Harris to talk a little bit about the Spring 2025 car show. Danielle, can you introduce yourself a little bit for the folks online? 

00:00:32,140 --> 00:00:50,020 [Danielle Harris]
Of course. So again, my name is Danielle Harris, and I'm the Director of Enrollment Management and Registrar. I've been employed at HCC for the past six and a half years and have been in higher education for the past eleven. I was born and raised in Western North Carolina, and I am a former graduate of both Western Carolina University and Southwestern Community College. 

00:00:50,020 --> 00:00:52,220 [Calab Tate]
Wonderful. Thank you so much for being on the show. 

00:00:52,220 --> 00:00:53,130 [Danielle Harris]
Of course. 

00:00:53,130 --> 00:01:08,500 [Calab Tate]
So we're here talking about the HCC car show and, and kind of in that same vein of thinking, kind of first question for you is, uh, where did your love for hot rods and involvement in car shows come from before joining the HCC car show team? 

00:01:08,500 --> 00:01:54,060 [Danielle Harris]
Sure. So I've had the opportunity of working with another local car show in the past, doing photography, setup, breakdown, things like that, but really my love for classic cars started way before this. I grew up in my dad's performance machine shop, where I was exposed to all the great makes and models of vehicles, as well as some pretty neat race cars. Um, it was here that I learned some very important life lessons, and all of those lessons involved getting grease under my fingernails. [chuckles] I also grew up in NHRA drag racing, as my dad was a competitor, and I attended my first drag race when I was just three months old. Um, later on, I got involved in a few weekend races and also completed the Richard Petty NASCAR driving experience at Charlotte Motor Speedway. I've been hooked on fast cars my entire life. 

00:01:54,060 --> 00:02:00,740 [Calab Tate]
That's awesome. That's an extensive amount of experience with not only car shows, but just, like, everything cars. 

00:02:00,740 --> 00:02:01,960 [Danielle Harris]
Yes. Yes, it is. 

00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:01,980 [Calab Tate]
[laughs] 

00:02:01,980 --> 00:02:03,380 [Danielle Harris]
That's my life. [laughs] 

00:02:03,380 --> 00:02:13,390 [Calab Tate]
Very good. That's another reason why we're very happy to have you on the team, uh, that first year when we first started the event. We're just having that bird's eye view of how does this thing live and breathe? 

00:02:13,390 --> 00:02:13,480 [Danielle Harris]
[chuckles] 

00:02:13,480 --> 00:02:17,960 [Calab Tate]
And it's just been such successful event year over year, so we're very happy to have you. 

00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:18,820 [Danielle Harris]
Thank you. 

00:02:18,820 --> 00:02:30,000 [Calab Tate]
Uh, and so we're talking a little bit about car shows, hot rods, part swaps, all these different words and things like that. So Danielle, for our listeners that might not know, what is a car show? 

00:02:31,140 --> 00:03:04,220 [Danielle Harris]
Um, so to me, a car show is an event where vehicle enthusiasts and collectors gather to showcase, um, and admire a variety of cars, um, trucks, Jeeps, custom builds, and more, um, and really create that place of unity for a family-friendly environment. We often see groups of participants arrive right at the same time, so they're parked in the same area, throwing out their lawn chairs to visit with one another and just enjoy the day. So whether you're a gearhead like myself or you just enjoy a laid-back opportunity with some great food and music, car shows are a great opportunity to do just that. 

00:03:04,220 --> 00:03:08,300 [Calab Tate]
Absolutely. Uh, having grown up in Western North Carolina myself- 

00:03:08,300 --> 00:03:08,760 [Danielle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:16,820 [Calab Tate]
... car shows are a big part of the year-over-year experience. It always makes me think of warmer months, summertime, getting out- 

00:03:16,820 --> 00:03:17,040 [Danielle Harris]
Agreed 

00:03:17,040 --> 00:03:18,530 [Calab Tate]
... uh, potentially getting sunburned. [laughs] 

00:03:18,530 --> 00:03:19,609 [Danielle Harris]
Yes. Agreed. [laughs] 

00:03:19,609 --> 00:03:28,900 [Calab Tate]
Remember that. Out in a parking lot somewhere. But you know, our local region, Maggie Valley and beyond into Cherokee, those places, it just car shows are a big part of the history of where we are. 

00:03:28,900 --> 00:03:29,520 [Danielle Harris]
Yes, I totally agree. 

00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:43,359 [Calab Tate]
Absolutely. So speaking of our car show here at Haywood Community College, how does the HCC car show contribute to the mission of our community college, uh, community education and stuff like that? 

00:03:43,360 --> 00:04:09,680 [Danielle Harris]
Um, I would have to say through hands-on learning opportunities. You know, our automotive technology students can showcase their work and knowledge through examples of the cutaway models that will be on display during the show, um, and will provide those extra, like, in-depth technical aspects of engine and vehicle maintenance. Um, I feel it shows real-world experience to our community, and I think it also helps promote awareness to the highly skilled students and faculty that HCC has to offer. 

00:04:09,680 --> 00:04:17,480 [Calab Tate]
Very good. Very good. And, you know, having worked with you in student services for years, talking about recruitment, talking about how do we 

00:04:18,680 --> 00:04:35,240 [Calab Tate]
engage people with this product that is education at the community college level, um, we've found some really, really good success just saying, "We have a car program. What do the kids like to do?" What do... Then we say kids, but what do the students like to do when they get out of the program? 

00:04:35,240 --> 00:04:35,320 [Danielle Harris]
Yes. 

00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:36,680 [Calab Tate]
Car shows are a part of their life. 

00:04:36,680 --> 00:04:38,240 [Danielle Harris]
Yes, most definitely. 

00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:38,860 [Calab Tate]
Part of their life. 

00:04:38,860 --> 00:04:38,880 [Danielle Harris]
[chuckles] 

00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:50,480 [Calab Tate]
So having those organic experiences creates that community. And people that show up to the show, and we'll, we'll talk about that a little bit later on, but they are able to register. They are able to say, "Well, I would like to fix up my car." 

00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:50,680 [Danielle Harris]
Yes. 

00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:51,940 [Calab Tate]
It's one of the unique parts. 

00:04:51,940 --> 00:04:52,440 [Danielle Harris]
Yes. 

00:04:52,440 --> 00:04:54,410 [Calab Tate]
So spoiler alert, we'll talk about the automotive program- 

00:04:54,410 --> 00:04:54,460 [Danielle Harris]
[laughs] 

00:04:54,460 --> 00:05:05,340 [Calab Tate]
... a little later on, but that is a really cool part of our automotive program. So, um, talking a little bit, uh, about cutaway models, what are cutaway models, and how do they relate to the show? 

00:05:05,340 --> 00:05:42,600 [Danielle Harris]
Yeah, so a cutaway model is essentially just a physical representation of an engine, um, where parts of the outer casing are cut away to show the inner workings of that engine. Um, it basically aids in learning how the engine functions and, um, it by being able to see further into the engine and just not an outside perspective. Um, we have a diesel Cummins cutaway engine that will be on display, as well as a full Fiat car cutaway that will be on display during the show. So with the car cutaway, attendees can view and learn more about the engine, transmission, the brakes, and other components of a full vehicle. 

00:05:42,600 --> 00:05:47,940 [Calab Tate]
Yeah. We've, we've had those, um, as the recruiter, we've taken those to the high schools, right? 

00:05:47,940 --> 00:05:47,960 [Danielle Harris]
Yes. 

00:05:47,960 --> 00:06:00,500 [Calab Tate]
Those cutaway models. And I'll never forget it, um, Daryl Hunnicutt, currently our program, uh, lead for that area, we bring in the cutaway model, and it has an alternator. It's got the engine block. 

00:06:00,500 --> 00:06:00,590 [Danielle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:06:00,590 --> 00:06:01,900 [Calab Tate]
And you're turning that crank, and- 

00:06:01,900 --> 00:06:02,180 [Danielle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:06:02,180 --> 00:06:09,850 [Calab Tate]
... and everything in there is moving. Well, Daryl's talking to students who are in the cafeteria at Tuscola this particular day. 

00:06:09,850 --> 00:06:09,860 [Danielle Harris]
Right. 

00:06:09,860 --> 00:06:18,020 [Calab Tate]
And he's talking to them a little bit about everything, and it's an actual model, has electricity. Like, there's everything on it, including a car horn. 

00:06:18,020 --> 00:06:18,630 [Danielle Harris]
[laughs] 

00:06:18,630 --> 00:06:29,454 [Calab Tate]
And the student was watching himGo through all the systems, and he's like, "This is a turn signal. This is how you turn the engine over." And the kid that he's talking to just reaches over and hits the horn button. 

00:06:29,454 --> 00:06:29,944 [Danielle Harris]
[laughs] 

00:06:29,944 --> 00:06:38,664 [Calab Tate]
And there were a couple of kids that were in the local vicinity that were enjoying chicken tenders that just absolutely, their food goes everywhere. Not really. 

00:06:38,664 --> 00:06:38,804 [Danielle Harris]
[laughs] 

00:06:38,804 --> 00:06:46,184 [Calab Tate]
But it did kind of... It was a fun moment. But it's those kind of interactive experiences here at Haywood Community College that we, we love to have. 

00:06:46,184 --> 00:06:46,364 [Danielle Harris]
Yes. 

00:06:46,364 --> 00:06:46,924 [Calab Tate]
[clears throat] 

00:06:46,924 --> 00:06:48,204 [Danielle Harris]
Yes, completely agree. [laughs] 

00:06:48,204 --> 00:07:00,724 [Calab Tate]
Yeah. You know, you're talking about taking a student from textbook, this is how engine oil, engine electricity and stuff, kind of con- trying to conceptualize that. Um, these things in the industry are referred to as trainers. 

00:07:00,724 --> 00:07:01,014 [Danielle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:07:01,014 --> 00:07:01,684 [Calab Tate]
And we have those- 

00:07:01,684 --> 00:07:01,694 [Danielle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:07:01,694 --> 00:07:10,644 [Calab Tate]
... for electrical systems technology, we have those for automotive, we have those for as many of the programs that we have here. Nursing has their mannequins. Um, so very- 

00:07:10,644 --> 00:07:10,654 [Danielle Harris]
Yes 

00:07:10,654 --> 00:07:17,284 [Calab Tate]
... similar concept. It's what is it that we're here to learn how to do? Can we kind of do it right now as you're talking to me? 

00:07:17,284 --> 00:07:18,344 [Danielle Harris]
Right. Right. 

00:07:18,344 --> 00:07:24,744 [Calab Tate]
Um, so it's very good for education, and it's very fun for people to come in, see how an alternator looks in the middle when it's spinning- 

00:07:24,744 --> 00:07:24,754 [Danielle Harris]
Yes 

00:07:24,754 --> 00:07:26,944 [Calab Tate]
... and all those coils and stuff are coming around. 

00:07:26,944 --> 00:07:27,674 [Danielle Harris]
Yes. Yes, exactly. [laughs] 

00:07:27,674 --> 00:07:29,744 [Calab Tate]
Um, very good instructional tool in my opinion. 

00:07:29,744 --> 00:07:30,984 [Danielle Harris]
[laughs] 

00:07:30,984 --> 00:07:31,144 [Calab Tate]
So 

00:07:32,364 --> 00:07:49,324 [Calab Tate]
talking a little bit about automotive industry and some of those different things that we teach here at Haywood Community College, seeing as these industries are on display during the show, what classes does HCC offer as automotive and manufacturing go? How does someone apply for these? 

00:07:49,324 --> 00:08:18,744 [Danielle Harris]
Yeah. So HCC offers a variety of programs in automotive and manufacturing: um, automotive systems technology, collision repair and refinishing, electrical systems technology, industrial systems technology, computer integrated machining, and welding. Um, to apply for any of these programs, you can visit haywood.edu, select the Apply tab on the homepage, and just follow the prompts from there. Should anyone have any questions about applying, we have dedicated staff to assist them from the start to end through the process. 

00:08:18,744 --> 00:08:26,804 [Calab Tate]
Yeah. And having Danielle on the show, she can speak directly to that because the people that help with applications are her staff- 

00:08:26,804 --> 00:08:26,814 [Danielle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:08:26,814 --> 00:08:38,124 [Calab Tate]
... over there in student services. I used to work there myself, and a big part of what I loved about working at HCC, you know, talking with people, they come in, we've got computers right there in student services. 

00:08:38,124 --> 00:08:38,504 [Danielle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:08:38,504 --> 00:08:50,944 [Calab Tate]
And, uh, having been somebody who's applied to other larger universities where they might not have that robust support infrastructure on the front end, it really just does help to have someone sit there and say, "I'm about to click this button. Is that okay?" 

00:08:50,944 --> 00:08:51,364 [Danielle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:08:51,364 --> 00:08:52,944 [Calab Tate]
We have somebody that's just standing there- 

00:08:52,944 --> 00:08:52,953 [Danielle Harris]
We do 

00:08:52,953 --> 00:08:54,203 [Calab Tate]
... that's ready to help you. 

00:08:54,204 --> 00:09:04,404 [Danielle Harris]
We do. We have great staff in student services, and they are truly dedicated to the students that they serve and they work with every day. Um, so we- we're really blessed to be able to help as many people as we do. 

00:09:04,404 --> 00:09:07,034 [Calab Tate]
That's it. That's a good mission, a good college to work at. 

00:09:07,034 --> 00:09:07,144 [Danielle Harris]
[laughs] 

00:09:07,144 --> 00:09:08,624 [Calab Tate]
I am biased, though. [laughs] 

00:09:08,624 --> 00:09:09,584 [Danielle Harris]
[laughs] 

00:09:09,584 --> 00:09:17,264 [Calab Tate]
Um, all right, so next question. Uh, what impact does the car show have on local tourism and the economy in Haywood County? 

00:09:17,264 --> 00:09:46,184 [Danielle Harris]
Great question. Um, you know, the car show actually has a pretty significant impact on the economy in Haywood County by increasing local spending, um, so restaurants, gas stations, retail stores, and more. But it's also a great opportunity to directly support our vendors specific to the show, food trucks, dessert stands, um, kid-approved activities that we have secured, coffee stations, and more. Um, it's just, it's a great opportunity to really support our local vendors. 

00:09:46,184 --> 00:10:05,084 [Calab Tate]
Absolutely. Having, having that one-to-one connection between people visiting campus, then potentially taking classes, graduating from those classes, and getting those jobs, economic development has always been a really core part of Haywood Community College and what it is that we do here. 

00:10:05,084 --> 00:10:06,013 [Danielle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:10:06,013 --> 00:10:18,224 [Calab Tate]
Um, I, I'm very enthusiastic and, and excited when I heard about, you know, for every one of our degree programs that we have here at the college, we have advisory boards that are made up of local employers who directly say- 

00:10:18,224 --> 00:10:18,444 [Danielle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:10:18,444 --> 00:10:20,414 [Calab Tate]
... "This is what I need out of an employee." 

00:10:20,414 --> 00:10:21,124 [Danielle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:10:21,124 --> 00:10:32,304 [Calab Tate]
And we provide that directly. We say, "We'll tune this class as much as we can to provide that perfect employee." For the employer, that gets them their perfect employee. And for the student, it cuts out- 

00:10:32,304 --> 00:10:32,314 [Danielle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:10:32,314 --> 00:10:36,084 [Calab Tate]
... all of the extras and gives them exactly what they need to enter the workforce. 

00:10:36,084 --> 00:10:37,304 [Danielle Harris]
Yes. Yes, agreed. 

00:10:37,304 --> 00:10:44,624 [Calab Tate]
And in today's day and age, you know, it's a question that we get a lot is, you know, what are we doing to kind of get people employed and solve some of these employment problems- 

00:10:44,624 --> 00:10:44,634 [Danielle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:10:44,634 --> 00:10:46,403 [Calab Tate]
... that, you know, we're running into, and- 

00:10:46,404 --> 00:10:46,524 [Danielle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:10:46,524 --> 00:10:47,444 [Calab Tate]
... we're a big part of that. 

00:10:47,444 --> 00:10:48,484 [Danielle Harris]
Bridge that gap very well. 

00:10:48,484 --> 00:10:49,764 [Calab Tate]
Yeah, we take that very seriously- 

00:10:49,764 --> 00:10:49,794 [Danielle Harris]
[laughs] 

00:10:49,794 --> 00:10:50,604 [Calab Tate]
... at Haywood Community College. 

00:10:51,864 --> 00:10:52,184 [Calab Tate]
Wonderful. 

00:10:53,764 --> 00:10:58,984 [Calab Tate]
So moving on, what types of vehicles can attendees expect to see at the show? 

00:10:58,984 --> 00:11:19,044 [Danielle Harris]
Um, attendees can expect to see a variety of muscle cars, hot rods, imports, modern vehicles, um, trucks, motorcycles, and more. Um, last year, we even had a neat tow truck from a local towing company, uh, attend, as well as our HCC fire truck. Um, and those were big hits with the kids. 

00:11:19,044 --> 00:11:25,044 [Calab Tate]
Absolutely. Um, I've always thought it was really neat to see just the paint jobs on those tow trucks. 

00:11:25,044 --> 00:11:25,464 [Danielle Harris]
Yes. 

00:11:25,464 --> 00:11:26,344 [Calab Tate]
Like, they go- 

00:11:26,344 --> 00:11:26,354 [Danielle Harris]
Yes. [laughs] 

00:11:26,354 --> 00:11:31,224 [Calab Tate]
... so over the top. So we, we see them at the Christmas parade whenever- 

00:11:31,224 --> 00:11:31,394 [Danielle Harris]
Yes 

00:11:31,394 --> 00:11:33,764 [Calab Tate]
... HCC does that, and I'm telling you what- 

00:11:33,764 --> 00:11:33,964 [Danielle Harris]
Yes 

00:11:33,964 --> 00:11:34,804 [Calab Tate]
... they do it up. 

00:11:34,804 --> 00:11:35,574 [Danielle Harris]
Yes. [laughs] 

00:11:35,574 --> 00:11:37,504 [Calab Tate]
[laughs] As they say around here, they do it up. 

00:11:37,504 --> 00:11:39,564 [Danielle Harris]
[laughs] 

00:11:39,564 --> 00:11:46,904 [Calab Tate]
Love that. Um, so with these cars that are coming out, what prizes are available for participants entering their vehicles into the show? 

00:11:46,904 --> 00:12:07,664 [Danielle Harris]
Sure. So, um, one participant from each category will receive a trophy based on a voting system. We will also recognize a winner from our alumni trophy, as well as a fan favorite. So all awards will be presented right before the end of the show, so probably around 12:30, 12:45 or so, we get started with awards, um, before just finalizing a few things and wrapping the show up. 

00:12:07,664 --> 00:12:12,624 [Calab Tate]
Wonderful. You, you mentioned fan favorite. How does that award work, and, and what does it mean for the winner? 

00:12:12,624 --> 00:12:31,104 [Danielle Harris]
Yeah. So fan favorite is a voting opportunity for attendees to select their favorite vehicle overall. Uh, this award can go to any registered vehicle in any category, uh, and it really symbolizes more of a people's choice award. Um, instead of being selected by a judges panel, it's more of a, the most popular vote from the crowd.

00:12:31,496 --> 00:12:46,555 [Calab Tate]
Absolutely. Um, so I know that people coming out for a car show, this car show's gonna be running from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, there's gonna be some time in there. So with that much time being out in a parking lot in springtime, what kind of food trucks are we gonna be able to expect to see here? 

00:12:46,556 --> 00:13:06,355 [Danielle Harris]
Yes. So currently we have Appalachian Smoke Barbecue, um, KK's Shiver Shack Shaved Ice will be there providing, um, shaved ice, snow cones. Uh, we'll have Sunburst Coffee, and they'll be there in the morning actually, and will be with us all day long. Um, and we're still working to secure some more vendors, and we'll announce those at a later date. 

00:13:06,356 --> 00:13:09,296 [Calab Tate]
Wonderful. We're really excited about some of the grub that we're gonna have on site. [laughs] 

00:13:09,296 --> 00:13:11,576 [Danielle Harris]
Agreed. Agreed. It should be wonderful. [laughs] 

00:13:11,576 --> 00:13:14,886 [Calab Tate]
The team that runs the show is always getting in on that food as well. 

00:13:14,886 --> 00:13:14,896 [Danielle Harris]
[laughs] 

00:13:14,896 --> 00:13:16,676 [Calab Tate]
It's always a good time. It's a perk. 

00:13:16,676 --> 00:13:16,776 [Danielle Harris]
Yes. 

00:13:16,776 --> 00:13:25,256 [Calab Tate]
A perk of the day. Um, so how can at- attendees and participants stay informed about event updates and announcements moving forward? 

00:13:25,256 --> 00:13:43,136 [Danielle Harris]
Yeah. So make sure to follow us on social media outlets, um, Facebook, Instagram specifically. And of course, anyone who has pre-registered a vehicle will receive updates via email that they've submitted on their registration form. We'll be sure to reach out to them and discuss any changes that might occur, if any at all. 

00:13:43,136 --> 00:13:54,896 [Calab Tate]
Perfect. Wonderful. It... So Danielle, what are your hopes for future, the future of the car show? And, and how do you see it evolving in the coming years? We've done it for, it's going on three years now. 

00:13:54,896 --> 00:13:55,156 [Danielle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:13:55,156 --> 00:13:58,556 [Calab Tate]
It's gotten to a really cool place. So, so what's ahead? 

00:13:58,556 --> 00:14:30,956 [Danielle Harris]
You know, um, our car show committee does a great job every year tweaking and adding options like the parts swap feature. Um, but overall, I would just say continued growth. I think we put on a great show with the number of registered vehicles we receive each year, and my hope would be just to really continue expanding. Um, maybe long-term goals would be to transition into a two-day event. Um, and honestly, this should ultimately help bring support to our local hotels as well. Um, but again, I think we have a great thing going for us right now. 

00:14:31,016 --> 00:14:36,016 [Calab Tate]
Absolutely. You know, talking about that two-day stay-and-play kind of model- 

00:14:36,016 --> 00:14:36,056 [Danielle Harris]
Yes 

00:14:36,056 --> 00:14:39,236 [Calab Tate]
... um, you know, our, our local Visit NC Smokies, the TDA- 

00:14:39,236 --> 00:14:39,246 [Danielle Harris]
Yes 

00:14:39,246 --> 00:14:54,356 [Calab Tate]
... they do a lot of really awesome work. Um, and that really is something that they, they help us out with when we're trying to tune our events over the years whenever we've talked with them about how can we make this more appealing to people, bringing them into our, uh, our visitation economy. 

00:14:54,356 --> 00:14:55,736 [Danielle Harris]
Yes. Yes. Agreed. 

00:14:55,736 --> 00:15:12,896 [Calab Tate]
Absolutely. Um, okay. So let's see here. We've talked about the rear view mirror, so... Or we've talked about the front moving forward into the future. What are some things in the past, uh, some memorable moments or highlights from past car shows at HCC? What are some, some things? 

00:15:12,896 --> 00:15:17,516 [Danielle Harris]
Well, the first thing that sticks out to me is the flash mob that came last year. 

00:15:17,516 --> 00:15:17,816 [Calab Tate]
[laughs] Yes. 

00:15:17,816 --> 00:15:39,936 [Danielle Harris]
So we had a 1950s flash mob, um, group of ladies that, uh, did a flash mob. And, um, a few of us obviously knew they were coming, but the, the public and attendees did not know, so it was a great experience, um, just to see, uh, our attendees enjoy that unexpected moment. It, it was great. They were wonderful. Just really, really cool. 

00:15:39,936 --> 00:15:53,576 [Calab Tate]
Yeah. And, you know, going back even further to the first one that we ever did, I remember going through as a part of the first committee, and we planned this thing, and we always have high hopes for events at HCC. 

00:15:53,576 --> 00:15:54,226 [Danielle Harris]
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. 

00:15:54,226 --> 00:16:08,165 [Calab Tate]
But my favorite moment that I would have to say as a part of the committee was that first morning when we finally get everything set up, and as a team, you know, you always sit there and say, "Well, they... Did they see the ads? Did they see, you know, are they gonna come," right? 

00:16:08,165 --> 00:16:08,165 [Danielle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:16:08,165 --> 00:16:13,236 [Calab Tate]
"To an event?" And the front drag is just lined up. 

00:16:13,236 --> 00:16:14,096 [Danielle Harris]
Yes. [laughs] 

00:16:14,096 --> 00:16:15,796 [Calab Tate]
What a magical moment that was- 

00:16:15,796 --> 00:16:16,226 [Danielle Harris]
It was wonderful 

00:16:16,226 --> 00:16:17,616 [Calab Tate]
... at 7:00 o'clock in the morning. 

00:16:17,616 --> 00:16:17,676 [Danielle Harris]
Yes. 

00:16:17,676 --> 00:16:18,896 [Calab Tate]
Made it worth it. 

00:16:18,896 --> 00:16:20,416 [Danielle Harris]
We were having to redirect traffic- 

00:16:20,416 --> 00:16:20,426 [Calab Tate]
[laughs] 

00:16:20,426 --> 00:16:23,076 [Danielle Harris]
... just to get the attendees pulled in. It was great. 

00:16:23,076 --> 00:16:23,856 [Calab Tate]
It was absolutely- 

00:16:23,856 --> 00:16:24,136 [Danielle Harris]
Great, great 

00:16:24,136 --> 00:16:28,526 [Calab Tate]
... fantastic. You know, slam dunk, and then we're just riding that for the rest of the day. 

00:16:28,526 --> 00:16:28,596 [Danielle Harris]
[laughs] 

00:16:28,596 --> 00:16:29,956 [Calab Tate]
Just such a great time. 

00:16:29,956 --> 00:16:31,316 [Danielle Harris]
Yes. [laughs] 

00:16:31,316 --> 00:16:44,056 [Calab Tate]
Absolutely. So all right, so this next question is a two-parter. Part one, what is your favorite category from the car show this year, and, uh, do you have any nice vehicles at your house that you're proud of- 

00:16:44,056 --> 00:16:44,186 [Danielle Harris]
Oh, yeah 

00:16:44,186 --> 00:16:45,256 [Calab Tate]
... you wanna talk about? 

00:16:45,256 --> 00:17:35,676 [Danielle Harris]
Um, well, you know, my love is definitely for classic cars. Um, but I would have to choose custom simply because you really get to see people's creative sides and their passion for building and forming their own ideas to make a vehicle unique to them. So definitely custom, um, for, for the car show. And yes, um, I do have some nice vehicles at the house, at least I believe I do. [laughs] Um, and I'm, I'm the fourth generation to own a hunter green 1950s Dodge pickup truck. It's been in our family for a little while now, and we were able to restore it, and I'm just the fourth generation to own it, so I'm very proud of that. Um, but if asked what my favorite dream vehicle would be, I would have to say a late 1960s Shelby Cobra, um, 427 four-speed, midnight navy blue with the traditional white stripes. [laughs] 

00:17:35,676 --> 00:17:36,996 [Calab Tate]
That's so specific. 

00:17:36,996 --> 00:17:37,315 [Danielle Harris]
I know. [laughs] 

00:17:37,316 --> 00:17:38,256 [Calab Tate]
That's how you know. 

00:17:38,256 --> 00:17:38,696 [Danielle Harris]
That's how you know. 

00:17:38,696 --> 00:17:43,296 [Calab Tate]
How fast does that answer come, and how much different detail does it have? 

00:17:43,296 --> 00:17:50,176 [Danielle Harris]
I will own that vehicle. It might be a replica. Um, probably can't afford a real one, but I will own something like that at some point in my life. [laughs] 

00:17:50,176 --> 00:18:02,512 [Calab Tate]
I love that. I love that. Um-As far as for me, a car at home that I would be most proud of, me and my daddy, as they say, me and my daddy have an IROC-Z Camaro. 

00:18:02,512 --> 00:18:03,071 [Danielle Harris]
[laughs] 

00:18:03,072 --> 00:18:06,762 [Calab Tate]
It's from the '70s, and so is he. [laughs] 

00:18:06,762 --> 00:18:06,772 [Danielle Harris]
[laughs] 

00:18:06,772 --> 00:18:20,222 [Calab Tate]
From that era. Um, but it's just, it's one of those things, whenever, whenever it gets warm like this, we'll wash it off, and it's one of those old muscle cars that you gotta get... You'd say, "Oh, we're gonna have to get out and run with it a little bit and make sure that we're driving it around." 

00:18:20,222 --> 00:18:20,692 [Danielle Harris]
Yes. [laughs] 

00:18:20,692 --> 00:18:29,372 [Calab Tate]
And, uh, I'll drive it to work. And with that IROC-Z Camaro, between the tires and the front of the grill, it's absolutely... It feels like it's six feet. [laughs] 

00:18:29,372 --> 00:18:30,092 [Danielle Harris]
Yes. [laughs] 

00:18:30,092 --> 00:18:31,992 [Calab Tate]
So I have to watch for parking tires. 

00:18:31,992 --> 00:18:32,312 [Danielle Harris]
Yes. 

00:18:32,312 --> 00:18:36,952 [Calab Tate]
And my dad, every time we'll-- every time I set out, he says, "Son, watch out for them parking tires." 

00:18:36,952 --> 00:18:37,332 [Danielle Harris]
[laughs] Yes. 

00:18:37,332 --> 00:18:38,032 [Calab Tate]
Every time. 

00:18:38,032 --> 00:18:38,612 [Danielle Harris]
Every time. [laughs] 

00:18:38,612 --> 00:18:44,602 [Calab Tate]
And, uh, it is in fact one of those, because the old IROC-Z, the grill on it just doesn't really exist. 

00:18:44,602 --> 00:18:44,652 [Danielle Harris]
[laughs] 

00:18:44,652 --> 00:18:46,432 [Calab Tate]
So we can't get stuck in traffic. 

00:18:46,432 --> 00:18:46,832 [Danielle Harris]
[laughs] 

00:18:46,832 --> 00:18:55,432 [Calab Tate]
So you have to get on your phone and make sure there's not traffic between here and Asheville or wherever you're going. Because if you get in traffic, it'll overheat. 

00:18:55,432 --> 00:18:56,452 [Danielle Harris]
Oh my gosh, that's great. [laughs] 

00:18:56,452 --> 00:18:58,832 [Calab Tate]
Uh, so yeah. I, I know the struggle. 

00:18:58,832 --> 00:18:59,012 [Danielle Harris]
Yes. [laughs] 

00:18:59,012 --> 00:18:59,871 [Calab Tate]
I know the struggle. 

00:18:59,872 --> 00:19:00,052 [Danielle Harris]
Yes. 

00:19:00,052 --> 00:19:01,992 [Calab Tate]
IROC-Z Camaro is mine, so. 

00:19:01,992 --> 00:19:02,952 [Danielle Harris]
[laughs] 

00:19:02,952 --> 00:19:09,852 [Calab Tate]
As we're kind of wrapping up, as we're coming up, uh, and wrapping this episode up, I wanna thank you, Danielle, for joining me for this episode- 

00:19:09,852 --> 00:19:10,002 [Danielle Harris]
Of course 

00:19:10,002 --> 00:19:16,772 [Calab Tate]
... of Bobcat Chat. Um, do you have any kind of final thoughts and kind of plug for the event itself to kind of remind people? 

00:19:16,772 --> 00:19:49,152 [Danielle Harris]
Yeah. So friendly reminder on how to register for the show. Um, participants can either register to enter a vehicle by completing the online form at haywood.edu/events/carshow, or simply show up the morning of and complete a paper form in person. It's $20 to enter a vehicle and $20 to participate in the parts swap if interested. Um, the car show is open to the public for free, and it is on Saturday, April 26th from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM in the front parking lot of the Hemlock Building on our main campus. 

00:19:49,152 --> 00:19:50,012 [Calab Tate]
Wonderful. 

00:19:50,012 --> 00:19:50,602 [Danielle Harris]
Yes. [laughs] 

00:19:50,602 --> 00:19:55,602 [Calab Tate]
So ladies and gentlemen, you heard it here first today, uh, for the third time- 

00:19:55,602 --> 00:19:55,602 [Danielle Harris]
[laughs] 

00:19:55,602 --> 00:20:01,262 [Calab Tate]
... we're here for the car show at Haywood Community College. Danielle, thank you so much for joining us. 

00:20:01,262 --> 00:20:03,241 [Danielle Harris]
Yes. Thank you so much for having me. I've, it's been great. [laughs] 

00:20:03,241 --> 00:20:35,492 [Announcer]
This has been Bobcat Chat. We'll see you soon. [upbeat music] Bobcat Chat is a production of Haywood Community College. HCC is located in Clyde, North Carolina. If you'd like to learn more about our great college, visit us online at www.haywood.edu. That's H-A-Y-W-O-O-D.edu. [upbeat music]

00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:04,310 [Announcer]
[upbeat music] 

00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:09,580 [Announcer]
Hello and welcome to Bobcat Chat. 

00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:23,960 [Michelle Harris]
Welcome everybody to this week's edition of Bobcat Chat. My name's Michelle Harris. I'm the director of marketing here at HCC, and this week I have the pleasure of sitting down with Hylah Birenbaum. 

00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:23,970 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes. 

00:00:23,970 --> 00:00:25,740 [Michelle Harris]
And she is our foundation director. 

00:00:25,740 --> 00:00:26,840 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Hello. 

00:00:26,840 --> 00:00:29,259 [Michelle Harris]
So great to have you back on the chat, Hylah. 

00:00:29,260 --> 00:00:30,680 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Thank you. It's been a hot minute. 

00:00:30,680 --> 00:00:33,250 [Michelle Harris]
It has. But you always have something exciting cooking. 

00:00:33,250 --> 00:00:33,280 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yeah. 

00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:37,240 [Michelle Harris]
So we're really excited to sit down and talk about the next thing you've got coming up. 

00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:37,800 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm. 

00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:42,480 [Michelle Harris]
Um, so let's just start off from the top. What do we have coming up in March? 

00:00:42,480 --> 00:01:16,240 [Hylah Birenbaum]
So in March we have our, I guess it would be our second annual gala. Um, it is on Thursday, March 13th, uh, here on campus. It is gonna be in our library. Kind of a similar format to what we did last year. Um, we're having a five-piece jazz band. We're having appetizers being served from our students. Um, we have a buffet dinner. We have a silent auction. And then we're going to have all these amazing stations set up throughout the building in the library talking about our different programs that we offer for both continuing ed- 

00:01:16,240 --> 00:01:16,250 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:01:16,250 --> 00:01:17,840 [Hylah Birenbaum]
... and our curriculum programs. 

00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:25,380 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. So it's really gonna be a good way to showcase the programs we have. And whether it's funding for the, what we're calling Tools and Tech scholarship- 

00:01:25,380 --> 00:01:25,430 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm 

00:01:25,430 --> 00:01:33,690 [Michelle Harris]
... or tuition or books or whatever else that students might need to support their program, this is gonna be a great way to learn about the programs that we have- 

00:01:33,690 --> 00:01:33,690 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Right 

00:01:33,690 --> 00:01:34,880 [Michelle Harris]
... throughout the college. 

00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:35,160 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yeah. 

00:01:35,160 --> 00:01:38,200 [Michelle Harris]
So are there any particular programs that'll be highlighted at the event? 

00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:46,140 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Oh my gosh. Um, pretty much [laughs] a lot of them will be. So for example, in continuing ed, we're gonna have basic law enforcements. 

00:01:46,140 --> 00:01:46,440 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:01:46,440 --> 00:02:04,890 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Um, we're gonna have fire and rescue, and we're gonna have our new ambulance with EMS. Um, some of our funds from our scholarship funds have bought the new student ambulance this past year. So it's a way for our students to be able to work before they get into their job, you know, working in an ambulance that's moving and- 

00:02:04,890 --> 00:02:04,930 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:02:04,930 --> 00:02:10,630 [Hylah Birenbaum]
... taking care of patients. So they have a working remote classroom as this amazing ambulance. 

00:02:10,630 --> 00:02:10,680 [Michelle Harris]
Wow. 

00:02:10,720 --> 00:02:15,360 [Hylah Birenbaum]
So Crystal's gonna bring that ambulance and park it out front, so that way you can get a tour of that. 

00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:15,980 [Michelle Harris]
Fun. 

00:02:15,980 --> 00:02:25,620 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Um, we're gonna have forestry and fish and wildlife, kind of the tools that they use when they graduate. Uh, hey, if I'm pursuing a career in forestry, what does that mean? 

00:02:25,620 --> 00:02:26,040 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:34,280 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Um, and we can always ask for donations of helping our, our instructors with maybe they want this bigger item that would help them improve. 

00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:34,560 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:43,060 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Um, gosh, what else? Um, medical assisting, even accounting is doing something. Cosmetology, you know, the mannequins heads. 

00:02:43,060 --> 00:02:43,440 [Michelle Harris]
Yes. 

00:02:43,440 --> 00:02:58,500 [Hylah Birenbaum]
All the sheers and, and, um, brushes and combs and all [laughs] all the tools for that. Um, they're gonna have a station set up. Um, I know I'm forgetting a bunch, but yeah, pretty much all of our programs on both sides of curriculum and con ed- 

00:02:58,500 --> 00:02:58,720 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:02:58,720 --> 00:02:59,799 [Hylah Birenbaum]
... will be there. 

00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:08,840 [Michelle Harris]
And I think the concept is really cool because some of us, you know, like in my field and your field, you know, we're on the business side, where we don't need extra things beyond like a laptop. 

00:03:08,840 --> 00:03:08,870 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Right. 

00:03:08,870 --> 00:03:16,440 [Michelle Harris]
But there are some very specialty programs out there, and we offer many of them here, that need something above and beyond just a laptop- 

00:03:16,440 --> 00:03:16,470 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm 

00:03:16,470 --> 00:03:21,460 [Michelle Harris]
... upon graduation to enter the field. And I think this whole event is gonna just showcase that, and also- 

00:03:21,460 --> 00:03:21,470 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Right 

00:03:21,470 --> 00:03:23,400 [Michelle Harris]
... help fund those needs. 

00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:28,900 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Right. And it's not just, you know, the students in Tools and Tech, like you're saying, with the computers or with books or scrubs- 

00:03:28,900 --> 00:03:29,010 [Michelle Harris]
Right 

00:03:29,010 --> 00:03:33,540 [Hylah Birenbaum]
... for our nursing students. Um, but it's also what our instructors need going forward. 

00:03:33,540 --> 00:03:33,720 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:03:33,720 --> 00:03:36,230 [Hylah Birenbaum]
So, um, they can apply for a mini-grant. 

00:03:36,230 --> 00:03:36,240 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:03:36,240 --> 00:03:58,380 [Hylah Birenbaum]
And some of the mini-grants have helped, like with virtual reality, buy a headset or buy a new physics lab or things like that. So as a outsider in the community coming to campus and attending and looking at all of our different stations and programs, you'll be able to say, "Okay, gosh, our accounting instructor needs X, Y, Z to really take it to the next level." 

00:03:58,380 --> 00:03:58,760 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:05,080 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Or fish and wildlife would love on their, their wish list to receive whatever it is. 

00:04:05,080 --> 00:04:05,280 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:08,780 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Um, and they need help funding for it 'cause it might not be in their budget. 

00:04:08,780 --> 00:04:09,020 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:04:09,020 --> 00:04:13,200 [Hylah Birenbaum]
And it might be a little bit more than, say, a mini-grant can get for them. 

00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:13,640 [Michelle Harris]
Right. 

00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:23,200 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Um, so it's a way for just our community to learn more about our programs, come on campus, um, dress up in cocktail attire, and just, you know, have fun- 

00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:23,210 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah 

00:04:23,210 --> 00:04:25,600 [Hylah Birenbaum]
... and learn more about what HCC does. 

00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:31,420 [Michelle Harris]
And I think the great thing about having all the programs there is the ability for all the guests to interact and talk with- 

00:04:31,420 --> 00:04:31,690 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Exactly 

00:04:31,690 --> 00:04:33,170 [Michelle Harris]
... the program managers, instructors- 

00:04:33,170 --> 00:04:33,180 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yep 

00:04:33,180 --> 00:04:33,940 [Michelle Harris]
... the students. 

00:04:33,940 --> 00:04:33,960 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yep. 

00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:44,230 [Michelle Harris]
To really learn that. And I think one of the biggest things that, you know, we tout as a community college is being able to train and, um, help students learn the current- 

00:04:44,230 --> 00:04:44,230 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm 

00:04:44,230 --> 00:04:45,820 [Michelle Harris]
... things that are going on. 

00:04:45,820 --> 00:04:46,080 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Right. 

00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:52,260 [Michelle Harris]
So when they enter the workforce, they're not already 10 years behind 'cause we didn't have the technology in the classroom to support that. 

00:04:52,260 --> 00:04:52,640 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm. 

00:04:52,640 --> 00:05:00,320 [Michelle Harris]
So all this sort of wraps into that, um, you know, really high-end quality education that they're getting here so they can enter the workforce ready to go. 

00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:00,860 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Right. Right. 

00:05:00,860 --> 00:05:03,420 [Michelle Harris]
So I'm really excited that we're using the library. 

00:05:03,420 --> 00:05:03,900 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes. Yes. 

00:05:03,900 --> 00:05:05,750 [Michelle Harris]
Um, 'cause it's two stories. 

00:05:05,750 --> 00:05:05,800 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm. 

00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:10,480 [Michelle Harris]
So what's gonna kinda be like the vibe and the layout of the space that you envisioned? 

00:05:10,480 --> 00:05:13,900 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Well, we bought some, um, decorative lights, outdoor lights- 

00:05:13,900 --> 00:05:13,910 [Michelle Harris]
Fun 

00:05:13,910 --> 00:05:21,530 [Hylah Birenbaum]
... that we're gonna have, um, stringing up all throughout the stairs going up. Um, it's the black and white kind of color theme. 

00:05:21,530 --> 00:05:21,620 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:05:21,620 --> 00:05:29,130 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Um, so the servers are, you know, you know, going to be in the black and white a- attire. Um, but just more elegance, uh, especially if you wanna wear cocktail attire. 

00:05:29,130 --> 00:05:29,580 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:05:29,580 --> 00:05:37,020 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Um, and then the jazz band playing, and there'll be room for dancing if you wanna do that. We have some amazing, um, gift baskets in our silent auction- 

00:05:37,020 --> 00:05:37,400 [Michelle Harris]
Okay 

00:05:37,400 --> 00:05:51,256 [Hylah Birenbaum]
... from all over our community in Maggie and Canton, in Waynesville. Um, so lots of bidding going on for the silent auction. Um, you-So, I mean, it should be a fun, festive, elegant... Just something a little bit different. 

00:05:51,256 --> 00:05:51,756 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:05:51,756 --> 00:05:53,136 [Hylah Birenbaum]
So I'm excited about it. 

00:05:53,136 --> 00:05:57,676 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. And I think, you know, as we... You and I are both parents of children in- 

00:05:57,676 --> 00:05:57,816 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm 

00:05:57,816 --> 00:05:58,916 [Michelle Harris]
... college age. 

00:05:58,916 --> 00:05:59,296 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes. 

00:05:59,296 --> 00:06:05,136 [Michelle Harris]
And I think what is really interesting to me about this event is that we're raising funds to support the student. 

00:06:05,136 --> 00:06:05,226 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm. 

00:06:05,226 --> 00:06:08,766 [Michelle Harris]
Because there's more than just tuition, just books, you know? 

00:06:08,766 --> 00:06:08,816 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Right. 

00:06:08,816 --> 00:06:19,416 [Michelle Harris]
Every program has a little bit of a nuance, and this type of event will help the student, um, use funds to pay for some of those things, almost like this domino effect in their lives. 

00:06:19,416 --> 00:06:19,426 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm. 

00:06:19,426 --> 00:06:24,756 [Michelle Harris]
Because if they can use funds supported by the foundation and the college to, to pay for something- 

00:06:24,756 --> 00:06:25,116 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm 

00:06:25,116 --> 00:06:35,416 [Michelle Harris]
... that will offset something they might need in their life, or to enter their job, or whatever that looks like. So everything you guys are doing, it really just supports the students to that next level. 

00:06:35,416 --> 00:06:40,676 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Right. And then it's also planting the seed for our community members to know more about our programs. 

00:06:40,676 --> 00:06:40,916 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:06:40,916 --> 00:06:45,816 [Hylah Birenbaum]
So that way, if they wanted to invest in that wishlist item from whatever department- 

00:06:45,816 --> 00:06:46,096 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:06:46,096 --> 00:06:49,416 [Hylah Birenbaum]
... you know, that's another thing that can come through the foundation as a donation. 

00:06:49,416 --> 00:06:49,596 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:06:49,596 --> 00:06:51,936 [Hylah Birenbaum]
You know, if they want to say, "Hey, I want to... 

00:06:52,956 --> 00:07:02,416 [Hylah Birenbaum]
I'm XYZ company, and I want to invest in, you know, this program and really help the students achieve the next level." So, like automotive, they need all the tools when they- 

00:07:02,416 --> 00:07:02,446 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:07:02,446 --> 00:07:09,506 [Hylah Birenbaum]
... when they graduate so they can work, uh, whether it's a garage, their own business or whatnot, but they need the wrenches and the screwdrivers- 

00:07:09,506 --> 00:07:09,516 [Michelle Harris]
Yes 

00:07:09,516 --> 00:07:15,216 [Hylah Birenbaum]
... and everything else. Well, maybe we have another company that can come in and supply our students with those tools. 

00:07:15,216 --> 00:07:15,616 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:07:15,616 --> 00:07:29,156 [Hylah Birenbaum]
I mean, that could be a great partnership, and it might save, you know, more money than what we're already offering now or something. But just another way to just work with the community here, because our students are hopefully gonna be working in our community- 

00:07:29,156 --> 00:07:29,376 [Michelle Harris]
Right 

00:07:29,376 --> 00:07:31,236 [Hylah Birenbaum]
... and paying it forward again, and just, like- 

00:07:31,236 --> 00:07:31,306 [Michelle Harris]
Right 

00:07:31,306 --> 00:07:35,576 [Hylah Birenbaum]
... that big circle of, of just keeping it all within our, our county. 

00:07:35,576 --> 00:07:40,416 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. And I like the point you made too about just kind of showcasing our programs. 

00:07:40,416 --> 00:07:40,876 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yeah. 

00:07:40,876 --> 00:07:45,716 [Michelle Harris]
Um, we joke, don't joke, however you wanna call it, about being the best-kept secret in Haywood County. 

00:07:45,716 --> 00:07:46,056 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm. 

00:07:46,056 --> 00:07:55,816 [Michelle Harris]
And we're doing everything we can to combat that. And so just by attending the event and, you know, doing the ticket price, you're supporting the community and you're learning about what we have to offer. 

00:07:55,816 --> 00:07:56,105 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yep. 

00:07:56,105 --> 00:08:01,296 [Michelle Harris]
'Cause we find so many people, you know, they might not quite think of, you know, higher education for themselves- 

00:08:01,296 --> 00:08:01,336 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm 

00:08:01,336 --> 00:08:09,376 [Michelle Harris]
... but then you sort of start to see them just, you know, tick away at thinking about it, and this might be that great opportunity for them to talk with the instructor- 

00:08:09,376 --> 00:08:09,476 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Right 

00:08:09,476 --> 00:08:11,616 [Michelle Harris]
... to see what we have that fits them- 

00:08:11,616 --> 00:08:11,626 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm 

00:08:11,626 --> 00:08:15,036 [Michelle Harris]
... or if they have employees that they wanna upskill. 

00:08:15,036 --> 00:08:15,166 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm. 

00:08:15,166 --> 00:08:18,136 [Michelle Harris]
Um, I think this is another great opportunity for that connection. 

00:08:18,136 --> 00:08:18,476 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Right. 

00:08:18,476 --> 00:08:21,296 [Michelle Harris]
Um, 'cause we have a fabulous website, however- 

00:08:21,296 --> 00:08:21,545 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm 

00:08:21,545 --> 00:08:24,616 [Michelle Harris]
... being able to ask those questions to the person teaching the class- 

00:08:24,616 --> 00:08:24,626 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm 

00:08:24,626 --> 00:08:27,076 [Michelle Harris]
... or, you know, running the program is priceless. 

00:08:27,076 --> 00:08:28,485 [Hylah Birenbaum]
And then seeing the students too and talking- 

00:08:28,485 --> 00:08:28,485 [Michelle Harris]
Yes 

00:08:28,485 --> 00:08:36,406 [Hylah Birenbaum]
... with the students hands-on, saying, "Hey, I'm in this program. This is what I love for. This is what I wanna do when I graduate," and just having that other touch point. 

00:08:36,406 --> 00:08:36,406 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:08:36,406 --> 00:08:38,386 [Hylah Birenbaum]
You know? And it, it is top of mind, you know? 

00:08:38,386 --> 00:08:38,416 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:08:38,416 --> 00:08:45,416 [Hylah Birenbaum]
You want people to know what we're doing, and what better way than bringing them here and experiencing it all at one sitting? 

