WMCC is a Community College in Name and Spirit
Katharine Eneguess, President of White Mountains Community CollegeThe beginning of the fall semester here at White Mountains Community College is fast approaching and we are eagerly awaiting the arrival on our campus of new and returning students. Though some of our students have taken courses over the summer, most have spent it devoting more time to friends and family and, of course, working. We hope that during their time away from campus they’ve been able to grab some time for themselves, recharging their batteries before they head into another academic year.
Those returning students know, though, the college experience isn't all about academics. This is something we would like to stress to the students who will be coming in as freshmen and who might be feeling a little anxious right now, wondering if they'll fit in and feel at home. To those students we say, relax, there are plenty of extracurricular opportunities on campus to get involved in and make new friends.
Our Student Senate is made up of representatives from each curriculum and serves the student body as its governing group. The Student Senate is active in planning social and cultural activities, ensuring opportunities for students to come together outside of their regular classrooms. In the past the Student Senate has organized everything from field trips to political candidate forums, along with managing the expenditure of student funds. They have organized trips to ice shows and hockey games. They’ve sponsored a bowling competition. They’ve hosted "spring fling" and are open to any ideas the student body has.
One of the best ways to meet new friends is through volunteer activities that give back to the community. In the past our students have sponsored and run holiday activities around Christmas for children and helped local food banks replenish the stock on their shelves.
The social aspect of college is not usually something prospective students consider when they are thinking about going to a community college, but it is one we consider very important to our students' academic success. Much of college is the social stimulation of conversations and discussions outside of the classroom, whether with fellow students or faculty members. Who can predict when an idea or concept presented in class will light the bulb over the head and new questions will spring up? It could happen while a student is relaxing in the student lounge. Later this academic year, the newly built 4,000 square foot student center will open, providing plenty of room to relax in front of the fireplace with friends, as well as a space to exercise in. It promises to be a great place for students to chat and cultivate those ideas!
In a few short weeks our hallways here at the Berlin campus and at our academic centers in Conway, Littleton, and Woodsville will be bustling with students. We have no doubt that the incoming students will quickly feel at home and look forward to coming to school each day, whether for class or an extracurricular activity.
We are not only a community college in name, but also in spirit too!
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