Germanna Community College News Blog: careers

Showing posts with label careers. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

STEM careers not only for boys, Girl Scouts learn at GCC

: Mirela Fetea, Ph.D., (right) answers questions from area Girl Scouts who participated in hands-on science workshops at Germanna Saturday.With her (background, l-r, are Trudy Witt, Ph.D. Prof. of Biology, GCC student Zilmara Montecinos Bonnet, Izabela Sikora, education technician wih the Tri-City Soil and Water Conservation Board, JoAnn Schrass, Ph. D., Biology professor.)

Fifty Girl Scouts from Fredericksburg and Stafford and Spotsylvania counties deconstructed electronic devices including computers, printers, smart phones and televisions and learned about physics and ecology during the first Girl Scout Science Day Saturday at Germanna Community College's Fredericksburg Campus in Spotsylvania.

: Isabella Grasso of Girl Scout Troop 5214 takes part in a "Deconstruction" workshop during Girl Scout Science Day at Germanna Community College's Fredericksburg Area Campus in Spotsylvania Saturday. participated in hands-on science workshops led by Germanna Community College faculty at the Fredericksburg Area Campus on Saturday, (Photos by Robert A. Martin)

During a panel discussion about women in science, Dr. Mirela Fetea, who teaches physics at Germanna, told the Girl Scouts not to worry about stereotyping that implies girls aren't suited to STEM careers.

"Just pursue your dreams," Fetea told the Girl Scouts. "If you want to stay home and raise your children, that's ok. But there's nothing wrong with chasing your dreams, whatever they are. Even if you are told you cannot do it. Show people you can."
Dr. Trudy Witt, who teaches biology at GCC, told the Girl Scouts not to be concerned about being pigeon-holed as a "nerd."
"I always remind people that nerds make more money," she said with a grin.
"It was pretty fun," 12-year-old Evelyn Pailthorpe of Stafford Troop 3546 said of the day.
"We're really excited about having the opportunity to get elementary school-aged girls thinking about careers in science," Witt said.

Germanna Biology Prof. Trudy Witt with local scouts
during Girl Scout Science Day at GCC.

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Campus to Career series: What does it really take to get hired today?

What does it really take to get hired today?

Kristen Reed of Job.com will be among the speakers at a Campus to Career series event at noon Tuesday, March 19 in room 212 of the Dickinson Building on Germanna's Fredericksburg Area Campus in Spotsylvania.

Also discussing what it takes will be:

Derrick Mestler, PHRm Sr. Leader, Human Resources, Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center

Kathy Sweere, Re-Employment Specialist, Virginia Workforce Center, Virginia Employment Commission

A resume review and a lesson in the art of "elevator" interviewing follow.

A free lunch will be provided.

The event is sponsored by GCC Career Services. For more information, email Career & Academic Counselor Marie F. Hawley at mhawley@germanna.edu or call 540/834-1051.

Monday, June 11, 2012

The two-year option: Community college growth demands the schools be prepared to welcome it

The Free Lance Star published the following editorial today:

IF EDUCATION beyond high school is the key to a more successful future (and it is), then Virginia students and families need a practical alternative to the four-year commitment, escalating cost, and increasing selectivity associated with Virginia's public and private four-year colleges and universities.
The state's community college system must be prepared to fulfill that need close to home, at an affordable cost, and with the flexibility modern life requires. It is already striving to meet that responsibility in an admirable manner.
But community college officials here and in other states see their mission unfairly hampered in many ways, from a lingering reputation as being more high school, to being the place for those ill-suited or ill-prepared for grander institutions. By now, the public should know that's hogwash.

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Friday, June 8, 2012

Stop by the 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 9 Open House at GCC's new Science & Engineering Building to learn about careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math

Reminder: There will be an Open House for students interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 9 at Germanna's new Science & Engineering Building and Information Commons at the Fredericksburg Area Campus at 10000 Germanna Point Drive in Massaponax.