00:08:45,416 --> 00:08:45,516 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:08:45,516 --> 00:08:48,816 [Hylah Birenbaum]
And that's why we chose, you know, tools and tech. It's not fancy. 

00:08:48,816 --> 00:08:48,946 [Michelle Harris]
Right. [laughs] 

00:08:48,946 --> 00:08:51,876 [Hylah Birenbaum]
It's not, you know... It's not anything woo, but- 

00:08:51,876 --> 00:08:52,216 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah 

00:08:52,216 --> 00:08:55,116 [Hylah Birenbaum]
... it's the, it's a core. It's the foundation of what our students need. 

00:08:55,116 --> 00:08:55,646 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:08:55,646 --> 00:09:04,916 [Hylah Birenbaum]
I mean, yes, they need computers. Yes, they need books. But they also need supplies to go forward to have their career or whatever their program of study is and succeed. 

00:09:04,916 --> 00:09:05,116 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:09:05,116 --> 00:09:11,816 [Hylah Birenbaum]
You know? And they need those tools to succeed, so letting us all work together to bring that community here to see it- 

00:09:11,816 --> 00:09:12,016 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:09:12,016 --> 00:09:13,456 [Hylah Birenbaum]
... I think is a win-win. 

00:09:13,456 --> 00:09:22,156 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. And I think, you know, there's also been a lot of chatter, you know, just I feel like in the state in general of, you know, taking the student from student to career. 

00:09:22,156 --> 00:09:22,396 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes. 

00:09:22,396 --> 00:09:26,036 [Michelle Harris]
There's been a lot of emphasis on that, and this is that financial piece- 

00:09:26,036 --> 00:09:26,396 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm 

00:09:26,396 --> 00:09:36,016 [Michelle Harris]
... to support them getting started with whatever it is they might need to enter that workforce. So again, they don't have that financial barrier. Because once you leave here, you can absolutely get a job. 

00:09:36,016 --> 00:09:36,276 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Right. 

00:09:36,276 --> 00:09:42,496 [Michelle Harris]
Um, especially in some of these industries that are gonna be, um, showcased at the event, like the, you know, cosmetology, automotive- 

00:09:42,496 --> 00:09:42,526 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm 

00:09:42,526 --> 00:09:56,516 [Michelle Harris]
... even forestry, things like that. Um, and even if a student were to, you know, complete their program here, enter the workforce with some great tools, and then maybe look to return to the classroom at a later date or whatever that is, they just know that HCC's been here the whole way- 

00:09:56,516 --> 00:09:56,576 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm 

00:09:56,576 --> 00:09:58,176 [Michelle Harris]
... to help them through that process. 

00:09:58,176 --> 00:10:18,476 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes. And in, in a perfect world, hopefully the takeaway will be that person, that couple who came, talked with our instructors, met a student, they'll go home, and then they'll think about and they'll say, "You know what? We wanna start an endowment for the automotive program," or, "We wanna donate $10,000 to make sure that student or that program has the tools they need when they graduate." 

00:10:18,476 --> 00:10:18,816 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:10:18,816 --> 00:10:20,396 [Hylah Birenbaum]
That... I think that's the end goal. 

00:10:20,396 --> 00:10:20,716 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:10:20,716 --> 00:10:29,076 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Is, is just a financial, you know, gift to really help those students, whatever program it is, succeed in what they wanna do. 

00:10:29,076 --> 00:10:35,436 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. And I know as a, you know, a, a growing adult, I will say, I'll call myself, you know, they always use the term time or treasure- 

00:10:35,436 --> 00:10:35,716 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yeah 

00:10:35,716 --> 00:10:37,686 [Michelle Harris]
... you know, to support nonprofits, and- 

00:10:37,686 --> 00:10:37,776 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm 

00:10:37,776 --> 00:10:43,836 [Michelle Harris]
... which the foundation is. And so I think this is kind of that sweet spot of, you know, your time coming to the event- 

00:10:43,836 --> 00:10:44,176 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm 

00:10:44,176 --> 00:10:46,746 [Michelle Harris]
... you know, paying the ticket price, which also supports the- 

00:10:46,746 --> 00:10:46,746 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yep 

00:10:46,746 --> 00:10:47,836 [Michelle Harris]
... you know, the needs. 

00:10:47,836 --> 00:10:47,846 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm. 

00:10:47,846 --> 00:10:49,676 [Michelle Harris]
Um, that's why the price is what the price is- 

00:10:49,676 --> 00:10:49,686 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm 

00:10:49,686 --> 00:10:54,626 [Michelle Harris]
... you know, 'cause a portion of that supports everything. But then what does that look like down the road for that person? 

00:10:54,626 --> 00:10:54,655 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yep. 

00:10:54,656 --> 00:10:58,076 [Michelle Harris]
Could it be the treasure of the endowment? Could it be the time on the foundation- 

00:10:58,076 --> 00:10:58,086 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm 

00:10:58,086 --> 00:11:04,376 [Michelle Harris]
... board or volunteering at an event? And just hopefully that could spark some interest with people coming too, and a great way to see the campus. 

00:11:04,376 --> 00:11:04,806 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Exactly. 

00:11:04,806 --> 00:11:09,536 [Michelle Harris]
'Cause you have to drive a little bit to get to the library, and you can see all the beauty, and by then it's gonna be really, really nice out. [laughs] 

00:11:09,536 --> 00:11:10,126 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Hopefully, yeah. 

00:11:10,126 --> 00:11:10,196 [Michelle Harris]
Nice and green. 

00:11:10,196 --> 00:11:12,816 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Hopefully in March it will not... Well, we're gonna aim for spring. 

00:11:12,816 --> 00:11:13,095 [Michelle Harris]
That's right. 

00:11:13,096 --> 00:11:14,136 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Springtime in March. 

00:11:14,136 --> 00:11:15,186 [Michelle Harris]
A spring vibe. 

00:11:15,186 --> 00:11:15,186 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes. 

00:11:15,186 --> 00:11:17,196 [Michelle Harris]
And I think just seeing those tools- 

00:11:17,196 --> 00:11:17,456 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm 

00:11:17,456 --> 00:11:23,186 [Michelle Harris]
... you know, directly one on one, like I know, you know, a year or so ago is when we really started getting into VR side of things. 

00:11:23,186 --> 00:11:23,215 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes. 

00:11:23,216 --> 00:11:27,256 [Michelle Harris]
And just what I've heard instructors use that for in the classroom is amazing. 

00:11:27,256 --> 00:11:27,736 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm. 

00:11:27,736 --> 00:11:31,376 [Michelle Harris]
And I think by being able to demonstrate that to people at the event- 

00:11:31,376 --> 00:11:31,616 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes 

00:11:31,616 --> 00:11:35,386 [Michelle Harris]
... they're gonna think the same thing. They're gonna be like, "Oh, my gosh, this is so amazing." 

00:11:35,386 --> 00:11:39,806 [Hylah Birenbaum]
'Cause you think about, you know, VR and the headsets of like, all right, I'm playing a game or whatnot. 

00:11:39,806 --> 00:11:39,816 [Michelle Harris]
Right. 

00:11:39,816 --> 00:11:43,576 [Hylah Birenbaum]
But both automotive and nursing both use VR of- 

00:11:43,576 --> 00:11:43,586 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:11:43,586 --> 00:11:46,066 [Hylah Birenbaum]
... explaining a, a classroom setting. 

00:11:46,066 --> 00:11:46,256 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:11:46,256 --> 00:11:54,420 [Hylah Birenbaum]
And to have someone from the community put on that headset and do something as an automotive student would do or a nursing student would do-That's priceless. 

00:11:54,420 --> 00:11:54,620 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:11:54,620 --> 00:11:58,760 [Hylah Birenbaum]
You know, you're not gonna have that kind of knowledge outside of our campus. 

00:11:58,760 --> 00:11:58,800 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:02,140 [Hylah Birenbaum]
So it's kind of exciting to, to let people know more about that. 

00:12:02,140 --> 00:12:11,360 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah, and I'm even seeing use cases where it's been in, um, classes like, um, geography and history where you could actually get, like, a video or- 

00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:11,370 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm 

00:12:11,370 --> 00:12:13,280 [Michelle Harris]
... a subscription from National Geographic. 

00:12:13,280 --> 00:12:13,720 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Oh, wow. 

00:12:13,720 --> 00:12:15,080 [Michelle Harris]
And go into that- 

00:12:15,080 --> 00:12:15,200 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm 

00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:21,300 [Michelle Harris]
... you know, item or the thing or wherever that timeframe, so students can really have that immersive feeling- 

00:12:21,300 --> 00:12:21,630 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes 

00:12:21,630 --> 00:12:29,240 [Michelle Harris]
... to enhance what they're learning about. Because it's one thing to read and study and do quizzes, and we all know that, but to take that piece and really elevate it- 

00:12:29,240 --> 00:12:29,250 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm 

00:12:29,250 --> 00:12:32,220 [Michelle Harris]
... is just, it's so cool and so new, and I just really like it. 

00:12:32,220 --> 00:12:33,430 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes. Yes. 

00:12:33,430 --> 00:12:33,440 [Michelle Harris]
Yes. 

00:12:33,440 --> 00:12:34,259 [Hylah Birenbaum]
It'll be exciting. 

00:12:34,260 --> 00:12:40,000 [Michelle Harris]
Yes. All right. So let's sum up the event, and just in case everyone forgot what we just talked about. 

00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:51,440 [Hylah Birenbaum]
[laughs] All right, so it is, uh, Innovate for Impact. Um, it is a fundraising gala for tools and tech on Thursday, March the 13th, uh, 6:00 PM here at the library on HCC's campus. 

00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:51,870 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:12:51,870 --> 00:12:55,860 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Uh, $75 for tickets, and it is cocktail attire. 

00:12:55,860 --> 00:12:56,260 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:12:56,260 --> 00:13:03,140 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Um, cash bar, jazz, appetizers, din- uh, buffet dinner, and a silent auction. 

00:13:03,140 --> 00:13:04,880 [Michelle Harris]
And where can people purchase tickets? 

00:13:04,880 --> 00:13:12,760 [Hylah Birenbaum]
You can come into our office and purchase tickets that way, or go to our website, haywood.edu, and then click on donate or foundation. 

00:13:12,760 --> 00:13:12,890 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:13:12,890 --> 00:13:15,860 [Hylah Birenbaum]
And then you'll see the link for Innovate for Impact. 

00:13:15,860 --> 00:13:17,300 [Michelle Harris]
Yes. Wonderful. 

00:13:17,300 --> 00:13:17,680 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Great. 

00:13:17,680 --> 00:13:19,350 [Michelle Harris]
Thank you for sharing with us today. 

00:13:19,350 --> 00:13:19,420 [Hylah Birenbaum]
You're welcome. 

00:13:19,420 --> 00:13:22,660 [Michelle Harris]
I hope it's a wonderful turnout on the 13th. I'm sure it will be. 

00:13:22,660 --> 00:13:24,160 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes, me too. Thank you so much. 

00:13:24,160 --> 00:13:26,360 [Michelle Harris]
Thank you. [upbeat music] 

00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:53,020 [Announcer]
Bobcat Chat is a production of Haywood Community College. HCC is located in Clyde, North Carolina. If you'd like to learn more about our great college, visit us online at www.haywood.edu. That's H-A-Y-W-O-O-D.edu. [upbeat music]

00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:04,310 [Announcer]
[upbeat music] 

00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:09,580 [Announcer]
Hello and welcome to Bobcat Chat. 

00:00:12,760 --> 00:00:37,700 [Calab Tate]
Hello everybody, and welcome to another episode of Bobcat Chat Podcast, where we come together with interesting folks here at Haywood Community College to talk about the things that go on here on our campus each and every day. Today, I'm joined by Dr. Philip Hamm, the director of the Learning Support Services team here at Haywood Community College. Dr. Hamm, thank you so much for joining us. 

00:00:37,700 --> 00:00:39,340 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
Thank you for having me. 

00:00:39,340 --> 00:00:49,820 [Calab Tate]
So, uh, without further ado, we'll, we'll kind of dive into our questions here. So, um, Dr. Hamm, can you tell us a little bit about your role as Director of Learning Support Services at Haywood Community College? 

00:00:49,820 --> 00:01:37,380 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
Yes, I would be glad to. Thank you, Caleb. So I've been in the role of Director of Learning Support Services since February of 2022, and it's been an absolute wonderful experience for me. In the role of director, I have five tutors that work for me, and I also have, uh, one person, Ms. Megan Clark, that handles our testing. So I directly supervise about five to six people, um, each week. And beyond that, I'm fortunate that I have a really good crew that can handle the testing and the subject matter tutoring side. What I focus on is time management and study skills in my day-to-day operations, and just try to help make sure that the trains run on time, so to speak. 

00:01:37,380 --> 00:02:20,360 [Calab Tate]
That's wonderful. And we'll get into that a little bit more as we kind of have this conversation, but I do love that, that third dimension that you've brought to that team and to what they do and all of you, that wonderful team brings to that, that it's, it's not one layer, it's multiple layers helping students find that success in the semester. And that's a big part of why we're talking right now because we're into that semester, right? We're past, uh, we're a few weeks in now into the fall 2025 semester, and the students are really kind of feeling that workload now. So I'm really interested to pick your brain today a little bit about some of those things as we have that conversation. Um, but before we get into all that, what inspires you to get involved in student support and academic success in the first place? 

00:02:20,360 --> 00:03:38,620 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
Well, that's a wonderful question, and I would, I would just say this. Uh, when that role came open in 2022, I knew I had big shoes to fill if I was to get it. Uh, Margaret Stunt- Margaret Stunter did an excellent job in that role. Uh, she was very highly thought of, and I just wanted to make sure that when I came in, that there was no drop off. That was... Let me say that first and foremost because she did a wonderful job, and everything had, everybody had nothing but pauses to say about her. But honestly, when I taught high school at Pisgah, I switched from history, uh, my background in Kentucky, and I switched to special education. And there was a course called, uh, Curriculum Assistance in then. I believe they call it Strategies now at the high school level. Well, I got to work with about 10 to 12 students every day for 90 minutes on all their subjects. And it became clear to me that this kind of thing was more important to me, and I was more interested in that as opposed to the daily grind of teaching. I still love to teach, and I get to teach a couple classes a semester, but I definitely like the interactions with the students of the high school going back to Pisgah. I felt like I was more valuable in that role than in front of entire classroom. 

00:03:38,620 --> 00:05:07,520 [Calab Tate]
That's, that's amazing. And you found... When you find that part, the education, throughout all these conversations that we have on Bobcat Chat with so many different people from Haywood Community College, um, education is this very kaleidoscopic thing. It's got so many different moving parts just to make school happen for one single day. Um, but I love hearing about that moment where people are moving through education, they find something they're truly, really click with and something they're really passionate about. I remember whenever I first started working with you, one of the stories I always tell is we were walking through the hallways at the high school where you were, uh, stationed, where you were working, and it seemed like every single person that we passed in the hallway, you would say, "Hey, Larry, how's your mom?" "Hey, Sterling, good, uh, good job on that volleyball game last night." And it was just so connected with all the individual students. And, you know, it's been a minute. It's, it's not been a minute for me, but others, they might have to think back and try to remember. A high school hallway in the middle of classes is an, a sea of people, but you were still able to connect with each and every one of those people as they came through, and, and that, that showed me very quickly that you were passionate about the people. Um, it wasn't a grade, it wasn't a job, it wasn't a paycheck. You were there for them. And, uh, that's something that really did stick with me. Uh, and then I think that same day we got out for snow. There was that big career fair, that big thing that we were doing, and we all got out for snow, and it was super fast. Um, but it was a very wonderful, uh, example of just what you bring to the table. 

00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:08,240 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
Thank you. 

00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:21,800 [Calab Tate]
Absolutely. Um, okay. So when it comes to learning support services as a department, we've, we've, we've described the whole thing, but what would be that mission of that department if you were to kind of narrow that down? What's the mission of that department? 

00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:27,760 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
Yeah, absolutely. For me, I, I think it's two things. One, we're there to make sure that we give 

00:05:28,780 --> 00:06:26,523 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
our students our very, very best. And, and that can mean a student comes in, and they need help with a grammar evaluation, uh, or a student needs help with a math problem, or a student comes in, "Hey, Dr. Hamm, I'm in... I'm supposed to be in room 331, and I'm in 335. Where's 331?" It might be as something as simple as that or a phone call that has nothing to do with our department, okay? But we wanna make sure whoever it is, we're giving them the, our absolute best. It is our mission. We do not have bad days. I, I, II say no matter what's going on in our personal life, we make sure that we give students their, our very best. We just wanna make sure that their experience is a good one when they come in, and so they can see that, and we try to model that behavior, and hopefully when they, after they get their degrees and they go out and do these great things, they'll have that same attitude towards the public. 

00:06:26,524 --> 00:07:30,024 [Calab Tate]
I love hearing whenever I have conversations with people, usually there is a why or a mission statement question, and hearing the through affair, uh, or the similarity in all of them, but also the difference, is amazing. And one of the things that you hit on that I absolutely love that all of my favorite people in the community college system that I've ever worked with, they all have that... They know that they s- they, they're gonna show up to work and they're gonna get fly balls. They're gonna get those oddball questions that aren't within the scope of what your department might do, 'cause we're all out on campus. And when a student needs help I always... I love seeing people go that extra mile at Hayward Community College. 'Cause it's, it is, it's factual. You know, we might have a community event. I know there was one day I was walking between, uh, appointments on campus, and a group of l- of ladies here on campus, they were older ladies, they said, "Hey, we're part of a bird watching group. Um, we have questions about campus," and that dovetailed into a tour. Well, then tho- that same group of people wanted to come back and volunteer. I got them connected with our, uh, our green initiative to help the arboretum, and it's, those are those moments. 

00:07:30,024 --> 00:07:30,624 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
I love that. 

00:07:30,624 --> 00:07:30,754 [Calab Tate]
And we have them back. 

00:07:30,754 --> 00:07:37,584 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
And that is the atmosphere here, right? That's what we, that's what we try to, uh, aspire to do, and that's fantastic, Caleb. 

00:07:37,584 --> 00:07:58,864 [Calab Tate]
Yeah. It's a big part of, I know, bear that, that similarity. I, that's why I like working here. I don't like not my circus, not my monkeys. I like let's help the student, whatever that takes. Um, speaking of helping students succeed, now we're kind of moving on into diving into some student success skills. So, um, what are some of the most important skills students need to succeed in college today? 

00:07:58,864 --> 00:08:20,084 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
You know, that is a absolute phenomenal question, and those skills have changed quite a bit in, in just a few years. Some of the things are similar, but it's definitely different. We have a lot more students in this day and time that may be 35 years old, have a couple kids, have a part-time or full-time job. All right? 

00:08:20,084 --> 00:08:20,364 [Calab Tate]
Yeah. 

00:08:20,364 --> 00:08:26,783 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
So time management is the number one skill, in my opinion, that students need to have. 

00:08:26,784 --> 00:08:26,904 [Calab Tate]
Yes. 

00:08:26,904 --> 00:09:14,264 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
It's... I, I tell students this all the time. You're probably smart enough to do well in your math class. You're probably smart enough to do well in your psychology class. But you have a lot of different things pulling at your time, so you need to specifically get a time management plan in place to make sure that you're successful. I would say beyond time management, the second most important thing, now this is similar to time management, but it's preparedness. All right? You know, making sure that you're giving it your best every day, whether, uh, you're having your best day or not. As a student, you know, you need to take notes. You need to come prepared for class. You need to make sure that you get your assignments in on time. And then the third thing, which is right up there honestly with those first two, is communication. 

00:09:14,264 --> 00:09:14,884 [Calab Tate]
Mm-hmm. 

00:09:14,884 --> 00:09:15,944 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
When students, uh, 

00:09:17,364 --> 00:09:28,563 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
when students fail to communicate with their instructors and with staff that can give them the resources they need, it tends to lead to them not being as su- successful as they could. So yeah, those are the three for me. 

00:09:28,564 --> 00:10:09,584 [Calab Tate]
Those are great. And that, that communication, uh, the communication piece on it, I worked in student services for a long time, and that was always the first thing that I would hammer home is, "All right, you've b- you've been admitted. You're starting your journey here. You have to let us know. If you get a weird feeling, let us know. If you think you're taking stats and you're not very comfortable with math, you're the only one that knows that until you tell somebody." But those are really good. I love those. Um, so how does the LSS help students develop those time management organizational skills that you just mentioned? So, so those are important, but what can they do to take advantage of the LSS that can help them build that or, or walk that out? 

00:10:09,584 --> 00:10:32,064 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
That's, that's, uh, another wonderful question, Caleb. I think far as time management goes, I do, uh, a lot of one-on-one appointments with students. So let me say this, good job students realizing they have a need for improving in that area, and many of them do come in and see me. So what I like to do when a student comes in, 

00:10:33,204 --> 00:10:40,064 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
we sit down, we'll take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, and I just wanna know what their Monday looks like. 

00:10:41,484 --> 00:10:48,034 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
And they'll tell me their classes, and I'll, "Well, let me tell you about Tuesday." I'm, "No, no, no. What does your Monday look like?" 

00:10:48,034 --> 00:10:48,164 [Calab Tate]
[laughs] Yeah. 

00:10:48,164 --> 00:10:57,544 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
"What time do you get up? What time do you get to college? Do you have a part-time job? Do you go to Juicy Lucy like I do on Tuesday nights for trivia?" 

00:10:57,544 --> 00:10:57,824 [Calab Tate]
[laughs] 

00:10:57,824 --> 00:11:12,224 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
All right? "So what are the activities that you have in your life? Do you have to pick up a kid's sister?" All right? "Do you have an elderly parent you have to care for?" So I want to know the details of their entire day. Now, they don't have to get, you know, super specific. 

00:11:12,224 --> 00:11:12,684 [Calab Tate]
[laughs] 

00:11:12,684 --> 00:11:27,764 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
You know, if they're not comfortable sharing certain, certain things. But I need to know specifically how many hours they have each day to work on their schoolwork. And what I find out is they've got typically way more hours than they realize. 

00:11:27,764 --> 00:11:28,104 [Calab Tate]
Mm-hmm. 

00:11:28,104 --> 00:11:31,404 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
And then we build a plan together, sit down, "Okay, 

00:11:32,664 --> 00:11:49,264 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
does this time work for you? This looks like this works." "Uh, yeah, yeah, this is good." So we'll be at two hours here, two hours there, a break here, a break there. So we look at the entire week and try to build a schedule, and then I send them a time management template with that entire schedule. 

00:11:49,264 --> 00:11:49,454 [Calab Tate]
That's powerful. 

00:11:49,454 --> 00:11:56,204 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
Entire schedule. And then we meet two to three weeks later and see how it's going, see what we need to tweak, so we reevaluate. 

00:11:56,204 --> 00:12:06,824 [Calab Tate]
That's fantastic. Um, isn't it magical whenever they come in, they're distraught, they're, they might be in that, that fight or flight mode, they might be very stressed out, but then 

00:12:07,984 --> 00:13:04,112 [Calab Tate]
you say, "Well, look, we have a lot to work with. Look at this document." That's something they can hold with them and go home with. Um-We do find, I do find that a lot too, that whenever we talk with students here on campus about anything, they assume that we're only gonna target in on time they're sitting in the classroom in front of us. They assume that we're not gonna care about more than that, and we'd say, "No. [chuckles] Widen that lens out. We're here for the whole you," right? You know, what's, what's going on at, at home is gonna affect how you perform here. That's that holistic model of, of education and mentorship in a lot of ways, 'cause, you know, some of, uh... I do leadership stuff, uh, things like that to the chamber of commerce, and you can't really... It's hard to find someone out in the, the, the quote-unquote real world after school when people are out in the professional world that are gonna take that amount of time to say, "No, let's make a plan." It's really good one-on-one. It's really impactful. 

00:13:04,112 --> 00:13:44,372 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
So yeah. So the plan, that is, that is very, a very important piece of it. All right? Obviously you're gonna need follow-through. But I like to ask students, um, a couple questions, and the first question I ask them is: What time of day are you, do you feel like you're at your best studying? Now, most of us will say, "Hey, you know, I'm a night owl," "I'm good in the afternoon," "Man, I'm ready to go early in the morning." So I think about that when trying to build a time. Obviously that's not gonna work for everybody's schedule, but any chance that I can get to add hours into the study plan that fits their specific when they feel like they're at their best- 

00:13:44,372 --> 00:13:44,762 [Calab Tate]
Yeah 

00:13:44,762 --> 00:13:50,692 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
... I'm gonna do that. The second question that students need to ask theirselves, and I ask this when I meet, 

00:13:52,152 --> 00:13:55,902 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
is how long can they quote-unquote lock in for. All right? 

00:13:55,902 --> 00:13:56,092 [Calab Tate]
Right. 

00:13:56,092 --> 00:14:01,612 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
That might be 20 minutes for some students, it might be 60, 70 minutes for others. All right? 

00:14:01,612 --> 00:14:03,412 [Calab Tate]
For different subjects too, potentially. 

00:14:03,412 --> 00:14:10,462 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
Yes, absolutely. You hit the nail on the head there. Subjects we're more interested in, we tend to be able to focus longer, right? I mean, it's just- 

00:14:10,462 --> 00:14:10,462 [Calab Tate]
Yeah 

00:14:10,462 --> 00:14:22,192 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
... human nature I guess, or psychology, but that, that is definitely a fact. And then the third important question, any student that happens to hear this: What are your biggest distractions? 

00:14:22,192 --> 00:14:22,372 [Calab Tate]
Mm. 

00:14:22,372 --> 00:14:40,772 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
Okay? And let's try to avoid those or let's try to minimize them. Um, now if the distractions are something that you really enjoy doing, like for me, uh, I mentioned I, I love going to trivia on Tuesday nights, I also love playing video games, so for me, I've got to limit my time for that. I can't- 

00:14:40,772 --> 00:14:41,042 [Calab Tate]
[laughs] 

00:14:41,042 --> 00:14:53,631 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
... do that seven or eight hours a day or I'm not gonna get anything accomplished. So we need to set timers, alarms, whatever we gotta do to make sure that distraction does not eat up too many hours in our day. 

00:14:53,632 --> 00:15:31,392 [Calab Tate]
You remind me of something I heard, um, last week. [clears throat] I was hearing somebody talk about, um, time management in a way, but they were talking about... They used a phrase I hadn't heard before, manufactured free time, and they said, "This is manufactured free time because you're putting something else off that you need to be atten- give attention to, to do this thing that you would only do in free time," and I think that it's very common. So, um, myself having been someone who had to deal with me [laughs] being a procrastinator and, um, kinda getting that motivation, specifically with procrastination, is there any techniques or anything you've found in your time here with the LSS specifically for that that was a good strategy? 

00:15:31,392 --> 00:16:01,652 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
Yeah. I think, you know, procrastination, the best, the best thing that you can do is create study habits and, and a plan like I mentioned earlier. So from every day from 6:00 to 8:00 PM on Tuesday, I'm working on English 111. Every Tuesday, 6:00 to 8:00 PM, English 111. Every Wednesday, 6:00 to 8:00 PM, I'm working on chemistry. Uh, Thursday, 6:00 to 8:00 PM... Again, this is for students that have that set window. 

00:16:01,652 --> 00:16:01,752 [Calab Tate]
Yeah. 

00:16:01,752 --> 00:16:20,191 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
So let's build habits, let's build habits that this is the time I'm working on English, this is the time I'm working on chemistry. So we build those habits, again, we set alarms, we set timers. If we need a break 20, 25 minutes in, we're gonna take a 10-minute break, but we're gonna set that alarm and then we're gonna get back at it. All right? 

00:16:20,192 --> 00:16:20,292 [Calab Tate]
That's awesome. 

00:16:20,292 --> 00:16:38,212 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
And then we're gonna build in free time to the plan as well, all right? So for example, it might be Friday night might be your time in your time management plan where, hey, I've got to have a break, so we're not doing any schoolwork that day. We're gonna focus on our other days in the week in our plan. 

00:16:38,212 --> 00:16:40,192 [Calab Tate]
That's fantastic. Um- 

00:16:40,192 --> 00:16:42,472 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
'Cause we all, we all can get burned out, right? That's- 

00:16:42,472 --> 00:16:42,482 [Calab Tate]
Yeah 

00:16:42,482 --> 00:16:46,032 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
... you know, burnout, that, you know, that's demotiv- demotivating for sure. 

00:16:46,032 --> 00:16:46,352 [Calab Tate]
Absolutely. [laughs] 

00:16:46,352 --> 00:16:47,871 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
We don't want that to happen. 

00:16:47,872 --> 00:16:49,352 [Calab Tate]
Um, burning the candle at both ends- 

00:16:49,352 --> 00:16:49,652 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
Yes 

00:16:49,652 --> 00:17:09,032 [Calab Tate]
... is, uh, how my, my daddy would say it. Um, so let's see here. So [clears throat] we've, we've talked about procrastination, we've talked about those three core pillars, those concepts. Moving into another element, note-taking and studying, what are some strategies that you've, you've deployed that have been successful with students 

00:17:09,032 --> 00:17:31,991 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
Yes. And I know there is... You can go to a bunch of websites, you can go to a bunch of, uh, academic centers, websites around the country at prestigious universities, and they're gonna tell you a lot of the same things. They're gonna say, uh, Cornell note-taking method. They're gonna tell you mind mapping, which is, you know, you have a central idea, a central balloon. 

00:17:31,992 --> 00:17:32,172 [Calab Tate]
Mm-hmm. 

00:17:32,172 --> 00:18:25,880 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
Then you have spokes off of that like a wheel in order to get your ideas, and then there's also outlining. That is the big three that people teach. I typically teach outlining. I think outlining is the easiest of the three to go straight down the page, dot, dot, dot, dot, and have a uniform style that you're comfortable with. That is no offense to the other two styles. If, uh, you are more creative and like doing the bubble clustering, I understand it, but I think far as a uniform approach that, that helps the most people that I've seen in, in my years helping students, I definitely prefer the outline method. Now, Caleb, when you're taking notes, I think annotating is a great idea. Putting questions in the margins is wonderful.But if you're in the lecture and you're not looking at a document, I think outline method is a great way to go. 

00:18:25,880 --> 00:18:40,440 [Calab Tate]
That's awesome. And so that's studying for the test. Now, let's talk about taking the test, that anxiety. So what are some things that, that, that you can offer students that might be listening about test taking skills and reduction of anxiety today? 

00:18:40,440 --> 00:19:54,960 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
Yeah, I've done a lot of research over the years on test taking, and something that continually comes up far as helping to reduce anxiety, uh, during the test is just making sure that you are as prepared as you possibly can be. All right? So the age-old things far as good night's rest, uh, eat in the morning, eat, eat a, eat a light breakfast if you have a 9:00 AM test, for example. Don't eat too heavy, um, so you don't have any digestive dis- distress, if you're prone to that, going into a test. So that's far as the night before. Far as preparedness, something I tell students is when you are getting ready for this test, any study guide that that instructor gives you for the exam, and if you have a study guide, you let that be your guide. You use that study guide to prepare for your test. Another great strategy is, let's say your test is a short answer essay and you've got 50 minutes. Simulate that exact same environment. Give yourself a prompt, go somewhere quiet, 50 minutes, and write. Okay? 

00:19:54,960 --> 00:19:55,280 [Calab Tate]
Mm-hmm. 

00:19:55,280 --> 00:20:10,800 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
All right, and especially if they, if you know there's going to be three or four prompts and one or two will appear, use those, do that simulation, and try to get comfortable in that format so on the day of the test, all right, it's not your first time. 

00:20:10,800 --> 00:20:10,860 [Calab Tate]
Yeah. 

00:20:10,860 --> 00:20:15,840 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
It's not your first rodeo doing that, uh, doing that type of exam. 

00:20:15,840 --> 00:20:37,360 [Calab Tate]
Those can be very... And you, you, you definitely touched upon one that I've, I've heard a lot of students, they're going into maybe a longer writing exam, that that can be very stressful. But just test it out, then remove that variable of, "Am I gonna be able to write this in time?" We already know you can 'cause you did it already, so you can focus on the material. You can focus on delivering that answer. 

00:20:37,360 --> 00:20:37,840 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
Right. Very good. 

00:20:37,840 --> 00:20:37,890 [Calab Tate]
Um- 

00:20:37,890 --> 00:20:46,180 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
And let's say you don't get it in time during a simulation. Okay, now I've got to learn, I've got to go a little bit faster. Let's try this again and see where I can tweak. 

00:20:46,180 --> 00:21:34,400 [Calab Tate]
Yeah. That's awesome. Taking that edge off. And again, I mean, these are the kind of conversations that students really can benefit from just having some of those conversations. Having so- knowing that there's a team of people that are in their corner for this kind of stuff is huge. Um, HCC is definitely not a college experience where you sink or swim. It's, you showed up for you. You took that first step, and now we're all here to help you succeed. Student success is something that across all the different departments, in my experience here at Haywood Community College, that's the aim of every single department here, student success. Even if it might be a department that doesn't teach. I worked in information technology. Well, if the, uh, routers and the switches and the computers don't work, who can't succeed? Anybody. Namely, students. Um, but that's that target there. 

00:21:34,400 --> 00:21:38,289 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
Yeah. That's a great shout-out to our IT team. They're a wonderful group- 

00:21:38,289 --> 00:21:38,289 [Calab Tate]
Yeah 

00:21:38,289 --> 00:21:39,120 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
... for sure. 

00:21:39,120 --> 00:21:45,780 [Calab Tate]
That's definitely was, was a big learning, uh, opportunity for me when it came to serving, showing up to serve others at work. 

00:21:46,960 --> 00:22:02,760 [Calab Tate]
Um, okay, so kind of now transitioning into tutoring and academic support specifically. So I wanna make sure that people know about the different parts of the department, things like that. So what types of tutoring services are available through the LSS, and how can students access them? 

00:22:02,760 --> 00:23:04,700 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
All right. Wonderful. All right. So we offer, um, English tutoring, chemistry tutoring, biology tutoring, and math tutoring. That's our major focus. Again, English, chemistry, biology, and math. And then as I mentioned, I focus on, uh, time management, study skills, organization. All right? So I focus on those. But we have tutoring, um, every, this semester, every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday in math, for example. So math, we have a lot of students that come in that need help. Uh, we help with all levels of math with our tutors. Um, they're professionally, uh, [clears throat] excuse me, they're professional tutors. All our tutors are. Um, they have advanced degrees. And so we, we have a very good math crew. So typically, math tutoring takes place from 10:00 to 2:00. So students will come in, they'll just let their tutors know what they're working on, and they're comfortable with, with diving right in. Biology tutoring, we have a couple times a week. And this semester, 

00:23:05,800 --> 00:23:26,520 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
biology tutoring's on Monday and Tuesdays from 10:00 to 3:00. Ms. Kylie Thornburg is our biology tutor. She is wonderful. And she also will help students, for example, in the dendrology program as well. So even though she's specifically biology, we will definitely help with other courses in that subset. 

00:23:27,720 --> 00:23:38,100 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
Chemistry tutoring, Mr. Greg Harmon, he's wonderful. He is here two days a week on Mondays, Mondays and Wednesdays. And listen, chemistry students, we know that midterm's coming. 

00:23:38,100 --> 00:23:38,220 [Calab Tate]
[laughs] 

00:23:38,220 --> 00:23:57,450 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
Come in and see Mr. Harmon. He loves seeing you all, and he's doing a wonderful job. And I'm glad to say on the English front, uh, we just hired a new English tutor. Uh, she is working Tuesdays and Wednesdays this semester, so we're on boarding her right now, so she's gonna be good to go this week far as tutoring. 

00:23:57,450 --> 00:24:06,460 [Calab Tate]
Awesome. Um, so are those, those tutoring with, with all the different, uh, team members, is that, uh, team members only? Is there peer tutoring, anything like that that's going on? 

00:24:06,460 --> 00:24:15,120 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
Excellent question. All right. So I'm gonna let you in on something that I believe in. I am not a huge fan of in-person 

00:24:16,200 --> 00:24:50,039 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
peer tutoring. I never have been. I want p- I want professionally trained tutors in our center working with, with tutors. Now, let me say this. Don't come at me with pitchforks and torches, people.I think students getting together and tutoring each other, forming tutoring groups, doing outside sessions is wonderful. I think it's an absolute great activity, and I encourage students doing that. But for us, I definitely want, uh, our people to be credentialed in subjects and, and a variety of subjects to be able to help students. 

00:24:50,040 --> 00:25:08,160 [Calab Tate]
Yeah. To be able to, to provide that level of service, to really support them, um, I think that that's important as well. Um, okay, so i-is there... With, with the tutoring appointments, scheduled appointments and drop-in tutoring, things like that, what are those differences? And can you speak to how that could affect students or what the offerings are there at LSS? 

00:25:08,160 --> 00:25:26,820 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
Yeah. We, we encourage drop-in tutoring all the time. I'm like, "Students, if you're on campus, you got a question, please come on in. Please come and see Larry for math or Cornelius for math. Please come in and see." So we encourage drop-ins. Drop in any time. Uh, obviously look at that tutoring schedule before you pop in- 

00:25:26,820 --> 00:25:27,250 [Calab Tate]
[laughs] 

00:25:27,250 --> 00:25:42,820 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
... that we have on our webpage, but look and see when our tutor's here and come in. Now, if you have a specific need, and let's say for example, we're helping a young lady with chemistry tutoring, that she schedules tutoring appointments with us because she lives in Greensboro. 

00:25:42,820 --> 00:25:43,020 [Calab Tate]
Mm. 

00:25:43,020 --> 00:25:48,340 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
All right? So we have to offer remote tutoring for her. I know you're gonna ask about different services probably later. 

00:25:48,340 --> 00:25:48,520 [Calab Tate]
Yeah. 

00:25:48,520 --> 00:25:51,820 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
But that's an example where, where scheduling the tutoring 

00:25:52,860 --> 00:26:08,240 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
a-ahead of time is important because if you live a few hours away and you need, uh, tutoring, we're gonna provide it if we can, but we need a, we need a, a little window of time so we can get obviously our remote tutoring up and running. 

00:26:08,240 --> 00:26:11,100 [Calab Tate]
That's an excellent dovetail into my actual next question. 

00:26:11,100 --> 00:26:11,540 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
Oh. [laughs] 

00:26:11,540 --> 00:26:34,060 [Calab Tate]
I'm not moving this one around either. That was actually the number, next one on my list. Um, we got a lot of hybrid learners here at Haywood Community College. We got a lot of people, um, coming back to school, um, and sometimes that, what that looks like to them is maybe a few online classes. So can you speak to specifically what online tools or platforms the LSS offers to support remote or hybrid learners, as they're, as they're called? 

00:26:34,060 --> 00:26:34,390 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
Yes. Hy- 

00:26:34,390 --> 00:26:34,940 [Calab Tate]
Hybrids. 

00:26:34,940 --> 00:27:41,450 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
Yes. Uh, as I mentioned just a few moments ago, the most important tool for our online students when it comes to tutoring is Microsoft Teams. So we're obviously a Microsoft school, so we use Teams as, uh, our major remote tutoring option. So for example, we're doing some remote chemistry tutoring, um, this semester. Probably had some today, to be honest with you. And we set up a classroom, uh, with Microsoft Teams. We have the camera on so they can see. We have the, we have the board right there. So for example, Mr. Harmon can get after it. So we definitely do a lot of, uh, remote Teams tutoring. And for that matter, we are talking about tutoring, but remote Teams testing as well through the Teams platform. Also, uh, we use, use YuJa quite a bit, specifically for students that are unable to meet because of work hours. Let's say for example, they've submitted a grammar evaluation to me, and they're not able to meet in person. 

00:27:41,450 --> 00:27:42,140 [Calab Tate]
Mm-hmm. 

00:27:42,140 --> 00:28:05,780 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
Uh, after I complete that grammar evaluation, if I'm working on a paper, um, with a student, I will take 15 minutes. I will make a video through our YuJa platform. I'll send that link to the student, and that way if they have, you know, an 8:00 to 4:00 job, they can view that video at night or on a weekend with the comments that I have on their paper- 

00:28:05,780 --> 00:28:06,090 [Calab Tate]
That's fantastic 

00:28:06,090 --> 00:28:08,040 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
... or their time management plan, for example. 

00:28:08,040 --> 00:28:33,760 [Calab Tate]
And then that ties it back into, I've mentioned, um, Dallas Herring in, in previous episodes, but Dallas Herring, uh, one of the progenitors or the progenitor of the North Carolina Community College System, that doesn't mean much to someone who might be a student, but essentially the guy who started all of this in North Carolina, one of his mottos was, "Meet people where they are and take them as far as they want to go." Even if meeting them where they are is in their own home because they can't make it to campus. 

00:28:33,760 --> 00:28:34,600 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
Yeah, absolutely. 

00:28:34,600 --> 00:28:35,050 [Calab Tate]
That's huge. 

00:28:35,050 --> 00:28:37,730 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
That's, that, that's perfect. That's what we try to do, uh- 

00:28:37,730 --> 00:28:37,730 [Calab Tate]
Yeah 

00:28:37,730 --> 00:28:39,160 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
... when we can and where we can. Yeah. 

00:28:39,160 --> 00:29:02,360 [Calab Tate]
That technology goes a long way. Um, okay, so let's, let's talk a little bit... I, I, I'd be remiss if I didn't address some of this stuff too, just to make sure that our folks knew that we had this offering. So kind of coming on down to accessibility and, and, and that inclusivity of people who might need a little bit of extra help, um, how does the LSS support students with, uh, learning differences or disabilities? 

00:29:02,360 --> 00:29:44,280 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
All right. Yeah, that is, that is a fantastic question. So in our testing center, I think this is a great time to talk about that. We work hand-in-hand. We're great partners with, uh, Susanna High and Ilan Richards down in student services with our, our wellness team. So they provide accommodations. They let us know the accommodations for students for testing. So let's say a student has extended time or they, uh, need a separate setting. We will provide that for the student. If student has issue with noise, we have foam earplugs in our center that they... They're own plastic. We take them out of the plastic, give them to them- 

00:29:44,280 --> 00:29:44,420 [Calab Tate]
Wow 

00:29:44,420 --> 00:29:46,510 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
... and then they just throw them away when they're done. All right? 

00:29:46,510 --> 00:29:46,760 [Calab Tate]
That's awesome. 

00:29:46,760 --> 00:29:58,820 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
So we have, we have plenty of white noise background for students who that might be an issue. So we try to make sure that we have a really nice, secure, and safe environment for testing. 

00:29:59,880 --> 00:30:00,320 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
Also, 

00:30:01,500 --> 00:30:11,080 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
again, through my friends, uh, Ms. I and, uh... Excuse me, I said Ms. Richards. Ms. Seago. Forgive me, got the name wrong. Um, so Ms. High and Ms. Seago, 

00:30:12,140 --> 00:30:26,240 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
we provide lunches in LSS. So if a student forgets their lunch, we have snack bags and lunch bags ready for them in the testing center in... or excuse me, in learning support services. So- 

00:30:26,240 --> 00:30:26,540 [Calab Tate]
Fantastic 

00:30:26,540 --> 00:30:30,120 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
... super, super happy to provide that service to students. 

00:30:30,120 --> 00:30:30,560 [Calab Tate]
Yeah. 

00:30:30,560 --> 00:30:31,010 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
Yeah. 

00:30:31,010 --> 00:30:39,208 [Calab Tate]
And some 360 support there, including the food. That's awesome. [laughs] The snacks, that, that goes a long way. I know on an empty stomachIt can be really hard. 

00:30:40,368 --> 00:30:51,908 [Calab Tate]
Um, okay, so as we're kind of, uh, closing out our talk here today, um, what are some upcoming dates and info about the LSS that you would like to leave our listeners with? 

00:30:51,908 --> 00:31:39,448 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
All right, so this is the most important thing. Students, what time of year is it? We're in midterm season, okay? So if you have not signed up for your midterms, please, please, please, please, please make sure you do so, whether that is a history class, chemistry class, math class that you are taking online. Please check your email that, uh, Miss Megan Clark has sent to you and our, our testing coordinator. Please make sure you check that. Uh, so that is coming up in October. Uh, in the near future, I will be offering, uh, workshops for as, uh, writing skills, APA use, and that sort of thing in the near future. Don't have a specific date for yet, but that will be coming very, very soon. 

00:31:39,448 --> 00:31:49,688 [Calab Tate]
Wonderful. And location here on campus, the learning... Just in case you haven't seen it, just in case you've, uh, you only have classes in another building, located in? 

00:31:49,688 --> 00:32:09,748 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
We are in the Hickory Building. You can find us in the 330s. The, uh, tutoring lab is 335, testing lab 338. So we are in those areas, and you can find me in room 334 ninety-nine point six point two six percent of the time. 

00:32:09,748 --> 00:32:13,428 [Calab Tate]
[laughs] There for a second there, I thought you were gonna give me a radio station. [laughs] 

00:32:13,428 --> 00:32:14,587 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
[laughs] 

00:32:14,588 --> 00:32:43,328 [Calab Tate]
All right, ladies and gentlemen, uh, that wraps our conversation for today. Again, we're just here talking about student success, helping yourself with the skills that can help you succeed, but also knowing what resources we have available here at Haywood Community College. I've been Caleb Tate. I've been talking to Dr. Philip Ham, the director of the Learning Support Services Department team, um, extraordinaire here at Haywood Community College. Dr. Ham, thank you so much for joining me on this episode of Bobcat Chat. 

00:32:43,328 --> 00:32:44,548 [Dr. Phillip Hamm]
Thanks for having me. 

00:32:44,548 --> 00:32:46,328 [Calab Tate]
All right, ladies and gentlemen, have a good day. 

00:32:47,988 --> 00:32:48,788 [Calab Tate]
[outro music] 

00:32:50,088 --> 00:33:14,448 [Announcer]
Bobcat Chat is a production of Haywood Community College. HCC is located in Clyde, North Carolina. If you'd like to learn more about our great college, visit us online at www.haywood.edu. That's H-A-Y-W-O-O-D.edu. [outro music]

00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:04,310 [Announcer]
[upbeat music] 

00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:09,580 [Announcer]
Hello and welcome to Bobcat Chat. 

00:00:14,220 --> 00:00:35,400 [Calab Tate]
Hello, everyone. Hello, listeners, and welcome to Bobcat Chat, a podcast where we bring all things HCC together and talk about all the exciting stuff happening on our beautiful campus each semester. Hello and welcome to the show, Alán. Thank you for being with us today. And if you don't mind, would you introduce yourself for our listeners at home? 

00:00:35,400 --> 00:00:43,540 [Elan Seago]
Sure. I'm Alán Seago. I'm Student Life and Wellness Specialist and, um, I'm here to talk to you guys about Week of Welcome. 

00:00:43,540 --> 00:01:04,900 [Calab Tate]
Yeah. So in this episode, as Alán said, we're gonna be talking about the Week of Welcome, a start of semester event that has been going strong at HCC for years. Um, so brings me to my first question for you, Alán. Uh, what is Week of Welcome and how does it relate to new and returning students here at HCC? 

00:01:06,020 --> 00:01:33,740 [Elan Seago]
So Week of Welcome is the... during the f- actually second week of school, once people have had a little time to get settled, um, where we set up a big tent up at the fountain by the library. Um, and we just wanna welcome students to campus, offer encouragement, and be a helpful smiling face, um, because I think building a community is really important, and having a support system is a big part of s-student success. 

00:01:33,740 --> 00:01:49,600 [Calab Tate]
That's awesome. And, and that, that student success piece, having worked here at Haywood Community College myself for a number of years and worked with you in student services, that success piece is something that I really enjoy about working at a community college. Uh, 

00:01:50,680 --> 00:02:49,470 [Calab Tate]
in talking with students about the prospect of starting their journey with us here at Haywood Community College, I talk with them a lot about how it's not as much about hurdles that you have to get over. The first thing that students have to learn here is to ask for help. Because if it's, you know, a, a test that they're worried about, a class that they might need tutoring with, if they need extra assistance with financial aid, things like that, you know, those wraparound resources is huge here. And I, I love the fact that we start the semester off with Week of Welcome, which is bringing all of those resources together for those students to be able to get a really cool Nalgene bottle or a hat or something like that, some sort of giveaway, and have a little bit of a, a party time to kind of lift their spirits. At the same time, we, we see those students that might come by the table that might say, "Hey, you know, by the way, you know, Alán, I know you work in student wellness, student life, that, those elements, but I've got a financial aid question." And one of us might take them down the- 

00:02:49,470 --> 00:02:49,700 [Elan Seago]
Yeah 

00:02:49,700 --> 00:02:52,000 [Calab Tate]
... alley and get that taken care of. We see that a lot, don't we, Alán? 

