CONTACT: Steve Quakenbush

The GCCC Information Services Office publishes this calendar of events near the beginning of each month, in an effort to assist local and area news media professionals in keeping track of, and covering, the public events taking place at the college. Each listing includes basic details on the college-based community events. New events and new details may in some cases be determined after the publication of this edition of the calendar. This calendar does not necessarily include all workshops, classes and seminars.

FEB. 29
MARCH 28
First of two Garden City Piano Festival concerts, 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of GCCC’s Pauline Joyce Fine Arts Building, featuring selected students with nationally known pianists James Rivers and Julie Rivers.  Free admission.

MARCH 29
FHSU Clay at GCCC, spring ceramic arts workshop, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the ceramic arts studio at GCCC’s Pauline Joyce Fine Arts Building, featuring Fort Hays State University graduate art students Danielle Robinson and Eric Stearns.  Free admission, but advance registration requested at 620-276-9587.

Second of two Garden City Piano Festival concerts, 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of GCCC’s Pauline Joyce Fine Arts Building, featuring selected students with nationally known pianists James Rivers and Julie Rivers.  Free admission.

MARCH 30
Grand opening and open house of the Southwest Kansas Fire Training Center, 2-4 p.m. on the southwest side of the GCCC campus, with live demonstrations, emergency vehicle displays, refreshments and souvenirs, plus opportunities to see rescue, rappelling, pumper drafting, forced entry and other activities.  Free admission.  Everyone welcome.

Spring semester induction ceremony for new members of GCCC’s Alpha Xi Upsilon Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, 2 p.m. in the auditorium of the Pauline Joyce Fine Arts Building.  PTK is the international honor society for students and community at two-year colleges.

APRIL 4
30th Annual GCCC Endowment Association Scholarship Auction, Go for the Gold, 6:30 p.m. at the Finney County Exhibition Building, with doors opening to button wearers at 6 p.m., silent auction under way at 6:30 p.m. and live auction starting at 7:30 p.m.  Admission buttons $20 each, available at Keller Leopold Insurance, GCCC Endowment Association, Kinney Glass, Goldworks, Southwest Photo and Video and Lewis Motors, but not sold at the door.  Button prices rise to $25 after April 2.

Opening reception for GCCC Student Art Exhibition, 2-4 p.m. at the portico of the Beth Tedrow Student Center, featuring the work of Kate Dibbern, York, Neb.  Exhibition continues through April 27 in the BTSC walk-through gallery.

APRIL 6
Opening date for the Don Osborn Exhibition in Mercer Gallery, featuring images by an accomplished Kansas artist from Lindsborg.  Exhibition continues through April 23 with viewing hours of noon-4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 2-5 p.m. Sundays.  Mercer Gallery is located in the west wing of GCCC’s Pauline Joyce Fine Arts Building, and admission is free.

GCCC Choir and String Ensemble Concert, 3 p.m. April 6 in the auditorium of the Pauline Joyce Fine Arts Building.  Free admission.

APRIL 11
2008 Garden City Women’s Conference, Fatter Wallets – Slimmer Waists, 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. at the Clarion Inn, sponsored by GCCC with Finney County KSU Research and Extension, the Garden City Area of Commerce, Golden Plains Credit Union, the Finney County Women’s Chamber of Commerce, Heartland Chapter of Girl Scouts of America and the Garden City Recreation Commission.  The conference features three primary presentations, including Beauty as a Relative Concept by Larry Kirkwood of Kansas City, creator of the Body Image Project, plus breakout sessions with a focus on health and wealth for women of all ages.  Registration and information are available at 620-275-3232.  The conference cost is $20 per person, including lunch.

APRIL 11-12
The Economics of Immigration Conference for Kansas and Colorado community college students, Friday evening and Saturday on the GCCC campus, with keynote presentations available for the public at 6:45 p.m. April 11, featuring Dr. James Ragan, research economist; 9:30 a.m. April 12, featuring Dr. Heather Luea, research economist; and 1:30 p.m. April 12, featuring Dolores Mesa-Lopez of Garden City, all in the auditorium of the Pauline Joyce Fine Arts Building.  Public passes available in advance at the GCCC Student and Community Services Center reception desk.

Short-term Computerized Business Records class at GCCC featuring Quicken software, 5-8 p.m. April 11 and 9 a.m.-noon April 12, covering inventory, financial and tax records, expense comparisons and related functions.  Total cost is $31.  Information and registration available from Instructor Amanda Worthington, 620-275-3259.

APRIL 15
GED class orientation in the Garden City Project Destiny High School Equivalency Program for qualified adult migrant students, noon at the GCCC Student and Community Services Center.  Information and registration available at 620-275-3284.  Subsequent classes take place 1-4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Fridays.

GED class orientation in the Scott City Project Destiny High School Equivalency Program for qualified adult migrant students, 6 p.m. at the Bryan Education Center in Scott City.  Information and registration available at 620-275-3284.  Subsequent classes take place 6-8 p.m. Monday through Wednesday.

