GCC holds open house

IRONWOOD — Prospective students took a closer look at Gogebic Community College on Tuesday at an open house on the Ironwood campus. The event started in the courtyard outside the Lindquist Student Center and included visits with staff, campus tours, and refreshments.

Kari Klemme, GCC marketing strategist, estimated they had more than 100 people in attendance. Campus tours were provided by students in the newly formed GCC Student Diversity Group, she said.

Kathy and Peter Tofson drove three and a half hours from Portage, Wisconsin, to tour the campus with their son, Vaughn. The Tofsons said they were really impressed with the college.

“They were extremely hands on with us — helping us right away as soon as we came in,” Kathy Tofson said. “It was very one-on-one oriented. I was really impressed with how on top of things they were.”

Kathy Tofson said it was “really great” to hear Jim Vanderspoel, director of the Ski Area Management program, speak with them about the SAM program.

“It was wonderful to talk to him and get more in depth into the ski area management programing,” she said. “We were also able to meet quite extensively with the admissions officer so that we could get ideas on costs and (campus housing).”

This was the first tour of a college campus they took with their son. They said they had only recently heard of the college and that it offered a ski area management program. Peter Tofson knew it was something his son would be interested in, as he works for Cascade Mountain in Portage.

“I’m a huge fan of the career paths you can take here,” said Vaughn Tofson, 17. “I can definitely see myself going here. It was really nice.”