00:02:52,080 --> 00:03:09,300 [Elan Seago]
Yeah. That's... I'm glad you said that about wrapping around students because that is, um, a big part of why we do that as well. Um, we, we really wanted students to know that, that we're there for them, we're rooting for them. Um, we want to see them succeed and reach their goals. 

00:03:09,300 --> 00:03:29,920 [Calab Tate]
That's awesome. And that's one of the reasons, again, that's why I like working here is because those, those interactions are always so warm. And if you're telling a student, "Well, let me take you down to Financial Aid and help you out," everybody's on that same boat, as it were, to say, "Oh, yeah, absolutely." Student, you know, Student Life was hosting an event, but this person has a question about their Pell Grant- 

00:03:29,920 --> 00:03:29,930 [Elan Seago]
Yeah 

00:03:29,930 --> 00:03:33,040 [Calab Tate]
... or about their, you know, Lavender Fund, whatever that might be- 

00:03:33,040 --> 00:03:33,170 [Elan Seago]
Yeah 

00:03:33,170 --> 00:03:53,840 [Calab Tate]
... which is really good. So yes. So talking about student success and those things, we have new or returning or maybe even prospective students that are listening to the pod today, what is some advice that you would give to a new student that's either thinking about or is about to start their first semester of college with us? 

00:03:53,840 --> 00:04:37,840 [Elan Seago]
Yeah. So that can be, like, a, a kinda scary time. I mean, it's, a lot of times it's the unknown or it's something that maybe they didn't think they could ever do, and they're finally taking that big step. So I would say, um, first is just to, like, don't be afraid to push yourself, to step out of your comfort zone, um, to go to an event or go to, um, talk to your teacher after class or, or things like that. Just kind of push yourself a little bit to, to do things that are a little bit scary. Um, and also just to, to not forget to take care of yourself, your, to do your self-care, to s- even schedule time for downtime and, um, it's not all about staying busy 24/7. 

00:04:37,840 --> 00:04:44,760 [Calab Tate]
Yeah. I, I think that's one of the preconceived notions that we see a lot, you know, from the student services and faculty, staff- 

00:04:44,760 --> 00:04:44,990 [Elan Seago]
Mm-hmm 

00:04:44,990 --> 00:05:22,740 [Calab Tate]
... all of us. We see students come to us, and they, they think that we're just going to load them down. And all they think about, generally speaking, in the c- certain circumstances, is, "What's my homework? What do I need to get done?" And they have this, you know, this preconception that they have to handle that themselves. And again, like, trying to coach those students that community college is a different experience. The whole organization is about, you know, let me... If... Do you need help managing your time? Dr. Philip Ham and the Learning Support Services team would love to talk to you about that. 

00:05:22,740 --> 00:05:23,340 [Elan Seago]
Yeah. 

00:05:23,340 --> 00:05:25,840 [Calab Tate]
That guy's awesome, and he knows so much about that. 

00:05:25,840 --> 00:05:26,540 [Elan Seago]
Yeah. 

00:05:26,540 --> 00:05:36,040 [Calab Tate]
Um, and talking about those, the, the noise of life, you know, really getting into the mode of, what do I need to succeed? 

00:05:37,260 --> 00:05:40,680 [Calab Tate]
Then we're gonna talk about those grades, then we're gonna talk about those things. 

00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:41,220 [Elan Seago]
Right. 

00:05:41,220 --> 00:05:57,060 [Calab Tate]
And, you know, that, that's that advice. I, I love your answer there because it is. It's about finding who your people are, finding who your people are in a social circle, but also on the same ti- uh, same side. You know, who are your people on the admissions? 

00:05:57,060 --> 00:05:57,480 [Elan Seago]
Yeah. 

00:05:57,480 --> 00:06:06,180 [Calab Tate]
Financial aid. Learning support services. Do you need tests proctored or just a quiet place to do your homework? That's gonna be the library, right? 

00:06:06,180 --> 00:06:06,230 [Elan Seago]
Mm-hmm. 

00:06:06,230 --> 00:06:10,520 [Calab Tate]
The whole bottom floor of our library is perfectly set up for students to come in and enjoy. 

00:06:10,520 --> 00:06:11,180 [Elan Seago]
Definitely.

00:06:12,228 --> 00:06:13,388 [Calab Tate]
So kind of dovetailing 

00:06:14,408 --> 00:06:16,068 [Calab Tate]
from that question to the next one, 

00:06:17,328 --> 00:06:17,888 [Calab Tate]
you know, we, 

00:06:18,948 --> 00:06:47,988 [Calab Tate]
we usually, whenever we're talking in the engagement team to people, or even people that are on our faculty or staff side, or talking to people in community, it's easy to say that cheesy line, "Community's our middle name. Haywood Community College." It's cheesy for a reason, but it sticks in people's minds, so it kind of helps us get that point across that community is important. So let's talk a little bit about building community in these different programs and the importance of that as a student starts their journey. 

00:06:47,988 --> 00:06:54,688 [Elan Seago]
Yeah. Well, I mean, yes, it's cheesy and it makes me think of another cheesy line, but it's also another true one. 

00:06:54,688 --> 00:06:55,048 [Calab Tate]
[laughs] 

00:06:55,048 --> 00:07:14,568 [Elan Seago]
How, how they say it takes a village, um, because we've, we really do want to be part of that, like, village or community. Um, and whether it's school or just life in general, everybody needs a support system. Like, you don't have to do it all by yourself, and you shouldn't. So we, you know, we wanna help students build that support system here. 

00:07:16,127 --> 00:08:03,567 [Calab Tate]
That's awesome. And, and, you know, again, I, I'm, I'm coming to this conversation and, and the conversations that I'll be a part of to facilitate for this podcast, um, at this current part of my career, I'm coming from the engagement side, so I talk to students from every program. And in student services you do as well. So it's like a student that is coming into the natural resources program, that program looks from the outside very different than, say, I need a transfer degree in the arts to get an associate's degree so I can get a really good job. I need to get that job. But the associate's transfer track, that student group maybe might look a little bit different, might look a little bit wider. But what I've found is that there are community groups in every single program. Creative arts is another one that's very unique. 

00:08:03,568 --> 00:08:03,988 [Elan Seago]
Mm-hmm. 

00:08:03,988 --> 00:08:08,748 [Calab Tate]
Right? Kind of operates as a cohort. They're kind of... They all take the same classes- 

00:08:08,748 --> 00:08:08,778 [Elan Seago]
Yeah 

00:08:08,778 --> 00:08:13,048 [Calab Tate]
... at the same time, so they see each other more often than, say, the transfer track. But- 

00:08:13,048 --> 00:08:13,078 [Elan Seago]
Mm 

00:08:13,078 --> 00:08:40,238 [Calab Tate]
... um, Dean Heinberg and the wonderful faculty, uh, and staff that support that transfer track, that general education suite that we do in arts and sciences, you see study groups there, too. You see those community groups. And as a student, whenever I came through HCC, what I loved was is that you see people who can empathize with, I'm 18 and a half. I'm coming through here to get my associate's because I need to get 

00:08:41,288 --> 00:08:47,308 [Calab Tate]
a liberal arts waiver to go to Clemson, and you've got adult learners, which is such a beautiful part of what we do. 

00:08:47,308 --> 00:08:47,577 [Elan Seago]
Mm. 

00:08:47,577 --> 00:08:55,988 [Calab Tate]
And those people have those empathetic circles that form of, like, who else here is gonna have to cook dinner for their kids and do homework tonight? 

00:08:55,988 --> 00:08:56,428 [Elan Seago]
Right. 

00:08:56,428 --> 00:09:09,338 [Calab Tate]
You know, and they can have... They kind of have that empathy. And in working in student wellness like you do, um, I see a lot of that, that support for both sides of that coin in all these different programs. It's something I really enjoy that I see. 

00:09:09,338 --> 00:09:22,968 [Elan Seago]
Yeah, I love that, too. And, and even, like, with, like, amongst all the different, uh, like, smaller communities within programs, I really love seeing when they, when it, like, crosses lines. So when there's, like, an adult learner- 

00:09:22,968 --> 00:09:22,978 [Calab Tate]
[laughs] 

00:09:22,978 --> 00:09:32,328 [Elan Seago]
... and, like, a early college student, and they find out they actually have more in common than they thought they would and, um, I really love that. 

00:09:32,328 --> 00:09:34,498 [Calab Tate]
Yeah, it's those group projects. That's a... You, you- 

00:09:34,498 --> 00:09:34,498 [Elan Seago]
[laughs] 

00:09:34,498 --> 00:09:52,938 [Calab Tate]
... drew a line as a group project where you assign, like, a, a, like, a five-page paper to talk about your life so far. And when you see those groups that involve someone who might be in their late 30s, someone in their early 40s, someone who's 18 and a half, someone who's 24, and those are some of the best conversations- 

00:09:52,938 --> 00:09:52,988 [Elan Seago]
Yeah 

00:09:52,988 --> 00:10:00,788 [Calab Tate]
... that I've personally ever had in college, was just getting that wide scope of experience. 

00:10:00,788 --> 00:10:01,108 [Elan Seago]
Yeah. 

00:10:01,108 --> 00:10:15,928 [Calab Tate]
Um, there's just such a, a wide, uh, variety of people that come here to Haywood Community College, and our student body is made up of just about every type of human being that you could find in western North Carolina. Any given time, we've got an example of everybody. 

00:10:15,928 --> 00:10:17,128 [Elan Seago]
Very true. 

00:10:17,128 --> 00:10:19,168 [Calab Tate]
Which I enjoy. I enjoy that about our culture here. 

00:10:20,288 --> 00:10:25,368 [Calab Tate]
All right, so, um, let's talk, let's dial in a little bit about Week of Welcome, right? 

00:10:25,368 --> 00:10:25,398 [Elan Seago]
Mm-hmm. 

00:10:25,398 --> 00:10:36,668 [Calab Tate]
People are listening to the pod, they might be thinking about this event. So can you share some of the highlights planned for this year's wel- Week of Welcome? What can a student who might be attending that event expect? 

00:10:36,668 --> 00:10:50,948 [Elan Seago]
Yeah. So we, like I mentioned, we set up a big tent, um, in front of the fountain by the library. Um, we'll be there Monday, August 25th through Wednesday, August, or s- through Thursday, August 28th. 

00:10:50,948 --> 00:10:51,548 [Calab Tate]
Mm-hmm. 

00:10:51,548 --> 00:11:07,368 [Elan Seago]
Um, and so Monday through Wednesday we'll be doing a bunch of giveaways, uh, HCC stuff like planners, uh, lanyards, key chains, stickers. Like, we've just got some fun stuff that, um, are for HCC brand or- 

00:11:08,488 --> 00:11:09,188 [Calab Tate]
Mm-hmm. 

00:11:09,188 --> 00:11:09,298 [Elan Seago]
Yeah. 

00:11:09,298 --> 00:11:10,528 [Calab Tate]
Yeah, this is... The, the things- 

00:11:10,528 --> 00:11:10,958 [Elan Seago]
[laughs] 

00:11:10,958 --> 00:11:15,268 [Calab Tate]
... I love, um, I think it's a, a quote from Michael Scott. "Stuff we all get." 

00:11:15,268 --> 00:11:16,198 [Elan Seago]
Yeah, yeah. 

00:11:16,198 --> 00:11:17,118 [Calab Tate]
You know, swag items. 

00:11:17,118 --> 00:11:17,788 [Elan Seago]
Swag. [laughs] 

00:11:17,788 --> 00:11:52,728 [Calab Tate]
Um, and so, again, it's like tying that into marketing and engagement, like I always do these days, is those things that people have, it makes an impact. And when we are at those events, those things that people get, it gives them equity in that choice that they've made for themselves. And I know that we share that part of... You know, I'm kind of diving into the touchy feely side of things, but when you give someone a lanyard, a noun, and a water bottle or something like that, you say, "You're a part of this, this team, this crew. You're, you're one of us." 

00:11:52,728 --> 00:11:53,068 [Elan Seago]
Yeah. 

00:11:53,068 --> 00:11:55,948 [Calab Tate]
And welcoming people in, that is a part of that welcome. 

00:11:55,948 --> 00:11:56,518 [Elan Seago]
Yeah. 

00:11:56,518 --> 00:11:56,567 [Calab Tate]
That's- 

00:11:56,568 --> 00:12:01,708 [Elan Seago]
I think so. And, like, on the less touchy feely side, like, who doesn't love free stuff? 

00:12:01,708 --> 00:12:02,188 [Calab Tate]
[laughs] 

00:12:02,188 --> 00:12:02,788 [Elan Seago]
You know? 

00:12:02,788 --> 00:12:03,288 [Calab Tate]
Yes. 

00:12:03,288 --> 00:12:03,728 [Elan Seago]
[laughs] 

00:12:03,728 --> 00:12:04,988 [Calab Tate]
Everybody loves free stuff. 

00:12:04,988 --> 00:12:06,328 [Elan Seago]
I do. 

00:12:06,328 --> 00:12:06,408 [Calab Tate]
Yeah. 

00:12:06,408 --> 00:12:54,280 [Elan Seago]
Oh, and I also wanted to mention, uh, that, that first... or the second week of class, so the 25th through the 28th, so the first three days we're doing giveaways, and then the Thursday of that week we're doingA little s- something different. It's a club day and resource day, so students can learn about different clubs. Hopefully, we'll get our clubs to have some tables out there, and as well as resources like student wellness, uh, Clyde's Cupboard, um, the LSS like you mentioned with Dr. Ham. And so that, that last day, the 28th, if students, um, participate and talk to some different tables, we'll let the- they will be able to enter their name into a drawing to win a gift card. So, um, that's a little bit of a, uh, fun incentive to s- to participate and learn about stuff. 

00:12:54,280 --> 00:13:19,200 [Calab Tate]
I love that. It's really good you're fully plugging them into all this different stuff 'cause students, they're starting their first semester, or maybe they're coming back for another semester. But regardless, they've got homework this week, or they're looking at their first week of class. So condensing that down and making sure it's all at their fingertips, I, I love seeing them light up and find ... You see a student that maybe at the beginning of week of welcome is kind of flying solo. 

00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:19,500 [Elan Seago]
Mm-hmm. 

00:13:19,500 --> 00:13:24,760 [Calab Tate]
You see them walk up alone, and they say, "Thanks for the, the swag item. Love it," and [laughs] 

00:13:24,760 --> 00:13:24,850 [Elan Seago]
[laughs] 

00:13:24,850 --> 00:13:31,000 [Calab Tate]
... they kind of walk off by themselves. But by the end of the week, they might have find a ... They might have, might have found a group of three or four people. 

00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:31,310 [Elan Seago]
Yeah. 

00:13:31,310 --> 00:13:40,640 [Calab Tate]
And we get to see them with those same group of people for two years, and maybe they're even walking across the stage high-fiving those same people. Those are their lifetime community. 

00:13:40,640 --> 00:13:41,180 [Elan Seago]
Yeah. 

00:13:41,180 --> 00:13:45,440 [Calab Tate]
Um, I love people finding ... I love watching people find their place. 

00:13:45,440 --> 00:13:46,240 [Elan Seago]
I do, too. 

00:13:46,240 --> 00:13:55,270 [Calab Tate]
And that's, that, that sense of safety and that sense of home, again, coming back to ... I mean, there's a lot of us that this was what we found is our home. 

00:13:55,270 --> 00:13:55,300 [Elan Seago]
Mm-hmm. 

00:13:55,300 --> 00:13:56,600 [Calab Tate]
So that's why we work here. 

00:13:56,600 --> 00:13:56,750 [Elan Seago]
Yeah. 

00:13:56,750 --> 00:14:09,740 [Calab Tate]
And we just get to share that with people. So that's, that's, that's awesome. So speaking of the people, uh, and some memories there, uh, can you share a memorable moment from a past week of welcome? Anything that comes to mind? 

00:14:09,740 --> 00:14:27,780 [Elan Seago]
Um, yeah, 'cause we've been doing this event for years now. Um, so along with seeing students, and I don't wanna repeat what you said, but, um, a- along with that is just seeing, like, the staff and faculty. I have some funny memories of, like, Tim Scapeen coming- 

00:14:27,780 --> 00:14:28,009 [Calab Tate]
[laughs] 

00:14:28,009 --> 00:14:43,920 [Elan Seago]
... to help us, or you, and helping us with events. Um, and just making it, like, a, not only, like, fun for students but also for the staff and faculty, and seeing those who have been away for the summer. Um, and just getting everybody excited for a new semester. 

00:14:43,920 --> 00:14:51,960 [Calab Tate]
Yeah, 'cause we're, we're getting on the boat, too. I mean, you've got a lot of faculty members that are coming back from summer. Maybe they taught a summer class, but maybe they didn't. 

00:14:51,960 --> 00:14:52,050 [Elan Seago]
Mm-hmm. 

00:14:52,050 --> 00:14:59,030 [Calab Tate]
Maybe they, they went abroad. They had some vacation time there, but they're coming back, and we get to see each other again [laughs]. And that's one thing I'm- 

00:14:59,030 --> 00:14:59,729 [Elan Seago]
So it is fun. Yeah. 

00:14:59,729 --> 00:15:07,540 [Calab Tate]
Yeah, didn't expect that whenever the first week of welcome I was ever a part of. It was like, oh yeah, we ... This is our re-engagement, too. 

00:15:07,540 --> 00:15:07,920 [Elan Seago]
Right. 

00:15:07,920 --> 00:15:21,560 [Calab Tate]
Um, and I just, again, I love the fact that you see all of our staff and faculty. They're getting lifed by seeing the students. You know, it's a lot of papers to grade, and for people on the staff side like me and yourself, there's a lot of events to plan. 

00:15:21,560 --> 00:15:22,040 [Elan Seago]
Mm-hmm, mm-hmm. 

00:15:22,040 --> 00:15:27,540 [Calab Tate]
A lot of phone calls to make. But when you see the students, you see why it is that we're doing it. 

00:15:27,540 --> 00:15:28,010 [Elan Seago]
Yeah, definitely. 

00:15:28,010 --> 00:15:32,440 [Calab Tate]
And that, that can be really important. And, you know, rock, paper, scissors tournaments are always fun. 

00:15:32,440 --> 00:15:32,790 [Elan Seago]
Oh, yeah. 

00:15:32,790 --> 00:15:33,320 [Calab Tate]
[laughs] 

00:15:33,320 --> 00:15:33,920 [Elan Seago]
That was fun. 

00:15:33,920 --> 00:15:35,270 [Calab Tate]
That was from a year past. 

00:15:35,270 --> 00:15:35,280 [Elan Seago]
[laughs] 

00:15:35,280 --> 00:15:35,880 [Calab Tate]
We had that. 

00:15:35,880 --> 00:15:36,540 [Elan Seago]
Yeah. 

00:15:36,540 --> 00:15:40,920 [Calab Tate]
Uh, and just see some of the students get fired up about it, you know, whenever they might win or lose. 

00:15:40,920 --> 00:15:41,200 [Elan Seago]
Yes. 

00:15:41,200 --> 00:15:42,040 [Calab Tate]
It's just really fun. 

00:15:42,040 --> 00:15:43,100 [Elan Seago]
It was really fun. 

00:15:43,100 --> 00:15:53,120 [Calab Tate]
Yeah. So tho- those memories, those memories last, and it shows it's a fun event for all of us. So, um, circling back to what some might consider the important stuff- 

00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:53,900 [Elan Seago]
[laughs] 

00:15:53,900 --> 00:15:54,729 [Calab Tate]
... swag, stuff we all get. 

00:15:54,729 --> 00:15:54,760 [Elan Seago]
Yes. 

00:15:54,760 --> 00:16:03,100 [Calab Tate]
So really reiterating, um, what are those giveaways or what are some of those, those things that people might get from showing up to the event this year? 

00:16:03,100 --> 00:16:34,170 [Elan Seago]
Yeah. So, um, like I mentioned, we are, we have a planner that's custom- customized to HCC, which we're really excited about. Um, some lanyards, some carabiner key chains. Um, let's see. What else? We also have the gift card giveaways if you come on that Thursday and participate by just talking to some of the tables. Um, on the online student side, for students who maybe can't make it in person, we're going to be doing, like, a virtual scavenger hunt. 

00:16:34,170 --> 00:16:34,240 [Calab Tate]
Mm. 

00:16:34,240 --> 00:17:02,260 [Elan Seago]
And so they can ... If students participate, we're gonna also have a drawing at the end of that. Um, I think we're doing, like, three Amazon gift cards that you could win. So it's really, um, we're trying to include online students as well or students that maybe couldn't make it that week. So, um, definitely be looking at your email, check in the, the social media account, and, um, we're really trying hard to, to just get the word out. 

00:17:02,260 --> 00:17:26,760 [Calab Tate]
That's awesome. And you mentioned online learners. That's something that having been a part of a couple of different, you know, ad hoc teams that are planning for the semester this year, they are students that we very much so have our eye on, especially this semester. You know, this is an amazing way to start that, uh, start this off for the semester to say, "Hey, week of welcome, we see you." 

00:17:26,760 --> 00:17:27,220 [Elan Seago]
Yeah. 

00:17:27,220 --> 00:17:36,630 [Calab Tate]
For those of you that are, you know, holding an iPad in one hand and stirring dinner in the other hand and making it work, making it happen, we see you. 

00:17:36,630 --> 00:17:36,700 [Elan Seago]
Yeah. 

00:17:36,700 --> 00:17:47,480 [Calab Tate]
And that's something that I'm excited ... More to come, uh, but I'm excited to see more of that as we roll out the semester to have everyone be seen. 

00:17:47,480 --> 00:17:47,800 [Elan Seago]
Yeah. 

00:17:47,800 --> 00:17:53,520 [Calab Tate]
Every single type of person and that, that kind of wide scope that we talked about earlier. That- that's great. It's good swag. 

00:17:53,520 --> 00:17:53,820 [Elan Seago]
Yes, yes. 

00:17:53,820 --> 00:17:54,760 [Calab Tate]
Solid swag. 

00:17:54,760 --> 00:17:56,080 [Elan Seago]
[laughs] 

00:17:56,080 --> 00:18:12,359 [Calab Tate]
Okay, so what does, uh, the student life calendar look like for the semester ahead? And this is a great event. It's a good way to kick things off. But, you know, wanna go ahead and also get that conversation going of what fun stuff do y'all have cooking up for students this semester, and, and where can they find information about it? 

00:18:12,360 --> 00:18:25,400 [Elan Seago]
Yeah. Um, I'm so excited for this semester because ... Well, for a lot of reasons, but we are going to be bringing back the kickball tournament. It's going to be the sixth annual kickball tournament this year. 

00:18:25,400 --> 00:18:25,560 [Calab Tate]
Woo-hoo. [laughs] 

00:18:25,560 --> 00:19:04,120 [Elan Seago]
So we're really excited about that. That's the students versus employees. Um, and so students, if you, if you participated last year or if you have never heard of it, that's okay. Be, be looking at people that you could-Maybe make a kickball team with, and we have so much fun at that event. And even if you don't wanna play kickball, there's, uh, food trucks that is going to be free that day for students and staff and faculty. So, um, that's gonna be October 23rd. Um, my other favorite event every year or every fall is the Halloween costume contest on the 31st, which is a Friday this year. I'm so excited. 

00:19:04,120 --> 00:19:04,540 [Calab Tate]
Nice. 

00:19:04,540 --> 00:19:04,610 [Elan Seago]
So- 

00:19:04,610 --> 00:19:05,640 [Calab Tate]
Going into the weekend on a good note. 

00:19:05,640 --> 00:19:39,070 [Elan Seago]
Yeah, yeah. So those are some fun ones. And then a new one we have this semester is the shatter zone, um, which is gonna be November 6th. And this is a really cool event that where you get to like write something on a glass like plate that you want to get rid of in your life or, or banish from your life. And you get to, to write it on there, like stress or, I don't know, anxiety, whatever it may be. And then you get to, in a safe way, shatter the plate. [laughs] 

00:19:39,070 --> 00:19:39,070 [Calab Tate]
[laughs] 

00:19:39,070 --> 00:19:52,180 [Elan Seago]
Wearing like safety face gear and all this good stuff we have. Um, and so I'm super excited about that. I think students will enjoy like being allowed to break something like, and that sound is just really kind of cathartic. So- 

00:19:52,180 --> 00:19:52,790 [Calab Tate]
Yes 

00:19:52,790 --> 00:20:03,790 [Elan Seago]
... we're gonna do that on the 6th of November. We'll also have a really cool like inflatable photo booth that day so people can take pictures with their friends or with their plate or whatever. [laughs] 

00:20:03,790 --> 00:20:05,040 [Calab Tate]
[laughs] Or the remnants of their plate. 

00:20:05,040 --> 00:20:32,360 [Elan Seago]
Um, yes. Yeah. So that'll be a really fun new event we're doing. Um, and students and staff and faculty can find out about our whole calendar, all of our events coming up. Um, there's many different ways. Uh, social media, we are very active on, um, our Facebook or Instagram pages. Um, we have an email newsletter that goes out every Monday, and we, we always have all of our events in there. Um, 

00:20:33,380 --> 00:21:19,960 [Elan Seago]
the website, haywood.edu/student-life. Our calendar is up there, as well as, um, our Bobcat Bites calendar, which is when we invite different food trucks from the community to come and be here from 11 to 1p... 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM for the most part. And so all those dates that they're going to be here are also on the website and, uh, social media. Uh, we also have a Student Life and Wellness Moodle page, which every student should be enrolled in. If you're not yet, then you will be by the start of the semester. And so that's a great place to find, uh, where we keep all of our resources and, um, our calendar of course, and different announcements throughout the semester. 

00:21:21,340 --> 00:21:49,350 [Calab Tate]
Wow, that's, there's a lot of good stuff there. There's a lot of things going on. And, and just remember, you know, if you're, if you listen to this pod or maybe you're walking around campus starting your journey with us and you say, "Man, uh, what was that date? Is there a calendar? Is there something like that?" That's what Week of Welcome is for, right? Come and, and get plugged in. We've got so much fun stuff going on, contests, tournaments, all of, all of the stuff and everything in between. It's gonna be a blast. We kind of keep- 

00:21:49,350 --> 00:21:49,460 [Elan Seago]
Yes 

00:21:49,460 --> 00:22:05,380 [Calab Tate]
... the party going all semester long because we know, we understand that homework plus life is hard. Try to give them that release at the same time to be able to let go of those bad things they're gonna write on the plates or have fun at the kickball tournament, Halloween contests, that, all that stuff. 

00:22:05,380 --> 00:22:06,020 [Elan Seago]
Yeah. 

00:22:06,020 --> 00:22:08,640 [Calab Tate]
You know, that's that sense of community that we talked about. 

00:22:08,640 --> 00:22:26,480 [Elan Seago]
Definitely. I hope that, I hope that that's how it's taken because it's fun, but it's also like for your wellness. Like it helps you to just kind of like release the stress and, and hang out with your friends in a safe environment and, um, I just really hope people will take advantage of that. 

00:22:26,480 --> 00:23:12,400 [Calab Tate]
Yeah. That's our heart for 'em. That they're, you know, that word success keeps coming back in meetings that I have with people across different parts of campus, but success and student success is something that is very three, four, five dimensional. Um, it's not just a grade. It's a smile on their face. It's are they... Do they feel happy and safe when they come to, to school? When they go home, do they have all the meals that they need? You know, these are all things that Haywood Community College is thinking about. And that's something that, you know, I can't talk enough about, is that this isn't just a place where people teach and give grades. Even our teachers, I wanna be very s- very, very intentional here, our teachers are just as plugged into resource networks- 

00:23:12,400 --> 00:23:12,740 [Elan Seago]
Mm-hmm 

00:23:12,740 --> 00:23:23,580 [Calab Tate]
... as we are. You're talking about the transfer programs, those programs that maybe students come through on their way, or we have people that maybe some alternative learners that come in that wanna get that associate's degree. 

00:23:25,120 --> 00:23:32,900 [Calab Tate]
That building has, you know, a, a place where people can get some clothes. They have... We've got places on campus where people can get food. 

00:23:32,900 --> 00:23:33,180 [Elan Seago]
Yeah. 

00:23:33,180 --> 00:23:40,500 [Calab Tate]
You know, with no paperwork needed, no anything. They walk up and there's a, a place in the parking lot down in, uh, Hemlock Building- 

00:23:40,500 --> 00:23:40,510 [Elan Seago]
Yeah 

00:23:40,510 --> 00:23:44,100 [Calab Tate]
... where you open the cupboard, you take what's there. You need food, you've got it. 

00:23:44,100 --> 00:23:44,400 [Elan Seago]
Yeah. 

00:23:44,400 --> 00:24:04,680 [Calab Tate]
We're just making sure that students are that fully supported as they go through. Um, we talked a little bit, wanna make sure that we're giving some love to this element of it intentionally, um, but we talked a little bit about student clubs. So those clubs that, that, that we're having meet later on in that event series for Week of Welcome- 

00:24:04,680 --> 00:24:04,710 [Elan Seago]
Mm-hmm 

00:24:04,710 --> 00:24:09,040 [Calab Tate]
... can you speak to that a little bit, so we make sure that if people are interested in maybe joining one, they'll know what to do? 

00:24:09,040 --> 00:24:26,540 [Elan Seago]
Definitely, yeah. So we, um, we have a bunch of clubs on campus. A lot of them are specific to their program, like the, um, the forestry or, uh, I forget their whole name, but it's like the American Foresters Association or something. I'm sorry. I'm sorry if I got that wrong. 

00:24:26,540 --> 00:24:27,970 [Calab Tate]
The Friends of the Forest. [laughs] 

00:24:27,970 --> 00:25:10,450 [Elan Seago]
[laughs] Yeah. So that's one. Um, we've got of course the Student Government Association, uh, or SGA. Uh, there's Phi Theta Kappa, which is an honor society. Um, we have an environmental leadership club. I mean, there's a, there's a bunch of them that, that do all sorts of different events and is really great to meet people like-minded to you. Um, and that, students can find out about that not only at our club day, but, um, on our website there is aCurrent list of all the clubs and who the advisors are. If students have questions, they could email the advisors. Um, and yeah, so that's pretty much it with that, I guess. 

00:25:10,450 --> 00:25:30,020 [Calab Tate]
That's awesome. And then w- with SGA specifically, right, we've got some events and meetings coming up for SGA where the students can be represented at those places where they can talk about, you know, this is from a student perspective what's going on. And I... And with SGA, I love that in the board meeting, SGA president sitting right there. 

00:25:30,020 --> 00:25:30,090 [Elan Seago]
Yeah. 

00:25:30,090 --> 00:25:38,790 [Calab Tate]
The people from SGA, the students, are in that board meeting with, with the highest level of leadership for the college. So, so anything on the radar for SGA coming up? Anything like that? 

00:25:38,790 --> 00:27:15,170 [Elan Seago]
Yes. So I'm so excited for the semester. I'm... So I'm the SGA advisor, and so I, I'm a little bit, like, biased toward them. But yeah, so we have our new president this semester will be Elijah, and we have Jamie as our vice president, and our secretary is Naomi. Um, and then we also have, um, a early college representative who will be part of our, our team as well named Valen. And so we are really super excited for our new team. Um, they'll be doing the SGA meetings once a month. It's gonna be on Mondays this semester, so one Monday per month, um, at noon in the Juniper building. And so our first one will be September 8th, and that's also included in our student life calendar, all the dates. So I mean, we really want students to come to those. Anybody can come, students or employees or whoever. Um, and we usually have some kind of food or lunch type thing, um, to entice people. And we talk about what events are coming up, if there's volunteer opportunities. Um, we have other clubs' representatives there usually that tell us about what other clubs are doing on campus. So the goal of it is really to kind of be a liaison between, um, like administration as well as the student body. And if you have things that you want to see on campus or ideas for events, then that is the perfect opportunity to share them with us, um, 'cause we really just really want participation and to, to meet some of the students. 

00:27:16,410 --> 00:27:49,409 [Calab Tate]
That's awesome. And there's, like, again, that, that there's not just one level of plugging into this one thing. There's all these different opportunities. So, you know, we're not gonna take up too much time today, but I do wanna circle back before me and you get back to making sure Week of Welcome's, you know, tied up with a bow and ready to go, and all these things for semester we're still kind of tidying up, getting ready for our students to come back. But one more time, can you tell the listeners at home, Week of Welcome, when's it happening? Where's it happening? Kind of give them the dates, and then we'll sign off for the day. 

00:27:49,410 --> 00:28:04,510 [Elan Seago]
Of course. So Week of Welcome will be August 25th through 28th. Um, it's going to be 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM each day that week. And we're, we will be located at, under the big white tent in front of the fountain, which is near the library. 

00:28:04,510 --> 00:28:06,129 [Calab Tate]
Awesome. Right in the center of campus. 

00:28:06,130 --> 00:28:06,710 [Elan Seago]
Yep. 

00:28:06,710 --> 00:28:20,670 [Calab Tate]
Uh, thank you so much, Elan, for being on the podcast today. Again, this has been Bobcat Chat, a podcast where we talk about everything that's going on here on Haywood Community College's beautiful campus. Elan, thank you so much for being with us today. 

00:28:20,670 --> 00:28:22,710 [Elan Seago]
Thank you, Caleb. It's been a pleasure. 

00:28:22,710 --> 00:28:31,170 [Calab Tate]
I know. Always have a blast. And we'll see you guys at Week of Welcome. Welcome then. Have a great day, y'all. Bye-bye. [upbeat music] 

00:28:33,170 --> 00:28:58,870 [Announcer]
Bobcat Chat is a production of Haywood Community College. HCC is located in Clyde, North Carolina. If you'd like to learn more about our great college, visit us online at www.haywood.edu. That's H-A-Y-W-O-O-D.edu. [upbeat music]

00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:04,310 [Announcer]
[upbeat music] 

00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:09,580 [Announcer]
Hello and welcome to Bobcat Chat. 

00:00:14,660 --> 00:00:33,780 [Michelle Harris]
Welcome everybody to this week's edition of Bobcat Chat. My name is Michelle Harris, and I'm the Director of Marketing here at HCC. And this week, I have the pleasure of sitting down with two of our instructors here on campus who are going to talk to us about the study abroad program that we have scheduled for the spring. So first, why don't you guys introduce yourselves? 

00:00:34,980 --> 00:00:46,680 [Jeremy Phillips]
I'm Jeremy Phillips, and I am the Religion and Humanities instructor here at Haywood Community College in my 15th year now. Uh, so I've been here a minute. And, um, 

00:00:47,740 --> 00:00:50,260 [Jeremy Phillips]
uh, have a lot of experience with Latin America. 

00:00:51,500 --> 00:01:05,300 [Jeremy Phillips]
Uh, started when I was really young, uh, living in Chile, and have a lot of visits to Mexico and different places. And took my kids in and spent probably 15- 

00:01:06,420 --> 00:01:07,320 [Chris Bond]
Somewhere close to there. 

00:01:07,320 --> 00:01:08,020 [Jeremy Phillips]
Uh- 

00:01:08,020 --> 00:01:08,580 [Chris Bond]
Thirteen. 

00:01:08,580 --> 00:01:10,100 [Jeremy Phillips]
Thirteen, 13 years ago maybe. 

00:01:10,100 --> 00:01:10,600 [Chris Bond]
Oof. 

00:01:10,600 --> 00:01:11,590 [Jeremy Phillips]
My kids were pretty young. 

00:01:11,590 --> 00:01:11,880 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:18,500 [Jeremy Phillips]
But I piled them into the back of a 1981 Mercedes turbo diesel wagon. 

00:01:18,500 --> 00:01:19,460 [Michelle Harris]
Love it. 

00:01:19,460 --> 00:01:43,200 [Jeremy Phillips]
And we drove to Nicaragua and from Asheville, and stayed for three months, and that kinda developed relationships out of that, that led to Chris and I, who will introduce himself here in a minute, um, uh, going down and exploring the possibilities for a study abroad trip to Nicaragua maybe a year or two after that- 

00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:44,260 [Michelle Harris]
Okay 

00:01:44,260 --> 00:01:48,420 [Jeremy Phillips]
... trip. And, um, and then we started doing that. But yeah. 

00:01:48,420 --> 00:01:48,440 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:49,940 [Jeremy Phillips]
Chris, why don't you introduce yourself? 

00:01:49,940 --> 00:01:57,680 [Chris Bond]
Yeah. My name is Chris Bond. I'm the Spanish instructor here at Haywood, and I've been here, uh, I think 14 years at this point. 

00:01:57,680 --> 00:01:58,720 [Michelle Harris]
Almost tied, you guys. [chuckles] 

00:01:58,720 --> 00:02:01,399 [Chris Bond]
Almost tied. Jeremy's always a little ahead of me. 

00:02:01,399 --> 00:02:02,280 [Michelle Harris]
[chuckles] 

00:02:02,280 --> 00:02:15,780 [Chris Bond]
And, um, yes, I'm the Spanish instructor, and my, uh, educational background is in Spanish language, but also in Latin American studies. Um, and I've been traveling, uh, to Mexico since I was 17. 

00:02:15,780 --> 00:02:15,890 [Michelle Harris]
Wow. 

00:02:15,890 --> 00:02:25,760 [Chris Bond]
I graduated high school, and I went down there and, um, met some, uh, somewhat distant family. My grandfather's cousins all still live there. 

00:02:25,760 --> 00:02:26,580 [Michelle Harris]
Wow. 

00:02:26,580 --> 00:02:50,860 [Chris Bond]
So I got to meet them, and I've been going down, you know, ever since. Um, and, uh, I also have a lot of experience in other countries in Latin America, as well as taking students all over the world, which Jeremy's done as well. But, um, Jeremy and I took students to Nicaragua for four or five years. Uh, we've taken students to Mexico once, and I've done about 15 years taking students over to Europe. So- 

00:02:50,860 --> 00:02:51,620 [Michelle Harris]
Oh, wow 

00:02:51,620 --> 00:02:54,460 [Chris Bond]
... um, something I've been doing for a really long time. 

00:02:54,460 --> 00:03:03,640 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. Lots of experience at this table, that is for sure, on the instructional side and the taking students amazing places side. So this is great. 

00:03:03,640 --> 00:03:04,220 [Jeremy Phillips]
Yeah. 

00:03:04,220 --> 00:03:15,300 [Michelle Harris]
Thank you so much. Um, so let's start with the where, the why, and the when. Why is it offered, and specifically for spring of '25, where is everyone going? 

00:03:15,300 --> 00:03:22,260 [Jeremy Phillips]
So we are starting a kind of a newer thing. We didn't, uh, last year we didn't go, but we did the year before- 

00:03:22,260 --> 00:03:22,269 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:03:22,269 --> 00:03:23,870 [Jeremy Phillips]
... uh, starting a new trip to Mexico. 

00:03:23,870 --> 00:03:23,900 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:03:23,900 --> 00:03:34,240 [Jeremy Phillips]
So we had been going to Nicaragua for a few years, but due to some political instability there, we decided to kind of move, uh, to Mexico City and southern Mexico- 

00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:34,250 [Michelle Harris]
Okay 

00:03:34,250 --> 00:04:25,080 [Jeremy Phillips]
... which are pretty nice and secure areas in Mexico where we can go and have a really great trip of the kind we want to do, which is a cross-cultural experience, immersive for students from Haywood Community College, right, and from Haywood County. Uh, and that's really our motive, uh, to... is to, is to introduce students to Latin American culture and to get an experience outside the United States, uh, where they can just see other people, other cultures, other ways of living, hear other languages, go on different public transport systems, you know, go to huge cities, small cities, you know, different kinds of environments, and have that kind of experience they can bring back to Haywood County and Haywood Community College, and then on into the rest of their lives. 

00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:25,090 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:04:25,090 --> 00:04:40,640 [Jeremy Phillips]
'Cause it's a really transformative, uh, kind of thing to do. Uh, it has a big impact on people. Um, certainly has on my life, and going and experiencing life cross-culturally, uh, just gives you a different kind of perspective. 

00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:40,659 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:04:40,660 --> 00:04:42,170 [Jeremy Phillips]
I think is really valuable- 

00:04:42,170 --> 00:04:42,170 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:04:42,170 --> 00:04:44,080 [Jeremy Phillips]
... for us these days. 

00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:45,240 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:49,460 [Chris Bond]
Yeah. I think something that's been amazing since we've been doing the study abroad trip is 

00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:59,680 [Chris Bond]
we, we kind of envisioned this for all the reasons Jeremy said, but I didn't really quite realize how powerful it would be for the students, uh, as well as for us. 

00:04:59,680 --> 00:05:00,080 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:11,860 [Chris Bond]
Um, you know, I love my day-to-day teaching, but I, but I will absolutely say that my number one thing I've ever done at Haywood Community College has been this, this series of trips. 

00:05:11,860 --> 00:05:12,220 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:05:12,220 --> 00:05:13,390 [Chris Bond]
I feel like it's made, um, 

00:05:14,880 --> 00:05:24,240 [Chris Bond]
a real impact on a lot of students in a lot of different ways. We've had students who have traveled a lot before, and we've had students who have never traveled- 

00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:24,580 [Michelle Harris]
Right 

00:05:24,580 --> 00:05:28,260 [Chris Bond]
... even outside of western North Carolina before. 

00:05:28,260 --> 00:05:28,270 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:05:28,270 --> 00:05:32,140 [Chris Bond]
Um, I remember in Nicaragua, we had a student who had never seen the ocean. 

00:05:32,140 --> 00:05:32,810 [Michelle Harris]
Oh my gosh. 

00:05:32,810 --> 00:05:36,940 [Chris Bond]
And, and we took her to her first trip to the ocean, which was just amazing. 

00:05:36,940 --> 00:05:37,680 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:38,960 [Chris Bond]
Um, and I think something 

00:05:40,020 --> 00:05:43,440 [Chris Bond]
unique that Jeremy and I bring to this sort of trip is that, um, 

00:05:45,080 --> 00:05:56,240 [Chris Bond]
you know, we're, we're both, we're both organized, and we set this trip up so that it is organized and safe and all of those sorts of things, but we're also both a little bit loose- 

00:05:56,240 --> 00:05:56,340 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:05:56,340 --> 00:06:10,432 [Chris Bond]
... in the way that we like to travel. Uh, and it's been really exciting to, um-introduce that kind of travel to, to our students. You know, this is not a trip where we're like walking down the street with an umbrella and forcing everybody to 

00:06:11,752 --> 00:06:13,592 [Chris Bond]
do the itinerary- 

00:06:13,592 --> 00:06:13,602 [Michelle Harris]
Right 

00:06:13,602 --> 00:06:15,192 [Chris Bond]
... that everybody in the world does, right? 

00:06:15,192 --> 00:06:15,312 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:06:15,312 --> 00:06:27,492 [Chris Bond]
We're, um, you know, taking all sorts of interesting side routes and, and, and different sort of, uh, exciting things that even we haven't planned, but that are just things that come up as you travel. 

00:06:27,492 --> 00:06:41,742 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. That's great, and that just gives you the, the fluidy- fluidity, if that's a word, of just going with the flow and just saying, "Okay, this is happening here," or, "This is of interest," or, you know, maybe half the group has an interest in this, and you can kind of change things up a little bit. Um- 

00:06:41,742 --> 00:06:41,742 [Chris Bond]
Yeah 

00:06:41,742 --> 00:06:56,292 [Michelle Harris]
... but knowing that there are these, uh, milestones in there, and that's kind of what I wanna get into next is what are some of these highlights that are more of the structure, these are the things we're definitely gonna do, and then, you know, add on these extra things. So what are some of those highlights of the trip? 

00:06:56,292 --> 00:07:10,532 [Chris Bond]
So the trip, uh, is interesting the way it turned out. We originally envisioned the trip, um, essentially going to this city called San Cristóbal de las Casas, which is down in Chiapas. Uh, Chiapas is the Mexican state that's on the border with Guatemala. 

00:07:11,752 --> 00:07:11,882 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:07:11,882 --> 00:07:46,032 [Chris Bond]
Um, but in order to get there, we need to go through Mexico City, which is another place we both really love, and so it's turned into this two-part trip where we start out in Mexico City. Um, we visit the, uh, the great temple of the Aztec Empire, we visit the, uh, main cathedral in Mexico City, um, the Zócalo, which is the big... I think it might be the biggest public square in the world perhaps, or at least in Latin America, and not the world. Biggest one in Latin America. Um, and we, uh, we visit the Museum of, 

00:07:47,342 --> 00:07:50,812 [Chris Bond]
um, uh, Archaeology-- Anthropology in Mexico City. Um, 

00:07:51,892 --> 00:07:53,832 [Chris Bond]
last year we also went to the Fine Arts Museum. 

00:07:53,832 --> 00:07:54,052 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:07:54,052 --> 00:08:00,902 [Chris Bond]
So we do a lot of stuff there in Mexico City, and then we get on another plane, and we head down into the mountains of San Cristóbal. Um, 

00:08:02,212 --> 00:08:08,332 [Chris Bond]
San Cristóbal is the sister city of Asheville, so it's part of the Sister Cities organization, so we have a lot of- 

00:08:08,332 --> 00:08:08,342 [Michelle Harris]
Okay 

00:08:08,342 --> 00:08:15,772 [Chris Bond]
... really cool contacts there. Uh, and it's also, uh... it feels kind of like home to a lot of students because- 

00:08:15,772 --> 00:08:16,562 [Michelle Harris]
Interesting 

00:08:16,562 --> 00:08:18,962 [Chris Bond]
... it's very high up in the mountains. 

00:08:18,962 --> 00:08:18,962 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:08:18,962 --> 00:08:20,372 [Chris Bond]
So it just kind of has this- 

00:08:20,372 --> 00:08:20,512 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:08:20,512 --> 00:08:23,432 [Chris Bond]
... similar sort of, um, you know, vibe 

00:08:24,592 --> 00:08:37,432 [Chris Bond]
environmentally. Um, and there, uh, we, we visit the Sumidero Canyon, which is a canyon that we go down, uh, on boat and see, like, spider monkeys and crocodiles- 

00:08:37,432 --> 00:08:37,522 [Michelle Harris]
Oh my gosh 

00:08:37,522 --> 00:09:08,032 [Chris Bond]
... and all sorts of crazy stuff. Um, we visit a, uh, Mayan village called San Juan Chamula. It's a very Mayan area where we go. Um, we, uh, visit local artisans. Um, we go to a really beautiful museum there, uh, founded by some archaeologists, uh, artists, um, where we can... It's a museum that's in their, in the house where they used to live, so we go there and just kind of enjoy that, enjoy that town. 

00:09:08,032 --> 00:09:08,792 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:09:08,792 --> 00:09:12,552 [Chris Bond]
Um, and then on the back end, we go back to Mexico City. Um, 

00:09:13,652 --> 00:09:23,052 [Chris Bond]
we have, like, one more full day and a couple of nights there at the end, and we go out to Teotihuacan, which are the, uh, third largest pyramids in the world. 

00:09:23,052 --> 00:09:23,412 [Michelle Harris]
Oh, wow. 

00:09:23,412 --> 00:09:28,832 [Chris Bond]
Um, really, really, really big pyramids. Um, pre-Aztec. Um, 

00:09:30,052 --> 00:09:40,392 [Chris Bond]
so that's just kind of a mind-blowing experience for everybody, uh, and spend a day out there with a local guide. So we have a really good mix, I think- 

00:09:40,392 --> 00:09:40,452 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah 

00:09:40,452 --> 00:09:50,072 [Chris Bond]
... of a lot of activities, but we also give everybody time to, both in Mexico City and in Chiapas, to go around and just explore the area on their own. 

00:09:50,072 --> 00:09:50,592 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:09:50,592 --> 00:09:54,632 [Jeremy Phillips]
Uh, we stay in Mexico City in-at a youth hostel- 

00:09:54,632 --> 00:09:54,712 [Michelle Harris]
Okay 

00:09:54,712 --> 00:10:04,672 [Jeremy Phillips]
... uh, which is right in the downtown area, very close to that central square that Chris was talking about. So it's in the... It's great access, walkable- 

00:10:04,672 --> 00:10:04,762 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah 

00:10:04,762 --> 00:10:08,032 [Jeremy Phillips]
... kind of situation. And we, 

00:10:09,552 --> 00:10:18,012 [Jeremy Phillips]
uh, there are tons of restaurants and places to go, you know, around there, and we, uh, have... students have freedom- 

00:10:18,012 --> 00:10:18,212 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:10:18,212 --> 00:10:24,692 [Jeremy Phillips]
... to do different things in the evening and, you know, go and, you know, explore a bit on their own- 

00:10:24,692 --> 00:10:25,172 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah 

00:10:25,172 --> 00:10:42,012 [Jeremy Phillips]
... uh, while we're doing some of those activities. And then we also, um, don't have everything planned all the time in San Cristóbal when we're there. But, uh, you have some time in the evenings, and not all meals are set. Sometimes we'll have meals together, but sometimes not. 