Hear GCC Faculty speak about STEM programs

Learn about transfer options and Guaranteed Admission Agreements

Tour the high-tech new Science & Engineering Building and Information Commons

If you're considering a career in Science, Technology, Engineering or Math, Germanna can help you prepare for careers in these growing fields. Join us for the first STEM-focused Open House! Hear from faculty from STEM areas, learn more about transfer options, and get a close look at the Science & Engineering Building and Information Commons.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

How Germanna is making a difference--by Prof. Lisa Murphy and Adjunct Prof. Russell Carter

In today's Free Lance-Star, Prof. Lisa Murphy and Adjunct Prof. Russell Carter explain how Germanna is making a difference for its students, their families, local businesses and our communities.

These programs train students, including many career-changers, for new jobs in growing fields such as health care and cyber security. This strengthens the local economy by helping to close the "skills gap." The Virginia Employment Commission recently reported that in our area 3,000 jobs were unfilled because companies could not find qualified employees. When a person gains the skills to do one of those jobs, that is a success for the worker, the employer, and the community--with or without a degree...
The dedicated faculty, staff, and administrators of Virginia's community colleges live in the communities we serve. We see our students not only in classes but at our places of worship, at our children's schools, and at the grocery store. They are our friends and neighbors. These relationships keep us motivated to improve our services to better meet their needs. You can't replace that with an online class from a for-profit corporation.

Lisa Murphy, a professor of mathematics, co-chairs the engineering department at Germanna Community College. Russell Carter, a retired businessman, is an adjunct professor of history and English at GCC.

Friday, November 4, 2011

Germanna Center for Workforce & Community Education hosts Intelligence and Homeland Security Summit

The Germanna Community College Center for Workforce & Community Education will host an Intelligence and Homeland Security Summit from 9 a.m. to noon on Dec. 1 at Fredericksburg Square.
The conference will feature a panel discussion and breakout sessions by recently retired senior executives from the Central Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency, Secret Service, National Reconnaissance Office, National Geospatial Intelligence Agency and Defense Intelligence Agency.
Learn about opportunities in homeland security and the intel community -- and how to pursue jobs effectively. Take advantage of the opportunity to network.
Seats are $20 and they are limited. Call 540/891-3012. GCC students with student ID will be admitted free, but must make reservations.
Fredericksburg Square is located at 525 Caroline St.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Earn a Business Administration degree on weekends at Germanna

Deirdre Blake of WFLS reports on Germanna Community College's new Accelerated Business Administration Program.
The program will make it possible to get an Accelerated Business Administration associate's degree on weekends over the course of the Spring semester.

Registration starts in November and classes begin in January.

Please go to the the GCC Web site or call 540/891-3000 for more information.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Germanna's on-site Apprenticeship Program makes career ladder easier to climb; doesn't require students to leave work

After spending the last six years making airplane parts at Euro-Composite in Culpeper, 29-year-old Doug Bray saw a chance to advance his career when the company began an apprenticeship program in partnership with Germanna Community College's Center for Workforce and Community Education. The program opened the door to an associate’s degree and a journeyman’s license in industrial maintenance.
The four-year Workforce apprenticeship program combines classroom work with on-the–job training at the work site. It’s designed to meet the need for trained industrial maintenance technicians and intended for those who wish to work as maintenance employees or those who have recently been hired as maintenance employees. It also allows current employee to upgrade the skills necessary to support and maintain high-technology equipment.

“It was definitely a good opportunity for me, going to Germanna,” said Bray, who has a wife and child. “I think it’ll allow me to look at my job a little different. It’ll help me to excel at what I’m doing. It could mean promotions, raises. It’ll just benefit me all around and look at different things I’m doing and come up with new ideas to do my job that maybe I wouldn’t without taking the program and without getting my license.”

“It’s been a little bit of a learning experience,” Bray said. “It’s taught me things I never knew and also helped me refresh on things I learned in high school and never really used while I was working. It will definitely help me to think more critically. It’s been a little tough at times, but it’s definitely been enjoyable.”

Call 540/891-3012 or go to www.germanna/workforce/.edu for more information.