Galveston County Science and Engineering Fair is Feb. 9

The 36th Galveston County Science and Engineering Fair is set for Saturday, Feb. 9, at the Aggie Special Events Center on the campus of Texas A&M University at Galveston, 200 Seawolf Parkway.

All Galveston County students in grades 7-12 are encouraged to apply to present at the fair, which experienced a hiatus during the 2017-18 school year because of the impact of Hurricane Harvey.

Registration is currently open at http://www.tamug.edu/scifair/registration.html. The deadline to register is Feb. 1. No late registration, on-site registration and substitutions will be accepted.

Exhibit categories include behavioral/social science, biochemistry and microbiology, botany, environmental sciences, medicine and health, zoology, chemistry, computer science, space and earth sciences, engineering, mathematics and physics.

Student participants who win in their category will be awarded trophies, certificates, scholarships and/or cash awards.

Judging will begin at 8:30 a.m. The general public is invited to view the exhibits from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The Galveston County Science and Engineering Fair is the result of a long-standing tradition of collaboration between the faculty and staff from Galveston College, Texas A&M University at Galveston and the University of Texas Medical Branch to encourage Galveston County students to engage in science, engineering, technology and mathematics through competitive projects and exhibitions.

Science fair co-chairs are Dr. James Salazar of Galveston College, Dr. David Baca of Texas A&M University at Galveston and Dr. Marguerite A. Sognier of the University of Texas Medical Branch. Committee members include Michael Sweeney, Texas A&M University at Galveston; Dr. Adrian Recinos, Dr. Cliff Houston and Alicia Simmons, University of Texas Medical Branch; and Dr. Dragoslava Zivadinovic, Dr. Tatyana Ivanova, Carol Langston, Cynthia Parra and Sandi Smith, Galveston College.

“Participation in a science and engineering fair can be a critical step,” said Dr. Sognier, a research scientist and inventor who holds five patents. “Students gain essential life skills such as critical/creative thinking, effective communication and perseverance, which will benefit them for the rest of their lives.”

For more information, contact Dr. David R. Baca at (409) 599-1441 or Michael Sweeney at (409) 740-4564.

Beacon at Galveston College

Galveston College to celebrate Veterans Day and 100th anniversary of lighting of the Galveston Jetty Lighthouse beacon

On Veterans Day, Nov. 12, Galveston College and Galveston Island will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the lighting of the lamp at the Galveston Jetty Lighthouse at what was at the time the busiest port on the Gulf Coast and second busiest port in the country.

On Nov. 12, 1918, one day after the Armistice of Nov. 11, 1918, and after 14 years of on-and-off construction, the lamp was lit for the first time at the Galveston (South) Jetty Lighthouse with George W. Bardwell serving as the first head keeper.

A violent storm ravaged the lighthouse on May 2, 2000, and the iron pilings, weakened by years of rust, gave way, causing the lighthouse to fall into the water.

In 2001, the Galveston Community College District Board of Regents met in a retreat and adopted the vision statement: “A Beacon of Light Guiding Lifelong Learning.”

Regent John L. Sullivan convinced the board that the college needed a symbol at the entrance of the college at 39th and Avenue Q. Regent Sullivan knew that the actual South Jetty Lighthouse cupola was rusting away in Sonny Broome’s welding yard, having been placed there after being salvaged by George P. Mitchell’s company.

In 2003, the U.S. Coast Guard granted a loan of the cupola to Galveston College, and John and Cindy Sullivan provided a donation of over $20,000 to have Sonny Broome restore it.

Architects were hired to design an area known as Beacon Square that would feature a replica of the South Jetty Lighthouse that used to stand on Galveston Island’s east end.

In November 2006, a public ceremony that included the U. S. Coast Guard color guard dedicated Beacon Square and the lighthouse replica, complete with the restored lighthouse cupola. Subsequent improvements allowed a fundraising engraved brick project to surround the lighthouse with nine oak trees available with naming rights.