00:10:42,012 --> 00:10:42,362 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:10:42,362 --> 00:10:49,251 [Jeremy Phillips]
And, uh, so there's set activities, and then there's some freedom to do personal exploration. 

00:10:49,252 --> 00:10:51,072 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:10:51,072 --> 00:11:07,332 [Jeremy Phillips]
Um, so... And where we're staying in San Cristóbal is in a kind of a nicer hotel kind of situation where there'd be breakfast provided, and, uh, the... It's a beautiful colonial city. Uh, you know, the buildings are all from the 

00:11:08,432 --> 00:11:09,632 [Jeremy Phillips]
1600s. [chuckles] 

00:11:09,632 --> 00:11:10,052 [Michelle Harris]
Wow. 

00:11:10,052 --> 00:11:13,772 [Jeremy Phillips]
Uh, it's, uh, so it's, it's a really unique place to stay- 

00:11:13,772 --> 00:11:14,172 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah 

00:11:14,172 --> 00:11:16,592 [Jeremy Phillips]
... and explore for sure. 

00:11:16,592 --> 00:11:30,672 [Michelle Harris]
So all these, um, elements and highlights sound amazing. Is, is there any specific tie back to, like, your class, or is it really just let's immerse them in an experience? Like, how, how does that balance out with coursework? 

00:11:30,672 --> 00:11:33,932 [Chris Bond]
So the way that we've set up the class, it's a, a humanities class. 

00:11:33,932 --> 00:11:34,022 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:11:34,022 --> 00:11:36,032 [Chris Bond]
And the trip is tied-- [clears throat] Excuse me. 

00:11:37,092 --> 00:12:15,834 [Chris Bond]
The trip is tied to the class, uh, monetarily as, like, course fees as if you were taking a lab course, that sort of thing. Um, and basically we meet once a month before we head out to Mexico, so I bel- generally we meet three times before we leave. Um, and those class meetings are a mix of coursework, so we have readings that will prepare them for the different parts of the culture that we want them to learn, so different... readings from different texts, um, and movies that they watch. And so then in the classes we discuss history and culture, and we also just kind of do a lot of trip preparation as well. 

00:12:15,834 --> 00:12:15,863 [Michelle Harris]
Sure. 

00:12:15,864 --> 00:12:24,684 [Chris Bond]
Just getting students ready for the, uh, specifics of, you know, the documents that they're going to need and the things that they should pack and all of that sort of stuff. 

00:12:24,684 --> 00:12:25,364 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:12:25,364 --> 00:13:05,084 [Chris Bond]
Um, then while we're in Mexico, they, uh, each student needs to work on a specific final project. So they choose an area of interest for them. Some students will choose food, some students will choose, uh, things specifically related to their field of study. Like we've had forestry students who are, you know, are going to study different kinds of trees that they've seen in these different places or this sort of thing. Um, so they choose an area of focus and work on that throughout the trip, and then when we come back, we meet one final time, and every student gives a presentation based on the, um, sort of informal or formal research that they've done while we were down in, down in Mexico. 

00:13:05,084 --> 00:13:16,624 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. Okay. That's a great way to do that. Um, so then you mentioned it's a class, so can we talk a minute about financing a trip like this and what those options might look like for students? 

00:13:16,624 --> 00:13:28,384 [Chris Bond]
Sure. Um, so to take, uh, the course, you, you need, you have to sign up for this Humanities 120, and you can do that through your advisor. 

00:13:28,384 --> 00:13:28,784 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:13:28,784 --> 00:13:38,454 [Chris Bond]
Um, it's a course that fulfills all the humanities requirements for all the associate and, uh, or the applied, associate in applied science degrees. 

00:13:38,454 --> 00:13:38,484 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:13:38,484 --> 00:13:49,144 [Chris Bond]
So the AAS degree. So if you're in, you know, whatever program here at Haywood Community College and you are getting the AAS, this will count for your humanities requirement- 

00:13:49,144 --> 00:13:49,464 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:13:49,464 --> 00:13:57,024 [Chris Bond]
... for that degree. So everybody on campus, you know, who's in one of these programs will benefit from taking this class. 

00:13:57,024 --> 00:13:57,564 [Michelle Harris]
Right. 

00:13:57,564 --> 00:13:59,704 [Chris Bond]
Um, it's also an elective for anyone in the- 

00:13:59,704 --> 00:13:59,714 [Michelle Harris]
Okay 

00:13:59,714 --> 00:14:03,224 [Chris Bond]
... transfer, uh, college transfer degrees. 

00:14:03,224 --> 00:14:03,624 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:14:03,624 --> 00:14:04,704 [Chris Bond]
Also, um, 

00:14:05,884 --> 00:14:25,264 [Chris Bond]
you have to pay, then it's a three credit class, so you have to pay for the three credit class. If you have financial aid, it will cover that, that... And the, and because the trip price is attached to the course as a course fee, financial aid is also able to cover the course costs. 

00:14:25,264 --> 00:14:25,284 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:14:25,284 --> 00:14:31,164 [Chris Bond]
The full course costs. So it's, uh, 20, $2,199. 

00:14:32,444 --> 00:14:34,224 [Chris Bond]
Um, and- 

00:14:34,224 --> 00:14:36,024 [Michelle Harris]
20, $2,120? 

00:14:36,024 --> 00:14:36,344 [Chris Bond]
Yep. 

00:14:36,344 --> 00:14:36,544 [Michelle Harris]
Or- 

00:14:36,544 --> 00:14:37,534 [Jeremy Phillips]
99. $2,199. 

00:14:37,534 --> 00:14:38,964 [Chris Bond]
$2,199. 

00:14:38,964 --> 00:14:39,444 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:14:39,444 --> 00:14:39,484 [Jeremy Phillips]
[laughs] 

00:14:39,484 --> 00:14:39,904 [Michelle Harris]
Great. Great. 

00:14:39,904 --> 00:14:51,124 [Chris Bond]
$2,199. That covers your flight, all the activities, all the lodging, all transportation, many meals. 

00:14:51,124 --> 00:14:51,254 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:14:52,724 --> 00:14:55,364 [Chris Bond]
Pretty much everything you're going to need. 

00:14:56,894 --> 00:14:56,894 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. 

00:14:56,894 --> 00:15:00,484 [Chris Bond]
Uh, some things you will need to do on your own is take care of your passport- 

00:15:00,484 --> 00:15:00,493 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:15:00,493 --> 00:15:06,524 [Chris Bond]
... and the passport fees, and make sure that's complete. And maybe bring a little bit of spending money for gifts- 

00:15:06,524 --> 00:15:06,864 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah 

00:15:06,864 --> 00:15:15,284 [Chris Bond]
... is generally how people do it. And maybe a little bit of money for, uh, the, um, extra meals or coffee or- 

00:15:15,284 --> 00:15:16,044 [Michelle Harris]
Ice cream 

00:15:16,044 --> 00:15:16,124 [Chris Bond]
... ice cream. 

00:15:16,124 --> 00:15:17,064 [Michelle Harris]
Whatever you want. 

00:15:17,064 --> 00:15:17,704 [Chris Bond]
Yeah, that kind of stuff. 

00:15:17,704 --> 00:15:17,884 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:15:19,004 --> 00:15:19,084 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:15:19,084 --> 00:15:23,074 [Chris Bond]
And, uh, there are also scholarships. 

00:15:23,074 --> 00:15:23,264 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:15:23,264 --> 00:15:36,984 [Chris Bond]
So the foundation's been very, very generous and has a large amount of money set aside for this. Right now, if we have the full amount of students who can come, it's 15 is the max- 

00:15:36,984 --> 00:15:36,993 [Michelle Harris]
Okay 

00:15:36,993 --> 00:15:40,284 [Chris Bond]
... then I think everybody would get a little over $500. 

00:15:40,284 --> 00:15:40,904 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:15:40,904 --> 00:15:48,904 [Chris Bond]
And they'll just split it evenly. Whatever the, the pool is [laughs] of money, they'll split it evenly among the people who are going. 

00:15:48,904 --> 00:15:48,984 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:15:48,984 --> 00:15:55,004 [Chris Bond]
And if 10 people go, then that's a lot more money available. 

00:15:55,004 --> 00:15:55,064 [Michelle Harris]
Right. Right. 

00:15:55,064 --> 00:16:00,024 [Chris Bond]
So I think it's up to 750 or something is gonna be available. 

00:16:00,024 --> 00:16:00,964 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:16:00,964 --> 00:16:03,064 [Chris Bond]
Uh, but it depends on how many students are there. 

00:16:03,064 --> 00:16:03,364 [Michelle Harris]
Right. 

00:16:03,364 --> 00:16:08,724 [Chris Bond]
But there definitely is some, uh, uh, just aid free- 

00:16:08,724 --> 00:16:08,734 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah 

00:16:08,734 --> 00:16:10,204 [Chris Bond]
... money from the foundation. 

00:16:10,204 --> 00:16:27,944 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. They've been such a great supporter of our students. I'm glad to hear that they're continuing that to give them this kind of experience that not many people can do, and so that's, that's amazing. Um, so before we circle back to some of the aha moments, if someone's interested, what do they need to do? 

00:16:29,084 --> 00:16:46,244 [Chris Bond]
So the best thing that I would suggest, if you... There are posters all around campus, uh, with, uh, the dates of our information sessions, which I can also, uh, say here. So we're gonna have drop-in information sessions where people can come in, uh, and just talk to us and meet other people who are interested in the trip. 

00:16:46,244 --> 00:16:46,804 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:16:46,804 --> 00:16:52,844 [Chris Bond]
Uh, so that's one place to start. You can also contact either of us or stop by our offices. 

00:16:52,844 --> 00:16:53,103 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:16:53,104 --> 00:16:58,864 [Chris Bond]
So, uh, my email is cbond@haywood.edu, and Jeremy's- 

00:16:58,864 --> 00:17:02,984 [Jeremy Phillips]
jphillips@haywood.edu. Two L's in Phillips. 

00:17:02,984 --> 00:17:22,014 [Chris Bond]
Yeah. So you can contact either of us and, you know, stop by our offices and we can, we can chat about the program. Or, uh, in room 350 in the Hickory Building on September 26th, October 10th, October 23rd, and November 7th, we'll be there from 11:30 to 12:30. 

00:17:22,014 --> 00:17:22,504 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:17:22,504 --> 00:17:29,974 [Chris Bond]
All those days. So anybody can just pop into room 350 and ask us questions. We'll have photos from previous trips and, uh- 

00:17:29,974 --> 00:17:29,974 [Michelle Harris]
Great 

00:17:29,974 --> 00:17:40,004 [Chris Bond]
... the itinerary and all of that kind of stuff for people to, for people to check out. Also, the sort of final step is simply meeting with your advisor and- 

00:17:40,004 --> 00:17:40,034 [Michelle Harris]
Okay 

00:17:40,034 --> 00:17:42,404 [Chris Bond]
... registering for Humanities 120. 

00:17:42,404 --> 00:17:43,064 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:17:43,064 --> 00:18:01,472 [Chris Bond]
Um, I will say as one point, generally when they schedule in the computer program, when Humanities 120 is in there, um-The people plugging in the information have to put in some kind of time. So even if that time looks like it's something you won't be able to do- 

00:18:01,472 --> 00:18:01,832 [Michelle Harris]
[laughs] Right 

00:18:01,832 --> 00:18:05,771 [Chris Bond]
... because it's work or because you have another class or whatever, you can ignore that time. 

00:18:05,772 --> 00:18:06,292 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:18:06,292 --> 00:18:11,732 [Chris Bond]
So what we do always is once everybody's signed up, we do like a poll of everybody- 

00:18:11,732 --> 00:18:11,742 [Michelle Harris]
Sure 

00:18:11,742 --> 00:18:15,532 [Chris Bond]
... and figure out our once-a-month time that will work for meetings. 

00:18:15,532 --> 00:18:16,302 [Michelle Harris]
Right. 

00:18:16,302 --> 00:18:17,452 [Chris Bond]
So that time is a lie. 

00:18:17,452 --> 00:18:18,292 [Michelle Harris]
So don't worry. 

00:18:18,292 --> 00:18:18,412 [Chris Bond]
Yeah, yeah. 

00:18:18,412 --> 00:18:19,132 [Michelle Harris]
We got you. 

00:18:19,132 --> 00:18:19,352 [Chris Bond]
Yeah, yeah. 

00:18:19,352 --> 00:18:21,212 [Michelle Harris]
Right? We will figure it out. 

00:18:21,212 --> 00:18:21,402 [Chris Bond]
Don't let that stop you. 

00:18:21,402 --> 00:18:54,272 [Michelle Harris]
That's great. That's great. So one thing I wanted to just talk a little bit about was, um, the immersive experience that this is, and as we kind of wrap up the chat today of, um, what benefits there are for students for this time, this type of trip. I mean, you mentioned it's transformational. So I wanna kind of talk about the warm and fuzzies of this type of experience and what you've seen, whether it's your own experiences or what you've seen from students and when they return, what they've kind of learned from this type of trip. 

00:18:56,452 --> 00:19:02,792 [Jeremy Phillips]
Um, I'm thinking of one student who went to Mexico with us, uh, last, last time we went. 

00:19:04,092 --> 00:19:04,192 [Jeremy Phillips]
Uh, 

00:19:05,372 --> 00:19:17,752 [Jeremy Phillips]
decided her college major when she was going to transfer, um, and kind of got a whole vision for her future, basically, out of this experience. 

00:19:18,852 --> 00:19:22,502 [Jeremy Phillips]
Um, it was quite defining for her. 

00:19:22,502 --> 00:19:22,992 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:19:22,992 --> 00:19:42,772 [Jeremy Phillips]
Um, that... So, and that's not n- really uncommon. I think it, it shapes people in some quite significant ways in terms of the kinds of things they can see themselves doing maybe in the future, and the kinds of possibilities there are, and the desire to study certain things- 

00:19:42,772 --> 00:19:42,782 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:19:42,782 --> 00:19:49,692 [Jeremy Phillips]
... or go into a certain area, or, um, definitely seen some things like that. So that's kind of a lot of impact, I think- 

00:19:49,692 --> 00:19:50,192 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:19:50,192 --> 00:19:53,632 [Jeremy Phillips]
... on someone when they're shaping some future- 

00:19:53,632 --> 00:19:54,012 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:19:54,012 --> 00:19:57,952 [Jeremy Phillips]
... decisions about what they're gonna study and the kind of work they wanna do. 

00:19:57,952 --> 00:19:59,952 [Michelle Harris]
I like that word, possibilities. 

00:19:59,952 --> 00:19:59,972 [Jeremy Phillips]
Yeah. 

00:19:59,972 --> 00:20:15,052 [Michelle Harris]
Because you don't always see them, um, especially like you were mentioning earlier, Chris, if people aren't able to get out of the, our area, they don't have the ability to travel. This gives them that, and they can really open their eyes to the possibilities out there and what that really means to them. 

00:20:15,052 --> 00:20:25,512 [Chris Bond]
Absolutely. And I think, you know, we-- For years, we're going to Nicaragua, which was such an amazing, uh, trip for so many of our students and, um, you know, I miss going there. 

00:20:25,512 --> 00:20:26,112 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:20:26,112 --> 00:20:34,732 [Chris Bond]
Uh, I think Mexico, though, has a, um, strong- stronger impact in some sort of ways, just because it's, you know, Mexico's our neighbor. 

00:20:34,732 --> 00:20:35,232 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:20:35,232 --> 00:20:52,892 [Chris Bond]
Uh, obviously there are a lot of, um, Mexicans and people of Mexican descent here in the United States as well, so it's a culture that we have a lot of contact with. But I'd also say that I think that there are, uh, a lot of misconceptions about Mexico or a lot of, you know, just lack of knowledge- 

00:20:52,892 --> 00:20:52,901 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah 

00:20:52,901 --> 00:21:01,112 [Chris Bond]
... about the country. Um, and so to me it feels sort of extra powerful and impactful that we're going, you know, 

00:21:02,472 --> 00:21:08,232 [Chris Bond]
deep physically and metaphorically into a country that, that we're so connected to- 

00:21:08,232 --> 00:21:08,241 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:21:08,241 --> 00:21:14,112 [Chris Bond]
... so deeply connected to. Um, and I think we felt that on our last trip. You know, it was, it was... 

00:21:15,872 --> 00:21:20,792 [Chris Bond]
You know, the, the relationships people made and insights that they had- 

00:21:20,792 --> 00:21:21,012 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:21:21,012 --> 00:21:24,052 [Chris Bond]
... and their, their way of looking at the world- 

00:21:24,052 --> 00:21:24,282 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah 

00:21:24,282 --> 00:21:27,072 [Chris Bond]
... for e- for every student changes with this kind of travel. 

00:21:27,072 --> 00:21:27,552 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:21:27,552 --> 00:21:34,072 [Jeremy Phillips]
And also going to a city like Mexico City is a big eye-opener. 

00:21:34,072 --> 00:21:34,552 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:21:34,552 --> 00:21:40,181 [Jeremy Phillips]
You know, a lot of people from western North Carolina maybe have been to Atlanta or- 

00:21:40,181 --> 00:21:40,202 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:21:40,202 --> 00:21:47,452 [Jeremy Phillips]
... Charlotte are some of the biggest big cities. Um, and Mexico City is just way bigger. [laughs] 

00:21:47,452 --> 00:21:48,372 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. [laughs] 

00:21:48,372 --> 00:21:51,202 [Jeremy Phillips]
It's, it's, it's a city of 20 million people. 

00:21:51,202 --> 00:21:51,212 [Michelle Harris]
Oh, wow. 

00:21:51,212 --> 00:21:57,892 [Jeremy Phillips]
It's so sophisticated. It's just a, it's a world-class city that is- 

00:21:57,892 --> 00:21:57,901 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah 

00:21:57,901 --> 00:22:01,382 [Jeremy Phillips]
... amazing for people to, I think, see and experience. And really, 

00:22:03,112 --> 00:22:24,772 [Jeremy Phillips]
you know, you see all levels of Mexican society and, you know, whereas often in the United States we see kind of people who are coming as immigrant workers or, uh, students or, who have grown up here, um, students who are immigrants and, and... But Mexico is a very diverse, wild place- 

00:22:24,772 --> 00:22:25,252 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah 

00:22:25,252 --> 00:22:34,542 [Jeremy Phillips]
... with, with multiple layers of life and culture that students get to see and experience. And so I think that's really rich. Um, one, uh, 

00:22:35,592 --> 00:22:43,032 [Jeremy Phillips]
very cool thing we got to do on the last trip was, uh, one student who was, uh, on the trip 

00:22:44,312 --> 00:22:46,092 [Jeremy Phillips]
had gotten married 

00:22:47,152 --> 00:22:51,532 [Jeremy Phillips]
to a Mexican man here in Haywood County 

00:22:52,772 --> 00:23:07,472 [Jeremy Phillips]
very recently, and we were able to find his indigenous Mayan relatives who lived outside of San Cristóbal. And I went with the student, and we found them literally working in a field. 

00:23:07,472 --> 00:23:08,192 [Michelle Harris]
Oh my gosh. 

00:23:08,192 --> 00:23:10,962 [Jeremy Phillips]
And they met each other for the first time. 

00:23:10,962 --> 00:23:12,212 [Michelle Harris]
Oh, I just got goosebumps. 

00:23:12,212 --> 00:23:13,032 [Chris Bond]
It was- 

00:23:13,032 --> 00:23:16,652 [Jeremy Phillips]
It, it was, it was an astoundingly intense and amazing- 

00:23:16,652 --> 00:23:16,662 [Michelle Harris]
Yes 

00:23:16,662 --> 00:23:17,832 [Jeremy Phillips]
... experience. 

00:23:17,832 --> 00:23:18,332 [Michelle Harris]
Wow. 

00:23:18,332 --> 00:23:20,582 [Jeremy Phillips]
And that's the kind of thing we're willing to do, you know? 

00:23:20,582 --> 00:23:20,582 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:23:20,582 --> 00:23:27,032 [Jeremy Phillips]
If people have something special they wanna do, we w- and it's possible, we will make it happen. 

00:23:27,032 --> 00:23:27,572 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:23:27,572 --> 00:23:31,992 [Jeremy Phillips]
For sure. Um, uh, and so there really happen some 

00:23:33,192 --> 00:23:35,232 [Jeremy Phillips]
amazing moments for people. 

00:23:35,232 --> 00:23:53,772 [Michelle Harris]
And I guess that's where it all stems from small, but not too small of a group, and then your-- the expertise of the two of you bringing them there, and then being able to say, "Yeah, we can do that," and, and really look at this trip from each person and what they're looking to get out of it, um, to maximize that experience. 

00:23:53,772 --> 00:23:53,972 [Jeremy Phillips]
Yeah. 

00:23:53,972 --> 00:23:55,032 [Michelle Harris]
That's wonderful. 

00:23:55,032 --> 00:23:55,232 [Jeremy Phillips]
It's- 

00:23:55,232 --> 00:24:01,120 [Chris Bond]
I'll also just make one final point too that I don't think we've discussed thatYou mentioned the small group 

00:24:01,120 --> 00:24:01,170 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah 

00:24:01,170 --> 00:24:09,260 [Chris Bond]
Uh, this is also something really wonderful and powerful about these trips that, you know, we've kept it always a maximum of 15. 

00:24:09,260 --> 00:24:09,370 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:24:09,370 --> 00:24:17,620 [Chris Bond]
And so this is also a chance for students to develop relationships with their fellow students from Haywood County- 

00:24:17,620 --> 00:24:17,640 [Michelle Harris]
Yes 

00:24:17,640 --> 00:24:26,920 [Chris Bond]
... on these wild experiences. So, you know, we've, we've seen friendships that continue to this day made on these trips. 

00:24:26,920 --> 00:24:27,180 [Michelle Harris]
Definitely. 

00:24:28,230 --> 00:24:28,230 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:24:28,230 --> 00:24:30,520 [Chris Bond]
Um, the students have, you know, their WhatsApp group- 

00:24:30,520 --> 00:24:31,030 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. [laughs] 

00:24:31,030 --> 00:24:35,300 [Chris Bond]
... that they, that they connect with, and they meet up to go out to Mexican restaurants, and- 

00:24:35,300 --> 00:24:35,400 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah 

00:24:35,400 --> 00:24:40,450 [Chris Bond]
... so this is kind of a beautiful thing that happens, too. You know what I mean? It's like a adult summer camp, right? 

00:24:40,450 --> 00:24:40,480 [Michelle Harris]
Right. 

00:24:40,480 --> 00:24:46,900 [Chris Bond]
I mean, it's just a chance where you're with these people 24/7, and you develop some really beautiful friendships as well, so. 

00:24:46,900 --> 00:25:06,590 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah, and what I love about the class concept is it's giving them months to know each other. Because if you're going into this not having a friend with you going on this, you know, week-long thing, um, they have that ability to create those relationships before they even get on the plane, so it's not super awkward when you're like, "Who are you? I don't know. Who are you?" And so it just kind of helps that experience in general. 

00:25:06,590 --> 00:25:06,710 [Chris Bond]
Right. 

00:25:06,710 --> 00:25:42,780 [Michelle Harris]
Um, a- and to your point of i- you know, no matter the program you're in, as you conclude your time with HCC, you know, down the road, you're ... we're bringing everyone together, um, from different programs and different, you know, walks of life, and I just think that's really experiential and just adds to the whole community, as we like to say, of the community college. Um, I really appreciate your guys' time today. Uh, the info sessions are gonna be great. I'll put your emails in, in all the captions so people can reach out to you. Um, and this is just an amazing experience that we're able to offer to our students, so thank you in advance to the two of you for leading this. Um, really appreciate it. 

00:25:42,780 --> 00:25:45,380 [Chris Bond]
Thanks for having us on. Thank you. Yeah, we appreciate it. Thanks. 

00:25:46,540 --> 00:25:48,380 [Chris Bond]
[upbeat music] 

00:25:48,380 --> 00:26:14,020 [Announcer]
Bobcat Chat is a production of Haywood Community College. HCC is located in Clyde, North Carolina. If you'd like to learn more about our great college, visit us online at www.haywood.edu. That's H-A-Y-W-O-O-D dot E-D-U. [upbeat music]

00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:20,200 [Michelle Harris]
[upbeat music] Hi, everybody. Welcome to this week's edition of Bobcat Chat. My name is Michelle Harris, and I am the Director of Marketing here at HCC. And this week, I have the pleasure of sitting down with Jessica Honeycutt. Welcome, Jessica. 

00:00:20,200 --> 00:00:21,160 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Thank you. 

00:00:21,160 --> 00:00:24,340 [Michelle Harris]
First of all, why don't you give us a brief introduction of yourself? 

00:00:24,340 --> 00:00:36,440 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Yeah. So I'm Jessica Honeycutt. I'm the Dean of Transitional Studies and High School Partnerships, so that just means that I'm over all things high school. Also over GED, um, services and testing and tutoring. 

00:00:36,440 --> 00:00:37,640 [Michelle Harris]
Wonderful. All the great things- 

00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:37,850 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Yeah. [chuckles] 

00:00:37,850 --> 00:00:45,280 [Michelle Harris]
... to support our students. So today, we are here to talk about CCP. So what does CCP even stand for? 

00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:53,100 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Yeah. So CCP stands for Career and College Promise. Um, some people also refer to it as dual enrollment. 

00:00:53,100 --> 00:00:58,960 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. Yeah. And so let's talk about the program a little bit and kind of share the premise of it all. 

00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:17,440 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Yeah. So Career and College Promise is for high school students, um, so where they can take college classes while in high school. Um, so we have all different types of programs. We have college transfer programs for students that eventually wanna go to university, and then we also have the career and technical education side of things. 

00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:17,619 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:01:17,620 --> 00:01:22,960 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Um, so it's just where s- high school students across the state can take college classes while in high school. 

00:01:22,960 --> 00:01:24,710 [Michelle Harris]
That's an amazing opportunity. 

00:01:24,710 --> 00:01:25,040 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Mm-hmm. 

00:01:25,040 --> 00:01:28,259 [Michelle Harris]
Um, and so is this a statewide thing or a North Carolina thing? Or like a statewide- 

00:01:28,260 --> 00:01:35,380 [Jessica Honeycutt]
It is. It's a thing, um, across all the 58 community colleges. Now, each, um, community college can have different programs- 

00:01:35,380 --> 00:01:35,560 [Michelle Harris]
Okay 

00:01:35,560 --> 00:01:44,220 [Jessica Honeycutt]
... that's specific to them. Like for example, we are big in forestry and fish and wildlife that not, uh, uh, a lot of other schools don't have. 

00:01:44,220 --> 00:01:44,230 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:01:44,230 --> 00:01:46,020 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Um, so yes, it is across the state. 

00:01:46,020 --> 00:01:47,539 [Michelle Harris]
That's such a great opportunity. 

00:01:47,540 --> 00:01:48,140 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Mm-hmm. 

00:01:48,140 --> 00:01:55,400 [Michelle Harris]
Um, so how closely do you have to work with the high schools to keep everything with this program off and going and smooth as can be? 

00:01:55,400 --> 00:02:38,670 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Yes. We have to work very closely with the high schools for many reasons, just because I go into the high schools to meet with the students to discuss, you know, the opportunities for Career and College Promise, and then I have to meet with the student and the counselors, um, when we're making their schedules 'cause it's like a puzzle. You're trying to fit HCC, um, class schedule with their high school schedule. And so I have to work with the counselors really closely and the students to make sure that it, it fits with their schedule. Um, and then also working with other aspects of, um, the high schools because we have, um, some career coaches that are placed at the high school as well. 

00:02:38,670 --> 00:02:38,760 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:48,109 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Um, we have one full-time at Pisgah, one full-time at Tuscola, and one part-time at Central Haywood High School. And these students are there on the campus, um, 

00:02:49,260 --> 00:02:57,600 [Jessica Honeycutt]
working, and they help students figure out what they wanna do after high school. So they know a little bit about the CCP, and so they help students, you know, 

00:02:58,720 --> 00:02:59,960 [Jessica Honeycutt]
talk about that. 

00:02:59,960 --> 00:03:00,000 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:06,579 [Jessica Honeycutt]
But then also they're helping students do college applications and then career interest inventories and things like that. 

00:03:06,580 --> 00:03:11,140 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. And I think it's such a great opportunity. I've, um, personally seen someone in my family- 

00:03:11,140 --> 00:03:11,340 [Jessica Honeycutt]
[chuckles] 

00:03:11,340 --> 00:03:15,280 [Michelle Harris]
... uh, participate in this. And not only does it help them figure out what they wanna do- 

00:03:15,280 --> 00:03:15,290 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Mm-hmm 

00:03:15,290 --> 00:03:17,880 [Michelle Harris]
... it also helps them figure out maybe what they don't wanna do- 

00:03:17,880 --> 00:03:18,210 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Yes. Yes 

00:03:18,210 --> 00:03:23,109 [Michelle Harris]
... by taking the class free while they're still, still in high school. They get a good grade. It can transfer on. 

00:03:23,109 --> 00:03:23,150 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Mm-hmm. 

00:03:23,150 --> 00:03:24,320 [Michelle Harris]
So there's so many benefits to the program. 

00:03:24,320 --> 00:03:32,040 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Yes. And I tell s- that's one of the first things I tell students is, "It's okay if you don't know what you wanna do, but you have to figure out what you don't wanna do first." 

00:03:32,040 --> 00:03:32,180 [Michelle Harris]
Yes. Yes. 

00:03:32,180 --> 00:03:38,930 [Jessica Honeycutt]
And this is the perfect time to do it because like you said, you're not a freshman in college and having to change your major three times. 

00:03:38,930 --> 00:03:38,960 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:40,940 [Jessica Honeycutt]
You're figuring it out beforehand. 

00:03:40,940 --> 00:03:45,160 [Michelle Harris]
Yes, absolutely. Um, so you mentioned that you're kind of over everything high school. 

00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:45,769 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Mm-hmm. 

00:03:45,769 --> 00:03:54,690 [Michelle Harris]
And I wanted to take a second to, um, kind of help explain to everybody the difference between CCP and Haywood Early College, 'cause they're both on our campus- 

00:03:54,690 --> 00:03:54,790 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Mm-hmm 

00:03:54,790 --> 00:03:56,460 [Michelle Harris]
... um, but they are quite different. 

00:03:56,460 --> 00:03:56,710 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Yeah. 

00:03:56,710 --> 00:03:58,600 [Michelle Harris]
And so what kind of is that comparison? 

00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:34,930 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Yeah. So Career and College Promise is pretty much an umbrella. And so under that umbrella is Career and College Promise, the different pathways, um, college transfer and career and technical education. Um, those are made for students that are at different high schools. So we have home school students. We have the local Pisgah, Tuscola, Central. We have Shawnee Rock. We have private schools. So they are in their own separate high school, and they can take these classes. Some start in ninth grade. Some start in 11th grade. The Haywood Early College is a Haywood County Schools high school, but it's located on our campus. 

00:04:34,930 --> 00:04:34,960 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:04:34,960 --> 00:04:38,240 [Jessica Honeycutt]
They start taking classes in, college classes in ninth grade. 

00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:38,270 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:04:39,330 --> 00:04:49,780 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Um, the biggest difference is the tuition is waived, um, and the Haywood Early College purchases their book, the students' books as well. So students essentially do not have to pay for anything- 

00:04:49,840 --> 00:04:50,050 [Michelle Harris]
Right 

00:04:50,050 --> 00:04:58,900 [Jessica Honeycutt]
... for the Haywood Early College. And they're geared to get their high school diploma and their two-year associate's degree by the time they graduate high school. 

00:04:58,900 --> 00:05:02,099 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. And then their high school physically is this high school- 

00:05:02,100 --> 00:05:02,440 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Yes 

00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:03,410 [Michelle Harris]
... on our campus. 

00:05:03,410 --> 00:05:03,420 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Mm-hmm. 

00:05:03,420 --> 00:05:04,760 [Michelle Harris]
Where that's where they go every day. 

00:05:04,760 --> 00:05:04,790 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Mm-hmm. 

00:05:04,790 --> 00:05:06,040 [Michelle Harris]
Buses, the whole thing. 

00:05:06,040 --> 00:05:13,920 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Yep. It's a Haywood Co- it's just another Haywood County Schools school. And yep, they just take college classes and high school classes at the same time. 

00:05:13,920 --> 00:05:17,540 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. And that opportunity to graduate with your high school diploma- 

00:05:17,540 --> 00:05:17,550 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Mm-hmm 

00:05:17,550 --> 00:05:19,710 [Michelle Harris]
... and associate's degree, that still just blows my mind. 

00:05:19,710 --> 00:05:19,719 [Jessica Honeycutt]
I know. 

00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:24,000 [Michelle Harris]
That's a lot of hard work, but what a great way to get, you know, halfway- 

00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:24,010 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Yeah 

00:05:24,010 --> 00:05:24,860 [Michelle Harris]
... or completed- 

00:05:24,860 --> 00:05:24,870 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Mm-hmm 

00:05:24,870 --> 00:05:27,360 [Michelle Harris]
... depending on what you're doing with your, uh, college education. 

00:05:27,360 --> 00:05:28,360 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Yep. 

00:05:28,360 --> 00:05:35,800 [Michelle Harris]
It's so great. Um, so how would a potential student learn about the programs or classes that they could take with CCP? 

00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:51,969 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Yeah. So for example, last night we had the CCP open house. That's one way, and I send those flyers out to, um, all the 11th through ei- 11th or 8th through 11th graders in the county. Um, I go to rising senior nights at the local high school. 

00:05:51,969 --> 00:05:52,120 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:05:52,120 --> 00:06:08,340 [Jessica Honeycutt]
I go to... I'm been invited to the eighth grade registration night. Um, I go to the high schools at least once a week. They do announcements at the high school. Um, they can look at our website. And so there's different... It just depends on the school. 

00:06:08,340 --> 00:06:08,390 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm.

00:06:10,050 --> 00:06:12,430 [Jessica Honeycutt]
But I try to do an open house at least once a year- 

00:06:12,430 --> 00:06:12,550 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah 

00:06:12,550 --> 00:06:15,070 [Jessica Honeycutt]
... to get that information out to, to students. 

00:06:15,070 --> 00:06:16,530 [Michelle Harris]
And I love that you're at the schools. 

00:06:16,530 --> 00:06:16,720 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Mm-hmm. 

00:06:16,720 --> 00:06:18,590 [Michelle Harris]
'Cause talk about, you know, meeting them where they are. 

00:06:18,590 --> 00:06:18,730 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Yeah. 

00:06:18,730 --> 00:06:22,040 [Michelle Harris]
Because not only is the student gonna have questions, but the family's gonna- 

00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:22,040 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Yes 

00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:22,930 [Michelle Harris]
... have questions. 

00:06:22,930 --> 00:06:23,229 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Mm-hmm. 

00:06:23,230 --> 00:06:26,440 [Michelle Harris]
And so for the student to show interest and then the family to be able to kind of- 

00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:26,450 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Mm-hmm 

00:06:26,450 --> 00:06:29,510 [Michelle Harris]
... ask maybe those little details like transportation- 

00:06:29,510 --> 00:06:29,650 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Mm-hmm 

00:06:29,650 --> 00:06:33,940 [Michelle Harris]
... and books and things like that, and I think that's good that you're able to be there right in front of them. 

00:06:33,940 --> 00:06:34,030 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Yeah. 

00:06:34,030 --> 00:06:37,370 [Michelle Harris]
Um, I know I've seen it pop up in emails from the high schools- 

00:06:37,370 --> 00:06:37,380 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Mm-hmm 

00:06:37,380 --> 00:06:40,030 [Michelle Harris]
... and things like that too. So it's, that partnership is really great. 

00:06:40,030 --> 00:06:40,590 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Yeah. 

00:06:40,590 --> 00:06:45,430 [Michelle Harris]
Um, so definitely if you're in high school and you're looking for this, just look for the word CCP- 

00:06:45,430 --> 00:06:45,979 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Yeah. [laughs] 

00:06:45,979 --> 00:06:51,950 [Michelle Harris]
... and you'll, you'll be able to talk to Jessica. Um, so you talked a little bit about, um, college transfer- 

00:06:51,950 --> 00:06:52,030 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Mm-hmm 

00:06:52,030 --> 00:06:57,030 [Michelle Harris]
... and career technical education pathways. Explain those a little bit because we use terminology- 

00:06:57,030 --> 00:06:57,390 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Yeah 

00:06:57,390 --> 00:06:58,619 [Michelle Harris]
... like CTE all the time. 

00:06:58,619 --> 00:06:58,630 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Mm-hmm. 

00:06:58,630 --> 00:07:00,510 [Michelle Harris]
And your average person's like, "What is a CTE?" [laughs] 

00:07:00,510 --> 00:07:41,710 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Yeah. So college transfer is made for students that eventually wanna go to a university. We have an articulation agreement with all the public universities in North Carolina, that as long as students get a C or better in these courses, they will transfer. And we have some, uh, articulation agreements with some private schools as well. Um, so that is made for students that eventually wanna go to university. Um, the career and technical education pathways, they are certificates. So high school students can graduate with college certificates while in high school, and these certificates lead into our diplomas and associate degrees. And so the career and technical education pathways are made for students that want to get a certificate or a two-year degree and go straight to work. 

00:07:41,710 --> 00:07:41,990 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:07:41,990 --> 00:08:10,469 [Jessica Honeycutt]
So that's more of your hands-on type programs, um, machining, welding, automotive, collision, those sorts of things. We also have some that are online, like medical office administration, medical assisting, early childhood. [clears throat] So most of those classes don't transfer to a university, some do. And I, I usually help students try to figure out which ones do and don't. Um, but those are made for students that eventually wanna go straight to work afterwards. 

00:08:10,470 --> 00:08:14,010 [Michelle Harris]
Sure. And then I've also noticed that students can just take a class- 

00:08:14,010 --> 00:08:14,270 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Mm-hmm 

00:08:14,270 --> 00:08:14,870 [Michelle Harris]
... or two. 

00:08:14,870 --> 00:08:14,990 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Mm-hmm. 

00:08:14,990 --> 00:08:17,190 [Michelle Harris]
And I love that concept too. 

00:08:17,190 --> 00:08:19,380 [Jessica Honeycutt]
So students do have to be in specific pathways. 

00:08:19,380 --> 00:08:19,410 [Michelle Harris]
Sure. 

00:08:19,410 --> 00:08:21,330 [Jessica Honeycutt]
They can be in two pathways at once. 

00:08:21,330 --> 00:08:22,090 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:08:22,090 --> 00:08:40,000 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Um, there's certain rules about which pathways and things like that. But yeah, students can be in two pathways at once, and I have, I've had students say they thought they were interested in criminal justice, and they take a criminal justice class, and they decide that's not for them. They're thinking more business. So the next semester we change pathways. 

00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:40,010 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:08:40,010 --> 00:08:44,430 [Jessica Honeycutt]
It's just a form that we have to fill out. Um, and then they try something else. 

00:08:44,430 --> 00:08:44,870 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:08:44,870 --> 00:08:47,090 [Jessica Honeycutt]
And so it all just depends on the student. 

00:08:47,090 --> 00:08:50,030 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. And I think that's great because you can cater to what they're actually interested in. 

00:08:50,030 --> 00:08:50,490 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Mm-hmm. 

00:08:50,490 --> 00:08:53,990 [Michelle Harris]
'Cause we all know if you're not interested in it or you don't have a passion, you're not gonna give it- 

00:08:53,990 --> 00:08:54,160 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Yeah 

00:08:54,160 --> 00:08:55,930 [Michelle Harris]
... the opportunity to give it your all- 

00:08:55,930 --> 00:08:56,190 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Mm-hmm 

00:08:56,190 --> 00:08:57,410 [Michelle Harris]
... uh, before you're in, in- 

00:08:57,410 --> 00:08:57,420 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Mm-hmm 

00:08:57,420 --> 00:09:02,270 [Michelle Harris]
... a college setting, whether it's continuing on here at HCC or if you're at a four-year. 

00:09:02,270 --> 00:09:02,830 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Mm-hmm. 

00:09:02,830 --> 00:09:04,850 [Michelle Harris]
Um, so that's, that's really great. 

00:09:04,850 --> 00:09:07,670 [Jessica Honeycutt]
And then these classes count for high school credit. 

00:09:07,670 --> 00:09:07,990 [Michelle Harris]
Sure. 

00:09:07,990 --> 00:09:23,530 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Mm-hmm. So some classes count for certain high school graduation requirements, some count as electives, but as long as they're taken, um, during the day or, um, with Haywood County Schools during the day, then they would count as on their high school transcript. 

00:09:23,530 --> 00:09:25,190 [Michelle Harris]
Great. So they're not losing any traction with that. 

00:09:25,190 --> 00:09:25,310 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Mm-mm. 

00:09:25,310 --> 00:09:26,750 [Michelle Harris]
They're still, still on track for- 

00:09:26,750 --> 00:09:26,760 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Mm-hmm 

00:09:26,760 --> 00:09:28,410 [Michelle Harris]
... what they need to do for their completion. 

00:09:28,410 --> 00:09:29,490 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Yeah. 

00:09:29,490 --> 00:09:31,590 [Michelle Harris]
Um, so of course the million-dollar question. 

00:09:31,590 --> 00:09:32,230 [Jessica Honeycutt]
[laughs] 

00:09:32,230 --> 00:09:33,770 [Michelle Harris]
How much does this all cost? 

00:09:33,770 --> 00:09:40,000 [Jessica Honeycutt]
So the tuition is waived. Um, so students only have to purchase or rent textbooks and supplies. 

00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:40,030 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:09:40,030 --> 00:09:44,500 [Jessica Honeycutt]
So some classes, that's zero. Some it can be $150. 

00:09:44,500 --> 00:09:44,530 [Michelle Harris]
Right. 

00:09:44,530 --> 00:09:57,029 [Jessica Honeycutt]
It really just depends on the class they're taking and how many classes they're taking. Uh, but in the grand scheme of things, it's a lot cheaper than going to university and paying for tuition- 

00:09:57,070 --> 00:09:57,080 [Michelle Harris]
Right 

00:09:57,080 --> 00:09:58,350 [Jessica Honeycutt]
... room and board and everything. 

00:09:58,350 --> 00:09:58,970 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:09:58,970 --> 00:10:04,150 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Um, so yeah. But the tuition is waived. They just have to purchase or rent textbooks. 

00:10:04,150 --> 00:10:11,450 [Michelle Harris]
Great. Um, so what percentage of the classes would you say are online versus on campus? 

00:10:11,450 --> 00:10:24,330 [Jessica Honeycutt]
So I would probably say we're about 60% online, 40% on campus. Most of our, or a lot of our career and technical education courses are in person. 

00:10:24,330 --> 00:10:25,050 [Michelle Harris]
Sure. 

00:10:25,050 --> 00:10:32,450 [Jessica Honeycutt]
But a lot of the general education courses, you know, psychology, English, math, that sort of thing, they're... A lot of students take those online. 

00:10:32,450 --> 00:10:33,290 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:10:33,290 --> 00:10:35,550 [Jessica Honeycutt]
And another good thing about online is, um, 

00:10:36,610 --> 00:10:44,250 [Jessica Honeycutt]
that's another difference between the CCP and the Haywood Early College. CCP, they have to provide their own transportation from the high schools- 

00:10:44,250 --> 00:10:44,260 [Michelle Harris]
Sure 

00:10:44,260 --> 00:10:44,819 [Jessica Honeycutt]
... to here. 

00:10:44,819 --> 00:10:45,290 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:10:45,290 --> 00:10:59,310 [Jessica Honeycutt]
So if students d- can't drive yet or they don't have a car, then taking online is the best option for them 'cause they don't have to leave their high school. They go into a computer lab, um, to work on their schoolwork five days a week during a certain period. 

00:10:59,310 --> 00:11:00,470 [Michelle Harris]
And they can get it done, right? 

00:11:00,470 --> 00:11:01,390 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Mm-hmm. 

00:11:01,390 --> 00:11:11,140 [Michelle Harris]
So what's the best tip you can offer students that are looking to take a class, um, as far as, like, dedicating the time to study? 'Cause online is, is a different animal. 

00:11:11,140 --> 00:11:11,150 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Mm-hmm. 

00:11:11,150 --> 00:11:13,960 [Michelle Harris]
And you're now giving these high schoolers, like, "Okay, go do this." 

00:11:13,960 --> 00:11:13,970 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Yeah, yeah. 

00:11:13,970 --> 00:11:15,970 [Michelle Harris]
And they need to be, you know, really on it- 

00:11:15,970 --> 00:11:16,080 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Yeah, yeah 

00:11:16,080 --> 00:11:19,070 [Michelle Harris]
... to make sure they maintain everything. So what's some tips for that? 

00:11:19,070 --> 00:11:25,590 [Jessica Honeycutt]
So first thing, 'cause we have orientation every semester for our students, first thing we say is time management is key. 

00:11:25,590 --> 00:11:26,330 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:11:26,330 --> 00:11:44,000 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Um, because you have to be on top of when everything is due. We talk about the syllabus, the schedule of assignments. Um, we talk about how usually nine times out of 10, your college instructor, when there's a due date, they're not... It's gonna be due on that due date. 

00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:44,590 [Michelle Harris]
[laughs] Right. 

00:11:44,590 --> 00:11:55,150 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Um, unless, you know, something comes up and they communicate with their instructors. Um, so we talk big about time management, and we talk about, you know, you have to put the time and the effort in. 

00:11:55,150 --> 00:11:55,810 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:11:55,810 --> 00:12:15,170 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Um, we have the LSS, Learning Support Services, that can help with tutoring, um, help with any reading over any papers or anything like that. So we encourage them to use those services 'cause it's free to them as students. Um, so-So we talk about those are the two main, and communication- 

00:12:15,170 --> 00:12:15,570 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:12:15,570 --> 00:12:25,809 [Jessica Honeycutt]
... with their instructors. Because, um, you know, anything could happen. If something happens, and they get sick or anything, just communicate with your instructor. 

00:12:25,810 --> 00:12:26,310 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:12:26,310 --> 00:12:28,070 [Jessica Honeycutt]
They're people just like you. 

00:12:28,070 --> 00:12:28,450 [Michelle Harris]
Yes. [laughs] 

00:12:28,450 --> 00:12:33,170 [Jessica Honeycutt]
They will work with you the best that they can. So the ... I would say those are the top three- 

00:12:33,170 --> 00:12:33,780 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:12:33,780 --> 00:12:38,750 [Jessica Honeycutt]
... um, things that we really talk to students about and when they're transitioning to be a college-level student. 

00:12:38,750 --> 00:12:42,710 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. And I think transitioning is the, is the great word, because they still have their- 

00:12:42,710 --> 00:12:42,840 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Mm-hmm 

00:12:42,840 --> 00:12:44,420 [Michelle Harris]
... maybe regular high school class. 

00:12:44,420 --> 00:12:44,430 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Mm-hmm. 

00:12:44,430 --> 00:12:48,410 [Michelle Harris]
So they still get that in-person, very structured. Then they kind of have this testing- 

00:12:48,410 --> 00:12:48,420 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Mm-hmm 

00:12:48,420 --> 00:12:49,090 [Michelle Harris]
... so to speak- 

00:12:49,090 --> 00:12:49,120 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Yeah 

00:12:49,120 --> 00:12:59,630 [Michelle Harris]
... of a college class, and the realization of what it takes to really dive in and take a college-level course, whether it's on their own or in person, and the workload that could potentially be different- 

00:12:59,630 --> 00:12:59,650 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Wow 

00:12:59,650 --> 00:13:01,620 [Michelle Harris]
... for that. And so I think that's a good wake-up call. 

00:13:01,620 --> 00:13:01,650 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Mm-hmm. 

00:13:01,650 --> 00:13:02,410 [Michelle Harris]
Let's be honest- 

00:13:02,410 --> 00:13:02,420 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Mm-hmm 

00:13:02,420 --> 00:13:04,090 [Michelle Harris]
... of, okay, this is what college is gonna be like. 

00:13:04,090 --> 00:13:04,970 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Yes. [laughs] 

00:13:04,970 --> 00:13:12,770 [Michelle Harris]
Um, so I think that's really great. Um, is there anything else that you can think of that you want to be sure people know about CCP program? 

00:13:12,770 --> 00:13:28,390 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Yeah. I would like to say that, you know, some students take one class, some take 10. I tell students it's, it's all what you make of it. And so I've had students that started out taking college classes, and they figured out they were not ready, and so they wait another year. 

00:13:28,390 --> 00:13:28,410 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:13:28,410 --> 00:13:55,190 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Or I've had students start out in ninth grade, and they love it, and they decide they wanna get their associate's at the same time they graduate with their high school diploma. So it's all what the student wants and what they wanna put into it. Um, I would think that's the, that's the most awesome thing is, and I work with each individual student to make their own individual plan with their counselor, so each student, it can get what they want out of it. 

00:13:55,190 --> 00:13:57,710 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. And so it's not a one-size-fits-all, which is also great. 

