The Current Online

by LESLIE ASHER

When Kelly Lane graduated from Raytown High School in 1994, she was unsure of where life would take her. How was she to know that eight years later she would end up in the privileged role of a student ambassador at Longview Community College.
Many of us might wonder exactly what a student ambassador does. Do you remember what it was like coming to your very first day of college? New people, new teachers, new surroundings, wouldn’t it have been helpful to have someone who could have made the transition a bit easier?
That is exactly what our student ambassadors at Longview are here for. Their job is to help new students coming to college and to answer any questions they might have about the school.
“Many times high schools will come visit the campus and we will set up a panel for the students to ask questions,” said Lane.
Students can ask a range of questions such as classes offered, professors, activities and even the history of the college.
“We make sure that the students feel comfortable when they visit,” said Lane. “Hopefully we will help them to find out if Longview is the right college for them.”
Now, you might be asking yourself, “How might I become a student ambassador?” The program is offered through the college relations office here at Longview, and it only requires a few simple steps to become a student ambassador.
You must first fill out an application and get a letter of recommendation. You should also have a GPA of 2.5 or higher. The only thing left is the interview process. “Interview?” you say. Don’t worry, it’s not that bad, and the rewards of being a student ambassador are endless.
“It gives me the chance to get involved with my school,” said Lane. “It looks really good on resumes, too.”
Being a student ambassador is not just a one-person deal either. It is a team effort.
“One of the best parts of being a student ambassador is getting to know the other ambassadors,” said Lane. “Whenever we get together for meetings, we are always laughing and having a good time.”
So whether you just need something to fill up your free time or want to connect to a certain group, being a student ambassador will make you feel like a part of something special. And just think…you could have the next major impact on a high school student who is trying to decide his or her next step in life, just like Kelly Lane did eight years ago.
“It’s cool when students come back for their very first day of college and say, ‘I remember you!’” said Lane. “It is a great reward to know that you had an impact.”

by LESLIE ASHER

If you noticed a few new faces around campus on President’s Day this past Monday, hopefully you smiled and said hello. The new faces were prospective students of Longview, and had the opportunity to attend High School Senior Day 2002. Seniors from several different high schools around the area could come and see what it is like as a college student. Registration began at 9:00am and at 9:45 the large group was divided into four separate groups for Breakout sessions. Each session gave prospective students a closer look at the different aspects of school here at Longview. Sessions included Introduction to Longview, Meet Our Faculty, Campus Tour, and College Success Strategies. Each individual Breakout group rotated through all four sessions. An additional activity that highlighted the day was a game of college trivia to test the students’ knowledge of Longview and other Metropolitan Community Colleges. It was entitled Who Wants to be a College Wizard, based off of the hit game show Who Wants to be a Millionaire. Prizes were awarded throughout the day. Some of the bigger prizes included tuition vouchers for 3, 6, and 9 credit hours. The day ended at Noon with a free lunch held in the Private Dining Room.

by LESLIE ASHER

As I walked into the College Relations office at Longview Community College, I was greeted with a warm and friendly smile. Instantly I knew why Kay Kozak was awarded Staff Association’s Employee of the Month for December.

I sat down and began to talk with Kozak about her award, her job and what drives her to be at Longview every day.

“I love my job!” Kozak said. Her love for her job helped her to earn the award.

The award is based upon nomination. Criteria for nomination include work and social skills such as: being dedicated to one’s position, showing excellent teamwork skills and contributing outside of work to help others. This criterion mirrors only a few of the many qualities Kozak has displayed in her six years here at Longview.

Before moving to Lee’s Summit with her husband, Mark, she was a secretary at State Fair Community College in Sedalia, Mo. for over 17 years. Kozak moved to Lee’s Summit and landed the job of senior secretary in the College Relations office at Longview.

What does College Relations mean? Kozak’s job allows her to be involved in the recruiting process at Longview. When recruiters go out to different high schools around the Lee’s Summit area, they bring back information about prospective students. Kozak is in charge of entering that information into the school’s database and sending out follow-up correspondence to prospective students. She also helps organize events like, College Night and Senior Day.

Do not expect Kay Kozak to be leaving Longview anytime soon. “I enjoy the people I work with, and I love helping the students,” Kozak said. “Helping people is the most satisfaction you can get.”