The Beacon Square lighthouse now stands as a beautiful focal point at 39th Street and Avenue Q and a landmark for the Galveston College campus.

The college will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the lighting of the beacon on Veterans Day, Nov. 12, with a community celebration and glow party titled “Light Up the Night.” The event will include a veterans’ resource fair, glow party fun and children’s crafts and games, music, food and talks on the history of the lighthouse and beacon.

All events are free and open to the public. A complete schedule follows:

Schedule of Events

11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Veterans Community Resource Fair, Mary Moody Northen Center Atrium

2 p.m. – 100th Anniversary of the Lighting of the Beacon and Veterans Day Celebration, Abe and Annie Seibel Wing Lawn

  • Veterans Day Wreath Ceremony hosted by Student Veterans Association
  • History of Galveston Jetty Lighthouse featuring Kevin Kinney, Archivist, Galveston and Texas History Center, Rosenberg Library
  • A Beacon of Light Guiding Lifelong Learning: Galveston College Beacon Square featuring Joe Huff, Director of Public Affairs (Retired), Galveston College
  • A display featuring historical information on the Galveston Jetty Lighthouse, Seibel Wing Lobby

3-5 p.m. – Kids’ Zone – Abe and Annie Seibel Wing Lawn

  • Games
  • Bounce Houses
  • Glow-in-the-Dark Crafts with the Artis Crafting Club and Spark Poetry and Writing Club

5-7 p.m. – Light Up the Night Glow Party – Abe and Annie Seibel Wing Lawn

  • Music by DJ Roland Martinez
  • Refreshments
  • Glow Fun

In the event of inclement weather, outdoor events will be moved into the Hermes Fitness Center Gym.

For more information, contact Carol Langston in the Galveston College Public Affairs office at [email protected].

11th Annual Fall Festival is grand success

 

More than 1,000 students, faculty, staff and members of the community attended the 11th Annual Fall Festival hosted by the Galveston College Student Government Association and the Office of Student Activities Oct. 24 in the Sarah Hermes Fitness Center and Mary Moody Northen Center Atrium at Galveston College.

Under the direction of Cynthia Parra, coordinator of Student Activities, the event featured games, student organization booths, food, fun and information on community resources.

The Food Bank of Galveston County distributed more than 350 bags of food at the event.

Above, students enjoy fun and games at the event. Below, Nikki Montoya, financial aid and veterans affairs assistant, helps out at the Student Veterans Association booth.

For more photo highlights of the 2018 Fall Festival, click here.

Paramedic students volunteer for Kidz Care and Kids’ Meal Houston programs

Galveston College Paramedic students recently participated with Friendswood Emergency Medical Services in giving childhood vaccinations as part of a free community vaccination program, Kidz Care.

Paramedic students also helped in lunch bag decorating along with the children and parents for a program with Kids’ Meals Houston to educate, inspire and bring smiles to kids’ faces with decorated lunch bags for kids in need of lunches.

Brian Ayres is director of the Emergency Medical Services program at Galveston College.

Galveston College students enjoy games during the 2017 Fall Festival. The 2018 event is set for Oct. 24 from 3-6 p.m.

Galveston College sets 2018 Fall Festival

Galveston College students enjoy games during the 2017 Fall Festival. The 2018 event is set for Oct. 24 from 3-6 p.m.

Galveston College will host its 2018 Fall Festival on Wednesday, Oct. 24, from 3 to 6 p.m. on lawn of the main campus at 4015 Avenue Q, Galveston, Texas.

Now in its 11th year, the festival is hosted by the Galveston College Student Government Association and the Office of Student Activities under the direction of Cynthia Parra, coordinator of Student Activities.

“Galveston College began the festival shortly after Hurricane Ike to bring the community together and to give the children of the island some consistency in the aftermath of tragedy,” said Parra. “The event has continued to grow over the years and has become a Galveston College tradition along with Spring Fling during the spring semester.”