00:13:57,710 --> 00:13:57,810 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Mm-hmm. 

00:13:57,810 --> 00:13:59,129 [Michelle Harris]
'Cause it's really customized. 

00:13:59,190 --> 00:13:59,580 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Mm-hmm. 

00:13:59,580 --> 00:14:02,170 [Michelle Harris]
So what they, what their needs are, what they can maybe handle- 

00:14:02,170 --> 00:14:02,590 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Mm-hmm 

00:14:02,590 --> 00:14:04,090 [Michelle Harris]
... um, or what they can't handle- 

00:14:04,090 --> 00:14:04,100 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Mm-hmm 

00:14:04,100 --> 00:14:05,450 [Michelle Harris]
... and what they really wanna do. 

00:14:05,450 --> 00:14:05,470 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Mm-hmm. 

00:14:05,470 --> 00:14:06,850 [Michelle Harris]
And I think, I think that's great. 

00:14:06,850 --> 00:14:07,210 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Mm-hmm. 

00:14:08,310 --> 00:14:12,150 [Michelle Harris]
Um, and of course, where can people find more information about this? 

00:14:12,150 --> 00:14:17,180 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Yeah. They can find it on the haywood.edu website under the high school programs. 

00:14:17,180 --> 00:14:17,190 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:14:17,190 --> 00:14:22,330 [Jessica Honeycutt]
And then also, um, the local high schools should have some information on their website. 

00:14:22,330 --> 00:14:22,390 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:14:22,390 --> 00:14:27,590 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Um, and like I said, our career coaches that are at Pisgah, Tuscola, and Central, they have information as well. 

00:14:27,590 --> 00:14:29,010 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. That's great. 

00:14:29,010 --> 00:14:29,419 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Yeah. 

00:14:29,419 --> 00:14:31,810 [Michelle Harris]
Well, thank you, Jessica. That was very informative. 

00:14:31,810 --> 00:14:32,070 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Thank you. 

00:14:32,070 --> 00:14:33,350 [Michelle Harris]
Um, sometimes it's way easier- 

00:14:33,350 --> 00:14:33,560 [Jessica Honeycutt]
[laughs] 

00:14:33,560 --> 00:14:35,630 [Michelle Harris]
... to hear things instead of read a website. 

00:14:35,630 --> 00:14:36,130 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Yeah. 

00:14:36,130 --> 00:14:44,060 [Michelle Harris]
Um, so I'm hoping that all of our listeners really found value in this. Um, but now we wanna take a minute to learn a little bit more about Jessica. 

00:14:44,060 --> 00:14:44,650 [Jessica Honeycutt]
[laughs] 

00:14:44,650 --> 00:14:53,070 [Michelle Harris]
And, um, as you, all of our listeners may know, we do something called Rapid Fire. And so these are just those gut check answers for you. 

00:14:53,070 --> 00:14:53,830 [Jessica Honeycutt]
[laughs] 

00:14:53,830 --> 00:14:55,670 [Michelle Harris]
Um, so we're just gonna start. 

00:14:55,670 --> 00:14:56,470 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Okay. 

00:14:56,470 --> 00:14:57,389 [Michelle Harris]
Dogs or cats? 

00:14:57,390 --> 00:14:57,990 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Dogs. 

00:14:57,990 --> 00:14:58,770 [Michelle Harris]
What's your favorite color? 

00:14:59,870 --> 00:15:00,910 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Blue. 

00:15:00,910 --> 00:15:03,830 [Michelle Harris]
What, where is your favorite spot on campus? 

00:15:03,830 --> 00:15:04,670 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Um, by the pond. 

00:15:05,830 --> 00:15:07,230 [Michelle Harris]
What's your favorite season? 

00:15:07,230 --> 00:15:08,090 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Fall. 

00:15:08,090 --> 00:15:10,010 [Michelle Harris]
Do you have any musical talents? 

00:15:10,010 --> 00:15:12,190 [Jessica Honeycutt]
None at all. [laughs] 

00:15:12,190 --> 00:15:13,650 [Michelle Harris]
[laughs] Spicy or sweet? 

00:15:13,650 --> 00:15:14,590 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Sweet. 

00:15:14,590 --> 00:15:16,290 [Michelle Harris]
Dawn or dusk? 

00:15:16,290 --> 00:15:17,450 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Dawn. 

00:15:17,450 --> 00:15:19,390 [Michelle Harris]
What's worse, laundry or dishes? 

00:15:19,390 --> 00:15:20,590 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Dishes. 

00:15:20,650 --> 00:15:22,750 [Michelle Harris]
Crossword puzzle or Sudoku? 

00:15:22,750 --> 00:15:23,730 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Crossword. 

00:15:23,730 --> 00:15:24,590 [Michelle Harris]
Beach or mountains? 

00:15:25,670 --> 00:15:26,270 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Both. 

00:15:26,270 --> 00:15:26,630 [Michelle Harris]
[laughs] 

00:15:26,630 --> 00:15:29,270 [Jessica Honeycutt]
I love them both. [laughs] 

00:15:29,270 --> 00:15:30,650 [Michelle Harris]
Book or movie? 

00:15:30,650 --> 00:15:31,650 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Movie. 

00:15:31,650 --> 00:15:33,450 [Michelle Harris]
Favorite ice cream flavor? 

00:15:33,450 --> 00:15:34,490 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Um, Moosetracks. 

00:15:34,490 --> 00:15:35,490 [Michelle Harris]
Ooh, that was very specific. 

00:15:35,490 --> 00:15:36,410 [Jessica Honeycutt]
[laughs] 

00:15:36,410 --> 00:15:38,450 [Michelle Harris]
Uh, plans or a surprise? 

00:15:38,450 --> 00:15:39,910 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Plans. 

00:15:39,910 --> 00:15:41,190 [Michelle Harris]
Morning or night person? 

00:15:41,190 --> 00:15:42,170 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Morning. 

00:15:42,170 --> 00:15:44,910 [Michelle Harris]
[laughs] Well, that aligns with the, uh, dawn question. 

00:15:44,910 --> 00:15:45,600 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Yeah. [laughs] 

00:15:45,600 --> 00:15:58,050 [Michelle Harris]
That's for sure. Um, thank you so much for your time today. Um, as Jessica mentioned, find out more on the website or at your local high school. And, um, if anyone has any CCP questions, now you have a, a face to the name. 

00:15:58,050 --> 00:15:59,650 [Jessica Honeycutt]
Yep. Thank you. 

00:15:59,650 --> 00:16:22,770 [Announcer]
[upbeat music] Thanks for listening to another episode of Bobcat Chat. Haywood Community College is located in Clyde, North Carolina. If you would like to learn more about our great school, head over to www.haywood.edu. That's H-A-Y-W-O-O-D.edu. 

00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:23,980 [Announcer]
[cat roaring]

00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:04,310 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
[upbeat music] 

00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:09,580 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
Hello and welcome to Bobcat Chat. 

00:00:12,600 --> 00:00:49,140 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
[upbeat music] Hello and welcome to Bobcat Chat. My name's Tim Scapin, I'm the instructional designer here at HCC. And this week we're talking about National Hunting and Fishing Day, which is recognized each September. We're excited to host an event on campus this year. So let's chat about what we're gonna have on campus and a little bit about the fish and wildlife program here at HCC. So we'll go around the, around the bend here and, uh, if you could all introduce yourselves, please. 

00:00:49,140 --> 00:00:54,920 [Shannon Rabby]
All right. Good morning. I'm Shannon Rabby, uh, instructor of Fish and Wildlife Management Technology. 

00:00:54,980 --> 00:01:01,280 [Taylor Beck]
Uh, good morning. My name's Taylor Beck, and I'm a sophomore, uh, in the, uh, Fish and Wildlife Management Technology program. 

00:01:02,400 --> 00:01:10,130 [Lucas Hall]
And I'm Lucas Hull. Um, I'm a student here at HCC, and I'm a sophomore, uh, in, in the Natural Resources program. 

00:01:10,130 --> 00:01:10,899 [Shannon Rabby]
All right. 

00:01:10,900 --> 00:01:18,300 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
Great. Well, thanks for coming out. Um, you know, I'm personally excited I'll be out at this event, and looking forward to it as a fan of all things nature. 

00:01:18,300 --> 00:01:18,560 [Shannon Rabby]
Yes. 

00:01:18,560 --> 00:01:32,280 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
Especially a fan of your all's program. So, uh, Lucas and Taylor, what ... You s- I guess you mentioned what year you're currently in. So, um, so what classes are you taking this semester? What's on, on the docket here? 

00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:37,620 [Lucas Hall]
Um, I'm taking den- dendrology, uh, wildlife botany, and, um, 

00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:42,390 [Lucas Hall]
a lot of other classes and it's been really exciting. 

00:01:42,390 --> 00:01:43,780 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
All right. Cool. 

00:01:43,780 --> 00:01:59,300 [Taylor Beck]
I'm also taking dendrology and botany, and I know me and Lucas both share ichthyology and, uh, GIS and that's most of our classes together. I think we got all four together, and I think he has an extra one as well with that one. But like he said, it's all been kind of fun and exciting so far, so I'm looking forward to it. 

00:01:59,300 --> 00:02:02,800 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
Yeah. I, I see y'all out and about campus and e- every time- 

00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:02,870 [Shannon Rabby]
Yeah 

00:02:02,870 --> 00:02:08,329 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
... I see you learning, you know, in, since we're an arboretum, I'm like, what better place to learn about trees? 

00:02:08,329 --> 00:02:08,360 [Shannon Rabby]
Yeah. 

00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:10,500 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
And like, where we got a whole bunch of them. 

00:02:10,500 --> 00:02:10,539 [Shannon Rabby]
[laughs] 

00:02:10,539 --> 00:02:11,440 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
So that's my- 

00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:11,880 [Shannon Rabby]
Absolutely. We have a- 

00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:13,800 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
[laughs] That's my outside ob- 

00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:15,609 [Shannon Rabby]
We have a great place to learn about trees. 

00:02:15,609 --> 00:02:15,609 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
Yeah. 

00:02:15,609 --> 00:02:15,640 [Shannon Rabby]
Very fortunate. 

00:02:15,640 --> 00:02:17,240 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
That's my outside observation- 

00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:17,520 [Shannon Rabby]
Yeah 

00:02:17,520 --> 00:02:21,260 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
... of, uh, what better place to learn about stuff like that. So, um, 

00:02:22,660 --> 00:02:27,500 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
you know, HCC offers many out of the classroom experiences like that. I've seen you, uh, 

00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:33,230 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
down by the ... On my way home, you were down by the river. So [laughs] you had your van. 

00:02:33,230 --> 00:02:33,980 [Shannon Rabby]
[laughs] 

00:02:33,980 --> 00:02:35,180 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
You were in a van. [laughs] 

00:02:35,180 --> 00:02:35,760 [Taylor Beck]
Had a van down by the river. 

00:02:35,760 --> 00:02:36,800 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
You were driving the van. 

00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:37,100 [Shannon Rabby]
That's my- 

00:02:37,100 --> 00:02:38,140 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
You were outside of the van. 

00:02:38,140 --> 00:02:39,500 [Shannon Rabby]
That's my, uh, side job. 

00:02:39,500 --> 00:02:39,820 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
Um- 

00:02:39,820 --> 00:02:40,240 [Shannon Rabby]
So yeah. 

00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:41,160 [Lucas Hall]
[laughs] 

00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:42,280 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
But, uh- 

00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:43,040 [Shannon Rabby]
UCLA. 

00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:44,109 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
Yes. [laughs] 

00:02:44,109 --> 00:02:44,920 [Shannon Rabby]
[laughs] 

00:02:44,920 --> 00:02:53,019 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
Um, do y'all have, like, one class that really, uh, stuck out the most or did something really cool that got you super excited? 

00:02:53,020 --> 00:03:13,359 [Lucas Hall]
Well, for me it was mammalogy, because I was a transfer student and it was pretty overwhelming. And, [clears throat] you know, all my professors were saying, "Just show up," you know? It was just, it was a lot and, and I got through it. I really did. And it, and I really learned a lot about schools and about, uh, the taxonomy of, of, um, animals and all that. 

00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:35,910 [Taylor Beck]
I'd probably have to either say mammalogy as well, because we did a lot of camera trapping, and I've always been one for cameras and hunting, so I always liked figuring out how to get certain animals on the, uh, cameras. Or b- maybe dendrology as well, because I mean, we're outside all the time and we're just hiking, looking at trees, learning about stuff. I've always been, I don't care what I'm doing outside as long as it is outside. So really- 

00:03:35,910 --> 00:03:36,049 [Shannon Rabby]
Yeah 

00:03:36,049 --> 00:03:39,560 [Taylor Beck]
... dendrology is kind of one of my favorite classes so far, so. 

00:03:39,560 --> 00:03:45,040 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
No, that's, that's, that's pretty cool. I mean, I wish I knew personally more about trees. I think I, I learned more from that- 

00:03:45,040 --> 00:03:45,060 [Shannon Rabby]
Yeah 

00:03:45,060 --> 00:03:47,490 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
... Shannon, than anybody else. [laughs] 

00:03:47,490 --> 00:03:47,500 [Shannon Rabby]
No. 

00:03:47,500 --> 00:03:48,000 [Taylor Beck]
Anytime. 

00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:48,850 [Shannon Rabby]
He's one of the best. I think- 

00:03:48,850 --> 00:03:52,070 [Taylor Beck]
Anytime. Sometimes I just go to Walmart and stand around in the parking lot asking- 

00:03:52,070 --> 00:03:52,510 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
[laughs] 

00:03:52,510 --> 00:03:54,840 [Taylor Beck]
... wearing a sign that says, "Ask me about trees." 

00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:55,239 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
Yes. 

00:03:55,239 --> 00:03:55,540 [Shannon Rabby]
[laughs] 

00:03:55,540 --> 00:03:56,220 [Taylor Beck]
Yeah. 

00:03:56,220 --> 00:04:03,510 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
I'm sure y'all will be volunteering for this event. So Shannon, how many volunteers do you need to run eve- an event like this? 

00:04:03,510 --> 00:04:29,620 [Shannon Rabby]
Well, this is the first time that we have hosted this on our campus, but, uh, yeah, a minimum of, of, uh, 30, 40, and then we include the, uh, youth fishing, uh, clin- or, um, tournament that's going on. Uh, it's gonna be probably more like 70, uh, people that are actively working this event. And then we, we throw in all our exhibitors and others that are coming, so yeah. All so people can come out and have a good time. 

00:04:29,620 --> 00:04:33,560 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
E- especially like, see, like the fishing event that y'all hosted last year. 

00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:34,080 [Shannon Rabby]
Mm-hmm. 

00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:45,640 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
Um, having the students out there participating, that's always great to see. Like my- I brought my son to, and he was all super excited and some of your students helped him figure out his gear. 

00:04:45,640 --> 00:04:45,780 [Shannon Rabby]
Yeah. 

00:04:45,780 --> 00:04:57,480 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
And, um, just the interaction and seeing that, you know, especially you get excited and I can see that kind of sheds onto your students getting excited about stuff, so that's always good to see. 

00:04:57,480 --> 00:05:13,050 [Shannon Rabby]
Any opportunity to talk to children about conservation, about being out in the woods, about, you know, just getting them outside is very important. It's the biggest bang for your buck in conservation, is to reach young people and give them opportunities to- 

00:05:13,050 --> 00:05:13,050 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
Yeah 

00:05:13,050 --> 00:05:15,479 [Shannon Rabby]
... to hunt, fish, hike, just be outside. 

00:05:15,480 --> 00:05:15,800 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
Teaching. 

00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:28,740 [Shannon Rabby]
Um, you can make a difference and, uh, there, it's a lot easier than adults. Adults are a little more set in their ways. It's like, "I don't go, I don't like to camp." Well, kids don't know if they like to camp. Give them a chance to do things like that. 

00:05:28,740 --> 00:05:28,840 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
Yeah. 

00:05:28,840 --> 00:05:31,140 [Shannon Rabby]
So yeah, I get excited about these things. 

00:05:31,140 --> 00:05:32,440 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
No, I mean, especially being, 

00:05:33,580 --> 00:05:35,960 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
I, I sometimes take for granted where we live- 

00:05:35,960 --> 00:05:36,180 [Shannon Rabby]
Mm-hmm 

00:05:36,180 --> 00:05:38,400 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
... in the mountains, you know, and just- 

00:05:38,400 --> 00:05:38,620 [Shannon Rabby]
Yeah 

00:05:38,620 --> 00:05:44,700 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
... there's, there's an endless array of stuff to do and just remem- being mindful to get out there and actually take advantage of it. 

00:05:44,700 --> 00:05:45,300 [Shannon Rabby]
Yeah. 

00:05:45,300 --> 00:05:54,440 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
Um, so I see you're hosting this event in partnership with the North Carolina Wildlife Commission and the Warrior Clan Fishing Tournament. 

00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:54,460 [Shannon Rabby]
Yeah. 

00:05:54,460 --> 00:05:58,620 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
They'll be going on at the same time. Can you talk about those partnerships a little bit? 

00:05:58,620 --> 00:06:15,312 [Shannon Rabby]
Uh, certainly. Uh, so about a year ago, actually a year ago, uh, September 28th, uh, the Warrior Clan came onto our campus, and they're a veterans group, and they did a, a youth, uh, fishing tournamentAnd, uh, we helped with it and, uh, were you guys there? I can't remember if both of you were there. 

00:06:15,312 --> 00:06:16,222 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
No, I wasn't there. 

00:06:16,222 --> 00:07:20,612 [Shannon Rabby]
And, um, well, you hadn't started yet. That's right. Um, but we helped with it. It was fantastic. And at the same time, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, our, uh, state wildlife management agency, uh, some of those folks were at this fishing tournament, and we got to talking and one thing led to another and, uh, that's kinda how we created this event, was, "Hey, we need-- Let's do a national hunting and fishing day and build around this awesome Warrior Clan fishing tournament." So the Warrior Clan does amazing work with, with veterans. They're... And, uh, they are just great partners for this, and then the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission are, are amazing partners as well. They have a whole education, uh, division, so they focus on educating the public about conservation, and I'm, I'm fortunate to be partnering, partnering with some of their education folks. Uh, we've been working for better part of a year planning this thing and getting it ready. So we're excited. We have great partners, uh, the college, uh, the Wildlife Resources Commission, and the Warrior Clan. 

00:07:21,952 --> 00:07:27,252 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
And I just see that there's 20 vendors and educational displays, so that's pretty, 

00:07:28,752 --> 00:07:29,912 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
you know, big number- 

00:07:29,912 --> 00:07:29,922 [Shannon Rabby]
Yeah 

00:07:29,922 --> 00:07:42,632 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
... for that. So can you talk a, a little bit about, uh, about those folks that are gonna come out and joining on top of the commission and the Warrior Clan and, uh, what, like, information they'll be sharing with the community? 

00:07:42,632 --> 00:08:23,332 [Shannon Rabby]
Well, we've got a lot going on. Um, so what we're trying to do is try to reach out to groups that, that are conservation-oriented, hunting and fishing organizations and so forth and, and invite them to this. And, um, so we have, uh, groups like the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the local chapter will be here. Um, some of your, um, wildlife, um, professionals, some of their agencies will be here, like the, uh, USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services, uh, they're coming with their trailer and, um, the US Forest Service I believe is coming. We've got a whole list of people. But what's in it for you? If, if you, you're listening to this, uh, what I want-- my, my mantra here is it's free, 

00:08:24,532 --> 00:09:13,532 [Shannon Rabby]
it's family-oriented, and it's gonna be fun. There's gonna be a lot going on. We have falconry in the auditorium. She's bringing two falcons, and she's gonna do a whole, uh, presentation about, uh, falconry. Um, we have timber sports demonstrations. Our students are, are-- that, uh, compete in timber sports are gonna be down at the JM West Center, and they'll show us-- they'll do continuous demonstrations down there. Um, Balsam Mountain Trust is coming from their nature center, and they are bringing animals with them. We have dog, uh, trials outfits that are coming that have hunting dogs. The Plott Hound people will be here. Um, boy, I, I-- There's so much. You have to kinda look on the website to see everything that's going on. We have archery, um, even for kids. We have the little, uh, rubber-tipped, um- 

00:09:13,532 --> 00:09:13,942 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
Oh, boy. [laughs] 

00:09:13,942 --> 00:09:38,032 [Shannon Rabby]
Kids, you know, we'll let them shoot, and the Wildlife Commission will be supervising that. Uh, and then for adults we have archery. You can come down and if you've never shot a bow, uh, you'll have an officer there that can help you and, uh, w- we're happy to show you how to do that. Uh, it's-- there's just a lot going on, uh, exhibitor-wise and activity-wise. Fish printing for kids, just amazing stuff. 

00:09:38,032 --> 00:09:40,912 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
It was the five Fs. It was free, family fun- 

00:09:40,912 --> 00:09:41,652 [Shannon Rabby]
[laughs] 

00:09:41,652 --> 00:09:46,732 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
Free, yeah, family fun, fr- fam- family friendly fun, and falconry. 

00:09:46,732 --> 00:09:47,041 [Shannon Rabby]
Yeah, we can put- 

00:09:47,041 --> 00:09:47,872 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
We had another F in there too 

00:09:47,872 --> 00:09:49,072 [Shannon Rabby]
... we can put fish in there. 

00:09:49,072 --> 00:09:49,452 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
And fish. 

00:09:49,452 --> 00:09:50,972 [Shannon Rabby]
Fish printing and fishing. 

00:09:50,972 --> 00:09:51,672 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
Yeah. So it's- 

00:09:51,672 --> 00:09:52,472 [Shannon Rabby]
Um, yeah 

00:09:52,472 --> 00:09:53,932 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
... it's really F heavy. [laughs] 

00:09:53,932 --> 00:10:03,752 [Shannon Rabby]
We want this to be an annual event that's, that is celebrated on this campus for years to come, and we want this to be something that is affordable for families. That's hence the free. 

00:10:03,752 --> 00:10:04,412 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
Yes. 

00:10:04,412 --> 00:10:12,472 [Shannon Rabby]
And we'll have food trucks. Uh, so yeah, you can get food while you're here and, uh, uh, we have fundraisers. We have ways to take your money- 

00:10:12,472 --> 00:10:12,972 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
That's another F 

00:10:12,972 --> 00:10:14,752 [Shannon Rabby]
... for the wildlife club. Uh, yes. 

00:10:14,752 --> 00:10:14,772 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
[laughs] 

00:10:14,772 --> 00:10:19,652 [Shannon Rabby]
But, uh, it doesn't cost you a dime to come and do this and, and we want you to come. 

00:10:19,652 --> 00:10:24,692 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
So, uh, Taylor and Lucas, do you guys have anything that you're excited about seeing during the event? 

00:10:24,692 --> 00:10:34,212 [Lucas Hall]
Um, I'm really interested in seeing falconry. Um, it's always interested me, and I'd like to learn more about it while I'm here. So everybody just come on out and have a great time. 

00:10:34,212 --> 00:10:53,432 [Taylor Beck]
I agree. Falconry's gonna be fun. I think it's gonna be fun just learning about all these different ways, I mean, how different organizations, you know, use conservation and what they do to kinda conserve and protect our environment and all of our forest and our wildlife and all that stuff. So I'm more interested about learning about everything, I feel like, and talking to new people. So yeah. 

00:10:53,432 --> 00:11:07,252 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
I think the cool thing too is we, you know, as an institution, especially your, your program, have such a good relationship with these outside folks. Like I know the Balsam, uh, Trust, they, they've come out to multiple events with their critters. 

00:11:07,252 --> 00:11:07,732 [Lucas Hall]
Mm-hmm. 

00:11:07,732 --> 00:11:10,712 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
I personally enjoyed her talk about, you know- 

00:11:10,712 --> 00:11:10,722 [Lucas Hall]
Sure 

00:11:10,722 --> 00:11:11,612 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
... I mean, it's- 

00:11:11,612 --> 00:11:12,012 [Lucas Hall]
Yeah. 

00:11:12,012 --> 00:11:15,112 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
I'm captivated by the breaking these little guys out and talking about, 

00:11:16,232 --> 00:11:24,752 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
talking about them. So for me, I mean, I always enjoy that, but I think it's really cool that we have these relationships we build and it's not just one and done. 

00:11:24,752 --> 00:11:25,072 [Shannon Rabby]
Yeah. 

00:11:25,072 --> 00:11:26,942 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
It's sustained over years. 

00:11:26,942 --> 00:11:26,942 [Shannon Rabby]
Yeah. 

00:11:26,942 --> 00:11:30,472 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
And, um, that's just, it's pretty cool to see from the outside. 

00:11:30,472 --> 00:11:38,512 [Shannon Rabby]
And as a, as a faculty member, I, you know, I have, I have sneaky motivation there, which is that, uh, I want my students in contact with professionals. 

00:11:38,512 --> 00:11:39,192 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
Oh, yeah. 

00:11:39,192 --> 00:11:57,312 [Shannon Rabby]
I want them to, to meet professionals and, uh, that can help with jobs. And I want those organizations to be, you know, to know about our program and to be involved in some of the things that we do. Again, my motivation there is I want my students to get jobs and, uh, so it helps. Uh, the partnership with the Wildlife Resources Commission, um, 

00:11:58,412 --> 00:12:11,412 [Shannon Rabby]
just is fantastic and the students are gonna get to work with those folks and, um, get to know them. And so this, it's win, win, win, win all the way this event and, um, we're very excited about it. And yeah. 

00:12:11,412 --> 00:12:16,348 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
Yeah. I mean, the, um-Having your, giving your students an opportunity to get like... 

00:12:17,448 --> 00:12:20,328 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
I see this as a community service. You're out there connecting with community- 

00:12:20,328 --> 00:12:20,588 [Shannon Rabby]
Yeah 

00:12:20,588 --> 00:12:24,738 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
... teaching, sharing the knowledge you've imparted on them in the classroom. 

00:12:24,738 --> 00:12:24,747 [Shannon Rabby]
Yeah. 

00:12:24,748 --> 00:12:34,388 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
And then also building those networks, and you never know, you may talk to someone that be, that knows someone that knows someone that found out about this job opening, and maybe you can pursue it, so. 

00:12:34,388 --> 00:12:36,228 [Shannon Rabby]
And we're, we're a community college- 

00:12:36,228 --> 00:12:36,368 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
Yeah 

00:12:36,368 --> 00:12:57,488 [Shannon Rabby]
... and, and I think, um, can't speak for the whole college, but I, I think most of us would agree that, you know, we're here to serve the community, so the, the more things we can do that bring the community onto campus or where we go out and, and work with the community, the better. I'm all about it. We're all about it. Uh, our natural resources programs are about it, and, and other programs across campus, so. 

00:12:57,488 --> 00:13:00,768 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
So how does conservation tie into this whole event? 

00:13:01,868 --> 00:13:07,668 [Shannon Rabby]
Look, y- you're a conservationist if you care about wise use of our natural resources. So you, 

00:13:08,728 --> 00:13:55,878 [Shannon Rabby]
um... To try to answer your question is, what we're trying to do is bring together people that use our natural resources, that hunt, that fish, that hike, that horseback ride, that, that use those and give, give this a, a place to kind of celebrate the heritage that we have in our mountains of conservation of natural resources, of hunting, of fishing. Um, so this is just a great platform. Hopefully in the future, if you're out there and you're listening to this, you're like, "Oh, I have a hunting group, my bear hunting group, uh, we could come to that," yeah, you can. And we're not gonna charge you. We want you to be here and set up. This is a way to bring people under one tent that, that value conservation and, and many, many, many, uh, people out there do, and certainly I know my students do. That's why they're here. 

00:13:55,878 --> 00:13:55,968 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
Yeah. 

00:13:55,968 --> 00:14:02,798 [Shannon Rabby]
I know Tim does 'cause Tim comes out and does things with us all the time, and I can tell he wants to do it. He's not- 

00:14:02,798 --> 00:14:02,798 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
No 

00:14:02,798 --> 00:14:03,968 [Shannon Rabby]
... being made to do it. 

00:14:03,968 --> 00:14:18,088 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
No, I mean, it's... There's so many programs on this campus, [laughs] that it's like if I c- had the time to go back and try stuff, I mean, your- yours is definitely one of them. Um, just 'cause it's, it's, it's in the dirt, you know? 

00:14:18,088 --> 00:14:18,308 [Shannon Rabby]
Mm-hmm. 

00:14:18,308 --> 00:14:22,008 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
I mean, we live in this environment. [laughs] 

00:14:22,008 --> 00:14:22,157 [Shannon Rabby]
It's about it. 

00:14:22,157 --> 00:14:24,738 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
It's not just like high-end theory that I'm never gonna practice. 

00:14:24,738 --> 00:14:24,768 [Shannon Rabby]
Yeah. 

00:14:24,768 --> 00:14:25,988 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
I mean, it's here. 

00:14:25,988 --> 00:14:26,188 [Shannon Rabby]
Yeah. 

00:14:26,188 --> 00:14:27,328 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
You know, conservation- 

00:14:27,328 --> 00:14:27,338 [Shannon Rabby]
Yeah 

00:14:27,338 --> 00:14:38,247 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
... and awareness of our surroundings and, um, you know, sustaining our way of life in this, uh, especially in the mountains, it's so important. It's like practical stuff you're learning, so. 

00:14:38,248 --> 00:14:39,328 [Shannon Rabby]
Yeah. Absolutely. 

00:14:39,328 --> 00:14:49,978 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
But, yeah, I'm definitely a, definitely a fan. So this event is going to be on campus Saturday, September 28th, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and it's free to attend. 

00:14:49,978 --> 00:14:50,868 [Shannon Rabby]
Did we mention free? 

00:14:50,868 --> 00:14:51,198 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
Free. 

00:14:51,198 --> 00:14:51,548 [Shannon Rabby]
Free. 

00:14:51,548 --> 00:14:53,348 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
Family f-friendly fun. 

00:14:53,348 --> 00:14:53,988 [Shannon Rabby]
[laughs] 

00:14:53,988 --> 00:14:56,128 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
Free food... No, not the food. 

00:14:56,128 --> 00:14:56,158 [Shannon Rabby]
[laughs] 

00:14:56,158 --> 00:14:56,928 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
There'll be food. 

00:14:56,928 --> 00:14:57,418 [Shannon Rabby]
There will be food. 

00:14:57,418 --> 00:14:58,638 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
Food for purchase. 

00:14:58,638 --> 00:14:58,638 [Shannon Rabby]
Yeah. 

00:14:58,638 --> 00:15:22,908 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
And then some falcons too we've thrown in there. Um, and uh, yeah, the food trucks will be on campus for you to purchase some tasty snacks. So, uh, also for additional information, if you go to haywood.edu/huntfish for more information. So thank you, gentlemen, for your time today, and, uh, I personally look forward to this, this event. 

00:15:22,908 --> 00:15:23,228 [Shannon Rabby]
Well, thank- 

00:15:26,468 --> 00:15:53,168 [Dr. Tim Scapin]
Bobcat Chat is a production of Haywood Community College. HCC is located in Clyde, North Carolina. If you'd like to learn more about our great college, visit us online at www.haywood.edu. That's H-A-Y-W-O-O-D.edu. [outro music]

00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:04,310 [Tim Scapin]
[upbeat music] 

00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:09,580 [Tim Scapin]
Hello and welcome to Bobcat Chat. 

00:00:12,310 --> 00:00:56,060 [Michelle Harris]
[upbeat music] Hi, everybody. Welcome to this week's edition of Bobcat Chat. My name is Michelle Harris, and I'm the Director of Marketing and Engagement here at Haywood Community College. And this week's episode is all about community college month. And myself and Tim Scapin are here to just chat about community college. We are a little bit more behind the scenes people when it comes to the chat itself, so we thought we'd take this opportunity and just share a little bit about our community college experience, how it ties into sort of where we got, and review a few statistics we have ready to go. So first of all, welcome Tim. 

00:00:56,060 --> 00:01:01,920 [Tim Scapin]
Well, thank you for having me, uh, back on the air after a long, long break. 

00:01:01,920 --> 00:01:03,280 [Michelle Harris]
Long hiatus- 

00:01:03,280 --> 00:01:03,310 [Tim Scapin]
Long 

00:01:03,310 --> 00:01:16,100 [Michelle Harris]
... as they say. Um, so I wanted to just start out with us just talking about our experiences, um, starting off our educational journeys at a community college. So why don't you kick us off? 

00:01:16,100 --> 00:01:20,570 [Tim Scapin]
Yeah. So my journey with the community colleges i- started when I graduated high school, 

00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:43,100 [Tim Scapin]
and I wanted to get into, uh, forensic science or crime scene technology. So a, a community college where I resided in Florida was one of the first in the U.S. to have a crime scene technology program. So I went through that, graduated with a certificate, and, uh, eventually worked in forensics and then worked in evidence for- 

00:01:43,100 --> 00:01:43,980 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:01:43,980 --> 00:01:44,840 [Tim Scapin]
... a long while. 

00:01:45,880 --> 00:02:01,650 [Tim Scapin]
And it wasn't until I met my wife, who works in elementary education as a special ed teacher, that we'd started talking like, "Oh, why don't you try to, you know, go back to school?" I was interested in not being stagnant in the field I was working in any longer- 

00:02:01,650 --> 00:02:01,670 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:02:01,670 --> 00:02:11,020 [Tim Scapin]
... and wanted to pursue other opportunities, and that kind of required to me to, uh, pursue some additional higher ed. So we're still in Florida, 

00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:22,840 [Tim Scapin]
went to a community college and just started taking a couple classes at a time, and, uh, I was glad I picked that place. It was not just 'cause it was local. There's a few options in Florida- 

00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:22,989 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:02:22,989 --> 00:02:41,530 [Tim Scapin]
... 'cause it's highly populated. So this was Pasco-Hernando Community College, which is like north of Clearwater. And when I went in there, I had a really outstanding advisor that really just took their time to lay a track out for me to meet my objective- 

00:02:41,530 --> 00:02:41,530 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:02:41,530 --> 00:02:47,220 [Tim Scapin]
... which was get some, the general ed courses under my belt, some elective stuff, 

00:02:48,540 --> 00:03:06,880 [Tim Scapin]
and I was... Just got me in the right track. So I think if it wasn't for them and their time, and their patience, and their kind of understanding, sitting down just one-on-one, um, helping me get on track, then I wouldn't have eventually led to, uh, get my, um, bachelor's degree- 

00:03:06,880 --> 00:03:07,760 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:03:07,760 --> 00:03:12,020 [Tim Scapin]
... uh, through kind of a associated program they had on campus. 

00:03:12,020 --> 00:03:17,560 [Michelle Harris]
So you started with your certificate and went back, and then did you get another certificate, or did you do a two-year degree? 

00:03:17,560 --> 00:03:27,120 [Tim Scapin]
Yeah, I, I didn't actually get the two year. Um, they had a, uh, they kind of had partnerships for universities to utilize space on campus, like distance learning. 

00:03:27,120 --> 00:03:27,740 [Michelle Harris]
Oh, sure. 

00:03:27,740 --> 00:03:29,320 [Tim Scapin]
But they were in-person courses. 

00:03:29,320 --> 00:03:29,800 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:40,150 [Tim Scapin]
So the, the, uh, university was Barry University. It's actually out of Miami Shores, Florida. But around the state, they had these satellites set up- 

00:03:40,150 --> 00:03:40,210 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:03:40,210 --> 00:03:43,600 [Tim Scapin]
... where they'd have faculty come in and actually teach one-on-one. 

00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:44,440 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:03:44,500 --> 00:03:47,160 [Tim Scapin]
Or not one-on-one, excuse me. Um, in-person courses. 

00:03:47,160 --> 00:03:47,860 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. 

00:03:47,860 --> 00:04:01,310 [Tim Scapin]
So, um, I didn't actually earn my associate's, but I got enough courses to set me up where I could kind of seamlessly enter that four-year program- 

00:04:01,310 --> 00:04:01,310 [Michelle Harris]
Right 

00:04:01,310 --> 00:04:04,640 [Tim Scapin]
... and complete my bachelor's degree with an easy transition. 

00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:14,380 [Michelle Harris]
Right. Yeah. That's great. Um, and going on to the four year, whether it's, you know, a transfer like that or just taking a break, seeing what you wanna do with your life [chuckles] which- 

00:04:14,460 --> 00:04:14,480 [Tim Scapin]
Yeah 

00:04:14,480 --> 00:05:38,170 [Michelle Harris]
... is such a big thing, and then moving on. Um, so for me, same thing. Right out of high school, I was like, "I gotta go to college," you know. Um, not really sure I had the guidance that, um, that some students get from their family. No offense to, you know, my parents or anything. But I was sort of like, "What am I gonna do?" And so I, I kind of figured it out on my own and, uh, went to... I was in Arizona at the time, so went to Pima Community College, and kind of same thing. Took some gen ed, wasn't sure what I wanted to do. Um, but I remember specifically taking a law class, and I hated it. That it was some law that I had to have or whatever, intro something law. But the instructor was this like powerhouse, tiny woman who was a lawyer, and she really struck me because she was talking about... You know, in that time, it was, you know, late '90s, so still kind of that, you know, glass ceiling sort of a persona in the, in the law industry, I felt like, for her anyway. And she was just talking about, you know, being the best you could do- be. You know, dress for the part, know your stuff. Um, and so as an instructor, she really struck me as, as interesting. Um, and then took a marketing class, and I'll never forget this. We were in the marketing class, and we had to work on like an awareness campaign for a puzzle company, so a company that made puzzles, and they actually were in Tucson. And I had no idea that this business was even in, in that city. But Tucson's pretty big, so- 

00:05:38,170 --> 00:05:38,170 [Tim Scapin]
Mm 

00:05:38,170 --> 00:05:42,690 [Michelle Harris]
... wouldn't surprise me now. Um, but you had to kind of start from scratch and make a plan. 

00:05:42,690 --> 00:05:42,700 [Tim Scapin]
Yeah. 

00:05:42,700 --> 00:07:52,260 [Michelle Harris]
And that's when I just thought, "This is really cool," because you have the business side of things, and then you have the marketing side of things, and you get into the four Ps of market- You know, you start going down that, that trail, and that's when I really was like, "This is kind of cool." And that's what got me spring boarded into going to get my, my bachelor's in marketing. Um, but really just that community and, and I feel like I wasn't a traditional student in the sense that it was a community college, it didn't have dorms, um-And I was still working, so going to school at night or, you know, at the time talk to my boss and say, "Hey, every Thursday at 2:00 can I leave?" sort of a situation. So I will say I did not have the, um, the community feel with my, my fellow students. Um, but when I went into my bachelor's degree, it was a completely different program where it was immersed, it was a fast track. You take one class every six weeks, and you're with a group, and you just hit it hard. And so that really got me into working with others, uh, working on projects together, things like that. Um, but I think without starting at the community college, seeing a leader, a female leader in, in an industry that I had no [chuckles] no interest in going into, but, um, just really kind of struck me. And, um, it's a big school, and I think just having that self-motivation really, really got me there too. Um, but I definitely took a little bit of a break between the community college and, um, getting my bachelor's because I just wasn't, wasn't quite sure how everything flowed and really kind of wanted to get my feet under me before I, before I went into getting my four-year. Um, but I think without that, I would've been even more lost at a four-year with... You know, 'cause it just helps you, you know, learn how to study on your own, learn how to do... You know, if you need help, you gotta ask for it on your own. You don't have a, a counselor as readily available, at least at this college that I was at, as you did, like, in high school. Or maybe your, your family isn't around as much to give you that support. And so I think that was a real learning opportunity for me. Um, but I also love school. I don't know. I'm just one of those weird people that just, that just loves school. Um, but that's kind of what got me springboarding into it. 

00:07:52,260 --> 00:08:00,400 [Tim Scapin]
Yeah. Yeah, and one thing I didn't mention it, and I've-- from the research I've done is, is, you know, com- community colleges offer a place for you to explore possible, 

00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:02,979 [Tim Scapin]
um, career paths- 

00:08:02,980 --> 00:08:03,180 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah 

00:08:03,180 --> 00:08:10,560 [Tim Scapin]
... that, you know, o-otherwise you may not be able to explore. So at one point, I got this thought, "Oh, I wanna get into, into nursing." 

00:08:12,020 --> 00:08:22,680 [Tim Scapin]
So I start... I took some, a couple nursing courses, like just the, like anatomy and physiology, and I know something else. Um, and it was like, "Oh, maybe this isn't for me." 

00:08:24,160 --> 00:08:28,760 [Tim Scapin]
[laughs] So there was a semester in there somewhere that I was like, "Oh, this, uh, 

00:08:29,820 --> 00:08:42,840 [Tim Scapin]
may- yeah, this, uh... Let's try nursing. Oh, no. Never mind." So, um, yeah, it did provide a place that I could explore without, uh, you know, in, in, uh, having a lot of damage- [chuckles] 

00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:43,380 [Michelle Harris]
Yes 

00:08:43,380 --> 00:08:51,680 [Tim Scapin]
... to, to my, to my whole path, my trajectory of education, uh, be imposed upon myself, so, um- 

00:08:51,860 --> 00:09:00,360 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. It's funny you say that 'cause I did the same thing, but I did it at a four-year instead of a, instead of a, a two-year, which was fine. Um, I thought I wanted to be an interior decorator. 

00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:01,010 [Tim Scapin]
Oh, there you go. 

00:09:01,010 --> 00:09:07,860 [Michelle Harris]
And I was like, "Okay." And so I started to take early classes, and they were all about colors, which is actually really helpful in marketing. Um, but- 

00:09:07,860 --> 00:09:08,640 [Tim Scapin]
Oh, yes. You're big on colors 

00:09:08,640 --> 00:09:09,730 [Michelle Harris]
... I'm big on colors- 

00:09:09,730 --> 00:09:09,730 [Tim Scapin]
Yes 

00:09:09,730 --> 00:09:30,420 [Michelle Harris]
... and the color wheel and, you know, all these things, and it was really cool classes. Um, but at the time I worked for a very small company that sold like, um, mini blinds, and one of the people on the staff was an interior decorator. And he would come back from his client visits, and he'd be like, "Oh my gosh, so and so doesn't like the fabric, and I just spent..." And, like, I just saw more drama than happiness- 

00:09:30,420 --> 00:09:30,740 [Tim Scapin]
Mm-hmm 

00:09:30,740 --> 00:09:51,340 [Michelle Harris]
... in that field, or at least with him specifically. And I was like, "You know what? I think I'm good. I think I'll stick to something more on the business side." Um, but I think it's interesting. I have a feeling more people than not have this, you know, one or two class, uh, segue [chuckles] off of their path, and then they're like, "Yep, just kidding. I'm gonna go, I'm gonna go back." But if you don't explore it, you don't know. 

00:09:51,340 --> 00:09:51,620 [Tim Scapin]
Yeah. 

00:09:51,620 --> 00:09:52,940 [Michelle Harris]
And I think that's what's key. 

00:09:52,940 --> 00:10:16,660 [Tim Scapin]
Exactly. And I... You know, it's... I did something for a long time, a career, and then I, you know, pivoted. And, um, like my, my bachelor's was in public administration 'cause I was still in the public safety line of work, so that made sense. Um, and I know, you know, our, our motto here was, you know, we used in the past was, "Education changes everything." 

00:10:16,660 --> 00:10:17,140 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:10:17,140 --> 00:10:21,100 [Tim Scapin]
Well, you know, it, not-- it's more than just like a bumper sticker. It really does. 

00:10:21,100 --> 00:10:21,540 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:10:21,540 --> 00:10:26,020 [Tim Scapin]
Because it allows you the chance, like I did myself, to retool- 

00:10:26,020 --> 00:10:26,720 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:10:26,720 --> 00:10:34,500 [Tim Scapin]
... and change the, you know, my whole path of education, but also the kind of tra- trajectory of my life. So, 

00:10:35,520 --> 00:11:04,510 [Tim Scapin]
um, what I mean by that is when I, uh, w-how, what was it? Like, I think it was like 2019, I wanted to, like, okay, this public safety thing, that's enough. I wanna live, like, past my 60s [laughs] or 50. You know, so, um, and my wife's a teacher. I say she rubs off on me, her love for education. So I went back and got my master's from Appalachian State in Educational Media, which led me to working here- 

00:11:04,510 --> 00:11:04,510 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:11:04,510 --> 00:11:05,750 [Tim Scapin]
... as an instructional designer, 

00:11:06,769 --> 00:11:13,860 [Tim Scapin]
uh, because, um, they have a great program, and I took an instructional design class, and I was like, "This is pretty cool stuff." 

00:11:13,860 --> 00:11:14,520 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:11:14,520 --> 00:11:32,160 [Tim Scapin]
So when I say education changes everything, me going to retool allowed me to get into something that I, I love. This is the best place I'll probably ever work with the best people. Uh, plus I get the added benefit of working at a community college- 

00:11:32,160 --> 00:11:32,620 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:11:32,620 --> 00:11:36,820 [Tim Scapin]
... which did such, had such a positive impact on me- 

00:11:36,820 --> 00:11:37,740 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah 

00:11:37,740 --> 00:11:41,160 [Tim Scapin]
... uh, that I kinda h- I'm paying back, I guess. 

00:11:41,160 --> 00:11:42,520 [Michelle Harris]
It's almost like that full circle. 

00:11:42,520 --> 00:11:48,940 [Tim Scapin]
Yeah, it is. You know, I never thought, like 15 years ago, "Oh, you'd be working at a community college doing this." No. 

00:11:48,940 --> 00:11:50,000 [Michelle Harris]
Right. 

00:11:50,000 --> 00:11:53,280 [Tim Scapin]
But I broke out of my kind of stagnation- 

00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:53,560 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah 

00:11:53,560 --> 00:11:57,600 [Tim Scapin]
... and wanted to make a positive change in my life and my family's life. 

00:11:57,600 --> 00:11:58,000 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:11:58,000 --> 00:11:58,740 [Tim Scapin]
Um, and 

00:11:59,820 --> 00:12:03,752 [Tim Scapin]
education kinda was the key to that door toTo do that 

00:12:03,752 --> 00:12:32,322 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. And I think it's, you know, people always say, "Oh, I'm gonna start college," and, you know, they might start kind of like what we did. You know, start with community college, kind of see where that leads us. Um, if it serves what we need at that time, then great. You know, we may not need to go onto a four-year or beyond, which is, you know, obviously really great. Um, but then if you do wanna go back, you can go back at any age. I mean, I got my master's just two years ago. You have your master's. You're working on your doctorate. I mean, we're not out of high school. No offense, Tim. 

00:12:32,322 --> 00:12:32,332 [Tim Scapin]
No. 

00:12:32,332 --> 00:12:33,692 [Michelle Harris]
But we're, we're not that age anymore. [laughs] 

00:12:33,692 --> 00:12:35,792 [Tim Scapin]
I'm, I'm an advanced age, Michelle. Thank you. 

00:12:35,792 --> 00:12:41,062 [Michelle Harris]
[laughs] Um, but it just goes to show that you can do anything at any point with education. 

00:12:41,062 --> 00:12:41,062 [Tim Scapin]
Oh, yeah. 

00:12:41,062 --> 00:12:56,412 [Michelle Harris]
Whether it's, you know... And even going back, like you mentioned earlier on in your career, your educational career, is you went to your community college for one thing, did that, and you're like, "Yeah, I kind of want something else as well," and then you go back. And there's, there's nothing wrong with that, especially as- 

00:12:56,412 --> 00:12:56,422 [Tim Scapin]
Yeah 

00:12:56,422 --> 00:12:58,662 [Michelle Harris]
... you're figuring out what you like to do. 

00:12:58,662 --> 00:12:58,672 [Tim Scapin]
Yeah. 

00:12:58,672 --> 00:13:06,952 [Michelle Harris]
And that one class could just trigger, like, "Oh my gosh, this is for me. I'm gonna go and continue my path on this and find my career in that." 

00:13:06,952 --> 00:13:21,992 [Tim Scapin]
Yeah. And, you know, being I'm a first-generation college grad, uh, which a lot of community college students are, and, um, you know, I didn't have... I don't mean my parents did a great job raising me, I think, but I didn't have that really push- 

00:13:21,992 --> 00:13:22,002 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah 

00:13:22,002 --> 00:13:25,212 [Tim Scapin]
... to college 'cause my dad worked. He's a machinist. He works in a trade. 

00:13:25,212 --> 00:13:25,372 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:13:25,372 --> 00:13:30,752 [Tim Scapin]
So they didn't really push me. So, um, it kind of was just kind of self-created. 

00:13:30,752 --> 00:13:31,112 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:13:31,112 --> 00:13:36,272 [Tim Scapin]
The, this magnetism towards college, although it occurred as an adult learner, which- 

00:13:36,272 --> 00:13:36,282 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah 

00:13:36,282 --> 00:13:50,052 [Tim Scapin]
... we have a lot of adult learners here. And yeah, you never... Uh, there's never a wrong, a wrong time, I guess, age-wise, to pursue your education. Plus, um, you know, it... Community college is affordable. 

