NJC enrollment up for spring semester

Northeastern Junior College is seeing another boost in its student count. President Mike White told the Advisory Council Thursday that enrollment for the spring semester is up 3.3 percent, which builds on a 6% increase in the fall and summer 2024 enrollment is looking pretty strong too.

“We’re very pleased with the little bit of growth in enrollment; it shows I think a lot of the efforts that you and everybody helped put the word back out that were open and we have well-run programs that give people a good start,” he told the council.

White also noted that colleges are benefiting from a lot of state and federal funding that is still available right now in a number of very select fields including healthcare and construction management. He mentioned community roundtables to talk about what programs are wanted as NJC continues its Applied Technology Campus expansion project and electrician is one that has come up a lot in Yuma, as well as some wanting plumbing. The commercial driver’s license program that NJC is now offering is also in high demand.

Whited talked about Colorado Online as well, noting that NJC picked up about 30 online classes in the fall and 90 this spring, which is a great revenue source.

Earlier in the meeting, Lisa Lefevre, vice president of administrative services, gave an update on the ATC expansion project. It hit a bit of a delay as the college spent quite a bit of time waiting for the transformer and the switch gear to get the welding program up and running. The switch gear is now due to arrive in July, so the welding area will be open in time for fall semester classes, “which is really exciting because that triples the amount of space we have for the welding program,” she said.

She also shared that the architects and the metal building engineers have gone back and forth quite a bit regarding exactly where they want things, so the building’s foundation hasn’t been set yet. The metal building is expected to be delivered in June, meaning the foundation will start going in in the coming months. Once the building gets here things will start moving quickly.

Other projects happening around campus include the installation of an elevator in Walker Hall, paid for with state funding, and a roof replacement for Knowles Hall.

Steve Smith, vice president of student services, reported that commencement ceremonies will be held on

Friday, May 10, in the Bank of Colorado Event Center. There will be two ceremonies; the first at 10 a.m. will include agriculture, emergency medical services, fire science, health, math and science and nursing students. The 2 p.m. ceremony will recognize applied technology — wind, auto/diesel and welding students, business/sports management, cosmetology and liberal arts students.

The council also recognized this year’s Rising Star Award winners Erin

Williams and Kellum Carnahan, as well as Northeastern’s ambassadors. Camille Rose, director of admission/recruitment, explained that the ambassadors are part of the admissions team; they help with campus tours, special events like Preview Days and host groups.

“If you could see these students interact with the ones that come visit it just makes your heart happy. They really connect with them and really promote NJC has a great opportunity for these students,” she said. “A lot of them are really involved in the campus and can really give a good vision of what opportunities there are for students at NJC.”

Rose also shared that this is a leadership opportunity for students and it will help build their resume, plus they are able to receive scholarships.

Students said being an ambassador has helped them learn how to talk more to other people and they’ve enjoyed getting to talk to students who are kind of shy and trying and get them to open up.

White shared that NJC has had a record number of high school visits this year, including close to 900 students for the regional FFA competition. The college will also be hosting Boys and Girls State again this year.

The council also recognized NJC’S basketball teams. The women’s team finished 29-4 after losing the championship game. Ruby Sweeney-spitzeck was All Region Player and All Tournament Player; Seneya Martinez was Third Team All American, All Region and All Tournament Player and one of the best players in the country; Genesis Sweetwine was All Region and All Tournament Player and is expected to be in the top 15 all-time in school history for scoring; and A’mya Winfrey was All Defensive

Team. Also, Head Coach Bronson Moton won the Region IX South Coach of the Year Award in his first year as head coach.

The men’s team was 1414. Jaleny Foy was First Team All Conference and Deng Diew was Third Team All Conference out of six players total, both finished in the top five, with Foy finishing second and Diew tying for third place. Coach Eddie Trenkle also gave a shot out to former NJC player Dalton Knecht, who is now a member of the University of Tennessee team, which made it to the elite eight round of the NCAA tournament.

Upcoming NJC events include:

• “Almost Maine” Theatre Production — April 19 and 20, 7 p.m. in the Dorothy Corsberg Theatre. Free admission. Donations to the NJC Theatre Department are graciously accepted;

• Pack the Park — May 4, 5:30 p.m. at Plainsmen Park. Help NJC break the single-game attendance record. The first 500 spectators get free admission and lunch. Nine innings of raffle tickets, raffle tickets are one for $20 or 6 for $100. All proceeds will help fund a new indoor hitting facility for NJC baseball and softball;

• Spring Ensemble Concert — May 4, 7 p.m. in the Dorothy Corsberg Theatre. The cost is $5 for community members, free for NJC students, faculty and staff; and

• Nursing Pinning Ceremony — May 9, 6 p.m. in the Dorothy Corsberg Theatre.

Also, NJC’S episode of “The College Tour” will make its Amazon debut on May 28.