From taking selfies to talking state budget, GCC students get to know legislators

From taking selfies together to talking about the state budget, Germanna Community College students and their state legislators were getting to know each other.

Germanna  Student Government President Danielle Capra, who was one of 13 GCC students visiting the General Assembly in Richmond Tuesday,  told legislators students “get more than our money's worth” at Germanna. Capra is one of 12 children.  She said GCC's combination of academic quality and affordability help students from big families. She plans to transfer to the University of Virginia after earning her associate’s degree at Germanna.

GCC's  Jessica Clifford takes a selfie with Speaker Bill Howell 

“The teachers have been great and the counselors have been great,” said Luis Gutierrez, who has returned to college at Germanna after 30 years at various jobs, including running his own moving company, told Speaker of the House Bill Howell. “They go out of their way to stay on top of things.”

Gutierrez said GCC counselors have been particularly helpful to him as a “non-traditional” student. Germanna President David A. Sam, who led the student delegation through the visit, added, “Non-traditional students have become traditional students,” meaning that stereotypes about what a “ typical college student” is no longer apply.

Howell praised Germanna’s nursing program and added: “Community colleges do a great job of workforce training. It boosts our economy and helps bring in new businesses and jobs”

The visit was part of the General Assembly’s Every Day is Community College Day program in which students visit their representatives to talk about community college’s impact on their lives.