APRIL 17
Earth Day celebration on the GCCC campus, with an inaugural ribbon cutting at 12:15 p.m. at the Beth Tedrow Student Center portico for a new campus recycling system created by the 2008 GCCC Leadership Development Class.  Activities also include an all-campus picnic, campus-wide cleanup, student talent competition and voting for 2008-2009 class and campus officers, all sponsored by the GCCC Student Government Association.

APRIL 19
First in a series of GCCC Early Fall Enrollment Days for first-time full-time college students and others, with registration at 8 a.m. in the Beth Tedrow Student Center.  The day includes an opportunity to complete all enrollment steps at one time, with special support and assistance.  Reservations are available at 620-276-9608 or 1-800-658-1696.  Subsequent Fall Early Enrollment Days include April 28, May 5, June 2 and June 14.

APRIL 20
GCCC fall semester enrollment opens to the public, with hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Fridays at the GCCC Student and Community Services Center.  (Registration for currently enrolled students available April 1)

APRIL 21
Ticket sales open for High-Rise Hilarity, directed by Ryan Peterson, a series one one-act comedy performances staged by the GCCC Drama Department at 7:30 p.m. May 2 and 3 in the auditorium of the Pauline Joyce Fine Arts Building.  All seats $6.  Tickets on sale in GCCC’s Saffell Library, with hours of 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Fridays and 6 to 10 p.m. Sundays; plus one hour before showtime in the fine arts lobby.

APRIL 24
GCCC Spring Pops Concert, 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Pauline Joyce Fine Arts Building, featuring the GCCC Concert Band and GCCC Jazz Ensemble, as well as guest tuba performer Dr. Jeffery Hodapp of Emporia State University.  Free admission.

APRIL 25
Steps to Startup Workshop for people interested in starting new businesses, 1:30-3:30 p.m. on the top floor of the GCCC Student and Community Services Center, sponsored by the GCCC Small Business Development Center.  Participation is free, but advance registration is requested at 620-276-9632.  The SBDC will sponsor the same workshop at 1:30 p.m. June 5; plus 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. July 15, Aug. 14, Sept. 18, Oct. 16 and Nov. 13.

APRIL 26
Ride for the Future, a first-time ride, meet and greet event sponsored by the GCCC Department of Public Safety, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., based at the college campus, open to all motorized two and four-wheel vehicles.  Ride participation costs $30 per driver and $5 per passenger, offering the chance to follow a predetermined route and meet various Southwest Kansas emergency responders.  Proceeds go to scholarships for GCCC Paramedic, Fire Science and Criminal Justice Program students.  The event also includes a concluding meal and prize drawings.  Information available at 620-276-9629.

APRIL 28
Second in a series of GCCC Early Fall Enrollment Days for first-time full-time college students and others, with registration at 8 a.m. in the Beth Tedrow Student Center.  The day includes an opportunity to complete all enrollment steps at one time, with special support and assistance.  Reservations are available at 620-276-9608 or 1-800-658-1696.  Subsequent Fall Early Enrollment Days include May 5, June 2 and June 14.

MAY 2
High-Rise Hilarity, directed by Ryan Peterson, the first of two evenings of one-act comedy performances staged by the GCCC Drama Department, 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Pauline Joyce Fine Arts Building.  All seats $6.  Tickets available April 21 and later in GCCC’s Saffell Library, with hours of 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Fridays and 6 to 10 p.m. Sundays; plus one hour before showtime in the fine arts lobby.

MAY 3
High-Rise Hilarity, directed by Ryan Peterson, the second of two evenings of one-act comedy performances staged by the GCCC Drama Department, 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Pauline Joyce Fine Arts Building.  All seats $6.  Tickets available April 21 and later in GCCC’s Saffell Library, with hours of 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Fridays and 6 to 10 p.m. Sundays; plus one hour before showtime in the fine arts lobby.

MAY 5
Third in a series of GCCC Early Fall Enrollment Days for first-time full-time college students and others, with registration at 8 a.m. in the Beth Tedrow Student Center.  The day includes an opportunity to complete all enrollment steps at one time, with special support and assistance.  Reservations are available at 620-276-9608 or 1-800-658-1696.  Subsequent Fall Early Enrollment Days include June 2 and June 14.

MAY 7
GCCC Potter’s Guild Spring and Mother’s Day Art Sale, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the lobby of the Pauline Joyce Fine Arts Building, featuring original, hand-made pottery and other ceramic creations, with prices ranging from $5 to $50.

MAY 10
2008 GCCC Graduation, 10 a.m. at the main gymnasium of the Dennis Perryman Athletic Complex, with certificates and diplomas awarded to college graduates as well as GED graduates of the GCCC Adult Learning Center.

MAY 18
Southwest Kansas Music Academy Recital, 3 p.m. May 18 in the auditorium of the Pauline Joyce Fine Arts Building, featuring performers taught by Douglas Beyer, GCCC string music director.  Free admission.

MAY 18-20
GCCC Final Exam Week, with classes meeting on an extended schedule for end-of-semester testing.