Two hundred high school students and their families from the Socorro Independent School District explored career options and navigated the college admissions process at the first El Paso Community College Round Up in February.
Hosted at SISD’s District Services Center, the college fair was an opportunity for EPCC to bring its services directly to prospective students in the community.
“Even though we have five campuses across El Paso, one in every neighborhood, we still know that sometimes it’s easier for students to access us in very familiar places like coming to the District Service Center,” said Carlos Amaya, Ph.D., EPCC Vice President of Student and Enrollment Services.
Admissions counselors and representatives from several EPCC support services departments, such as financial aid, registrar’s office, recruitment services, and dual credit program, were available to answer questions. Students also visited information booths to learn about some of EPCC’s 138 academic programs, including nursing, dental hygiene, and mass communications.
Adrian Velazquez, a Pebble Hills High School senior, and his mom stopped by the fair to check out EPCC’s different programs. Velazquez, who is interested in a career in social work or criminal justice, also looked into the college’s health programs. Besides that, he hoped to get information on FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and the college’s admissions process.
“I’m hoping to learn something that can help me with FAFSA or something that will make the process of coming to EPCC a lot easier,” Velazquez said.
Tammi Mackeben, SISD director of school counseling, said hosting the EPCC Round Up at SISD’s district office was a convenient way for students and their parents to obtain important information without having to go to one of EPCC’s campuses.
“We at Socorro ISD feel it’s important to offer students every opportunity, especially to look at post-secondary education,” Mackeben said. “Many of our students go to EPCC, and we just want to make that path very accessible.”
For those who missed the EPCC Round Up, Amaya said SISD high school seniors will have another opportunity to engage with EPCC and the University of Texas at El Paso admissions representatives at Operation College Bound this spring.
During Operation College Bound, seniors will be able to meet with representatives from UTEP and EPCC at Montwood, Pebble Hills, Americas, El Dorado and Socorro high schools.
The event offers seniors the ease and convenience of enrolling in college in a familiar environment with assistance from the college and university representatives. The first enrollment day will occur at Montwood High School on March 30. Additional enrollment days will take place at the different the high schools in April.
“These partnerships we have from K-12th to EPCC and UTEP, are essential for the success of our community,” Amaya said. “We want to make sure our students complete a high school degree, a high school credential and then continue forward. (At) Operation College Bound, we’re happy to have students join us.”
Published March 13, 2023
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