Get H.E.R.E.

Big Bend Community College students had the chance to learn about BBCC programs, on-campus and off-campus services and talk to prospective employers and representatives from other colleges during the “Get HERE” (Higher Education Resources Employment) event Wednesday.

“Get HERE” was designed to be a “one-stop shop” for students and prospective Big Bend students, said organizer Monica Medrano. It combines a number of events that had been held separately, including the fall job fair, the open house for the professional-technical programs, and an information fair for students who want to transfer to other colleges. College officials added information about benefits and programs, on and off campus, that are available to students. “One mega-event,” Medrano said.

The wealth of information impressed J.R. Gomez, who said the whole college process has changed since he graduated from Washington State University in 2000. Gomez was one of two representatives from WSU.

“Go Cougs,” said a passerby.

“We get that all the time,” said Gomez’s fellow WSU representative Gaby Corona.

Both are from the Yakima Valley, and Gomez said he was steered to college by talking to his high school counselor. But kids who didn’t seek out the counselor might not have thought of college as an option, he said. Now, “options are readily accessible,” he said.

Prospective WSU students can attend class in Pullman, of course – or in Tri-Cities, Spokane, Vancouver or online. The University of Washington had representatives from its campuses in Seattle and Bothell. College reps filled the foyer, from Central Washington and Eastern Washington, Seattle Pacific and Seattle University, Western Governors University, Western Washington University, St. Martin’s, Gonzaga and Evergreen State College.