Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Aryanna Buckley, a sophomore GCC student from Ironwood, tries her luck dropping pennies through 10 gallons of water into small glasses, as carnival volunteer Kristi Montonati, right, a GCC accounts payable and purchasing employee watches during Wednesday's Samson Fest event at Gogebic Community College.
By TOM LAVENTURE
Ironwood - Students of Gogebic Community College were treated to a barbecue picnic lunch and a carnival as a socializing event to get better acquainted after two weeks of classes.
The Samson Fest started 12 years ago as the campus kickoff event in the fall, said Dayle Jackson, director of student outreach and engagement at GCC. Students can stroll through and enjoy a free lunch while playing some games and interacting with students, staff and faculty in an informal way, she said.
"They come for the new gear and then really just to interact," Jackson said. "They play games, socialize a little bit and make some new friends with people."
The quarterback challenge is always popular and becomes very competitive, she said. The carnival atmosphere is fun and constructive as a socializer and much more than just speeches and food, she said.
Research shows that the first month on campus is key for student success, Jackson said. It's important to get students, especially from outside the area, to connect with people on campus and also know where the student resources are located and what they do, she said.
"I like that it brings everybody together, with the possibility of making more friends," said Jordan Burkett, a sophomore general studies student from Milwaukee. "There are a lot of fun games to play and cool prizes to win."
The duck game was nice, he said. To play is just to pick a rubber duck off the water in the bowl to reveal a number underneath that will result in corresponding tickets for GCC merchandise and other fun items, he said.
"I got the star, so I got 15 tickets," Burkett said.
Kristi Montonati, who works in the GCC accounts payable and purchasing office, said she volunteers for the Samson Fest each year. She was in charge of the duck pond this year.
"I don't have a lot of student interaction day-to-day, so I like coming here and welcoming back all the students," Montonati said. "It's great. We're happy to have everybody back."
Casey Parker, from Chicago, and MacKenzie LePage, from Houghton County, are both freshman in the ski area management program. They are both on the softball team and said that helps to integrate with campus but that the Samson Fest was also a good event.
"I like it," LePage said. "It's cute. It's fun. I enjoy things like this."
Sharon Fleig, the assistant to the director of financial aid office, said it's a very busy time right now but that it's important to pause and welcome the students who are so important to GCC. After 29 years at GCC she said the staff understand their impact and like to step up and make a difference for students.
"It's fun for us to come down here and interact with them in a kind of fun day with food and games," Fleig said.
Jackson said there are many events for students planned for the fall. GCC President George McNulty will hold a pizza with the president event at 11:45 a.m. Thursday, in Aces Lounge, so that students can offer feedback on any topic about their experience at the college, or just have pizza and listen.
Friday is also annual 906 Day, she said. It's an Upper Peninsula event with free merchandise.
On Monday students can enjoy a night of free bowling at Larry's Lucky Strikes, she said. It's a way to introduce leisure activities to help develop life balance and understand the importance of leisure time, she said.
There will be a home hobby night in October to introduce similar leisure activities, she said.
A fall speaker series in October will include law enforcement officials who will talk about personal safety, and the threat of criminal sexual misconduct, available resources and campus and community events.
