HCCC students commit to complete
Herkimer, N.Y. — Students at Herkimer County Community College joined in on the statewide Commit to Complete pledge on Wednesday by gathering at the college’s Robert McLaughlin College Center to sign a banner stating their commitment.
HCCC participated in the event along with 36 other SUNY and CUNY community colleges, who set aside Oct. 3 as Commit to Complete Day.
According to a news release, the event’s message was “students who complete an associate degree have better prospects for jobs, scholarships and transfer to four-year schools.”
“I’m hoping the students will have a renewed awareness of making the commitment, to finishing a goal, to finish their degree and to understand what it takes to finish that degree, and the hard work involved, and that the help is available to them,” said Marjorie Moore, director of the Academic Support Center at HCCC. Moore said she also wants the students to realize “that all the faculty and staff support them in their endeavors.”
The event at the college center on Wednesday included remarks from HCCC President Ann Marie Murray, who spoke about her own moment where she decided to commit to a better education.
A video presentation included snippets from those who support higher education, including successful individuals who graduated from community colleges such as astronaut Eileen Collins. Comments also came from college presidents, county executives, both senators from New York state and the lead guitarist for Pat Benatar.
“If you put in that hard work, be dedicated, and have that vision, and when you have that degree you will have that for the rest of your life,” said state Sen. David Carlucci, D-38, in the video.
There was also a live stream Internet projection of featured speaker Isa Adney, who spoke at Finger Lakes Community College. She spoke about her own community college experience and wrote a book called “Community College Success: How to Finish with Friends, Scholarships, Internships and the Career of Your Dreams,” published in March.
Besides signing the banner, students had to fill-out a paper that detailed the commitment. This included that they will complete their degree or program at HCCC within three years, seek advisement on course selection to ensure timely college completion, learn about and use college support networks and resources that can aid their completion and discuss their future with college instructors the career counselor and the transfer counselor.
The sheet also had the student list one of their goals they will work on during the year that will support their pledge to complete and to check off the possible resources at the college that may assist them.
Moore said Phi Theta Kappa members will have the banner available throughout the semester for those students who were unable to attend Wednesday’s event. Moore said they had over 130 signatures on the student banner on Wednesday.
“The message we want them to understand is that they are not in this alone,” said Moore. “There’s mentors, we want them to get the help they need. Everyone at the college is behind them to get their education and to pursue their goals.”