Hawai'i CC hosts hundreds of middle and high school students at Hilo campus

Hawaiʻi Community College
Contact:
Thatcher J P Moats, (808) 934-2506
External Affairs/Rel Coord, External Affairs and Relations
Posted: Feb 27, 2015

Students from Ke Ana La'ahana Public Charter School participate in a physics demonstration.
Students from Ke Ana La'ahana Public Charter School participate in a physics demonstration.

HILO – Hawai‘i Community College (Hawai‘i CC) hosted nearly 700 local middle and high school students at its Hilo campus on Thursday, Feb. 26 and Friday, Feb. 27 for the 2nd Annual Hawai‘i Community College Day events.

"The Hawai‘i CC ‘ohana is dedicated to ensuring that our middle and high school students are college and career-ready,” said Vice Chancellor for Students Affairs Jason Cifra, who has led the development of the annual event. “To successfully fulfill that mission, it's important that local students see first-hand the programs and services we offer. We want Hawai‘i CC to be their first choice when it comes to achieving their academic and career goals."

Student visitors explored the college’s academic programs through hands-on activities and displays. This included learning how to use a fire extinguisher by putting out real fire with the Fire Science Program; using a “virtual welder” from the Machine, Welding and Industrial Mechanics Program; examining specimens through microscopes; and much more.

Students also toured the campus, visiting the labs, classrooms, and shops of the academic programs.

On Thursday, six schools participated in Hawai‘i Community College Day: Hilo High, Keaau High, Honoka‘a High, Pahoa High, Ke Ana La'ahana Public Charter School, and Connections Public Charter School.

Students from Kalanianaole Intermediate, Hilo Intermediate, Keaau Middle, and Waiakea Intermediate are scheduled to attend on Friday.

Hawai’i Community College Day is a partnership with GEAR UP Hawai‘i, a federal program that Hawai‘i Community College and the other nine campuses in the University of Hawai’i system are implementing. Together with its partners, GEAR UP inspires hope and improves futures by increasing students' access to and success in higher education.