00:13:50,052 --> 00:13:50,252 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:13:50,252 --> 00:13:52,352 [Tim Scapin]
I have, I have some statistics here I found. 

00:13:52,352 --> 00:13:53,232 [Michelle Harris]
Let's hear 'em. 

00:13:53,232 --> 00:14:12,432 [Tim Scapin]
So the, this is from a 2022 paper. Um, so the average co- annual cost of community college, uh, is $2,713. That's lower than the average yearly expense for a public four-year college of 7605. 

00:14:12,432 --> 00:14:12,821 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:14:12,821 --> 00:14:15,532 [Tim Scapin]
So, you know, we're talking like five grand cheaper. Um, 

00:14:16,752 --> 00:14:22,302 [Tim Scapin]
but, you know, the, the good thing is, like, we have small student-teacher ratios. 

00:14:22,302 --> 00:14:22,392 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:14:22,392 --> 00:14:27,532 [Tim Scapin]
Um, you know, when I was in courses, it was probably, like, 20 to 25. 

00:14:27,532 --> 00:14:28,092 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:14:28,092 --> 00:14:30,112 [Tim Scapin]
And here it's a lot less than that. 

00:14:30,112 --> 00:14:30,372 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:14:30,372 --> 00:14:36,072 [Tim Scapin]
Which, um, you know, just affords you opportunities to make more connections with, with instructors. 

00:14:36,072 --> 00:14:36,392 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:14:36,392 --> 00:14:40,022 [Tim Scapin]
So you're not just in that transactional, "Here's the information." 

00:14:40,022 --> 00:14:40,022 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:14:40,022 --> 00:14:42,772 [Tim Scapin]
"Digest it and spit it out in the form of a test." 

00:14:42,772 --> 00:14:43,212 [Michelle Harris]
Right. 

00:14:43,212 --> 00:14:43,242 [Tim Scapin]
So- 

00:14:43,242 --> 00:14:44,272 [Michelle Harris]
Or a long paper. [laughs] 

00:14:44,272 --> 00:14:45,062 [Tim Scapin]
Yeah, or a long paper. 

00:14:45,062 --> 00:14:46,582 [Michelle Harris]
And, and good luck. Yeah. 

00:14:46,582 --> 00:14:46,612 [Tim Scapin]
Mm-hmm. 

00:14:46,612 --> 00:14:53,682 [Michelle Harris]
I agree. That, that one-on-one is, you know, just so great, and the instructors know what's going on with you, and, and that's important. 

00:14:53,682 --> 00:14:53,972 [Tim Scapin]
Yes. 

00:14:53,972 --> 00:15:37,231 [Michelle Harris]
Because if something starts to go off-track a little bit 'cause something came up in your life, you know, they're gonna be the ones that you can go to and say, "Hey, I had this come up, you know, can you support this?" And odds are the answer's gonna be yes. Because we all get it, you know? Again, we're adults, you know, we've been through a lot of what our students are going through. Um, and it's interesting you said that about first-gen. I'm also first-gen. You know, my, my parents took military or, you know, working track, and, um, same kind of thing, you know, kind of that self-passion for education and, and what it can bring. Um, and it's cool to be able to instill that now into, you know, the, my kid and your kids, and just kind of see... They can see what we've done and, and sort of go from there and where it takes us. 

00:15:37,232 --> 00:15:37,442 [Tim Scapin]
Yeah. 

00:15:37,442 --> 00:15:39,532 [Michelle Harris]
Um, do you have any more facts and figures to share with us? 

00:15:39,532 --> 00:15:49,312 [Tim Scapin]
No, nothing, uh, nothing of great precedence, uh, here. But I, I just think generally, like, the... Back to those good experiences I had, it helped build confidence. 

00:15:49,312 --> 00:15:49,782 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:15:49,782 --> 00:15:54,512 [Tim Scapin]
'Cause I used to have, like, so much just anxiety about being in school. [laughs] 

00:15:54,512 --> 00:15:54,532 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. [laughs] 

00:15:54,532 --> 00:15:57,592 [Tim Scapin]
You know? Um, just, like, sitting in a classroom and- 

00:15:57,592 --> 00:15:57,952 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah 

00:15:57,952 --> 00:16:04,631 [Tim Scapin]
... it j- it was weird, but I overcame it. But I think I overcame it because of those good instructors I had. 

00:16:04,632 --> 00:16:04,872 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:16:04,872 --> 00:16:12,672 [Tim Scapin]
Like, I, I'm really not good at math. Um, and I had one in, in community college where I went in early, and she helped me. 

00:16:12,672 --> 00:16:13,552 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:16:13,552 --> 00:16:16,812 [Tim Scapin]
And it's just about, uh, also establishing those relationships- 

00:16:16,812 --> 00:16:17,572 [Michelle Harris]
Yes 

00:16:17,572 --> 00:16:19,152 [Tim Scapin]
... with, uh, your instructors. 

00:16:20,402 --> 00:16:26,222 [Tim Scapin]
Um, and also building a kind of a cohort of other students to network with them. 

00:16:26,222 --> 00:16:26,232 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:16:26,232 --> 00:16:32,471 [Tim Scapin]
And like now in my, my program, um, we do... We have a cohort, and we just rely on each other for- 

00:16:32,472 --> 00:16:32,712 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah 

00:16:32,712 --> 00:16:38,532 [Tim Scapin]
... [laughs] keeping, keeping each other on, uh, on track to make sure everything's, you know, we don't forget an assignment. 

00:16:38,532 --> 00:16:38,872 [Michelle Harris]
Right. 

00:16:38,872 --> 00:16:44,732 [Tim Scapin]
But, um, yeah, a lot has to do with the relationships. But, um, yeah, it's just... 

00:16:45,892 --> 00:16:51,452 [Tim Scapin]
I, I just, I think community colleges really ha- are a great... have, do a great service to, 

00:16:52,792 --> 00:16:53,842 [Tim Scapin]
especially North Carolina. 

00:16:53,842 --> 00:16:53,882 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:16:53,882 --> 00:16:55,072 [Tim Scapin]
We have such a good system. 

00:16:55,072 --> 00:16:55,552 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:16:55,552 --> 00:17:00,332 [Tim Scapin]
But it, it's, uh... I always walk around campus and look at all the cool programs we have- 

00:17:00,332 --> 00:17:00,612 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah 

00:17:00,612 --> 00:17:04,372 [Tim Scapin]
... and think, "Oh, if I, if I had time," [laughs] 

00:17:04,372 --> 00:17:04,382 [Michelle Harris]
[laughs] 

00:17:04,382 --> 00:17:10,602 [Tim Scapin]
"I'd take some, like, you know, natural resources classes or, like, our metal... Our professional crafts and metal program." 

00:17:10,602 --> 00:17:10,652 [Michelle Harris]
Yes. 

00:17:10,652 --> 00:17:13,732 [Tim Scapin]
I walk in there and I'm like, "That's some cool stuff going on." 

00:17:13,732 --> 00:17:14,302 [Michelle Harris]
There is. 

00:17:14,302 --> 00:17:18,762 [Tim Scapin]
"But maybe when my bandwidth is a little more freed up, I can take something." 

00:17:18,762 --> 00:18:25,572 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. Yeah. And I, what I really love about, you know, the instructors here specifically is their passion and their expertise. I mean, they really know their stuff, and I think that's really encouraging. You know, when we're, we're talking with them about something, and they, they can just kind of keep rattling off information, and that's just so impressive. And that just goes to show you that the quality of the education that we're providing is just top-notch. And, you know, to go back to your stats about affordability, um, it's affordable, it's local, it's smaller. I mean, that experience is just such a positive one that can really go a long way with the student. And then whether they, you know, come here, get what they need and, and then they're able to take that next step in their career or change paths or retool, kind of like what you did, um, it's all about whatever they need. Because there's so many different directions that students can go at a community college, and you don't have to fit into a bucket. You know, you can just sort of take your own path, um, to your own goals. And we talk about that, you know, internally of, you know, student success and what does that mean. Um-You know, and you can't necessarily quantify it with a number. 

00:18:25,572 --> 00:18:25,582 [Tim Scapin]
No. 

00:18:25,582 --> 00:18:47,732 [Michelle Harris]
Because it could be j- uh, you know, I need one class because I need to do X, Y, Z, and that's great. And they, they accomplished what they needed, and off they go to be successful, support themselves, support their family. It could be graduation, whatever that looks like. Um, and I think there's, you know, just no... I don't know, we- we're just open to anyone that needs whatever they feel they need- 

00:18:47,732 --> 00:18:47,732 [Tim Scapin]
Yeah 

00:18:47,732 --> 00:18:56,152 [Michelle Harris]
... for that next step, and they don't have to complete the four-year degree at a university to be successful or whatever that might look like. 

00:18:56,152 --> 00:18:56,182 [Tim Scapin]
Yeah. 

00:18:56,182 --> 00:18:57,342 [Michelle Harris]
And I just, I just love that. 

00:18:57,342 --> 00:19:02,552 [Tim Scapin]
Yeah. And, and it's especially, you know, we have such good, like, the construction program. 

00:19:02,552 --> 00:19:02,952 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:19:02,952 --> 00:19:28,822 [Tim Scapin]
I went out there last week, and they're building, like, a tiny home-looking thing. And, um, then, like, my dad was a machinist. We have the, like, machining and robotic stuff going on down there at the high tech center. But, you know, also going back to school as an adult learner, you know, I went to school, and I- I had, you know, some courses, uh, credits under my belt. Then I was able to go back, like, I was 

00:19:29,862 --> 00:19:31,302 [Tim Scapin]
nine years later- 

00:19:31,302 --> 00:19:31,322 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:19:31,322 --> 00:19:37,522 [Tim Scapin]
... you know, and utilize that to get back, you know, on the horse and- 

00:19:37,522 --> 00:19:37,982 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:19:37,982 --> 00:19:41,862 [Tim Scapin]
... and complete my stuff. So you, you know, y- y- you can go back. 

00:19:41,862 --> 00:19:41,922 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:19:41,922 --> 00:19:45,082 [Tim Scapin]
If you take one course, you don't have to, like, take a full load. 

00:19:45,082 --> 00:19:45,802 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:19:45,802 --> 00:19:54,922 [Tim Scapin]
Just dip your toes in. Take that one course. You know, build, build that confidence. And it's like what I do, you know, sc- I know school can be overwhelming sometimes, but- 

00:19:54,922 --> 00:19:54,982 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah 

00:19:54,982 --> 00:20:01,042 [Tim Scapin]
... uh, it's just, I just take like one, one week, like one assignment at a time. 

00:20:01,042 --> 00:20:01,442 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:20:01,442 --> 00:20:11,262 [Tim Scapin]
And then it turns into a week, and then you, you know, you take that test or that, you know, project you had to do. Then it turns into two weeks and a month. So by the time you know it, your, your semester's done. 

00:20:11,262 --> 00:20:11,682 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:20:11,682 --> 00:20:13,552 [Tim Scapin]
And then you hit the next one, and it... So- 

00:20:13,552 --> 00:20:13,552 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:20:13,552 --> 00:20:20,522 [Tim Scapin]
... you just keep building, building. Just taking things little steps at a time, and then by the time you look back, you're like, "Dang, that's a whole year is done." [laughs] 

00:20:20,522 --> 00:20:21,242 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:20:21,242 --> 00:20:27,382 [Tim Scapin]
So, um, you know, and just take that one. That one course will build into two, into three. 

00:20:27,382 --> 00:20:28,102 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:20:28,102 --> 00:20:31,321 [Tim Scapin]
And you don't have just to take it full bore- 

00:20:31,322 --> 00:20:31,582 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah 

00:20:31,582 --> 00:20:38,202 [Tim Scapin]
... coming, coming out of the gate. But I encourage anyone just to, you know, if they're considering starting or just coming back- 

00:20:38,202 --> 00:20:38,922 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:20:38,922 --> 00:20:41,582 [Tim Scapin]
... you know, it, it, education's for everyone. 

00:20:41,582 --> 00:20:41,602 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:20:41,602 --> 00:20:50,662 [Tim Scapin]
It, it's regardless of... You're not too old. I took classes with people when I was working my bachelor's, like, in their, uh, probably late 60s, uh, 60s. 

00:20:50,662 --> 00:20:50,682 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:20:50,682 --> 00:20:56,421 [Tim Scapin]
It was, you know, it was a pretty diverse array of students, which community colleges are. 

00:20:56,422 --> 00:20:57,742 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. Totally. 

00:20:57,742 --> 00:20:58,702 [Tim Scapin]
Uh, you know- 

00:20:58,702 --> 00:20:58,822 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:20:58,822 --> 00:21:01,842 [Tim Scapin]
... I mean, melting pot of every age and- 

00:21:01,842 --> 00:21:02,382 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:21:02,382 --> 00:21:10,922 [Tim Scapin]
... everything. So, um, yeah, I just encourage anyone thinking about it, just come back, like, talk to someone to, um, to reconnect. 

00:21:10,922 --> 00:21:11,502 [Michelle Harris]
Yes. 

00:21:11,502 --> 00:21:11,701 [Tim Scapin]
So. 

00:21:11,702 --> 00:21:20,022 [Michelle Harris]
Yes. Well, and the point of, like, you were mentioning, like, you had, like, this nine-year gap, and I know for me, I had a, a significant gap between my bachelor's and my master's, but- 

00:21:20,022 --> 00:21:20,391 [Tim Scapin]
Yeah 

00:21:20,391 --> 00:21:28,332 [Michelle Harris]
... one thing I've noticed is that delay has helped the curriculum form, so you're learning the latest and greatest. 

00:21:28,332 --> 00:21:28,342 [Tim Scapin]
Yeah. 

00:21:28,342 --> 00:21:33,102 [Michelle Harris]
And I'll date myself for a second here. When I went and got my, my marketing degree- 

00:21:33,102 --> 00:21:33,112 [Tim Scapin]
Uh-oh 

00:21:33,112 --> 00:21:35,231 [Michelle Harris]
... social media wasn't even a thing. 

00:21:35,231 --> 00:21:35,231 [Tim Scapin]
Oh, really? 

00:21:35,231 --> 00:21:37,772 [Michelle Harris]
So I had to, like, do that lifelong learning- 

00:21:37,772 --> 00:21:37,822 [Tim Scapin]
Yeah 

00:21:37,822 --> 00:22:02,282 [Michelle Harris]
... to get up to speed on that. But now when you take a marketing class or, um, you go for your marketing degree, that is built in. And so that gap of time is actually allowing the industry to sort of catch up. So now when you're ready to take those classes, you know the latest and greatest. You're not, you know, using what you learned when we were 11 or 12, whatever years ago, um, to try to do something now. 

00:22:02,282 --> 00:22:02,292 [Tim Scapin]
Mm-hmm. 

00:22:02,292 --> 00:22:14,762 [Michelle Harris]
And so those skills, community colleges and universities alike, you know, they're staying up to date on that. So going back is everything but beneficial because you're gonna, you're gonna learn what it is to do now to help your career. 

00:22:14,762 --> 00:22:15,022 [Tim Scapin]
Mm-hmm. 

00:22:15,022 --> 00:22:25,171 [Michelle Harris]
And I think that's one of the great things about coming back and taking a class. Like, for me, I would love to take another updated, just a social media class, just to stay up to date on what it is I do every day. 

00:22:25,171 --> 00:22:25,602 [Tim Scapin]
Yeah. 

00:22:25,602 --> 00:22:35,011 [Michelle Harris]
Because it changes so fast, and technology and all these different industries are gonna have one piece of that puzzle. Um, so one class and then maybe that leads to more. 

00:22:35,011 --> 00:22:35,022 [Tim Scapin]
Yeah. 

00:22:35,022 --> 00:22:37,462 [Michelle Harris]
And I think, I think you're spot on with that. 

00:22:37,462 --> 00:22:41,822 [Tim Scapin]
Yeah. And, you know, and so even, like, for my, my master's, there was a seven-year gap in there. 

00:22:41,822 --> 00:22:42,242 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:22:42,242 --> 00:22:43,142 [Tim Scapin]
So I, I didn't think 

00:22:44,182 --> 00:22:45,792 [Tim Scapin]
like, "Hey, oh, I'm too old. I can't do it." 

00:22:45,792 --> 00:22:46,162 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. [laughs] 

00:22:46,162 --> 00:22:52,222 [Tim Scapin]
"I can't go back." Well, no, you, you know, you, I can. Um, and I know it's no... I know it's not an easy choice for everyone. 

00:22:52,222 --> 00:22:52,252 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:22:52,252 --> 00:23:00,102 [Tim Scapin]
You have other... You know, I, I was, I had a, I have, still have a supportive family, a supportive wife that allows me to do these things. 

00:23:00,102 --> 00:23:00,682 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:23:00,682 --> 00:23:13,102 [Tim Scapin]
Uh, so I know it is demanding. Um, when I, uh, when, when I went for my, my ma- uh, excuse me, bachelor's, you know, I was, I was working full-time, went to s- uh, school full-time. That's just the way the program was set up, like four nights a week from 6:00 to 10:00. 

00:23:13,102 --> 00:23:13,542 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:23:13,542 --> 00:23:17,222 [Tim Scapin]
Um, and our daughter was just born, so I know it is challenging. Um- 

00:23:17,222 --> 00:23:17,722 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah 

00:23:17,722 --> 00:23:20,462 [Tim Scapin]
... but you can piece things together. 

00:23:20,462 --> 00:23:21,472 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:23:21,472 --> 00:23:28,682 [Tim Scapin]
Um, you know, there's always, uh, some, some way to do it and, or, I mean, we can set you on the right path to, to try to do that. 

00:23:28,682 --> 00:24:13,972 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. Yeah. Well, I think it's always interesting to hear people's stories, especially as it relates to community colleges and how they impacted our lives and how we got to where we are. Um, quick plug, um, our president, Dr. Shelley White, is also a community college graduate. Um, same kind of path, you know, started out there and, and carried on her educational journey. Um, I would love to find some website that just has, like, all these people of how they started, uh, their educational journey, 'cause I think it's more than we think. Um, and the supportive team we have here at Haywood Community College, and just any community college really, that's what we're about. We truly are about the community, what's best for the students, being supportive, um, no matter what you've got going on. And appreciate your time today as we reflect on Community College Month. 

00:24:13,972 --> 00:24:17,542 [Tim Scapin]
Well, thank you for finally having me back, Michelle. Thank you for- 

00:24:17,542 --> 00:24:19,312 [Michelle Harris]
Don't worry, this won't be the last time, Tim. 

00:24:19,312 --> 00:24:19,342 [Tim Scapin]
Yes. 

00:24:19,342 --> 00:24:21,342 [Michelle Harris]
I'm sure there'll be more fun topics in the future. 

00:24:21,342 --> 00:24:22,602 [Tim Scapin]
Thank you. 

00:24:22,602 --> 00:24:31,501 [Michelle Harris]
Thank you everybody for listening, and I hope you find a nice way to celebrate or share your story during Community College Month. [upbeat music] 

00:24:31,502 --> 00:24:57,042 [Tim Scapin]
Bobcat Chat is a production of Haywood Community College. HCC is located in Clyde, North Carolina. If you'd like to learn more about our great college, visit us online at www.haywood.edu. That's H-A-Y-W-O-O-D.E-D-U. [upbeat music]

00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:23,700 [Michelle Harris]
[upbeat music] Welcome, everybody, to this week's edition of Bobcat Chat. My name's Michelle Harris, and I'm the director of marketing here at HCC. And I'm so excited to kick off 2024 with our special guest, Karina. Welcome, Karina, and please introduce yourself. 

00:00:23,700 --> 00:00:35,960 [Karina Routhier]
Thanks, Michelle. It's so great to be here. I can't believe it's 2024 already. It doesn't seem possible. But, um, my name is Karina Routhier, and I am the executive director of, it's a very long name- 

00:00:35,960 --> 00:00:36,440 [Michelle Harris]
[chuckles] 

00:00:36,440 --> 00:00:52,880 [Karina Routhier]
... the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority. We're known more locally as Visit NC Smokies, but we're in charge of essentially telling the story of all of Haywood County and encouraging people to wanna consider to come visit us and, um, 

00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:57,400 [Karina Routhier]
um, experience how incredible Haywood County is. 

00:00:57,400 --> 00:01:14,520 [Michelle Harris]
Great. And we are so glad to be a part of the community. We always joke that, um, it's our middle name, Haywood Community College. Um, so working with you on different things has been such a pleasure, and I'm so excited that you're here this week to talk to us about Ice Fest. So, let's talk about this event and kind of what spurred it. 

00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:25,980 [Karina Routhier]
So, the NC Smokies Ice Fest weekend is a really fun expansion of last year's Ice Festival event that took place at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds. 

00:01:25,980 --> 00:01:26,000 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:01:26,000 --> 00:02:01,120 [Karina Routhier]
So, I know some folks went to it, and some may not have heard of it, but it's, um, all these really crazy, cool, kind of seem impossible ice sculptures, and live ice carvings, and, um, anything ice-themed that was at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds. Well, it was uber successful, um, so much so that perhaps not everybody that wanted to go to the event could actually get down the road to it. So, we have been brainstorming and partnering with the town of Maggie Valley and Ice Mill, the company that does the carvings, about what can we do to make it 

00:02:02,420 --> 00:02:03,160 [Karina Routhier]
better for- 

00:02:03,160 --> 00:02:03,220 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:02:03,220 --> 00:02:08,580 [Karina Routhier]
... you know, a better experience for all the visitors and the locals. But also, our job, right, is the whole county. So- 

00:02:08,580 --> 00:02:08,820 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah 

00:02:08,820 --> 00:02:11,170 [Karina Routhier]
... we talked about, let's make it a whole countywide event. 

00:02:11,170 --> 00:02:11,700 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:02:11,700 --> 00:02:16,140 [Karina Routhier]
So, the festival grounds is still kind of the, I'll call it the feature event. 

00:02:16,140 --> 00:02:16,340 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:02:16,340 --> 00:02:35,220 [Karina Routhier]
That's where the most ice sculptures are gonna be. That's where the big happenings are. But literally every community throughout Haywood County is doing something ice-themed. All sorts of businesses have jumped in, so we're uber excited to see such a community collaborative event. And it went from now a half a day event to a three-day event. 

00:02:35,220 --> 00:02:36,109 [Michelle Harris]
Right. [chuckles] 

00:02:36,109 --> 00:02:37,500 [Karina Routhier]
So, it's gonna keep us all busy- 

00:02:37,500 --> 00:02:37,760 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah 

00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:39,480 [Karina Routhier]
... that last weekend of January. 

00:02:39,480 --> 00:02:54,140 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah, and that's one thing that I noticed about it when all this was starting to come together, is you have representation from every city, and that is just so cool. Like, talk about the ultimate partnership. I just think that's really neat. So, let's kind of talk through what each town is doing. 

00:02:54,140 --> 00:02:58,340 [Karina Routhier]
So, I'm gonna cheat and look at my, my notes for that one so I don't miss anybody- 

00:02:58,340 --> 00:02:58,420 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah 

00:02:58,420 --> 00:03:05,520 [Karina Routhier]
... and get in trouble. Um, but Friday night from 5:00 to 8:00, downtown Waynesville's hosting an ice stroll. So, there'll be ice- 

00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:05,530 [Michelle Harris]
Ooh 

00:03:05,530 --> 00:03:10,930 [Karina Routhier]
... sculptures down, kind of like an Art After Dark, but this is actually the last Friday in January- 

00:03:10,930 --> 00:03:10,930 [Michelle Harris]
Okay 

00:03:10,930 --> 00:03:20,000 [Karina Routhier]
... not the first Friday. And businesses will be open late. And the ice sculptures, fun fact, look really beautiful at night 'cause they're lit. 

00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:21,290 [Michelle Harris]
Oh, sure. 

00:03:21,290 --> 00:03:31,340 [Karina Routhier]
So, it should be absolutely great way to experience downtown Waynesville. Saturday from 1:00 to 3:00, um, Canton Parks and Rec is doing a fun event called Penguins on the Pigeon. 

00:03:31,340 --> 00:03:31,940 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:03:31,940 --> 00:03:40,700 [Karina Routhier]
Where they are going to be releasing, I'll say rubber, rubber penguins. [chuckles] And whoever win, you know, you pick a penguin- 

00:03:40,700 --> 00:03:40,880 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:46,799 [Karina Routhier]
... and it'll float down the Pigeon River, and then the winner, uh, will actually win some prize money. 

00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:46,810 [Michelle Harris]
Fun. 

00:03:46,810 --> 00:03:52,540 [Karina Routhier]
And the rest of the money is gonna go to support the Canton All Abilities Playground, which is fabulous. 

00:03:52,540 --> 00:03:53,320 [Michelle Harris]
Yes. 

00:03:53,320 --> 00:04:08,260 [Karina Routhier]
Then the main event, of course, is Saturday from 4:00 to 9:00 at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds. Saturday night at 10:30, the Cataloochee Ski Area staff are doing a torch run, which is where they turn off all the lights. 

00:04:08,260 --> 00:04:09,180 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:04:09,180 --> 00:04:19,560 [Karina Routhier]
And they literally ski down the slope with just a flashlight or some sort of glowing light. And because they're all moving, it kind of looks like the whole slope is glowing. 

00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:20,440 [Michelle Harris]
That's so cool. 

00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:24,580 [Karina Routhier]
Uh, I'm, I'm told it's incredible, and there's a webcam that you can watch from. 

00:04:24,580 --> 00:04:25,700 [Michelle Harris]
I have heard that as well. 

00:04:25,700 --> 00:04:25,770 [Karina Routhier]
So- 

00:04:25,770 --> 00:04:28,590 [Michelle Harris]
So if you don't wanna brave the night and the cold at the same time- 

00:04:28,590 --> 00:04:28,600 [Karina Routhier]
Yes 

00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:30,360 [Michelle Harris]
... you can watch it online. That's so cool. 

00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:40,460 [Karina Routhier]
Watch it online. So that should be, uh, absolutely beautiful. And then of course, um, Sunday morning, right here at Haywood Community College, we have the really fun Frosty 5K. I know you'll be talking about that in a minute. 

00:04:40,460 --> 00:04:41,099 [Michelle Harris]
Yes. 

00:04:41,100 --> 00:04:43,520 [Karina Routhier]
And then all weekend long, the Canton Ice Rink. 

00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:43,580 [Michelle Harris]
Right. 

00:04:43,580 --> 00:04:55,280 [Karina Routhier]
And Metzger's Burlwood Gallery is doing the Winter Art Show, and then all sorts of restaurants and gift shops and, uh, lodging properties are doing specials all weekend long too. 

00:04:55,280 --> 00:04:55,420 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:04:55,420 --> 00:04:59,360 [Karina Routhier]
So that you'd wanna check out on the website 'cause we'd be here for an hour if I listed- 

00:04:59,360 --> 00:04:59,510 [Michelle Harris]
Right 

00:04:59,510 --> 00:05:01,020 [Karina Routhier]
... all of them. There's that many. 

00:05:01,020 --> 00:05:18,240 [Michelle Harris]
And I was thinking too, like, what a cool opportunity for visitors, but it also could be a f- super fun staycation. Like, you know, even if you lived here, taking a night out and s- you know, staying at a hotel or just going out for a dinner maybe somewhere where you haven't before, just a really, uh, good opportunity for even the locals, and I think that's really, really neat. 

00:05:19,580 --> 00:05:28,860 [Michelle Harris]
Um, so what does having each city involved with this really mean and represent? Like, how often does this happen? It seems like this is kind of a big deal. 

00:05:28,860 --> 00:05:36,969 [Karina Routhier]
I-- So as you know, I'm pretty new here in the county, but I, I like to say one of my favorite things is collaborating with people. 

00:05:36,969 --> 00:05:36,979 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:05:36,980 --> 00:06:23,048 [Karina Routhier]
And I've, I've had the, um, honor of doing that in a variety of other ways in other communities, so this was a natural growth of that to me. But I've been told it's kind of rare for Haywood County. But the feedback has been incredibly positive from, from businesses and local partners, so I'm super excited to see-So many partners. I mean, we've had committee meetings with 25 people from literally all over the county coming together to help make this happen. So if we can keep this kind of collaboration and communication and joint spirit together for future endeavors, it just speaks to the amazing potential that Haywood County has, 'cause we're all in this together. 

00:06:23,048 --> 00:06:23,448 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:06:23,448 --> 00:06:23,828 [Karina Routhier]
It, it, you know, 

00:06:24,908 --> 00:06:26,807 [Karina Routhier]
it's just very exciting for us. 

00:06:26,808 --> 00:06:30,218 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. Definitely one of those win-win situations, for sure. 

00:06:30,218 --> 00:06:30,568 [Karina Routhier]
Absolutely. 

00:06:30,568 --> 00:06:53,028 [Michelle Harris]
Um, so a phrase that I've heard, 'cause I watch RVing shows a lot, is a season called the shoulder season at different, you know, areas around the country or around the world, and that's kinda like their off-season from what I understand. So talk a little bit about what the shoulder season is, and why having this event during that is gonna be really great for tourism. 

00:06:53,028 --> 00:06:58,208 [Karina Routhier]
So technically there's peak season, shoulder season, and off-season. 

00:06:58,208 --> 00:06:59,028 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:06:59,028 --> 00:07:08,328 [Karina Routhier]
So off-season could be a destination, and I have to think of one. I'll use Antarctica as an example. Antarctica in the winter, nobody visits there, period. 

00:07:08,328 --> 00:07:08,428 [Michelle Harris]
Right. 

00:07:08,428 --> 00:07:11,948 [Karina Routhier]
Like, you literally can't go. So that is off. 

00:07:11,948 --> 00:07:12,248 [Michelle Harris]
Sure. 

00:07:12,248 --> 00:07:25,738 [Karina Routhier]
Nobody travels there. But shoulder tends to be the pre and immediate post to peak season, where you have less visitation, so t- you tend to have a fair amount of capacity- 

00:07:25,738 --> 00:07:25,738 [Michelle Harris]
Mm 

00:07:25,738 --> 00:07:33,948 [Karina Routhier]
... in your shops, your restaurants, your lodging properties. Um, so it's a really nice opportunity to kind of say, "Hey, check us out." 

00:07:35,148 --> 00:07:39,408 [Karina Routhier]
I'm, again, still new here, but I don't know that Haywood County has an actual off-season. 

00:07:39,408 --> 00:07:40,098 [Michelle Harris]
[chuckles] I would agree. 

00:07:40,098 --> 00:07:46,498 [Karina Routhier]
So I would say we have several peak seasons, and winter is definitely a shoulder season for us. 

00:07:46,498 --> 00:07:46,528 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:07:46,528 --> 00:07:54,548 [Karina Routhier]
We have obviously Cataloochee Ski Resort and the tubing, which I drove by the other day, and there's just a massive line of people. 

00:07:54,548 --> 00:07:55,508 [Michelle Harris]
[chuckles] 

00:07:55,508 --> 00:08:01,348 [Karina Routhier]
So we have some things that are at capacity in the winter, but we have quite a few things that aren't. 

00:08:01,348 --> 00:08:01,928 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:08:01,928 --> 00:08:12,188 [Karina Routhier]
So to be able to bring a three-day event to the table and offer something for maybe people who don't ski, but they like a good cocktail, you know? 

00:08:12,188 --> 00:08:12,477 [Michelle Harris]
Right. 

00:08:12,477 --> 00:08:15,908 [Karina Routhier]
There, there's a lot of different opportunities all weekend long. 

00:08:15,908 --> 00:08:16,088 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:08:16,088 --> 00:08:25,948 [Karina Routhier]
And anything we can do that reminds people, "Hey, Haywood County's here. We're kinda cool. We've got some neat things. Come check us out," is always positive. 

00:08:25,948 --> 00:08:37,708 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. That's awesome. Um, so for those visitors that are coming to the area, you said there's a lot of different lodging opportunities, um, any special packages, things like that, that are going on? 

00:08:37,708 --> 00:08:48,757 [Karina Routhier]
There's some so fun packages. Some of them are including, um, like in-room hot cocoa stations. There's some discounts. A lot of them are including tickets to- 

00:08:48,757 --> 00:08:48,757 [Michelle Harris]
Mm 

00:08:48,757 --> 00:09:06,768 [Karina Routhier]
... the main event at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds. So, uh, specifically, we have partners including Buffalo Creek Vacations, Lake Junaluska's Terrace Hotel, Inn at Reed Bed & Breakfast, Bella Mountain Properties, The Yellow House, Carolina Morning Vacation Rentals. I mean, there's quite a few. 

00:09:06,768 --> 00:09:07,228 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:09:07,228 --> 00:09:15,868 [Karina Routhier]
So you'd wanna go to ncsmokiesicefest.com, and you can see which property looks good for you, what the packages are, and sign up- 

00:09:15,868 --> 00:09:15,988 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah 

00:09:15,988 --> 00:09:18,108 [Karina Routhier]
... for one, and bring some friends. 

00:09:18,108 --> 00:10:40,948 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah, definitely. Um, so of course, I would be remiss if I didn't talk in more detail about our Sunday morning event. Um, so we are so excited to be part of this, um, and really be the Clyde representation, and hopefully others can kinda join in on that, some of that fun. Um, but we have established the Frosty 5K at Haywood Community College, and what I'm excited about is this is really that family-friendly event. So like, I've done a few races, and I know there are people out there that are like, "I want a PR. I'm gonna," you know, "in this to get it." But then I also think of those people that might not be as comfortable, um, with a run or a true race, um, and really going on the curtails that this is a family-friendly event. So what we've done is we are having an open format to this race, so anyone can come at any time between 10:00 and noon and just have some hot cocoa and do 3.2 miles, because that, that's a feat among itself. Um, and we're gonna have some really fun stations along the way just to kinda keep people interested with little games or giveaways, and I just think it's a great way for families to be active. And I also think it's a good reminder that you can still enjoy the outdoors even in the winter. 'Cause, um, I think people just shy away from that because it's too cold or whatever that is, and I think there's a way to really do it and stay active, um, all 12 months in, in our area. Um, so with us having that Sunday morning event, how does that support bringing the weekend all together? 

00:10:40,948 --> 00:10:55,648 [Karina Routhier]
Uh, well, first of all, absolutely love it. It's such a fun event. I think it's a great capstone to the weekend, and I mean, what better way to cap off your weekend by going for a nice walk with the kids before you put them in the car and drive back home? 

00:10:55,648 --> 00:10:56,248 [Michelle Harris]
Right. [chuckles] 

00:10:56,248 --> 00:10:59,188 [Karina Routhier]
So I think it's super fun, and 

00:11:00,588 --> 00:11:03,807 [Karina Routhier]
I mean, a three-day weekend, you've gotta have that Sunday morning- 

00:11:03,808 --> 00:11:04,448 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:11:04,448 --> 00:11:14,348 [Karina Routhier]
... thing to do to really encourage people for that extra night stay. It gets them up. Hopefully they'll go out to brunch, go for this great walk, have fun along the way- 

00:11:14,348 --> 00:11:14,438 [Michelle Harris]
Mm 

00:11:14,438 --> 00:11:16,128 [Karina Routhier]
... treat themselves to some hot cocoa. 

00:11:16,128 --> 00:11:16,138 [Michelle Harris]
Right. 

00:11:16,138 --> 00:11:20,718 [Karina Routhier]
And to your point, it helps showcase get outside. 

00:11:20,718 --> 00:11:20,718 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:11:20,718 --> 00:11:25,848 [Karina Routhier]
Doesn't matter what time of year it is, and actually winter can be almost the best time because there's no bugs. 

00:11:25,848 --> 00:11:25,858 [Michelle Harris]
[chuckles] 

00:11:25,858 --> 00:11:30,468 [Karina Routhier]
There's, like, there's none of those other things that can kind of distract us sometimes. 

00:11:30,468 --> 00:11:30,658 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:11:30,658 --> 00:11:31,908 [Karina Routhier]
So it should be a fabulous 

00:11:32,928 --> 00:11:35,728 [Karina Routhier]
way to end the NC Smokies Ice Fest weekend. 

00:11:35,728 --> 00:11:42,928 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. That's great. Um, so I know we talked about staying here. What about eating and drinking over the weekend? What do we have planned for that? 

00:11:42,928 --> 00:11:58,238 [Karina Routhier]
Gosh. We have so many participating restaurants, and many of them are doing, um-... themed cocktails, so I'll just name a few of them. The Scotsman's doing a series of chili specials, like chili cheeseburgers and fries. 

00:11:58,238 --> 00:11:58,288 [Michelle Harris]
Mm. 

00:11:58,288 --> 00:12:11,968 [Karina Routhier]
And then J. Arthur's is doing the winter iced martini rimmed with rumchata sugar. Frankie's has a snowy Sambuca martini and a frosted coconut cocktail. Uh, there's literally so many options. 

00:12:11,968 --> 00:12:12,067 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:12:12,068 --> 00:12:20,788 [Karina Routhier]
So definitely, again, go to the, the event website, and every participating, uh, business is listed. So, you know, if you're doing your staycation- 

00:12:20,788 --> 00:12:21,368 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:12:21,368 --> 00:12:27,588 [Karina Routhier]
... pick a restaurant maybe you haven't tried before, and go see what their Ice Fest weekend special is, and give it a try. 

00:12:27,588 --> 00:12:44,328 [Michelle Harris]
I've always liked those ideas of, like, a traveling dinner or a traveling appetizer where you could, like, go to one restaurant, try, like, a cup of chili or something small, and then go to the next one, have their hot cocoa and whatever they've got going on, and really enjoy the downtown in, in all the different cities that have something going on. I think that would just be super fun. 

00:12:45,908 --> 00:12:52,348 [Michelle Harris]
Um, so kind of capping this off, um, what makes this event so special? 

00:12:52,348 --> 00:12:53,407 [Karina Routhier]
It's the whole community. 

00:12:53,407 --> 00:12:53,668 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:12:53,668 --> 00:12:54,228 [Karina Routhier]
It's w- 

00:12:55,678 --> 00:13:02,668 [Karina Routhier]
uh... When I started saying, "Let's, let's make it countywide," um, you know, a few folks were like, "What do you mean?" 

00:13:02,668 --> 00:13:02,978 [Michelle Harris]
[laughs] 

00:13:02,978 --> 00:13:08,918 [Karina Routhier]
And, and we got, to your point, participation from literally all five towns- 

00:13:08,918 --> 00:13:08,918 [Michelle Harris]
Mm 

00:13:08,918 --> 00:13:15,388 [Karina Routhier]
... within Haywood County. I'm counting Lake Junaluska as a town even though it's an, it's, it's own unique entity. 

00:13:15,388 --> 00:13:16,088 [Michelle Harris]
Right. 

00:13:16,088 --> 00:13:20,847 [Karina Routhier]
And just seeing such participation and excitement- 

00:13:20,848 --> 00:13:20,948 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:13:20,948 --> 00:13:27,688 [Karina Routhier]
... for the event is... It just, it's an honor to be able to help work on it, and I can't wait- 

00:13:27,688 --> 00:13:28,008 [Michelle Harris]
Yes 

00:13:28,008 --> 00:13:29,268 [Karina Routhier]
... for the end of January. 

00:13:29,268 --> 00:13:29,708 [Michelle Harris]
Yes. 

00:13:29,708 --> 00:13:33,908 [Karina Routhier]
And to get out and experience as much of it as we can. 

00:13:33,908 --> 00:13:34,608 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:13:34,608 --> 00:13:43,788 [Karina Routhier]
And then we'll see what happens. Hopefully everybody takes lots of pictures, share them on our Facebook page. There is an NC Smokies Ice Fest Facebook page. 

00:13:43,788 --> 00:13:44,488 [Michelle Harris]
Wonderful. 

00:13:44,488 --> 00:13:50,988 [Karina Routhier]
And obviously the ncsmokiesicefest.com, which has everything about the event. That's where you can also get the tickets. 

00:13:50,988 --> 00:13:51,268 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:13:51,268 --> 00:13:57,448 [Karina Routhier]
Um, for the Maggie Valley event, fun fact, tickets are only $5 plus taxes and fees- 

00:13:57,448 --> 00:13:57,648 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah 

00:13:57,648 --> 00:13:58,528 [Karina Routhier]
... in advance. 

00:13:58,528 --> 00:13:58,577 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:13:58,577 --> 00:14:02,547 [Karina Routhier]
And then they're $8 at the door. So buy them in advance, save a few bucks. 

00:14:02,548 --> 00:14:03,208 [Michelle Harris]
Right. 

00:14:03,208 --> 00:14:05,588 [Karina Routhier]
Buy an extra ticket with a few bucks. I don't know. 

00:14:05,588 --> 00:14:05,988 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:14:05,988 --> 00:14:06,288 [Karina Routhier]
And, um- 

00:14:06,288 --> 00:14:08,788 [Michelle Harris]
Is that the only event that is ticketed? 

00:14:10,908 --> 00:14:12,888 [Karina Routhier]
Obviously any, if you go to a restaurant- 

00:14:12,888 --> 00:14:13,258 [Michelle Harris]
Sure. Sure, sure 

00:14:13,258 --> 00:14:14,208 [Karina Routhier]
... and you're gonna buy food. 

00:14:14,208 --> 00:14:14,388 [Michelle Harris]
Right. 

00:14:14,388 --> 00:14:15,248 [Karina Routhier]
That, that has a cost. 

00:14:15,248 --> 00:14:15,357 [Michelle Harris]
Right. 

00:14:15,357 --> 00:14:17,608 [Karina Routhier]
But yes, that's the only ticketed event that's- 

00:14:17,608 --> 00:14:17,838 [Michelle Harris]
Okay 

00:14:17,838 --> 00:14:20,048 [Karina Routhier]
... part of... But, and it's $5. 

00:14:20,048 --> 00:14:20,208 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:14:20,208 --> 00:14:21,208 [Karina Routhier]
And 12 and under is free. 

00:14:21,208 --> 00:14:21,328 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:14:21,328 --> 00:14:22,748 [Karina Routhier]
So it's pretty affordable. 

00:14:22,748 --> 00:14:36,748 [Michelle Harris]
The whole family friendly concept this weekend is just blowing my mind. I think that's so awesome. Like, I have a teenager, and I'm still gonna be like, "Let's go look at some ice sculptures," 'cause it's just cool, and you don't really get to do that very often. Um, so let's remind everybody about the dates. 

00:14:37,848 --> 00:14:38,908 [Karina Routhier]
It's the last weekend in January. 

00:14:38,908 --> 00:14:40,188 [Michelle Harris]
Last weekend in January. 

00:14:40,188 --> 00:14:41,978 [Karina Routhier]
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, January... 

00:14:43,348 --> 00:14:43,618 [Michelle Harris]
20... S- 

00:14:43,618 --> 00:14:43,928 [Karina Routhier]
27th, 28th. 

00:14:43,928 --> 00:14:46,608 [Michelle Harris]
I think our race is on the 28th, so that would be the Sunday morning. 

00:14:46,608 --> 00:14:48,248 [Karina Routhier]
26th, 27th, and 28th. Thank you. 

00:14:48,248 --> 00:15:06,688 [Michelle Harris]
Yep. Um, and so again, the Frosty 5K here on campus is from 10:00 to noon. Um, and like we just sort of talked about, free event, and we don't have registration required either. We just really want everybody, um, to come out and have a good time. And remind us about the website again for more info. 

00:15:06,688 --> 00:15:09,228 [Karina Routhier]
Ncsmokiesicefest.com. 

00:15:09,228 --> 00:15:15,928 [Michelle Harris]
Great. And while we have you here, is there anything else that we all can look forward to this coming year? 

00:15:15,928 --> 00:15:16,608 [Karina Routhier]
Oh my gosh. 

00:15:17,748 --> 00:15:19,628 [Karina Routhier]
There's so much happening. 

00:15:19,628 --> 00:15:19,648 [Michelle Harris]
Love it. 

00:15:19,648 --> 00:15:25,288 [Karina Routhier]
I don't think I have anything specific to say other than go to visitncsmokies.com- 

00:15:25,288 --> 00:15:25,298 [Michelle Harris]
Great 

00:15:25,298 --> 00:15:27,158 [Karina Routhier]
... which is our main website. 

00:15:27,158 --> 00:15:27,188 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:15:27,188 --> 00:15:31,118 [Karina Routhier]
And that's where we're always keeping track of new things that are happening- 

00:15:31,118 --> 00:15:31,128 [Michelle Harris]
Mm 

00:15:31,128 --> 00:15:36,038 [Karina Routhier]
... new restaurants that are opening, new events, um, all of those amazing things. 

00:15:36,038 --> 00:15:36,258 [Michelle Harris]
Yes. 

00:15:36,258 --> 00:15:40,198 [Karina Routhier]
So visit ncsmokies.com. You can sign up for our email, all that stuff. 

00:15:40,198 --> 00:15:40,728 [Michelle Harris]
Oh, that's great. 

00:15:40,728 --> 00:15:45,438 [Karina Routhier]
There's an incredible amount of happenings countywide- 

00:15:45,438 --> 00:15:45,498 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah 

00:15:45,498 --> 00:15:46,628 [Karina Routhier]
... all 12 months of the year. 

00:15:46,628 --> 00:15:46,718 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:15:46,718 --> 00:15:48,708 [Karina Routhier]
And we do our best to push that info out. 

00:15:48,708 --> 00:16:08,688 [Michelle Harris]
I love it. I love the newsletter idea too, because sometimes you don't think about going to a website, but if it comes to your inbox, you're like, "Yep, I'm gonna read that." So that's awesome. Um, so as tradition with our podcast here at HCC, uh, we like to get to know our guests a little bit better through a series of questions called Rapid Fire. So are you ready for this, Karina? 

00:16:08,688 --> 00:16:09,798 [Karina Routhier]
I, go for it, Michelle. 

00:16:09,798 --> 00:16:12,988 [Michelle Harris]
[laughs] All right. Um, dogs or cats? 

00:16:12,988 --> 00:16:14,068 [Karina Routhier]
Birds. 

00:16:14,068 --> 00:16:15,088 [Michelle Harris]
Favorite color? 

00:16:15,088 --> 00:16:16,108 [Karina Routhier]
Blue. 

00:16:16,108 --> 00:16:16,808 [Michelle Harris]
Favorite season? 

00:16:17,908 --> 00:16:20,907 [Karina Routhier]
Ooh, that's a tough one. All f- can I say all four? 

00:16:20,908 --> 00:16:21,828 [Michelle Harris]
You can say all four. 

00:16:21,828 --> 00:16:21,847 [Karina Routhier]
Okay. 

00:16:21,848 --> 00:16:25,868 [Michelle Harris]
We'll let it slide. Um, do you have any musical talents? 

00:16:25,868 --> 00:16:26,428 [Karina Routhier]
Oh gosh. 

00:16:28,528 --> 00:16:31,168 [Karina Routhier]
A long time ago I used to sing opera, but that was 

00:16:32,468 --> 00:16:33,988 [Karina Routhier]
quite some, quite some time ago. 

00:16:33,988 --> 00:16:40,048 [Michelle Harris]
Well, I [laughs] I'm sure you still have it in you. Um, rainbow sprinkles or chocolate chips? 

00:16:40,048 --> 00:16:42,668 [Karina Routhier]
Chocolate chips. You called them sprinkles. 

00:16:42,668 --> 00:16:43,588 [Michelle Harris]
I did. What are they? 

00:16:45,228 --> 00:16:49,528 [Karina Routhier]
For me they're sprinkles, but in eastern North Carolina, they're shots. 

00:16:49,528 --> 00:16:50,648 [Michelle Harris]
I've not heard that. 

00:16:50,648 --> 00:16:51,288 [Karina Routhier]
Okay. 

00:16:51,288 --> 00:16:54,808 [Michelle Harris]
Huh, interesting. Um, waffle or pancake? 

00:16:54,808 --> 00:16:55,908 [Karina Routhier]
Waffle. 

00:16:55,908 --> 00:16:57,908 [Michelle Harris]
Hard shell or soft shell taco? 

00:16:59,048 --> 00:16:59,888 [Karina Routhier]
Soft. 

00:16:59,888 --> 00:17:02,548 [Michelle Harris]
What's worse, laundry or dishes? 

00:17:02,548 --> 00:17:03,828 [Karina Routhier]
Dishes. 

00:17:03,828 --> 00:17:05,808 [Michelle Harris]
Crossword puzzle or Sudoku? 

00:17:06,948 --> 00:17:08,088 [Karina Routhier]
I'd rather read a book. 

00:17:08,088 --> 00:17:08,458 [Michelle Harris]
Fair. 

00:17:08,458 --> 00:17:09,288 [Karina Routhier]
Learn something new. [laughs] 

00:17:09,288 --> 00:17:11,968 [Michelle Harris]
Well, and that answered the book or movie question probably. 