Highlights of the festival will include music, games, inflatable bounce houses, activity booths, food and many more attractions that are sponsored by the Office of Student Activities, student clubs and organizations.

A new Galveston College program starting this academic year is the addition of the first-ever FAFSA Fest in the Abe and Annie Seibel Foundation Wing.

FAFSA Fest is designed to help students and their families navigate the sometimes-challenging financial aid process. Three sessions will be available in conjunction with the Fall Festival: 9-10:30 a.m., 12-2 p.m. and 5-7 p.m.

Current and prospective students can get help completing the online Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in addition to having other questions answered. Students who complete their FAFSAs that day will be entered into a drawing for prizes.

The FAFSA application period for the 2019-20 academic year opened on Oct. 1. Students should bring their families’ 2017 income and tax information. Students under the age of 18 should bring a parent or guardian.

Activities and attractions sponsored by the Office of Student Activities, as well as FAFSA Fest, are free of charge. Student organizations may charge nominal fees for food items and other fundraisers in support of club activities such as attendance at professional conferences.

The festival is open to the public, and children are welcome.

In the event of rain, the event will be located in the Hermes Fitness Center on campus.

Male Success Initiative (MSI) volunteered at the Feed Galveston Packing event

Male Success Initiative volunteers at Feed Galveston

Ten students from the Galveston College Male Success Initiative volunteered at the Feed Galveston packing event on Saturday, Sept. 22, working with the First Lutheran Church of Galveston and the Galveston Food Bank to help pack 50,0000 meals for the homeless in Galveston County. This was the group’s first event of the year.

The Male Success Initiative is designed for students who wish to strengthen their leadership and professional development skills. Open to both male and female students, it helps members build character by identifying their purpose and serving others.

For more information and to join the Male Success Initiative at Galveston College, contact Pierre Banks at [email protected], Deon Botha at [email protected] or Ron Crumedy at [email protected].

Galveston College Atrium Mural

Galveston College sees 11.5 percent enrollment jump

Galveston College officials have announced a double-digit increase in student enrollment for the fall 2018 semester from this same time last year.

The college recorded a census-day credit headcount enrollment of 2,450 students, which represents an 11.5 percent increase from the 2,197 students who attended Galveston College during the fall semester of 2017.

“Our growth is a testament to the support of our community and to the great work of our faculty and staff,” said Dr. Myles Shelton, president of Galveston College. “I cannot emphasize enough the teamwork and collaboration across the college community. Everyone contributed to this successful student recruitment effort that produced such positive results.”

The enrolled students generated 20,070 student semester credit hours, an increase of 15 percent from the previous fall semester.

The growth in enrollment can be attributed to a number of factors, Dr. Shelton said, including the addition of new programs in Computer and Network Administration, Instrumentation Technology and a daytime Law Enforcement Academy in partnership with area law enforcement agencies.

“We are excited to have 17 students enrolled in our daytime Law Enforcement Academy in addition to the students in our existing evening academy,” Dr. Shelton said, adding that the college has collaborated with the City of Galveston, the Galveston Police Department, Galveston County, the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office and other local agencies to provide high-quality law-enforcement education to the region.

Dr. Cissy Matthews, vice president of instruction, said the number of Galveston high school students participating in dual-credit programs also has increased significantly.

“We have 588 dual-credit students who are enrolled in 32 different classes or programs,” Dr. Matthews said. “Some of the classes with the highest enrollment are English Composition I, Medical Terminology and U.S. History I.  On the workforce side, the Welding Technology program is popular with 64 students taking different levels of welding this year.  The Emergency Medical Services program also has been well-received, with 23 dual-credit students.”

In addition to students enrolled in credit academic-transfer and workforce programs, Galveston College serves more than 1,725 individuals through workforce training, continuing education for professional and personal development, and other non-credit programs.

For more information about Galveston College, visit GC.edu or call (409) 944-4242.