Gov. Tim Kaine will cut the ribbon on Germanna Community College's new Stafford Center at 10:45 a.m. Wednesday, July 29.

The fourth location of Germanna Community College-which will have four classrooms, computer labs, and office space-is expected to offer 52 classes this fall and serve approximately 1,000 students.

The Center is a partnership between GCC and Stafford Economic Development Authority, which has invested $300,000 over three years to promote economic development through Workforce training. The center will also meet anticipated needs associated with the BRAC expansion at Quantico and the new Stafford Hospital Center.

The event is open to the public Wednesday at 10:45 a.m. at Aquia Park, located at 2761 Jefferson Davis Highway (U.S. 1) in North Stafford.

Germanna has been the fastest-growing college in Virginia for the past two years and now serves a total headcount of about 14,000.

Mike Zitz
Public Information Officer
Germanna Community College
540/623-3615 mobile
mzbeckham@germanna.edu

When Gov. Tim Kaine cut the ribbon to open Germanna's new Stafford Center on July 29, he said Virginia is rated the state best positioned to rebound from recession in part because of community colleges like GCC.

Kaine said he's counting on GCC and rest of the Virginia Community College System to help the Old Dominion recover from the recession --and to give its workforce an edge going forward.

"Community colleges play an important role, especially in a challenged economy," Kaine told a crowd of 200 at the opening of the GCC Stafford Center.

Germanna hopes to open a similar center in Caroline County in the not too distant future, school officials said, where it can make low-cost and transferrable academic classes and Workforce training more accessible to county residents.

The Stafford Center, which is the fourth Germanna location--has four state of the art classrooms, computer labs, and office space--is expected to offer 52 classes this fall and serve approximately 1,000 students.

The Stafford Center is a partnership between GCC and Stafford Economic Development Authority, which has invested $300,000 over three years to promote economic development through Workforce training. The center will also meet anticipated needs associated with the BRAC expansion at Quantico and the new Stafford Hospital Center. It's located at Aquia Park, just south of the intersection of U.S. 1 and State Route 610 in North Stafford, which is one of the fastest-growing and congested areas in the region.

GCC President David A. Sam said opening the Stafford Center during lean times signals Germanna's commitment to help the area bounce back from tough times and help build a new prosperity.

"This area needs us in bad times and in good," Sam said. "We promise that, no matter what happens, we will try to meet the needs of our area's students, parents and businesses."

Kaine said Virginia has been rated the state best positioned to rebound not just because of a positive business climate, but because of the competitiveness of its workers.

And when it comes to companies deciding where to relocate, the quality of Virginia's workforce is key, Kaine said.

"Whatever the price of oil is, talent is the most valuable asset," Kaine said. "Workforce is now the most important thing," and community colleges play a vital role in educating and training Virginia's workers to keep them competitive in the global economy. "Nothing else is even a close second."

Mike Zitz
Public Information Officer
Germanna Community College
540/623-3615 mobile
mzbeckham@germanna.edu

Germanna Community College continues to see measurable effects of the recession in terms of a surge of students applying for financial aid.

Michael Farris, Germanna's Financial Aid Coordinator, reports that applications for financial aid this year are up 67 percent as of Aug. 6 over 2008 at the same time. This is 104 percent increase over the same point in 2007.

Despite no increase in staff in the Financial Aid office because of state budget cuts, Farris and his colleagues have managed to keep up with this tremendous growth in demand.

Farris reports that students may still apply for financial aid right up to the start of classes. However, he notes that students' awards may not be ready in time to pay for classes. the longer that they wait.

Therefore, "... [the student] needs to be prepared to make payment at the time of registration. After the August 12th tuition due date has passed, payment is due at the time of registration. For these students, financial aid is used to reimburse for courses already paid for and cannot be processed quickly enough to reserve courses."

This dramatic increase in applications for aid is due to two things: 1) the economy is causing many more students to need assistance; and 2) Michael, his staff, and counselors and student affairs staff have done a tremendous job of reaching out to students and informing them in a timely way," GCC President David A. Sam said.