00:17:11,968 --> 00:17:12,448 [Karina Routhier]
Yes. 

00:17:12,448 --> 00:17:13,028 [Michelle Harris]
Um- 

00:17:13,028 --> 00:17:13,628 [Karina Routhier]
I would, I would read a book. 

00:17:13,628 --> 00:17:15,967 [Michelle Harris]
[laughs] What's your favorite cookie? 

00:17:15,968 --> 00:17:17,238 [Karina Routhier]
Chocolate chip. 

00:17:17,238 --> 00:17:19,988 [Michelle Harris]
And mayo or Miracle Whip? 

00:17:19,988 --> 00:17:21,288 [Karina Routhier]
Neither. 

00:17:21,288 --> 00:17:22,288 [Michelle Harris]
Fair. Mustard? 

00:17:22,288 --> 00:17:23,148 [Karina Routhier]
Olive oil. 

00:17:23,148 --> 00:17:24,768 [Michelle Harris]
[laughs] Nice. 

00:17:24,768 --> 00:17:26,368 [Karina Routhier]
[laughs] 

00:17:26,368 --> 00:17:35,368 [Michelle Harris]
Well, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule today to talk with us about Ice Fest weekend. We're super excited to be a part of it and can't wait to see what it brings to the community. 

00:17:35,368 --> 00:17:41,568 [Karina Routhier]
Thank you so much, Michelle. We're thrilled to have Haywood Community College as a partner, and look forward to all the great things we get to do together. 

00:17:41,568 --> 00:17:42,608 [Michelle Harris]
Thanks for listening. 

00:17:42,608 --> 00:18:07,668 [Announcer]
[outro music] Thanks for listening to another episode of Bobcat Chat. Haywood Community College is located in Clyde, North Carolina. If you would like to learn more about our great school, head over to www.haywood.edu. That's H-A-Y-W-O-O-D.edu. [bobcat roar]

00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:04,330 [Announcer]
[upbeat music] 

00:00:05,420 --> 00:00:09,400 [Announcer]
Hello and welcome to Bobcat Chat. 

00:00:12,710 --> 00:00:33,120 [Michelle Harris]
[upbeat music] Welcome, everybody, to this week's edition of Bobcat Chat. My name is Michelle Harris. I'm the director of marketing here at HCC, and this week I have the pleasure of sitting down with Hylah Birenbaum, who is the foundation director, to chat about an upcoming event. Welcome, Hylah. 

00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:35,800 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Hello, hello. Thanks for having me. 

00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:42,740 [Michelle Harris]
So you have planned this exciting event, very unique to campus, and I just wanna hear a little bit about it. 

00:00:42,740 --> 00:01:03,700 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes. So the last installment for this fiscal year is Discs in the Dogwoods. Um, since we have a disc golf course on campus and the intention of my events this past year were to bring people on campus, I thought we would end with a beautiful, hopefully sunny day in June, um, playing disc golf. 

00:01:03,700 --> 00:01:06,450 [Michelle Harris]
Great. So disc golf, hence the word discs- 

00:01:06,450 --> 00:01:06,450 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes 

00:01:06,450 --> 00:01:07,520 [Michelle Harris]
... in the Dogwoods. 

00:01:07,520 --> 00:01:08,060 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm. 

00:01:08,060 --> 00:01:12,899 [Michelle Harris]
Um, and this is sort of the same theory as a charity golf tournament. 

00:01:12,900 --> 00:01:13,640 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Correct. 

00:01:13,640 --> 00:01:14,370 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:01:14,370 --> 00:01:17,380 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes. I just did not wanna pay a venue to play golf. 

00:01:17,380 --> 00:01:17,640 [Michelle Harris]
Sure. 

00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:22,260 [Hylah Birenbaum]
And so, um, I want people to come out, um, from beginners to novice. 

00:01:23,420 --> 00:01:28,820 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Um, if you have no experience playing disc golf, we're gonna have a couple clubs here that will teach you how to throw- 

00:01:28,820 --> 00:01:29,200 [Michelle Harris]
Okay 

00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:32,520 [Hylah Birenbaum]
... and help you play, and then provide some disc as well. 

00:01:32,520 --> 00:01:32,720 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:33,510 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Discs. 

00:01:33,510 --> 00:01:33,520 [Michelle Harris]
[laughs] 

00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:43,700 [Hylah Birenbaum]
That's kind of s- s- feel like a snake. Um, so you don't have to have any experience whatsoever, and it's just a way to have fun and have a work event on a Thursday. 

00:01:43,700 --> 00:01:44,260 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:01:44,260 --> 00:01:47,200 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Um, because who wants to, you know, have a work event on a Saturday? 

00:01:47,200 --> 00:01:47,740 [Michelle Harris]
No one. [laughs] 

00:01:47,740 --> 00:01:52,560 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Exactly, and that's why, you know, some of the charity golf tournaments are on a weekday as well. 

00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:52,940 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. Mm-hmm. 

00:01:52,940 --> 00:01:55,460 [Hylah Birenbaum]
And so just kinda playing off of that. Um, we have- 

00:01:55,460 --> 00:01:55,590 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:01:55,590 --> 00:02:00,290 [Hylah Birenbaum]
... some sponsors who are gonna be at the tees, so hopefully they'll give away some of their swag and some- 

00:02:00,290 --> 00:02:00,320 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah 

00:02:00,320 --> 00:02:03,400 [Hylah Birenbaum]
... fun things, um, and just enjoy the day. 

00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:05,560 [Michelle Harris]
So businesses can sponsor a hole- 

00:02:05,560 --> 00:02:05,650 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Absolutely 

00:02:05,650 --> 00:02:06,550 [Michelle Harris]
... so to speak. 

00:02:06,550 --> 00:02:06,560 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes. 

00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:07,080 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:02:07,080 --> 00:02:08,180 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yep, yep. 

00:02:08,180 --> 00:02:08,580 [Michelle Harris]
So- 

00:02:08,580 --> 00:02:18,440 [Hylah Birenbaum]
And then they can, yeah, they can, um, give out swag or whatever they wanna do, but yes, businesses can sponsor a hole. You can sign up for a team. Um, you can sign up individually. 

00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:18,920 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:02:18,920 --> 00:02:25,140 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Um, and we'll put you with a team. Um, it's a four-person team, and they're gonna be men, women, and then mixed. 

00:02:25,140 --> 00:02:25,720 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:26,360 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yep. 

00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:29,430 [Michelle Harris]
Great, and then so it's sort of like a shotgun start. 

00:02:29,430 --> 00:02:29,460 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Correct. 

00:02:29,460 --> 00:02:33,079 [Michelle Harris]
So if you sign up for the morning tee time, you all start at the same time. 

00:02:33,080 --> 00:02:33,579 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Correct. 

00:02:33,580 --> 00:02:35,740 [Michelle Harris]
And then there's also an afternoon tee time. 

00:02:35,740 --> 00:02:39,320 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes. So 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM on Thursday- 

00:02:39,320 --> 00:02:39,410 [Michelle Harris]
Okay 

00:02:39,410 --> 00:02:47,880 [Hylah Birenbaum]
... June the 13th. Um, and so everyone will start at a different tee, and then they'll rotate, so you'll end up doing all 18 holes on the course. 

00:02:47,880 --> 00:02:51,340 [Michelle Harris]
Great. Um, and what's the food situation gonna be like? 

00:02:51,340 --> 00:02:52,420 [Hylah Birenbaum]
We are gonna provide lunch. 

00:02:52,420 --> 00:02:52,820 [Michelle Harris]
Okay, great. 

00:02:52,820 --> 00:02:57,580 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Uh, it'll be at high noon. Um, I don't wanna say a boxed lunch 'cause it might not be officially boxed. 

00:02:57,580 --> 00:02:58,040 [Michelle Harris]
[laughs] 

00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:03,840 [Hylah Birenbaum]
But we'll, we will have lunch provided and some, uh, beverages, sodas, waters, tea, et cetera. 

00:03:03,840 --> 00:03:04,080 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:03:04,080 --> 00:03:04,090 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yep. 

00:03:04,090 --> 00:03:04,850 [Michelle Harris]
Keep you hydrated- 

00:03:04,850 --> 00:03:04,850 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Exactly 

00:03:04,850 --> 00:03:06,400 [Michelle Harris]
... when you're out on the course- 

00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:06,520 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm 

00:03:06,520 --> 00:03:20,380 [Michelle Harris]
... um, traipsing through our woods. Um, so for this event, um, obviously being over the foundation, does the, the golf, disc golf charity event, um, support a specific scholarship or fund? 

00:03:20,380 --> 00:03:23,040 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes. So this is the last one to support Haywood Strong. 

00:03:23,040 --> 00:03:23,460 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:03:23,460 --> 00:03:49,600 [Hylah Birenbaum]
And as you know, Haywood Strong was a scholarship to help our displaced mill workers. Um, this is kinda the last hurrah, um, for our fiscal year to help them, and just wanna go out with a bang and really raise as much money as we possibly can for any, you know, mill workers or people that, that had dealings with the mill that wanna come back to HCC, whether it's curriculum classes or continuing education, and really know that they have some money available for scholarships. 

00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:52,300 [Michelle Harris]
Great. Just a way to continue to support the community. 

00:03:52,300 --> 00:03:52,860 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Exactly. 

00:03:52,860 --> 00:03:53,420 [Michelle Harris]
So great. 

00:03:53,420 --> 00:03:54,000 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yep. 

00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:57,540 [Michelle Harris]
Um, and I love what you mentioned earlier about the different levels of- 

00:03:57,540 --> 00:03:57,640 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm 

00:03:57,640 --> 00:04:03,500 [Michelle Harris]
... um, knowing how to play or not knowing how to play. That could all come out for this because it truly is just a fun time. 

00:04:03,500 --> 00:04:05,359 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Exactly. I've never played myself. 

00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:06,040 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:04:06,040 --> 00:04:11,380 [Hylah Birenbaum]
So I think I've thrown a disc one time, so I am in the I have no clue what to do. 

00:04:11,380 --> 00:04:11,580 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:04:11,580 --> 00:04:20,279 [Hylah Birenbaum]
But I know you have three discs of different weights, and depending upon where you are from, as in golf with your driver and then your putt. 

00:04:20,280 --> 00:04:20,640 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:04:20,640 --> 00:04:28,240 [Hylah Birenbaum]
So you have the different weighted discs to kind of follow through with that, but there, there are different clubs that are gonna be here to help- 

00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:28,250 [Michelle Harris]
Great 

00:04:28,250 --> 00:04:31,190 [Hylah Birenbaum]
... 'cause they wanna make sure that, that you maybe wanna join the club and then- 

00:04:31,190 --> 00:04:31,190 [Michelle Harris]
Sure 

00:04:31,190 --> 00:04:40,659 [Hylah Birenbaum]
... you do this on a regular basis, and then you have fun, and you can travel around and, and just enjoy what we have here 'cause there's not only a course here but also at the rec center in Waynesville. 

00:04:40,660 --> 00:04:41,060 [Michelle Harris]
That's right. 

00:04:41,060 --> 00:04:43,260 [Hylah Birenbaum]
So you have two courses right here in Haywood County. 

00:04:43,260 --> 00:04:45,500 [Michelle Harris]
What a great way to support the community- 

00:04:45,500 --> 00:04:45,969 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yep 

00:04:45,969 --> 00:04:48,960 [Michelle Harris]
... um, through a scholarship, come out, have some fun. 

00:04:48,960 --> 00:04:49,420 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yep. 

00:04:49,420 --> 00:04:52,540 [Michelle Harris]
Um, check out campus a little bit more too, which is really great. 

00:04:52,540 --> 00:04:53,060 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm. 

00:04:53,060 --> 00:04:58,180 [Michelle Harris]
Um, and something else everyone I'm sure wants to know is, are there prizes? 

00:04:58,180 --> 00:05:10,360 [Hylah Birenbaum]
There will be some prizes for the winning team, so that means, you know, a women's team, a men's team, and a mixed. So, um, let's see, four, eight, 12, so 12 prizes. Um, nothing huge- 

00:05:10,360 --> 00:05:10,490 [Michelle Harris]
Sure. Sure 

00:05:10,490 --> 00:05:16,630 [Hylah Birenbaum]
... but just, you know, some gift cards, some fun baskets, um, some swag, some we can get from our sponsors. 

00:05:16,630 --> 00:05:16,640 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:20,640 [Hylah Birenbaum]
But yes, there will be just some fun prizes to give out to those winning teams. 

00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:21,140 [Michelle Harris]
Great. 

00:05:21,140 --> 00:05:21,150 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm. 

00:05:21,150 --> 00:05:22,700 [Michelle Harris]
It's just something fun to reach for- 

00:05:22,700 --> 00:05:23,120 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Right 

00:05:23,120 --> 00:05:28,220 [Michelle Harris]
... you know, just to, um, add a little extra something special, uh, to that event. 

00:05:28,220 --> 00:05:28,780 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes. 

00:05:28,780 --> 00:05:32,360 [Michelle Harris]
Um, and so this course was refurbished about a year ago. 

00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:32,560 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm. 

00:05:32,560 --> 00:05:46,920 [Michelle Harris]
And so I think this is another great opportunity to come out, check it out if you haven't before, um, and really see, see how the course is laid out through campus and through the trees. Um, so how can people get registered? 

00:05:46,920 --> 00:05:55,500 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Um, you can go to our website, haywood.edu/foundation, and there's a link there that will take you to Eventbrite, and then you can purchase your tickets at Eventbrite. 

00:05:55,500 --> 00:05:55,900 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:05:55,900 --> 00:06:11,800 [Hylah Birenbaum]
If you want to sponsor, um, at that same location is my information, so you can give me a call, and you can be happy to take your donation for sponsorships. Um, we can get you a variety of tee sponsors or a team sponsor, whatever you need, so happy to work with anybody.

00:06:12,400 --> 00:06:14,629 [Michelle Harris]
Great. And that's a fun way, again, just to be involved. 

00:06:14,629 --> 00:06:14,640 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm. 

00:06:14,640 --> 00:06:23,330 [Michelle Harris]
So you can-- I know when I was doing some, you know, volunteerism at different golf type events where just being on the tee is great because you get to see every single person- 

00:06:23,330 --> 00:06:23,619 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Right. Mm-hmm 

00:06:23,619 --> 00:06:27,560 [Michelle Harris]
... that comes through and have a great conversation and just add a little bit of something extra to- 

00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:27,570 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes 

00:06:27,570 --> 00:06:29,200 [Michelle Harris]
... their experience on the course. 

00:06:29,200 --> 00:06:29,920 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Exactly. 

00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:30,820 [Michelle Harris]
That's really fun. 

00:06:30,820 --> 00:06:31,980 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yep. 

00:06:31,980 --> 00:06:33,600 [Michelle Harris]
Um, okay. Well, it sounds like a great time. 

00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:33,610 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes. 

00:06:33,610 --> 00:06:34,700 [Michelle Harris]
So to recap- 

00:06:34,700 --> 00:06:35,040 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes 

00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:35,860 [Michelle Harris]
... June- 

00:06:35,860 --> 00:06:36,280 [Hylah Birenbaum]
13th 

00:06:36,280 --> 00:06:37,020 [Michelle Harris]
... 13th. 

00:06:37,020 --> 00:06:38,220 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes. Thursday. 

00:06:38,220 --> 00:06:39,040 [Michelle Harris]
Thursday. 

00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:39,620 [Hylah Birenbaum]
June 13th. 

00:06:39,620 --> 00:06:40,440 [Michelle Harris]
13th. 

00:06:40,440 --> 00:06:46,640 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Um, tee times are at 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. You can check in as early as an hour before, so like 8:00, 8:30. 

00:06:46,640 --> 00:06:46,820 [Michelle Harris]
Sure. 

00:06:46,820 --> 00:06:52,200 [Hylah Birenbaum]
And then 12:00, 12:30. Lunch will be at noon in the Hemlock Building, and that's what registration will be- 

00:06:52,200 --> 00:06:52,440 [Michelle Harris]
Okay 

00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:57,800 [Hylah Birenbaum]
... um, in the Hemlock lower level. And then we'll just start, you know, getting everyone assigned to their tees, and then- 

00:06:57,800 --> 00:06:58,000 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah 

00:06:58,000 --> 00:06:59,000 [Hylah Birenbaum]
... just have fun. 

00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:03,870 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. That sounds great. Um, well, thank you for sharing information about this event. 

00:07:03,870 --> 00:07:04,370 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Absolutely. 

00:07:04,370 --> 00:07:07,420 [Michelle Harris]
Um, hopefully, we have a lot of people just partake in the day- 

00:07:07,420 --> 00:07:07,500 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm 

00:07:07,500 --> 00:07:09,099 [Michelle Harris]
... whether you know what you're doing- 

00:07:09,100 --> 00:07:09,330 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Of course 

00:07:09,330 --> 00:07:11,090 [Michelle Harris]
... or maybe you don't. It's okay. [laughs] 

00:07:11,090 --> 00:07:12,420 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Just, yes, come out and have fun. 

00:07:12,420 --> 00:07:13,100 [Michelle Harris]
Exactly. 

00:07:13,100 --> 00:07:13,320 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm. 

00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:16,340 [Michelle Harris]
Support the students, check out the course, and maybe find a new hobby. 

00:07:16,340 --> 00:07:18,580 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Uh, yeah. I mean, it's free, and it's right here, so. 

00:07:18,580 --> 00:07:18,860 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:07:18,860 --> 00:07:21,460 [Hylah Birenbaum]
And if all you need are three discs, that's easy to find. 

00:07:21,460 --> 00:07:23,820 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. Start small and, and go from there. 

00:07:23,820 --> 00:07:24,620 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Exactly. Yes. 

00:07:24,620 --> 00:07:28,420 [Michelle Harris]
Great. Well, before we jump into my special sports edition- 

00:07:28,420 --> 00:07:28,650 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Oh, gosh. I forgot 

00:07:28,650 --> 00:07:29,740 [Michelle Harris]
... for Rapid Fire. 

00:07:29,740 --> 00:07:30,400 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Oh, yeah. Um- 

00:07:30,400 --> 00:07:34,020 [Michelle Harris]
Was there anything else you wanted to mention to our listeners about the event? 

00:07:34,020 --> 00:07:43,860 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Um, uh, whether you want to play or just participate, I mean, you can still make a donation either way to help Haywood Strong. We will gladly accept any donations possible. 

00:07:43,860 --> 00:07:43,980 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:07:43,980 --> 00:07:48,820 [Hylah Birenbaum]
So just reach out and give me a call or email and, and, uh, be happy to take your notation, donation. 

00:07:48,820 --> 00:07:50,780 [Michelle Harris]
Great. Well, I love it, and I love this- 

00:07:50,780 --> 00:07:51,060 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Okay 

00:07:51,060 --> 00:07:52,480 [Michelle Harris]
... this new idea for campus. 

00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:52,520 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes. 

00:07:52,520 --> 00:07:53,940 [Michelle Harris]
I think it's gonna be such a fun day. 

00:07:53,940 --> 00:07:54,880 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yep. 

00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:55,560 [Michelle Harris]
Okay, Hila. 

00:07:55,560 --> 00:07:55,980 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Oh, no. 

00:07:55,980 --> 00:08:02,200 [Michelle Harris]
We're gonna get to know your sports side a little bit more. Um, Summer or Winter Olympics? 

00:08:02,200 --> 00:08:03,180 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Oh. 

00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:06,910 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Uh, aspects of both. 

00:08:06,910 --> 00:08:06,940 [Michelle Harris]
[laughs] 

00:08:06,940 --> 00:08:09,720 [Hylah Birenbaum]
I mean, I kinda like the running thing in gymnastics. 

00:08:09,720 --> 00:08:10,380 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah, that's cool. 

00:08:10,380 --> 00:08:14,620 [Hylah Birenbaum]
But then some of the, like the, the skiing and the moguls and the flippy things- 

00:08:14,620 --> 00:08:15,040 [Michelle Harris]
Yes 

00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:17,180 [Hylah Birenbaum]
... that's kind of amazing too, and ice skating. So- 

00:08:17,180 --> 00:08:18,000 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. Yeah 

00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:18,040 [Hylah Birenbaum]
... yeah. 

00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:18,770 [Michelle Harris]
So a little of both. 

00:08:18,770 --> 00:08:18,780 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Little of both. 

00:08:18,780 --> 00:08:21,949 [Michelle Harris]
Well, good thing they're not, you know, they're every, you know, two years or whatever- 

00:08:21,949 --> 00:08:21,949 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Right 

00:08:21,949 --> 00:08:23,100 [Michelle Harris]
... so you can alternate. 

00:08:23,100 --> 00:08:23,500 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm. 

00:08:23,500 --> 00:08:25,600 [Michelle Harris]
Do you play a sport? 

00:08:25,600 --> 00:08:26,880 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Uh, I run. 

00:08:26,880 --> 00:08:27,180 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:08:27,180 --> 00:08:28,300 [Hylah Birenbaum]
And then I hike. 

00:08:28,300 --> 00:08:28,500 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:08:28,500 --> 00:08:31,440 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Um, of course, I walk, but that's, yeah, that's about it. 

00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:31,860 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:08:31,860 --> 00:08:32,240 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yep. 

00:08:32,240 --> 00:08:33,920 [Michelle Harris]
What's your favorite sport to watch? 

00:08:35,500 --> 00:08:37,520 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Um, well, seeing that we just had derby season- 

00:08:37,580 --> 00:08:37,720 [Michelle Harris]
Yes 

00:08:37,720 --> 00:08:39,160 [Hylah Birenbaum]
... I, I enjoyed the Kentucky Derby. 

00:08:39,160 --> 00:08:39,900 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:08:39,900 --> 00:08:40,440 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Um, 

00:08:41,860 --> 00:08:48,380 [Hylah Birenbaum]
I watch the Super Bowl because of the commercials, 'cause my background was advertising before that, and they're always fun. 

00:08:48,380 --> 00:08:48,840 [Michelle Harris]
Yes. 

00:08:48,840 --> 00:08:52,640 [Hylah Birenbaum]
But really, you know, I'm not a huge watcher of sports. 

00:08:52,640 --> 00:08:53,760 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. That's fair. 

00:08:53,760 --> 00:08:54,660 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm. 

00:08:54,660 --> 00:08:58,400 [Michelle Harris]
Um, is there a sport that you think would be fun to play? 

00:08:59,670 --> 00:09:03,549 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Well, I'm not gonna say kickball anymore because I thought that was fun, and that was not fun- 

00:09:03,549 --> 00:09:03,549 [Michelle Harris]
[laughs] 

00:09:03,549 --> 00:09:08,220 [Hylah Birenbaum]
... because I got injured. Um, fun to play. I've been hearing some things about pickleball. 

00:09:08,220 --> 00:09:08,720 [Michelle Harris]
Yes. 

00:09:08,720 --> 00:09:11,360 [Hylah Birenbaum]
But then I've also heard some injury stories with pickleball. 

00:09:11,360 --> 00:09:12,260 [Michelle Harris]
Yes. 

00:09:12,260 --> 00:09:16,760 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Um, yeah, I don't know. I don't wanna do anything too dangerous or crazy- 

00:09:16,760 --> 00:09:17,250 [Michelle Harris]
[laughs] 

00:09:17,250 --> 00:09:20,880 [Hylah Birenbaum]
... or risk injury for, like, a little, like, movement issue. 

00:09:20,880 --> 00:09:22,000 [Michelle Harris]
Right. Yes. 

00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:22,320 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm. 

00:09:22,320 --> 00:09:23,220 [Michelle Harris]
That's why we stretch. 

00:09:23,220 --> 00:09:23,540 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Right. 

00:09:23,540 --> 00:09:24,420 [Michelle Harris]
Stay limber. 

00:09:24,420 --> 00:09:25,500 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Right. 

00:09:25,500 --> 00:09:29,880 [Michelle Harris]
Um, have you ever been to a pro sporting event? 

00:09:29,880 --> 00:09:31,780 [Hylah Birenbaum]
I went to a NASCAR race. 

00:09:31,780 --> 00:09:32,160 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:09:32,160 --> 00:09:36,060 [Hylah Birenbaum]
I've been to, um, a drag race in Bristol- 

00:09:36,060 --> 00:09:36,260 [Michelle Harris]
Yes 

00:09:36,260 --> 00:09:40,440 [Hylah Birenbaum]
... um, at their motor speedway. What else? I went to 

00:09:41,800 --> 00:09:45,540 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Orlando Magics when they had a bas- I don't, I think they still have a basketball team. 

00:09:45,540 --> 00:09:46,220 [Michelle Harris]
Sounds right. 

00:09:46,220 --> 00:09:51,000 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Maybe. Yeah. So many, many, many years ago, went to one of their games, which was fun. 

00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:51,360 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:09:51,360 --> 00:09:56,260 [Hylah Birenbaum]
And then I went to a baseball game in Baltimore. 

00:09:56,260 --> 00:09:56,560 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:09:56,560 --> 00:09:59,820 [Hylah Birenbaum]
I th- I wanna say Baltimore would be right 'cause I lived in DC. 

00:09:59,820 --> 00:10:00,269 [Michelle Harris]
Sure. 

00:10:00,269 --> 00:10:01,200 [Hylah Birenbaum]
So I think that, yeah. 

00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:01,660 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:10:01,660 --> 00:10:01,980 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yeah. 

00:10:01,980 --> 00:10:02,670 [Michelle Harris]
So a couple. 

00:10:02,670 --> 00:10:03,220 [Hylah Birenbaum]
A couple. 

00:10:03,220 --> 00:10:03,470 [Michelle Harris]
Nice. 

00:10:03,470 --> 00:10:04,450 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Handful. Mm-hmm. 

00:10:04,450 --> 00:10:05,180 [Michelle Harris]
Nice. 

00:10:05,180 --> 00:10:05,640 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes. 

00:10:05,640 --> 00:10:10,860 [Michelle Harris]
Um, and then you sort of already answered this already, but it sounds like maybe you haven't played disc golf. 

00:10:10,860 --> 00:10:11,820 [Hylah Birenbaum]
I have not. 

00:10:11,820 --> 00:10:17,600 [Michelle Harris]
So do you think this event is gonna spur that in you, and you can give it a try if there's an empty slot? 

00:10:17,600 --> 00:10:18,990 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Possibly, yes. 

00:10:18,990 --> 00:10:19,060 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:10:19,060 --> 00:10:24,700 [Hylah Birenbaum]
I know, um, I have a friend, a girlfriend who also plays, and so maybe it would be better with girlfriends- 

00:10:24,700 --> 00:10:24,750 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah 

00:10:24,750 --> 00:10:28,380 [Hylah Birenbaum]
... and we could just have fun and walk and talk and get some exercise. 

00:10:28,380 --> 00:10:28,980 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:10:28,980 --> 00:10:31,700 [Hylah Birenbaum]
And I don't know if I wanna do it by myself 'cause I have no clue what I'm doing. 

00:10:31,700 --> 00:10:32,059 [Michelle Harris]
Right. 

00:10:32,060 --> 00:10:34,600 [Hylah Birenbaum]
But to have someone along for the, the ride- 

00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:34,890 [Michelle Harris]
Yes 

00:10:34,890 --> 00:10:35,860 [Hylah Birenbaum]
... and the excitement. 

00:10:35,860 --> 00:10:36,790 [Michelle Harris]
Teach you a little bit about- 

00:10:36,790 --> 00:10:36,790 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes 

00:10:36,790 --> 00:10:38,470 [Michelle Harris]
... what's going on and, um- 

00:10:38,470 --> 00:10:38,470 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm 

00:10:38,470 --> 00:10:39,680 [Michelle Harris]
... take a break when you need to- 

00:10:39,680 --> 00:10:39,820 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes 

00:10:39,820 --> 00:10:42,060 [Michelle Harris]
... and not feel like you don't know what you're doing. [laughs] 

00:10:42,060 --> 00:10:43,050 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Exactly. Yeah. 

00:10:43,050 --> 00:10:45,400 [Michelle Harris]
It's always hard to learn something new, that's for sure. 

00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:48,640 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm. And just learning, like, how to h- how to throw it the right way or- 

00:10:48,640 --> 00:10:49,120 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah 

00:10:49,120 --> 00:10:50,380 [Hylah Birenbaum]
... scoring wise. 

00:10:50,380 --> 00:10:51,480 [Michelle Harris]
Definitely a skill. 

00:10:51,480 --> 00:10:51,680 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yeah. 

00:10:51,680 --> 00:10:51,689 [Michelle Harris]
Definitely. 

00:10:51,689 --> 00:10:54,700 [Hylah Birenbaum]
'Cause each, each tee has a par, which I didn't realize- 

00:10:54,700 --> 00:10:54,900 [Michelle Harris]
Yes 

00:10:54,900 --> 00:10:55,780 [Hylah Birenbaum]
... just like with golf. 

00:10:55,780 --> 00:10:56,870 [Michelle Harris]
Yes. 

00:10:56,870 --> 00:11:00,520 [Hylah Birenbaum]
So I will probably not hit any pars whatsoever, but it's, it's worth trying. 

00:11:00,520 --> 00:11:01,580 [Michelle Harris]
That's, that's right. 

00:11:01,580 --> 00:11:01,620 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yeah. 

00:11:01,620 --> 00:11:02,650 [Michelle Harris]
And that's okay. 

00:11:02,650 --> 00:11:02,660 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm. 

00:11:02,660 --> 00:11:05,560 [Michelle Harris]
And it'll be, it'll be a good time, um, during the event, and- 

00:11:05,560 --> 00:11:06,080 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Mm-hmm 

00:11:06,080 --> 00:11:09,280 [Michelle Harris]
... who knows, like I said, what other interests others, it might spark in others- 

00:11:09,280 --> 00:11:09,880 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Right. Yes 

00:11:09,880 --> 00:11:10,560 [Michelle Harris]
... moving forward. 

00:11:10,560 --> 00:11:11,400 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Exactly. 

00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:15,220 [Michelle Harris]
Well, thank you for taking the time today to talk about Discs in the Gal- Dogwoods. 

00:11:15,220 --> 00:11:15,790 [Hylah Birenbaum]
[laughs] 

00:11:15,790 --> 00:11:19,080 [Michelle Harris]
Wow, we're getting through this one today. Great. Um- 

00:11:19,080 --> 00:11:20,580 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Discs in the Dogwoods. 

00:11:20,580 --> 00:11:21,699 [Michelle Harris]
Yes. Thank you. 

00:11:21,700 --> 00:11:21,940 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yep. 

00:11:21,940 --> 00:11:23,759 [Michelle Harris]
Um, and it sounds like it's gonna be a very fun event- 

00:11:23,760 --> 00:11:23,950 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes 

00:11:23,950 --> 00:11:28,000 [Michelle Harris]
... um, for any level, and just come out and enjoy, and we're really looking forward to having this on campus. 

00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:30,700 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Yes, absolutely. And, uh, any questions, let me know. 

00:11:30,700 --> 00:11:31,790 [Michelle Harris]
Great. Thanks so much. 

00:11:31,790 --> 00:11:31,820 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Thanks for having me. 

00:11:31,820 --> 00:11:32,120 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:11:32,120 --> 00:11:34,060 [Hylah Birenbaum]
Okay. [upbeat music] 

00:11:34,060 --> 00:11:55,980 [Announcer]
Bobcat Chat is a production of Haywood Community College. HCC is located in Clyde, North Carolina. If you'd like to learn more about our great college, visit us online at www.haywood.edu. That's H-A-Y-W-O-O-D.edu.

00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:04,229 [Announcer]
[upbeat music] 

00:00:05,420 --> 00:00:09,400 [Announcer]
Hello and welcome to Bobcat Chat. 

00:00:12,410 --> 00:00:33,420 [Michelle Harris]
[upbeat music] Welcome, everybody, to this week's edition of Bobcat Chat. My name's Michelle Harris, and I'm the director of marketing and engagement here at HCC. And this week, I have the pleasure of sitting down with Elan Seago, and she is our student wellness and life coordinator here on campus. 

00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:36,880 [Elan Seago]
Yes, I'm very excited to be here. 

00:00:36,880 --> 00:00:55,380 [Michelle Harris]
The really exciting part is we are gearing up for the fall semester, and we've got a lot of great things planned. Um, so that's kinda why we wanted to get on the microphones today, just to give everybody a heads-up of what we've got planned. Um, so first, Elan, let's start with how we're kicking the semester off this year. 

00:00:55,380 --> 00:01:13,060 [Elan Seago]
Well, we are kicking it off the second week of classes. The 26th of August through the 29th will be Week of Welcome. Um, and we'll be just stationed up by the fountain in the white tent, or under the white tent, um, with a bunch of awesome giveaways. 

00:01:13,060 --> 00:01:28,230 [Michelle Harris]
This is a great time of year to do this, because it gives our students a chance to get in and get settled, find out where their classes are, make sure they've got everything figured out, and then the following week they get to celebrate with us, and we really welcome them to campus by giving them some free stuff. I'll just say it that way. 

00:01:28,230 --> 00:01:28,320 [Elan Seago]
Yeah. 

00:01:28,320 --> 00:01:51,300 [Michelle Harris]
Um, but also sharing with them the resources we have available on campus. 'Cause I think sometimes when students come back, they're like, "Oh my gosh, there's so much going on." But this is really that opportunity where we have dedicated time and dedicated staff to say, "Here's what we have to offer you as you go throughout the semester." Um, and really kind of put our arms around them and be sure that they know what we have for them as they progress through their semester. 

00:01:51,300 --> 00:02:12,700 [Elan Seago]
Yeah. That's very good way of saying it. That's ... We really hope people just stop by and not only grab, like, a free shirt or something, but just feel free to ask questions or get a, a brochure or a pamphlet or something [laughs] about, I don't know, student wellness or timely care or, um, whatever it is they, they're interested in learning about. 

00:02:12,700 --> 00:02:18,560 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. That sounds great. And then, um, I think there's also gonna be a little bit of, uh, club information too. 

00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:19,690 [Elan Seago]
Yes. Yeah. 

00:02:19,690 --> 00:02:33,140 [Michelle Harris]
Um, 'cause that's something that students often wonder, like, what can I do outside the classroom? And so I think having, um, representatives there and/or information there of how students can get more involved outside the classroom is gonna be a really great addition to our event this year. 

00:02:33,140 --> 00:02:36,260 [Elan Seago]
Yes. Good point. That, that'll be really cool. 

00:02:36,260 --> 00:02:47,500 [Michelle Harris]
Um, okay. So rumor has it that kickball is returning. Let's talk about this event and what students might need to know about when that deadline starts coming up. 

00:02:47,500 --> 00:03:19,960 [Elan Seago]
Yes. It is returning, of course. We're so excited. Um, it will be happening on Thursday, October 10th, will be the kickball tournament between staff and, um, students. And so we will be ... You'll be seeing lots of emails about that pretty soon. But, um, the deadline to sign up with your team will be September 19th. So students and staff and faculty really have to, like, be thinking about who they want on their team. Or, um, people can sign up individually too, and we'll put them on a team. 

00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:20,150 [Michelle Harris]
Oh, nice. 

00:03:20,150 --> 00:03:33,829 [Elan Seago]
That works too. So you don't have to necessarily have your whole team ready, but, um, if you already do, that's great too. So September 19th is the deadline to sign up, and that's so we have time to, like, order T-shirts and everything. 

00:03:33,829 --> 00:03:33,920 [Michelle Harris]
Right. 

00:03:33,920 --> 00:03:36,980 [Elan Seago]
Um, and then the games will be October 10th. 

00:03:36,980 --> 00:03:50,650 [Michelle Harris]
And that is, um, exactly a month after the start of classes. So classes start August 19th, and then the kickball signup is September 19th, and that's plenty of time for everyone to make some new friends or find their old ones from last year- 

00:03:50,650 --> 00:03:50,650 [Elan Seago]
Yeah 

00:03:50,650 --> 00:04:01,070 [Michelle Harris]
... and get a team together. And I love the fact that you are able to just take individual or even pair signups and put them on a team, because it's such a great way to meet new people- 

00:04:01,070 --> 00:04:01,070 [Elan Seago]
Yeah 

00:04:01,070 --> 00:04:07,840 [Michelle Harris]
... that you maybe wouldn't know. Um, so you can find your ringers, find your not-so-ringers, just to have fun out there. 

00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:08,300 [Elan Seago]
Yes. 

00:04:08,300 --> 00:04:41,480 [Michelle Harris]
Um, but yeah. So it'll be about three weeks, um, prior to the actual event, 10/10. That way we can get the T-shirts, get everybody figured out, um, make sure everyone understands the rules and all those things. What I loved about prior years was even the students that weren't kicking the ball, they were out there in rare form just cheering everybody on. So I also think that part of this event is that camaraderie of even if you're not out on the field, just come out and have a great time. Have some food, see some students, cheer, you know, do some cheerleading. [laughs] 

00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:58,500 [Elan Seago]
Yes, exactly. And we will have food again. We're having Holy Cow food truck as our, like, free lunch. Anybody, staff and students, gets a ticket for free lunch from Holy Cow. And then we'll also have the Frios Pops, um, little truck there- 

00:04:58,500 --> 00:04:58,510 [Michelle Harris]
Ooh, yum 

00:04:58,510 --> 00:05:03,180 [Elan Seago]
... for dessert. So, um, definitely people, even if you're not playing, you should definitely come. 

00:05:03,180 --> 00:05:10,340 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. That sounds like a great, great time. Um, so we ... You just had a great segue into the fact that everybody likes food. 

00:05:10,340 --> 00:05:10,800 [Elan Seago]
Mm-hmm. 

00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:28,719 [Michelle Harris]
Um, and one thing I've really enjoyed semester after semester is having Bobcat Bites on campus. Because it's just a way to grab something to eat that maybe you wouldn't have before, um, change up your normal sack lunch, so to speak. So tell us a little bit about Bobcat Bites this semester. 

00:05:28,720 --> 00:06:14,676 [Elan Seago]
Yeah. We've already got everything scheduled, um, for Bobcat Bites. And so the first one will be August 20th. We're having the Spotted Banana, which they have, like, delicious smoothies and, um, bowls with all sorts of yummy healthy stuff. Um, so they'll be here from about 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. That's, that's generally when Bobcat Bites will be. And they park, um, down by the Sunrise Cafe, right outside of that. So, um, they're coming August 20th. We've got Hit The Pit scheduled, that's barbecue, for September 24th. Um, we got some other ones coming. But you can find out, um, see our whole schedule onhaywood.edu/student-life. 

00:06:14,676 --> 00:06:14,956 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:06:14,956 --> 00:06:18,846 [Elan Seago]
Um, if you scroll down, you'll see the whole Bobcat Bite schedule there. 

00:06:18,846 --> 00:07:06,036 [Michelle Harris]
And that's a great resource for students because sometimes weather might impact their arrival or things like that. So we can always use that webpage to keep it updated and move dates around if we need to. Um, so definitely keep an eye on that. And then we will also share this information, not only on our social medias. Quick plug, if you haven't followed us, make sure you follow us, um, and in our weekly newsletter. So definitely students pay attention to that, um, that way you can see if any dates change, and just a good reminder of what we've got coming up, um, 'cause it's always fun to try something new, uh, especially when it's easily accessible here on campus. Um, so now let's dive a little bit more into some other events. What have we got on the agenda here for the fall semester? Anything new? Do we have some favorite things that are coming back? Any sneak peeks you can share with us? 

00:07:06,036 --> 00:07:14,576 [Elan Seago]
Yes. Um, well, as far as anything new, um, on December 4th, I know that seems so far away- 

00:07:14,576 --> 00:07:15,255 [Michelle Harris]
[laughs] 

00:07:15,255 --> 00:07:34,836 [Elan Seago]
... but we... That's, uh, for a new event we've got coming, the, which is a gingerbread house decorating contest, getting ready for the holidays. Um, and we've never done that before, so that will be fun. We'll be having that, um, in the, the Hemlock Building auditorium lobby. So, um, we don't know all the details of that one yet- 

00:07:34,836 --> 00:07:34,846 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:07:34,846 --> 00:07:43,836 [Elan Seago]
... but we know that we're gonna have all the supplies there, and people just need to come, and they can do it with a friend or on their own, and we'll have a fun little contest. 

00:07:43,836 --> 00:07:45,296 [Michelle Harris]
I love that so much. 

00:07:45,296 --> 00:07:46,516 [Elan Seago]
It'll be really fun, I think. 

00:07:46,516 --> 00:07:47,275 [Michelle Harris]
It will be fun. 

00:07:48,296 --> 00:07:50,876 [Michelle Harris]
Um, what about anything else that we've got planned- 

00:07:50,876 --> 00:07:50,886 [Elan Seago]
Oh, yes 

00:07:50,886 --> 00:07:54,756 [Michelle Harris]
... for the semester that, um, we can give them a sneak peek into? 

00:07:54,756 --> 00:07:58,236 [Elan Seago]
Yeah. So if you wanna see the whole schedule, that also is online. 

00:07:58,236 --> 00:07:58,566 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:07:58,566 --> 00:08:09,396 [Elan Seago]
But, um, of course, the most, the most fun that I'm excited about is my favorite, which is the Halloween costume contest that, um, we can't not have. 

00:08:09,396 --> 00:08:09,476 [Michelle Harris]
Right. 

00:08:09,476 --> 00:08:19,765 [Elan Seago]
So that [chuckles] is going to be on Halloween, the 31st of October from about 12 to 2 in the auditorium. So, um, hopefully people are already thinking about their Halloween costumes. 

00:08:19,765 --> 00:08:20,946 [Michelle Harris]
'Cause we know you are. [laughs] 

00:08:20,946 --> 00:08:29,636 [Elan Seago]
They should've been doing that several months back. But yeah, you still have time. Um, so that will be... That's my, my favorite event, personally. 

00:08:29,636 --> 00:08:36,536 [Michelle Harris]
Right. That's so great. Um, I love to see the variety of costumes, especially if there's, like, pair costumes or group costumes. 

00:08:36,536 --> 00:08:37,276 [Elan Seago]
There's so much fun. 

00:08:37,276 --> 00:08:42,316 [Michelle Harris]
Those are so fun. Um, but you also have some stuff planned for student wellness. 

00:08:42,316 --> 00:08:42,606 [Elan Seago]
Yes. 

00:08:42,606 --> 00:08:44,736 [Michelle Harris]
Uh, so let's talk about a few of those things. 

00:08:44,736 --> 00:08:59,976 [Elan Seago]
Yes. We're bringing back Wellness Wednesdays, which if students or staff have ever come to that, it's a guided art, um, and creativity spot that will have a bunch of art supplies and, um, there is a, like, a prompt each time. 

00:08:59,976 --> 00:09:00,786 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:09:00,786 --> 00:09:17,656 [Elan Seago]
So students or staff are welcome to follow the prompt if you, if you don't have any other ideas, but you're also welcome to just come and, like, color or even just listen to the relaxing music. Um, the dates are all on our schedule, but that's gonna be noon each time. It's always on a Wednesday. 

00:09:17,656 --> 00:09:18,006 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:09:18,006 --> 00:09:23,496 [Elan Seago]
The first one is September 11th at noon, and we hold them in the Sycamore Building. 

00:09:23,496 --> 00:09:24,176 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:09:24,176 --> 00:09:32,236 [Elan Seago]
Um, it's on the bottom floor, Room 7105. And the Sycamore Building is also known as, like, Creative Arts or Professional Crafts Building. 

00:09:32,236 --> 00:09:32,736 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:09:32,736 --> 00:09:58,856 [Elan Seago]
Um, so that, we're bringing that back. We'll have a couple different, um, times where, where we do that. Um, we're also bringing Mental Health First Aid training again, and that is open to both students and staff or faculty, and that's a really important class that we do, um, usually about once a semester. Susanna High and I, um, teach that. And so it's kind of like regular first aid, but for mental health. 

00:09:58,856 --> 00:09:59,796 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:09:59,796 --> 00:10:03,396 [Elan Seago]
Um, and that, that will be September 25th and 26th. 

00:10:03,396 --> 00:10:03,796 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:10:03,796 --> 00:10:05,216 [Elan Seago]
And they're pretty long days. 

00:10:05,216 --> 00:10:05,226 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:10:05,226 --> 00:10:13,876 [Elan Seago]
It's from, like, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, um, each day, but it's really worth it, and it's free to you as a student or staff. 

00:10:13,876 --> 00:10:14,056 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:10:14,056 --> 00:10:16,636 [Elan Seago]
Um, we just need you to sign up ahead of time. 

00:10:16,636 --> 00:10:36,146 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. That's great. And I will say for Wellness Wednesdays, what I love about those is that it takes you out of your regular schedule and allows you to really be okay with thinking about something completely not work, not school, not hectic life, and it's okay to take that break. 

00:10:36,146 --> 00:10:36,176 [Elan Seago]
Yeah. 

00:10:36,176 --> 00:10:49,216 [Michelle Harris]
And I love that we're still offering that for, um, this semester. So I personally encourage everyone to take the break. Just go and, um, enjoy and just take that moment to do something a little bit different. Um, maybe a little out of your comfort zone- 

00:10:49,216 --> 00:10:49,226 [Elan Seago]
Yes 

00:10:49,226 --> 00:10:51,166 [Michelle Harris]
... but that's okay because no one's judging. 

00:10:51,166 --> 00:10:51,176 [Elan Seago]
Yeah. 

00:10:51,176 --> 00:10:52,296 [Michelle Harris]
We're all there for each other. 

00:10:52,296 --> 00:10:58,086 [Elan Seago]
You really can't do anything wrong during that time, and you don't have to have any art experience or- 

00:10:58,086 --> 00:10:58,086 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah 

00:10:58,086 --> 00:11:02,576 [Elan Seago]
... any kind of talent or anything. Like, you still get the, the wellness benefits. 

00:11:02,576 --> 00:11:25,616 [Michelle Harris]
Right. Exactly. That's so great. Um, so we have all these fun things planned, but I always think about the students that maybe aren't quite comfortable going to something. Maybe they don't have a buddy here with them that day on campus or something like that. So what would your advice be for students that might be a little bit hesitant to, um, attend an event, or if they don't have anyone to come with them? 

00:11:25,616 --> 00:11:33,016 [Elan Seago]
Yeah. I really hope that doesn't keep anyone from attending events because so many people will be going, like, on their own. 

00:11:33,016 --> 00:11:33,706 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:11:33,706 --> 00:11:53,845 [Elan Seago]
Like, it's, you know, we're a commuter campus, so you come and you have class. And so not everybody's gonna have the same schedule as their friends, and a lot of people will be going on their own, and I hope that doesn't keep anybody from doing it. I know that can be kind of anxiety-provoking to, to do something out of your comfort zone on your own, but, um, 

00:11:54,876 --> 00:11:59,296 [Elan Seago]
you know, you'll probably see people you know there. And even if you don't, you'll get free food. [laughs] 

00:11:59,296 --> 00:11:59,855 [Michelle Harris]
Right. [laughs] 

00:11:59,856 --> 00:12:02,896 [Elan Seago]
So, or, you know, maybe meet some new friends. 

00:12:02,896 --> 00:12:02,906 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:12:02,906 --> 00:12:13,972 [Elan Seago]
So I hope that people will just push themselves, even if it is a little nerve-wracking. It's okay. You can, you know, be a wallflower for a little bit and-I get that. It's totally fine. 

00:12:13,972 --> 00:12:15,612 [Michelle Harris]
So just do it. Just jump in- 

00:12:15,612 --> 00:12:16,071 [Elan Seago]
Just try to do it- 

00:12:16,072 --> 00:12:16,692 [Michelle Harris]
And enjoy yourself 

00:12:16,692 --> 00:12:17,552 [Elan Seago]
... well if you can. 

00:12:17,552 --> 00:12:29,032 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. Yeah. That's great. Um, so I know we said it once, but let's repeat it again, of where everyone can stay up to date on, um, the happenings that we've got going on for campus. 

00:12:29,032 --> 00:12:41,012 [Elan Seago]
Yes. It's-- we try to-- I mean, I know with, with marketing, you guys, we try to not, not do-- not communicate too much because, I mean, [chuckles] you can't communicate too much. 

00:12:41,012 --> 00:12:41,052 [Michelle Harris]
[laughs] 

00:12:41,052 --> 00:12:46,452 [Elan Seago]
Just people need to check their emails, the, the newsletter you mentioned. Um, 

00:12:47,652 --> 00:13:02,092 [Elan Seago]
we'll be sending out, um, emails about individual events as well. Um, we have flyers all over the buil- the bulletin boards on campus. Um, we also keep a Student Life and Wellness Moodle page- 

00:13:02,092 --> 00:13:02,102 [Michelle Harris]
Yes 

00:13:02,102 --> 00:13:30,372 [Elan Seago]
... which we always keep up to date. Um, and so you can find that under your other courses on Moodle. It's just called Student Life and Wellness, Get Involved. Um, and we keep that very up to date. And of course, the Student Life webpage, which we already talked about, which is just haywood.edu/student-life, or you can just click on HCC Life, and it's under there on our webpage. Um, what am I forgetting? 

