MAYS LANDING — After completing their respective freshman years at Atlantic Cape Community College many returning sophomores decided to relax and decompress during the summer break by going away on vacation or simply staying close to home. With the start of another school year in full swing, new and returning students alike attended Welcome Back Week held over three days in the Quad on the Mays Landing campus between September 9–11.
Kicking off the week was the IMAlive Mental Health Fair, sponsored by the Center for Student Success, which provided information on access to free student mental health resources. Despite cloudy and cool weather on day two, many students enjoyed competing in fun outdoor games from badminton and cornhole to frisbee golf.
With sunny and warm weather on the third day, a few hundred students descended upon the Quad as numerous clubs and organizations, academic programs, athletics representatives and coaches, Rutgers University and more offered free information to those in attendance. Free burgers, hot dogs, water ice, refreshments, live music and plenty of fun made for a light-hearted day for all to enjoy.
As students walked from table to table gathering free giveaways, signing up for clubs and speaking with fellow students and College employees, friends Fatima Vidal, Gianna Tanner and Saira Soriano reflected on how they spent their time away from school over the summer months.
“I decided to go out a lot. I went to the beach a lot and I would just spend my free days there,” said Vidal (right), a sophomore Human Services major from Atlantic City, NJ who would like to earn her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work after Atlantic Cape. “I would go out for breakfast with friends and it was a good time to really relax.”
“I went to Niagara Falls with my family. It was really cool and the Canadian side was very interesting, though it was a little too touristy for me,” said Tanner (left), a Graphic Design major from Egg Harbor City, NJ.
“I went to New York City with my boyfriend. We walked around the City, took a lot of pictures and did a lit bit of shopping,” said Soriano (right), a Child Development and Child Care major from Pleasantville, NJ.
Sophomore Christopher Cruz sat at the College’s Food Pantry table handing out bright blue bags that could be filled with the free onions and green peppers that were available. Located at all three campuses, the Food Pantry offers free pre-packaged, boxed, refrigerated and frozen food items plus essential supplies to all students in-need.
“Over the summer I went to the water park in Atlantic City. I was able to spend time with my beautiful fiancé,” said Cruz (left), a first-generation student from Somers Point, NJ majoring in Business Administration. “I wasn’t able to go away, but I made it work. I tried to read and kept focusing on what I was going to do in business.”
Buccaneer sophomore men’s basketball student-athletes Olin (OJ) Knox, Corey Thomas, Jayden Lopez, Christian Ferguson and Sahmir Jones enjoyed water ices and the camaraderie as teammates while hanging out together in the Quad and recalling their respective summers.
“I went to Atlanta for a basketball showcase and I got ranked in the nation,” said Knox, a Communication major from Columbia, South Carolina.
“I started modeling, doing photo shoots and traveling to Miami. I also had my first fashion show over the summer,” said Thomas, a Computer Information Systems major from Jacksonville, Florida.
“I got right with the Lord,” admitted Lopez, a Business Administration major from Mays Landing, NJ.
“I went to visit my mom in Hawaii,” said Ferguson, an Education major from Columbia, South Carolina.
“Nothing really fun, I’ve just been in the gym preparing for the season,” said Jones, a Health Science major from Mays Landing, NJ.
Atlantic Cape’s Charles D. Worthington Atlantic City campus will host its Welcome Back celebration on Wednesday, September 17, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the cafeteria and outdoor patio. All students will have the opportunity to explore the various campus clubs and free resources, celebrate Constitution Day, and register to vote while enjoying live music, free food, giveaways and more.
The Cape May County campus will celebrate its Welcome Back celebration on Monday, September 29 and Tuesday, September 30, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the first-floor lobby. All students will have the opportunity to enjoy free food, music, games, giveaways and more.
View a photo gallery of the Welcome Back events on Flickr.
About Atlantic Cape Community College
Atlantic Cape Community College is a Middle States accredited, 2022 Achieving the Dream Leader College and Hispanic Serving Institution proudly serving the residents of Atlantic and Cape May counties. As a comprehensive, two-year community college, Atlantic Cape offers 47 undergraduate degree programs, and 34 certificate and professional series programs at its Mays Landing, Atlantic City and Cape May County campuses. Atlantic Cape is home to the renowned Academy of Culinary Arts, rated the top culinary school in New Jersey, and for more than 50 years, our highly-acclaimed Nursing program. Atlantic Cape also partners with more than 30 colleges and four-year universities to offer students the opportunity to seamlessly earn a bachelor’s degree upon graduation.