Mike Zitz
Public Information Officer
Germanna Community College
540/623-3615 mobile
mzbeckham@germanna.edu

Germanna Community College’s 15th Annual Monte Carlo Casino Night returns to the Joseph R. Daniel Technology Center on April 18, 2009.

  The popular black tie event, which is the College’s biggest fundraiser each year, has firmly established itself as a highlight of the area’s social season while providing scholarship funds for the Germanna Educational Foundation’s Germanna Guarantee Program. That program ensures that students with financial need who cannot gather enough financial aid from other sources will get the funds necessary to fill in the gaps in paying for tuition and books.

 Doors and the bar open at 6:30 p.m. and gaming tables open at 7:30 p.m. Individual tickets are $75 for the first person in a group, then $50 for each additional person. Sponsorship packages are available.

“Monte Carlo is the premier event in support of the Educational Foundation,” said its director, Michael Catell. Because of the economic downturn, he said, this year’s Monte Carlo event is especially important.

This year's goal is to raise $60,000 for Germanna Guarantee Program scholarships.

“As students’ financial needs continue to increase, the generous and loyal support of friends is more important than ever, and we are most grateful for that support.”

For more information contact the GCC Educational Foundation at 540.423.9060 or e-mail foundation@germanna.edu.

Mike Zitz
Public Information Officer
Germanna Community College
540/623-3615 mobile
mzbeckham@germanna.edu

Dr. James Groves, Assistant Dean for Research and Outreach School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Virginia will be presenting a program called "Produced in Virginia" that uses the community college system as

a pipeline for students into UVA for their Bachelor of Science

degree in engineering. Germanna plans to offer an Associate of

Science in Engineering starting in the Fall of 2009 and that it will

be aligned with the UVA program.

The "Produced in Virginia" presentation will take place on:

Thursday, April 9 6:00 – 7:30 PM at DTC in Room 221 and on

Tuesday, April 14 6:00 – 7:30 PM at FAC 1 in Room 212.

The "Produced in Virginia" program can be accessed at the

following web site. http://www.seas.virginia.edu/producedinva/

engsci.php. For more information contact Mark Gibson,

Engineering Program Director at (540) 834-1063 or E-mail:

mgibson@germanna.edu.

Mike Zitz
Public Information Officer
Germanna Community College
540/623-3615 mobile
mzbeckham@germanna.edu

Germanna Community College will launch a new arts program at its Fredericksburg Campus in Spotsylvania at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 11, 2009 in cooperation with the Rappahannock Film Club.

 The Germanna Rappahannock Cinema Series will open with the classic 1962 French "Purple Noon."

The series is open to the public and there is a $3 registration fee.

The films will be offered in Sealy Auditorium in the Workforce Building of Germanna's Fredericksburg Campus, located just off U.S. 17 near Cosner's Corner in Spotsylvania County.

Mike Zitz
Public Information Officer
Germanna Community College
540/623-3615 mobile
mzbeckham@germanna.edu

Germanna President David A. Sam had asked Rep. Rob Wittman for help and the congressman responded.

"Regardless of where you may stand on earmarks," Dr. Sam said, "the good news for Germanna is that Congressman Wittman included an earmark in support of our nursing program and that it was approved by both houses and the president. We greatly appreciate Congressman Wittman's support. He recognizes what a critical need there is for nurses in our communities and that Germanna is the primary source of nurses for both the Fredericksburg and Culpeper areas. I have already spoken directly to Congressman Wittman expressing my thanks, and will send all of our Washington delegation letters of thanks."

"We will use these monies in support of our efforts to renovate and equip [Locust Grove Campus] building 800 as a Virtual Hospital, and other needs as suggested by the nursing department and approved by administration, " Dr. Sam said.

With 13,000 students, Germanna is the fastest-growing community college in Virginia and the ninth-fastest growing in the United States.

The following was approved for VCCS:

• $285,000 for Germanna Community College for nurse training, including purchase of equipment
• $95,000 for the Great Expectations program (statewide VCCS) including GCC.
• $190,000 for Danville Community College for the center of advanced manufacturing in wood products technology
• $190,000 for Eastern Shore Community College for purchase of equipment
• $95,150 for Northern Virginia Community College for an Alternative Energy project