00:13:30,372 --> 00:13:31,752 [Michelle Harris]
Uh, social media. 

00:13:31,752 --> 00:13:32,742 [Elan Seago]
Of course, yes. 

00:13:32,742 --> 00:13:37,252 [Michelle Harris]
Stay, uh, stay on that, everybody. Um, so really what I've heard is there's no excuses, right? 

00:13:37,252 --> 00:13:37,852 [Elan Seago]
Exactly. 

00:13:37,852 --> 00:13:48,852 [Michelle Harris]
Great. We're here to have fun. We're here to engage with students. Um, and we just hope that we communicate well enough that everyone has a, uh, great reason to come out and be involved and do something. 

00:13:48,852 --> 00:13:50,032 [Elan Seago]
Yes. 

00:13:50,032 --> 00:13:53,462 [Michelle Harris]
So now we're gonna move into what we call rapid fire. 

00:13:53,462 --> 00:13:53,462 [Elan Seago]
Oh. 

00:13:53,462 --> 00:13:57,452 [Michelle Harris]
And you've been a part of this before, uh, a little bit, right? 

00:13:57,452 --> 00:13:57,552 [Elan Seago]
Yes. 

00:13:57,552 --> 00:13:57,862 [Michelle Harris]
I think. 

00:13:57,862 --> 00:13:58,752 [Elan Seago]
Yes, I remember this. 

00:13:58,752 --> 00:14:02,172 [Michelle Harris]
Yes. Um, so it's a little nerve-wracking, but- 

00:14:02,172 --> 00:14:02,212 [Elan Seago]
[chuckles] 

00:14:02,212 --> 00:14:22,352 [Michelle Harris]
... the, the, um, premise behind rapid fire is to get to know you as a human being behind the scenes. Um, you will be more out and about this semester, you know, saying hi to students. Like you said, you're teaching mental health first aid. You're gonna be at Week of Welcome. Um, so we'll be able to put a, a face to this podcast eventually. Um, so let's get to know Alan a little bit better. 

00:14:22,412 --> 00:14:23,692 [Elan Seago]
Okay. 

00:14:23,692 --> 00:14:24,652 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. Dogs or cats? 

00:14:25,752 --> 00:14:29,562 [Elan Seago]
Cats. But I do like dogs. I don't have anything against them. 

00:14:29,562 --> 00:14:29,592 [Michelle Harris]
[chuckles] 

00:14:29,592 --> 00:14:31,372 [Elan Seago]
I'm just more of a cat person. 

00:14:31,372 --> 00:14:32,912 [Michelle Harris]
Fair. Uh, favorite color? 

00:14:34,192 --> 00:14:35,492 [Elan Seago]
Purple. 

00:14:35,492 --> 00:14:38,212 [Michelle Harris]
If you order pizza, pineapple or no pineapple? 

00:14:38,212 --> 00:14:39,412 [Elan Seago]
[chuckles] Um, 

00:14:40,432 --> 00:14:45,252 [Elan Seago]
I just usually get cheese, but I do like a Hawaiian pizza. 

00:14:45,252 --> 00:14:45,972 [Michelle Harris]
Yum. 

00:14:45,972 --> 00:14:46,152 [Elan Seago]
[chuckles] 

00:14:46,152 --> 00:14:48,052 [Michelle Harris]
Uh, favorite season? 

00:14:48,052 --> 00:14:48,932 [Elan Seago]
Fall. 

00:14:48,932 --> 00:14:50,831 [Michelle Harris]
Do you have any musical talents? 

00:14:50,832 --> 00:14:52,132 [Elan Seago]
No. [chuckles] 

00:14:52,132 --> 00:14:54,892 [Michelle Harris]
Rainbow sprinkles or chocolate chips? 

00:14:54,892 --> 00:14:56,632 [Elan Seago]
Uh, chocolate chips. 

00:14:56,632 --> 00:14:57,952 [Michelle Harris]
Road trip or plane trip? 

00:14:59,072 --> 00:15:02,762 [Elan Seago]
Um, probably a plane trip. I don't have enough patience to be- 

00:15:02,762 --> 00:15:02,762 [Michelle Harris]
[laughs] 

00:15:02,762 --> 00:15:05,152 [Elan Seago]
... in a car that long. [laughs] 

00:15:05,152 --> 00:15:07,572 [Michelle Harris]
Crunchy or smooth peanut butter? 

00:15:07,572 --> 00:15:09,112 [Elan Seago]
Uh, probably smooth. 

00:15:09,112 --> 00:15:10,611 [Michelle Harris]
Dawn or dusk? 

00:15:10,612 --> 00:15:13,192 [Elan Seago]
Dusk. I'm not a morning person. [chuckles] 

00:15:13,192 --> 00:15:15,712 [Michelle Harris]
What's worse, laundry or dishes? 

00:15:15,712 --> 00:15:18,852 [Elan Seago]
Oh, gosh. Um, I really hate dishes. 

00:15:18,852 --> 00:15:22,352 [Michelle Harris]
[laughs] Cake or pie? 

00:15:22,352 --> 00:15:23,932 [Elan Seago]
Oh, probably cake. 

00:15:23,932 --> 00:15:24,532 [Michelle Harris]
Cake. 

00:15:24,532 --> 00:15:25,551 [Elan Seago]
I guess. I don't know. 

00:15:25,612 --> 00:15:25,722 [Michelle Harris]
Cake. Cake. 

00:15:25,722 --> 00:15:25,792 [Elan Seago]
[laughs] 

00:15:25,792 --> 00:15:28,332 [Michelle Harris]
Uh, plans or a surprise? 

00:15:28,332 --> 00:15:31,292 [Elan Seago]
Um, I'm more of a plan type of person. 

00:15:31,292 --> 00:15:32,892 [Michelle Harris]
Mayo or Miracle Whip? 

00:15:32,892 --> 00:15:34,262 [Elan Seago]
Ugh, mayo definitely. 

00:15:34,262 --> 00:15:34,272 [Michelle Harris]
[laughs] 

00:15:34,272 --> 00:15:37,432 [Elan Seago]
I hate Miracle Whip. [laughs] I know that's gonna offend some people. 

00:15:37,432 --> 00:15:41,642 [Michelle Harris]
I know. Hey, you know, everyone has their thing. It's okay. It's okay. We still- 

00:15:41,642 --> 00:15:43,732 [Elan Seago]
I'm sure I already offended them with the cats and dogs one too. 

00:15:43,732 --> 00:15:46,512 [Michelle Harris]
Yes. It's, we still appreciate you. Don't worry. 

00:15:46,512 --> 00:15:47,592 [Elan Seago]
Okay, good. 

00:15:47,592 --> 00:15:52,632 [Michelle Harris]
Well, thank you so much for taking time this week to talk about our upcoming events. We're super excited for this schedule- 

00:15:52,632 --> 00:15:52,722 [Elan Seago]
Yeah 

00:15:52,722 --> 00:15:55,072 [Michelle Harris]
... and can't wait to see the students out and about on campus. 

00:15:55,072 --> 00:16:00,572 [Elan Seago]
Yes. This was really fun, and I am really excited to see students again on campus too. 

00:16:00,572 --> 00:16:26,432 [Announcer]
[upbeat music] Bobcat Chat is a production of Haywood Community College. HCC is located in Clyde, North Carolina. If you'd like to learn more about our great college, visit us online at www.haywood.edu. That's H-A-Y-W-O-O-D.edu. [upbeat music]

00:00:00,580 --> 00:00:14,600 [Announcer]
[upbeat music] Hello and welcome to Bobcat Chat. 

00:00:18,540 --> 00:00:49,080 [Michelle Harris]
Welcome everybody to this week's edition of Bobcat Chat. My name is Michelle Harris, and I am the Director of Marketing and Engagement here at HCC. And this week, we are talking about the Mill Pond Mosaic, um, this really cool publication that was created last year that we are excited to bring back for this semester. We are here with two HCC students who have submitted work last year and plan to do it again this year. We just talked about that off air. Um, so first let's start with introducing yourselves and what program you're in. 

00:00:49,080 --> 00:01:00,520 [Caroline]
Hi, my name is Caroline. I'm a s- dually enrolled student at Haywood Community College and Pisgah High School, and I'm currently on track to complete my Associate in Arts by the time I graduate high school. 

00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:01,880 [Michelle Harris]
Wonderful. 

00:01:01,880 --> 00:01:12,100 [Elizabeth]
Hi, my name is Elizabeth Ashcraft, and I'm enrolled in Haywood Early College and, um, when I graduate, I'll have my high school and my Associate's in Arts. 

00:01:12,100 --> 00:01:28,860 [Michelle Harris]
Great. You guys are both on a great track. [laughs] I did not have that ability when I was your age, and so that's, that's just so great to hear, and I'm glad HCC is here to help you with those goals. Um, so let's start with you. What, uh, inspired you to submit your work in last year's publication? 

00:01:28,860 --> 00:01:48,680 [Caroline]
I submitted it just because I never had a public outlet for my art, and I just like to take advantage of all the opportunities, um, that Haywood Community College offers and just saw it as a great way to meet some new people or gain a new access to a community that I hadn't previously got to. 

00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:49,300 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:01:49,300 --> 00:02:19,560 [Elizabeth]
Well, I, um, submitted because I saw the flyers around school, and I was actually approached by, um, Miss Janine Dalton, who I was, um, in class with at the time, and she encouraged me to submit. And, um, at the time, I also submitted work for the library photo contest, and I won that. So I thought, well, there's no harm in, you know, submitting anything for this. So yeah. 

00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:24,240 [Michelle Harris]
That's so great. Um, and remind me what types of work you guys each submitted. 

00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:34,460 [Caroline]
I submitted, um, four pieces total, um, between acrylic paintings, and then I had some alcohol marker drawings on, like, multimedia paper. 

00:02:34,460 --> 00:02:38,460 [Michelle Harris]
And did you do that work just for this, or was it something you'd already been thinking of? 

00:02:38,460 --> 00:02:43,090 [Caroline]
I had already had those pieces, but I just reused them for this. [chuckles] 

00:02:43,090 --> 00:02:44,560 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. Great. 

00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:57,400 [Elizabeth]
Um, I submitted work for the photography s- portion. Um, they were already photos that I had originally, you know, taken, but, um, I did have help picking them out with my friends. 

00:02:57,400 --> 00:02:58,640 [Michelle Harris]
Narrowing it down a little bit. 

00:02:58,640 --> 00:02:58,860 [Elizabeth]
Yes. 

00:02:58,860 --> 00:03:01,080 [Michelle Harris]
That's a good conversation. [laughs] 

00:03:01,080 --> 00:03:01,519 [Elizabeth]
That was very difficult. [laughs] 

00:03:01,520 --> 00:03:02,700 [Michelle Harris]
I bet. I bet it was. 

00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:02,799 [Elizabeth]
Yeah. 

00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:04,079 [Michelle Harris]
Good problem to have though, right? 

00:03:04,080 --> 00:03:05,240 [Elizabeth]
Yes. 

00:03:05,240 --> 00:03:17,200 [Michelle Harris]
Um, so, uh, what do you guys... So you're looking at this year's. Um, is there something that you guys already have in the works for submitting this year or something you might need to create new for this year's submission? 

00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:22,460 [Caroline]
I think I'm looking at creating new maybe this year. I don't have anything in mind for sure yet. 

00:03:22,460 --> 00:03:22,780 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:03:24,100 --> 00:03:30,459 [Elizabeth]
Um, I already have some pieces that I'm wanting to submit, so narrowing them down again- 

00:03:30,460 --> 00:03:30,580 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah 

00:03:30,580 --> 00:03:35,440 [Elizabeth]
... is definitely [laughs] gonna be my biggest issue. I might submit more than one this year. 

00:03:35,440 --> 00:03:35,900 [Michelle Harris]
Great. 

00:03:35,900 --> 00:03:36,280 [Elizabeth]
So. 

00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:37,360 [Michelle Harris]
Get those friends ready, right? 

00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:37,540 [Elizabeth]
Yes. [laughs] 

00:03:37,540 --> 00:03:52,420 [Michelle Harris]
To help you narrow that down. Um, so the publication encompasses a lot of different types of mediums and a lot of different students from different areas around campus. What did you like reading throughout the publication, um, when it was out last year? 

00:03:52,420 --> 00:04:01,820 [Caroline]
I just thought it was super cool to see all of this, like, a talent being shown that I wouldn't have gotten to see before this. It was just a great way to... 

00:04:03,100 --> 00:04:15,500 [Caroline]
Um, I feel like you don't see this side of talent as much showcased or as publicly showcased, so having this just really was interesting to me and had a lot of fun with it. 

00:04:15,500 --> 00:04:15,510 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:04:16,660 --> 00:04:22,660 [Elizabeth]
I enjoyed reading everything when I got the chance, you know, between school and reading it, it was a lot. 

00:04:22,660 --> 00:04:22,979 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:04:22,980 --> 00:04:25,660 [Elizabeth]
But I did enjoy the poetry. 

00:04:25,660 --> 00:04:25,920 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:32,400 [Elizabeth]
Yeah. I love poetry and seeing how people express themselves using it was really just really awesome. 

00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:33,870 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. Yeah. 

00:04:33,870 --> 00:04:37,380 [Caroline]
And I feel like it brought some new perspectives and stuff like that- 

00:04:37,380 --> 00:04:37,390 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:04:37,390 --> 00:04:39,219 [Caroline]
... through stories and stuff like that. 

00:04:39,220 --> 00:04:57,040 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. Yeah, I agree, and everything is so unique and different and like you just saying, perspectives, like you don't think about certain things, and then you read something you're like, "Oh yeah, that is interesting or a unique way to see something." Um, and then what do you think other students might think about having this type of a publication floating around? 

00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:07,720 [Caroline]
Um, I think that it just shows a way that they can get involved in their school and just another thing to be excited for- 

00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:08,650 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:05:08,650 --> 00:05:10,110 [Caroline]
... and just an opportunity. [chuckles] 

00:05:10,110 --> 00:05:10,900 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:05:10,900 --> 00:05:12,700 [Elizabeth]
It's definitely a creative outlet- 

00:05:12,700 --> 00:05:12,710 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:05:12,710 --> 00:05:30,659 [Elizabeth]
... that, um, if you don't have that already, then this is a really good chance to, you know, put your work out there and express yourself with it, and there's no harm or anything in submitting the work. You're not losing anything, and you're not really gaining... Well, you are gaining something if you win. [laughs] 

00:05:30,660 --> 00:05:30,979 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. [laughs] 

00:05:30,980 --> 00:05:34,479 [Elizabeth]
But, um, it's just a good experience. 

00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:34,620 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:05:34,620 --> 00:05:35,599 [Elizabeth]
And yeah. 

00:05:35,600 --> 00:05:36,960 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. Nothing to lose really- 

00:05:36,960 --> 00:05:36,990 [Elizabeth]
Yeah 

00:05:36,990 --> 00:05:44,960 [Michelle Harris]
... I think is... Yeah. Um, so you guys are talking about artwork and photography. So what sparks the creativity when you're looking into something like this? 

00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:49,780 [Caroline]
Well, for me, during COVID is when I really, like, was like, "I'm gonna learn how to draw." 

00:05:49,780 --> 00:05:49,890 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:05:49,890 --> 00:06:07,740 [Caroline]
And so now it's just become like a stress relief and stuff like that. But I pick up inspiration from looking at different references on platforms like Pinterest or Instagram, or even just being outside. But it's just a great stress relief for me right now and through craziness of life and activities. So

00:06:08,608 --> 00:06:09,468 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:06:09,468 --> 00:06:29,867 [Elizabeth]
Um, well, whenever I walk my dog, I see-- I usually take nature photography. So when I walk outside, I just see a really, like, pre-pretty flower or ducks or just something like the light hits it a certain way, and it's just really pretty. So I just try to capture that- 

00:06:29,868 --> 00:06:30,558 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:06:30,558 --> 00:06:35,048 [Elizabeth]
-in its entirety and, you know, tweak it to, to my liking. 

00:06:35,048 --> 00:06:38,008 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. And I think that's that, like, in the moment sort of thing. Like- 

00:06:38,008 --> 00:06:38,018 [Elizabeth]
Mm-hmm. 

00:06:38,018 --> 00:06:42,148 [Michelle Harris]
-you know, you're there, you see it, and you're like, "Oh, this is super cool," and you just act on it. And then for you, it's like- 

00:06:42,148 --> 00:06:42,418 [Elizabeth]
Mm-hmm. 

00:06:42,418 --> 00:06:44,328 [Michelle Harris]
-okay, what, what's inspiring today? 

00:06:44,328 --> 00:06:44,348 [Elizabeth]
[chuckles] 

00:06:44,348 --> 00:06:48,308 [Michelle Harris]
Because, you know, the... with painting and drawing, I mean, it's endless- 

00:06:48,308 --> 00:06:48,588 [Elizabeth]
Yeah 

00:06:48,588 --> 00:06:50,798 [Michelle Harris]
...opportunities of what you can do. 

00:06:50,798 --> 00:06:50,888 [Elizabeth]
Definitely. 

00:06:50,888 --> 00:06:55,568 [Michelle Harris]
Um, and that's cool. And I know like on the photography side, people love looking at the beauty of our area. 

00:06:55,568 --> 00:06:55,668 [Elizabeth]
Yes. 

00:06:55,668 --> 00:07:07,548 [Michelle Harris]
Um, and so it's great that you're able to, like, capture that in the moment and share it out with everybody. Um, so what would you say to others that might be considering, um, submitting their work and maybe aren't quite sure yet? 

00:07:07,548 --> 00:07:10,148 [Elizabeth]
As we said before, like, there's really just no harm to it. 

00:07:10,148 --> 00:07:10,588 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:07:10,588 --> 00:07:15,808 [Elizabeth]
It's just to have fun with it and just a great opportunity to have an outlet. 

00:07:15,808 --> 00:07:16,028 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. 

00:07:17,048 --> 00:07:20,008 [Elizabeth]
Yeah. And like I said, it's-- there's nothing to lose. 

00:07:20,008 --> 00:07:20,528 [Michelle Harris]
Right. 

00:07:20,528 --> 00:07:25,068 [Elizabeth]
It's just a really good experience, and it puts yourself out there- 

00:07:25,068 --> 00:07:25,088 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:07:25,088 --> 00:07:27,608 [Elizabeth]
...and it kinda gets you outside of your comfort zone- 

00:07:27,608 --> 00:07:27,748 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah 

00:07:27,748 --> 00:07:33,608 [Elizabeth]
...if you're not used to, you know, showing off your works or anything and yeah. 

00:07:33,608 --> 00:07:38,008 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. That's a really good point because some people aren't as outgoing- 

00:07:38,008 --> 00:07:38,028 [Elizabeth]
Mm-hmm 

00:07:38,028 --> 00:07:40,428 [Michelle Harris]
...with their creativity. You're like, "Oh, what if people don't like it?" 

00:07:40,428 --> 00:07:40,468 [Elizabeth]
Yes. 

00:07:40,468 --> 00:08:01,278 [Michelle Harris]
Or whatever that is. But th-that's not what this is about. It's about just saying, "Hey, look at this cool thing," and all the artists, ar-artistry that we have here from the writing, from the visual side of things, and it is that great way. Um, but I know, you know, in, in life and leadership, sometimes we're like, you know, not everybody likes to be praised the same way. And y-you can do it, you know, in your own different way. 

00:08:01,278 --> 00:08:01,308 [Elizabeth]
Yeah. 

00:08:01,308 --> 00:08:03,208 [Michelle Harris]
And then you can show it to your family or your friends- 

00:08:03,208 --> 00:08:03,218 [Elizabeth]
Mm-hmm 

00:08:03,218 --> 00:08:05,478 [Michelle Harris]
...and be like, "Hey, look at this really cool thing that I did." 

00:08:05,478 --> 00:08:05,568 [Elizabeth]
Yeah. [chuckles] 

00:08:05,568 --> 00:08:20,637 [Michelle Harris]
Um, and kinda get it that way. And one of my other hopes as we were kind of developing this whole idea was that it's a tangible piece that you guys can take to an employer or, or just put it on your resume to say, "Hey, I did this thing, and I put myself out there," like you just said. 

00:08:20,637 --> 00:08:20,668 [Elizabeth]
Yeah. 

00:08:20,668 --> 00:08:24,178 [Michelle Harris]
And, and that shows that just step extra of- 

00:08:24,178 --> 00:08:24,178 [Elizabeth]
Yes 

00:08:24,178 --> 00:08:25,218 [Michelle Harris]
...of something that you did. 

00:08:25,218 --> 00:08:25,248 [Elizabeth]
Yeah. 

00:08:25,248 --> 00:08:34,508 [Michelle Harris]
And I just, I just really hope that that works out for you guys and that you can, um, you can do that. So is there anything else before we get into the nitty-gritty about how to do it and the deadlines for this spring? 

00:08:34,508 --> 00:08:34,768 [Elizabeth]
[chuckles] 

00:08:34,768 --> 00:08:38,128 [Michelle Harris]
Anything else that you wanna share with those listening about this, uh, today? 

00:08:39,608 --> 00:08:41,368 [Elizabeth]
Just, just do it. 

00:08:41,368 --> 00:08:41,417 [Michelle Harris]
Just do it. 

00:08:41,417 --> 00:08:42,598 [Elizabeth]
Just do it. [laughs] 

00:08:42,598 --> 00:08:43,068 [Michelle Harris]
I love it. [laughs] 

00:08:43,068 --> 00:08:44,828 [Elizabeth]
That's all encouragement to offer. 

00:08:44,828 --> 00:08:45,088 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:08:45,088 --> 00:08:45,548 [Elizabeth]
Yeah. 

00:08:45,548 --> 00:08:47,928 [Michelle Harris]
Just do it. You've done it. It can be done. 

00:08:47,928 --> 00:08:47,968 [Elizabeth]
[chuckles] 

00:08:47,968 --> 00:08:49,008 [Michelle Harris]
Just, just do it. 

00:08:49,008 --> 00:08:49,808 [Elizabeth]
Yeah. 

00:08:49,808 --> 00:09:25,768 [Michelle Harris]
Um, so here's the details. The Mill Pond Mosaic features short story or essay, poetry, photography, or original art. Um, this semester, so we're in the Spring 2024 semester right now, all the entries are due by March 22nd. And we've made it really easy for everybody to submit their work. Um, you just email hcc-marketing@haywood.edu, and we know your name because it's from your email address, and so we'll know who submitted it. Um, but you can submit multiples and in multiple categories. So like you were just saying, you know, poetry is really cool. You could maybe- 

00:09:25,768 --> 00:09:25,928 [Elizabeth]
Yeah 

00:09:25,928 --> 00:09:26,528 [Michelle Harris]
...maybe do something. 

00:09:26,528 --> 00:09:27,598 [Elizabeth]
I was, I was actually thinking about that. 

00:09:27,598 --> 00:10:01,908 [Michelle Harris]
Yes. See, there we go. There we go. Um, and then, uh, those will all get put in to, um, submit to the judges who are employees here at the college. And then thanks to the HCC Foundation this year, the winners will receive a gift card. Um, but every-everything that is-- gets published in the, in the, um, publication, so that way, again, it's just a g-great way to show the creative side of all the unique, um, outlets and things that we have here on campus. Because to your point earlier, like you might not think you're in a class or a program that offers this, but that's okay. 

00:10:01,908 --> 00:10:02,138 [Elizabeth]
[chuckles] 

00:10:02,138 --> 00:10:03,028 [Michelle Harris]
Like you can still do it. 

00:10:03,028 --> 00:10:03,058 [Elizabeth]
Yeah. 

00:10:03,058 --> 00:10:13,308 [Michelle Harris]
You can still... I was in natural resources just the other day, and I saw like a haiku taped to the, taped to the bulletin board. I wanted to like submit this for Mill Pond Mosaic. 

00:10:13,308 --> 00:10:13,868 [Elizabeth]
I know. 

00:10:13,868 --> 00:10:23,338 [Michelle Harris]
You just, you just never know where it comes from. Um, so thank you guys so much for being on this episode and, and sharing your thoughts on this. And I'm so glad you're doing it again this year. 

00:10:23,338 --> 00:10:23,348 [Elizabeth]
Yeah. 

00:10:23,348 --> 00:10:31,788 [Michelle Harris]
And I hope you find value and really appreciate, um, everything that we get submitted in here and, and diff-different outlets for this type of creativity. 

00:10:31,788 --> 00:10:32,578 [Elizabeth]
Thank you for having us. 

00:10:32,578 --> 00:10:32,587 [Michelle Harris]
Yes. 

00:10:32,588 --> 00:10:34,038 [Elizabeth]
Thank you. [chuckles] 

00:10:34,038 --> 00:10:59,908 [Announcer]
[instrumental music] Bobcat Chat is a production of Haywood Community College. HCC is located in Clyde, North Carolina. If you'd like to learn more about our great college, visit us online at www.haywood.edu. That's H-A-Y-W-O-O-D.E-D-U.

00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:04,330 [Announcer]
[upbeat music] 

00:00:05,420 --> 00:00:10,320 [Announcer]
Hello and welcome to Bobcat Chat. 

00:00:10,320 --> 00:00:13,640 [Michelle Harris]
[upbeat music] 

00:00:17,150 --> 00:00:34,220 [Michelle Harris]
Welcome everybody to this week's edition of Bobcat Chat. My name's Michelle Harris, and I'm the Director of Marketing here at HCC. And I am sitting with some of our fine team members from the Financial Aid Department, if you guys want to introduce yourselves. 

00:00:34,220 --> 00:00:39,300 [Tracy Rapp]
Yes. So I'm Tracy Rapp. I'm the Dean of Student Services here at HCC. 

00:00:39,300 --> 00:00:43,040 [Nicole Smiley]
And I'm Nicole Smiley. I'm the Assistant Director of Financial Aid. 

00:00:43,040 --> 00:01:21,260 [Michelle Harris]
Great. Thank you guys for joining us again. I know we've had you on, um, in the past, but there's always exciting updates to share with our Bobcats. Um, so today we are talking about some buzz on the street, so to speak, about a scholarship for North Carolina residents. The scholarship seems to be a combination of prior scholarships that have been out and about, um, but maybe a little bit more simplified and packaged a little bit easier for, um, those that are gonna be registering for college. Um, so let's chat about the NextNC Scholarship. Um, first, if we wanna go over some of the qualifying factors of this. 

00:01:23,560 --> 00:01:39,420 [Tracy Rapp]
Okay. So the first thing is that students will need to be North Carolina residents, and they must be attending at least six credit hours per semester to, to receive the NextNC Scholarship. Um, another qualification is based on, um, the household income. 

00:01:39,420 --> 00:01:39,960 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:01:39,960 --> 00:01:57,420 [Tracy Rapp]
Okay. So it's based on AGI, which is basically your adjusted gross income, and it... that is gonna be based on the 2022 taxes. And this number would need to be less than or equal to 80,000 for the individual. Either individual or the parents of a dependent student. 

00:01:57,420 --> 00:01:57,880 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:01:57,880 --> 00:01:58,660 [Tracy Rapp]
Okay? 

00:01:58,660 --> 00:02:08,030 [Michelle Harris]
And we've talked a little bit internally sometimes about taxes and how they could impact the application for the FAFSA or whatever's needed for things like that. 

00:02:08,030 --> 00:02:08,060 [Tracy Rapp]
Mm-hmm. 

00:02:08,060 --> 00:02:16,560 [Michelle Harris]
So do you wanna reiterate to folks about the tax season and how... what they need to go ahead and do this application? 

00:02:16,560 --> 00:02:20,310 [Tracy Rapp]
Sure. So it is based on what they call prior prior years. 

00:02:20,310 --> 00:02:20,340 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:02:20,340 --> 00:02:27,540 [Tracy Rapp]
So for the '24-'25 academic year, it's based on 2022 taxes. So these are the taxes you actually filed last year. 

00:02:27,540 --> 00:02:27,940 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:02:27,940 --> 00:02:30,660 [Tracy Rapp]
So there's no waiting anymore because of that. 

00:02:30,660 --> 00:02:31,500 [Michelle Harris]
Right, which is good. 

00:02:31,500 --> 00:02:31,520 [Tracy Rapp]
Mm-hmm. 

00:02:31,520 --> 00:02:52,180 [Michelle Harris]
So they can go ahead and get it done. And even if they were go-getters and, you know, the taxes are still in flux, but for this year. But, you know, they need to go ahead and do their applications, um, they're good to go. Um, so that's a good thing I wanted to reiterate. So let's dive into this a little bit more. How much would this scholarship cover for HCC students? 

00:02:52,180 --> 00:03:11,280 [Nicole Smiley]
So the NextNC Scholarship, it's money that doesn't have to be repaid, which is great, and it's available for students enrolling in the upcoming 2024-'25 academic year. And an eligible student at HCC could receive at least $3,000 annually in combined federal and state aid. 

00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:15,600 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. Great. Um, and what does that $3,000 cover? 

00:03:17,920 --> 00:03:21,700 [Tracy Rapp]
So, um, it could cover things like their tuition- 

00:03:21,700 --> 00:03:22,230 [Michelle Harris]
Okay 

00:03:22,230 --> 00:03:23,120 [Tracy Rapp]
... and fees. 

00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:23,540 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:03:23,540 --> 00:03:28,880 [Tracy Rapp]
Um, but can also pay for books and other living expenses if there's, if there's money left over. 

00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:29,030 [Michelle Harris]
Sure. 

00:03:29,030 --> 00:03:34,360 [Tracy Rapp]
So basically we say that, um, tuition and fees are paid first- 

00:03:34,360 --> 00:03:34,650 [Michelle Harris]
Okay 

00:03:34,650 --> 00:03:45,880 [Tracy Rapp]
... out of scholarship funds. Then if there's anything remaining after that, they could use that to pay for books and other expenses. But we also want to remind students that there are some programs here that have a little bit higher fees. 

00:03:45,880 --> 00:03:45,890 [Michelle Harris]
Sure. 

00:03:45,890 --> 00:03:50,420 [Tracy Rapp]
So it may not cover all the fees in some of our higher, higher cost programs. 

00:03:50,420 --> 00:03:55,450 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. So that $3,000 can really go toward anything that's related to coming to school- 

00:03:55,450 --> 00:03:55,530 [Tracy Rapp]
Mm-hmm 

00:03:55,530 --> 00:04:06,480 [Michelle Harris]
... here, and then it's just kinda how it all slices and dices, and it could be dependent on credit hours. You know, if the minimum is six credit hours, but maybe they're paying 12, well, then obviously that would increase their tuition- 

00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:06,760 [Tracy Rapp]
Correct 

00:04:06,760 --> 00:04:20,120 [Michelle Harris]
... which would be deducted from that 3,000. So it's all on the student, but it's up to 3,000, which is really, really great. So this is all sounding good. Um, how do students apply for this scholarship? 

00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:39,580 [Nicole Smiley]
So applying is really easy. Um, all a student would need to do is just complete the 2024-'25 FAFSA form, and that's at studentaid.gov. And there aren't any additional forms to fill out for this scholarship. And really now's the time to go ahead and complete the FAFSA. Um, and we'll be glad to help with that in financial aid- 

00:04:39,580 --> 00:04:39,590 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm 

00:04:39,590 --> 00:04:41,539 [Nicole Smiley]
... in the office here at HCC. 

00:04:41,540 --> 00:05:13,300 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah, when I was starting to get information about this, you know, on the marketing side, and they're like, "They don't have an extra form to fill out or another website to go to," I was so excited because it's one less thing that the student has to do or worry about or have another deadline looming over them. And the fact that it's all integrated just makes it that much easier. Um, and I think also makes it that much more important to complete the FAFSA because if you do, you're gonna be automatically looked at and see how all this could potentially align, um, with your needs that this, that the student's gonna have. 

00:05:13,300 --> 00:05:14,340 [Nicole Smiley]
Absolutely. 

00:05:14,340 --> 00:05:23,850 [Michelle Harris]
Um, so internally we've also been talking about how this scholarship really kind of has that good holistic approach to things. Um, but we also know that there's the Pell Grant- 

00:05:23,850 --> 00:05:23,850 [Nicole Smiley]
Mm-hmm 

00:05:23,850 --> 00:05:26,080 [Michelle Harris]
... that's still sort of out there, so to speak. 

00:05:26,080 --> 00:05:26,090 [Nicole Smiley]
Mm-hmm. 

00:05:26,090 --> 00:05:32,040 [Michelle Harris]
So I wanted to be sure that we talked about that and how it works in conjunction with this, or if it even does. 

00:05:32,040 --> 00:06:02,720 [Tracy Rapp]
Right. Thanks. Um, so yeah. So the, the Pell Grant is a federal grant. And, um, of course, these funds also do not need to be paid back 'cause it is a grant to students. And again, to apply for that, it's just the FAFSA, as we mentioned. So the FAFSA is the application for both the Pell Grant and the, the NextNC. Um, the amount is determined by the information that's entered onto that, um, FAFSA by the student and the number of credit hours that the student is, is, uh, attending for each semester. So kind of as we mentioned before, the Pell Grant's awarded first. 

00:06:02,720 --> 00:06:03,159 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:06,900 [Tracy Rapp]
And then the NextNC, um, Scholarship is built to kind of fill in the gap- 

00:06:06,900 --> 00:06:07,120 [Michelle Harris]
Okay 

00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:09,780 [Tracy Rapp]
... um, of up to $3,000 per academic year. 

00:06:09,780 --> 00:06:27,258 [Michelle Harris]
OkaySo it's really like if they say, "Okay, here's your tuition amount," and we'll just say it's $4,000, whatever. And then the Pell Grant steps in and is like, "Well, I'll give you 500." So then they have that remaining balance of 3,500, and then NextNC could maybe overlay on that, and then maybe there's only $500 left. 

00:06:27,258 --> 00:06:27,308 [Tracy Rapp]
Right. 

00:06:27,308 --> 00:06:34,808 [Michelle Harris]
So it kind of just keeps trickling down until you get that bottom line of what the student might still have to cover on their own, or they might be good to go- 

00:06:34,808 --> 00:06:34,998 [Tracy Rapp]
Right 

00:06:34,998 --> 00:06:50,308 [Michelle Harris]
... and, and be covered by everything out there, 'cause every situation is so different and, you know, the classes they enrollment, like you were talking about, the fees for certain programs might vary. Um, so it's really just sort of chipping away at that highest number, um, through the variety of scholarships and grants that we've got available. 

00:06:50,308 --> 00:06:50,558 [Tracy Rapp]
Yeah. 

00:06:50,558 --> 00:06:52,668 [Michelle Harris]
And it's all through that one application. Just do the FAFSA. 

00:06:52,668 --> 00:06:53,238 [Tracy Rapp]
That's right. 

00:06:53,238 --> 00:06:53,268 [Michelle Harris]
Right? [laughs] 

00:06:53,268 --> 00:06:54,888 [Tracy Rapp]
Yeah, exactly. Exactly. 

00:06:55,968 --> 00:07:00,908 [Michelle Harris]
Um, so how can students get some more information about the NextNC scholarship? 

00:07:00,908 --> 00:07:30,008 [Nicole Smiley]
So for more information, uh, students can visit nextncscholarship.org or haywood.edu/nextnc. And students can also give us a call in the financial aid office at HCC at 828-627-4756, or they can email us at hcca@haywood.edu, and we're also, uh, in the Hemlock Building. So if they wanna come see us, we'll be glad to help them in person, and we're here to help. 

00:07:30,008 --> 00:07:41,458 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah, and I think that's really one key takeaway I took from when last time we chatted was you can literally just walk in the building and say, "I need to talk to someone in financial aid," and we will say, "Okay, come on over." 

00:07:41,458 --> 00:07:41,458 [Nicole Smiley]
Right. 

00:07:41,458 --> 00:07:45,778 [Michelle Harris]
And I just... Having that personalized touch with students and just allowing them to stop in whenever- 

00:07:45,778 --> 00:07:45,778 [Nicole Smiley]
Yeah 

00:07:45,778 --> 00:07:47,058 [Michelle Harris]
... I think is kind of a load off. 

00:07:47,058 --> 00:07:47,068 [Nicole Smiley]
Yeah. 

00:07:47,068 --> 00:07:56,828 [Michelle Harris]
So if someone has a lunch break or, you know, something like that and just needs to pop in and talk to somebody, um, we have that ability. You know, no appointment needed. If you want an appointment, we can do that too. 

00:07:56,828 --> 00:07:57,008 [Nicole Smiley]
Right. 

00:07:57,008 --> 00:08:00,428 [Michelle Harris]
Um, just really being open to, to helping them and, and supporting their needs. 

00:08:00,428 --> 00:08:00,968 [Nicole Smiley]
Right. 

00:08:00,968 --> 00:08:08,088 [Michelle Harris]
Um, I think one of the other things that you guys do so well is truly help them with the FAFSA, 'cause that can be intimidating. 

00:08:08,088 --> 00:08:08,307 [Nicole Smiley]
Right. 

00:08:08,308 --> 00:08:30,118 [Michelle Harris]
Um, I know I've personally been through it, you know, for myself and with my son, and like you're... It's a federal thing, so you kind of get worked up a little bit about it. But you're just... It's truly just step by step, see what it is we need, see what to fill out. And I think having you guys there to just answer the questions like, "What does this mean?" or, "What are they looking for?" The tax question. I think I want to reiterate to people, take advantage of that- 

00:08:30,118 --> 00:08:30,118 [Nicole Smiley]
Yes 

00:08:30,118 --> 00:08:43,798 [Michelle Harris]
... because you guys are the experts to help them, to help them through that. Um, so that's, that's all great, and yes, reach out to us on things like that. Um, we've also have something exciting planned for the summer, and I think it's exciting- 

00:08:43,798 --> 00:08:43,798 [Nicole Smiley]
Okay 

00:08:43,798 --> 00:08:58,948 [Michelle Harris]
... 'cause anytime you bring people to campus, I'm all on board and, and am excited about it. Um, but we've have an event in place that is specifically gonna help support those that could qualify for NextNC. And oh, by the way, since it's just through the FAFSA- 

00:08:58,948 --> 00:08:58,988 [Nicole Smiley]
Mm-hmm 

00:08:58,988 --> 00:09:00,248 [Michelle Harris]
... you get FAFSA help too. 

00:09:00,248 --> 00:09:00,408 [Nicole Smiley]
Mm-hmm. 

00:09:00,408 --> 00:09:01,678 [Michelle Harris]
And it's all intertwined. 

00:09:01,678 --> 00:09:01,688 [Nicole Smiley]
Yeah. 

00:09:01,688 --> 00:09:03,988 [Michelle Harris]
So let's talk about that event for a minute. 

00:09:03,988 --> 00:09:27,067 [Tracy Rapp]
Right. Yeah. So we're offering, um, an evening event. It'll be on Thursday, July 11th from 6:00 to 7:00 PM in the, in the auditorium on campus. And so, um, myself and Nicole and, and others from the financial aid will be there to, um, help with, uh, the NextNC scholarship, provide more details about it, and answer any questions they have and any other, um, programs we have here at HCC. 

00:09:27,068 --> 00:09:27,078 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. 

00:09:27,078 --> 00:09:41,248 [Tracy Rapp]
You know, including the FAFSA, Pell Grant, um, others, other, um, federal grants, and also our internal HCC scholarships. So we have many of those to award too that we can help them with questions with that, and also with the application process for, for that too. 

00:09:41,248 --> 00:10:11,158 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm, and that's great 'cause there are so many resources available. You know, we have those internal scholarships. You have the state. You have the federal. And some students might also get external scholarships from their employer or their bank or something like that. And so coming to an event like this can kind of help unpack that a little bit for them, so you can kind of say, "Okay, this is what's gonna happen first, and then this is what you need to do here. And then once you have... You know, once you're have this done, here's a link for the internal scholarships." And just really walking them through that. And I don't know, again, as a parent of a child- 

00:10:11,158 --> 00:10:11,158 [Tracy Rapp]
Yeah 

00:10:11,158 --> 00:10:18,618 [Michelle Harris]
... that's about to go through the college experience, just being able to talk to someone about it is just so... I don't know. It's such a relief, I think. 

00:10:18,618 --> 00:10:18,668 [Tracy Rapp]
Yeah. 

00:10:18,668 --> 00:10:20,228 [Michelle Harris]
Especially the experts. 

00:10:20,228 --> 00:10:20,278 [Tracy Rapp]
Yeah. 

00:10:20,278 --> 00:10:55,278 [Michelle Harris]
Um, so yeah, we really encourage everyone to come out, and I think we're really excited about this scholarship in general, the NextNC scholarship, because it really is taking everything, putting it all together, and saying, "Come, come to school." Um, and I, I do wanna share, you know, that there are some qualifications. And of course, we want everyone to come to HCC 'cause that's why we're here, and we think we're great. Um, but the $3,000 is for any community college in North Carolina, and then it is up to $5,000 for a four-year, um, college or university. So again, we want everyone to come here, but we also wanna share the great benefits of the scholarship and letting everyone know that it is available statewide. 

00:10:55,278 --> 00:10:55,368 [Tracy Rapp]
Mm-hmm. 

00:10:55,368 --> 00:11:01,008 [Michelle Harris]
Um, so to totally take advantage of that. So before we jump into some summer questions for you guys- 

00:11:01,008 --> 00:11:01,428 [Tracy Rapp]
Mm 

00:11:01,428 --> 00:11:07,358 [Michelle Harris]
... is there anything else you wanted to share about the NextNC scholarship or, um, just your area in general with our listeners today? 

00:11:09,608 --> 00:11:24,278 [Nicole Smiley]
I would just encourage, like you said, everyone to reach out if they have any questions about financial aid. Um, we're, we're here to help, so we really, um, welcome the questions and, um, the calls, and we'll be glad to help with, with whatever we can. 

00:11:24,278 --> 00:11:30,538 [Michelle Harris]
Mm-hmm. And I think with the support from your guys' area and everything out there, it really does make college attainable for everyone. 

00:11:30,538 --> 00:11:30,548 [Nicole Smiley]
Mm-hmm. 

00:11:30,548 --> 00:11:31,278 [Michelle Harris]
It really does. 

00:11:31,278 --> 00:11:31,278 [Nicole Smiley]
Right. 

00:11:31,278 --> 00:11:32,948 [Michelle Harris]
And I think that's what the exciting part is- 

00:11:32,948 --> 00:11:32,958 [Nicole Smiley]
Yeah 

00:11:32,958 --> 00:11:34,148 [Michelle Harris]
... is we're here to help. 

00:11:34,148 --> 00:11:35,548 [Nicole Smiley]
Definitely. 

00:11:35,548 --> 00:11:38,648 [Michelle Harris]
So you guys are familiar with our rapid-fire session. 

00:11:38,648 --> 00:11:38,708 [Tracy Rapp]
Yeah. 

00:11:38,708 --> 00:11:45,808 [Michelle Harris]
And this one's a little bit shorter because I thought it would be good to do a rapid fire just based on summer 'cause we're embarking on summer. 

00:11:45,808 --> 00:11:45,818 [Tracy Rapp]
Yeah. 

00:11:45,818 --> 00:11:52,548 [Michelle Harris]
The scholarship's gonna be available through the summer. Everything's summer. So here we go. Hamburger or hotdog on the grill? 

00:11:52,548 --> 00:11:53,908 [Tracy Rapp]
Oh, hamburger definitely. 

00:11:53,908 --> 00:11:55,838 [Nicole Smiley]
Yeah, hamburger for me too. 

00:11:55,838 --> 00:11:57,268 [Michelle Harris]
Hamburger. Vacation or staycation? 

00:11:58,308 --> 00:11:59,128 [Tracy Rapp]
Vacation. [laughs] 

00:11:59,128 --> 00:12:00,708 [Nicole Smiley]
Vacation for me, totally. 

00:12:01,908 --> 00:12:03,688 [Michelle Harris]
Plain or flavored lemonade? 

00:12:06,868 --> 00:12:08,848 [Tracy Rapp]
Probably plain 'cause I like it tart. 

00:12:08,848 --> 00:12:10,688 [Nicole Smiley]
Mm-hmm. That's tough. 

00:12:10,688 --> 00:12:10,848 [Tracy Rapp]
[laughs] 

00:12:10,848 --> 00:12:13,148 [Nicole Smiley]
I guess flavored. Both are great. 

00:12:13,148 --> 00:12:14,468 [Michelle Harris]
A little spice in the life. 

00:12:14,468 --> 00:12:15,338 [Nicole Smiley]
Yeah. 

00:12:15,338 --> 00:12:17,868 [Michelle Harris]
Yeah. What's your favorite ice cream flavor? 

00:12:19,448 --> 00:12:27,968 [Tracy Rapp]
Oh, I like the... Oh, if I can get it right. The brown sugar maple bacon ice cream from Ultimate Ice Cream in Asheville. 

00:12:27,968 --> 00:12:29,168 [Michelle Harris]
Very specific. 

00:12:29,168 --> 00:12:30,718 [Tracy Rapp]
That's my favorite. 

00:12:30,718 --> 00:12:30,718 [Nicole Smiley]
Wow. 

00:12:30,718 --> 00:12:30,748 [Tracy Rapp]
That's my favorite. 

00:12:30,748 --> 00:12:31,928 [Nicole Smiley]
Now, mine's more basic. 

00:12:31,928 --> 00:12:31,938 [Tracy Rapp]
Yeah. 

00:12:31,938 --> 00:12:34,148 [Nicole Smiley]
Probably just strawberry and chocolate. 

00:12:34,148 --> 00:12:34,548 [Michelle Harris]
Okay. 

00:12:34,548 --> 00:12:34,678 [Nicole Smiley]
But, so... 

00:12:34,678 --> 00:12:35,348 [Michelle Harris]
A little combo. 

00:12:35,348 --> 00:12:36,348 [Nicole Smiley]
Yeah. 

00:12:36,348 --> 00:12:37,048 [Michelle Harris]
Beach or pool? 

00:12:38,488 --> 00:12:39,868 [Tracy Rapp]
Beach. 

00:12:39,868 --> 00:12:40,718 [Nicole Smiley]
I like them both. 

00:12:40,718 --> 00:12:40,718 [Tracy Rapp]
[laughs] 

00:12:40,718 --> 00:12:45,648 [Nicole Smiley]
This is so hard, but beach. Walking on the beach, but laying by the pool. 

00:12:45,648 --> 00:12:46,388 [Michelle Harris]
Oh, there you go. 

00:12:46,388 --> 00:12:46,838 [Tracy Rapp]
There you go. 

00:12:46,838 --> 00:12:46,868 [Michelle Harris]
There you go. 

00:12:46,868 --> 00:12:47,508 [Tracy Rapp]
I agree with that. 

00:12:47,508 --> 00:12:48,418 [Michelle Harris]
Yep. 

00:12:48,418 --> 00:12:48,427 [Tracy Rapp]
Yep. 

00:12:48,428 --> 00:12:49,768 [Michelle Harris]
Fireworks or bonfire? 

00:12:51,288 --> 00:12:52,088 [Tracy Rapp]
Bonfire. 

00:12:52,088 --> 00:12:54,548 [Nicole Smiley]
That's good. I love fireworks, so- 

00:12:54,548 --> 00:12:55,088 [Tracy Rapp]
I know 

00:12:55,088 --> 00:12:56,548 [Nicole Smiley]
... fireworks. 

00:12:56,608 --> 00:12:58,828 [Michelle Harris]
Well, we all hope we can enjoy some of these on the summer list- 

00:12:58,828 --> 00:12:58,918 [Nicole Smiley]
Yes. 

00:12:58,918 --> 00:12:58,978 [Tracy Rapp]
Yes 

00:12:58,978 --> 00:12:59,828 [Michelle Harris]
... this summer. 

00:12:59,828 --> 00:13:00,208 [Nicole Smiley]
Yes. 

00:13:00,208 --> 00:13:08,308 [Michelle Harris]
Thank you guys so much for being with us today and sharing information about NextNC, and we hope to see everybody out on July 11th from 6:00 to 7:00. 

00:13:08,308 --> 00:13:09,218 [Tracy Rapp]
Okay. Thank you, Michelle- 

00:13:09,218 --> 00:13:09,218 [Michelle Harris]
Thank you 

00:13:09,218 --> 00:13:12,788 [Tracy Rapp]
... for talking with us about this great opportunity for our students. 

00:13:12,788 --> 00:13:15,008 [Michelle Harris]
You bet. [upbeat music] 

00:13:15,008 --> 00:13:38,458 [Announcer]
Bobcat Chat is a production of Haywood Community College. HCC is located in Clyde, North Carolina. If you'd like to learn more about our great college, visit us online at www.haywood.edu. That's H-A-Y-W-O-O-D.edu. [upbeat music]