OPEN DOORS, OPEN MINDS

You walk through the entrance of the CVCC Tarlton Complex, and as people greet you at check-in, there’s excitement in the air. Colorful banners and energetic music accompany the dozens of CVCC program directors who are set to meet with you and introduce you to Red Hawk Nation’s premier academics.

You discover ways to pursue your dream program immediately after high school, whether you plan to get there in two years or you’re seeking ways to get ahead in your four-year degree. Whatever your goal, you have made it to CVCC’s Open House. This is where you come to SOAR.

Not every college does Open House like Catawba Valley Community College. We aren’t here to show you the highlights and send you on your way—sure, there are “must see” spots and popular facilities—but every program is crucial to student success, and every classroom is designed with students in mind.

That’s why you don’t just tour buildings or see the outside walls of our facilities; you find ways to get hands-on in multiple programs. Whether you want to try creating models at the Visual Arts studio or to see an explosive scenario at the Public Safety Training Complex, there are plenty of ways to take the leap and get involved.

After visiting the tents, you decide to attend your first session of the day, “Family Matters—What’s My Role?” Here, you unpack the varied expectations of the college experience, including how to define your family’s role during your independent education. It’s true, you feel so ready to

You’re also ready to get an inside-look at the sparkling Workforce Solutions Complex, where you can watch program demonstrations and catch a glimpse of a dynamic instruction style. The 3D Printer runs designs from our very own students.You also sneak inside the welding lab, where students work with Mig, Tig, and Stick welding to fabricate metal into useful materials, and you try using some of the high-tech equipment available in welding’s unique lab classrooms.

There’s more to CVCC than academic degrees, however. As you tour across campus, stopping in at the Food Truck rodeo during a quick break, you also decide to stop by one of the campus resource tents and discover how to make the most of your college life.

Or maybe you’re interested in healthcare and travel to the ValleySim Hospital at the top of the CAD Building. Once inside, our nursing students show you how to practice on the healthcare mannequins and explore the acute care unit. You’ve never come so close to something so real on a college campus, and you decide these programs might just be a perfect place to start your healthcare education.

Besides Main Campus, you might travel to the Public Safety Training Complex. This is where our Community Development and Public Services programs find their time to shine. We let both CVCC students and the community practice real-world scenarios in our 4-Story Burn Tower, develop rescue techniques at our ATV Rescue Course, and hold EMT training days on our 14,000 sq. ft. driving training pad. This expansive campus may be hidden—but it’s definitely beyond your expectation.

After a fun day of exploration and inspiration, there’s still one session you just have to make: “Take The Leap”. CVCC Enrollment Managers introduce themselves and share their role within each of the college’s four Schools. They offer quick tips on how to apply, such as making sure you complete the FAFSA, understand application deadlines, and how to register after successful completion of the application process. It can be difficult to keep momentum for the semester; Enrollment Managers are here to encourage you to keep on, find ways to navigate hard courses, and craft a fulfilling college career.

Our first Ready. Set. SOAR. Open House was not a one-person show; it wasn’t even a one-time show. This event took dedication, serious planning, and strong commitment from everyone—college staff, instructors, and CVCC’s friends and partners. We all gathered together on a beautiful Spring morning to celebrate our passion for higher education and to encourage every person who stepped foot on our campus. Thanks to our hard work and a bit of luck, Open House 2023 rose above and beyond expectation.

After an exciting and action-packed day, you’re exhausted but also full of anticipation, and so happy that you chose to come to the CVCC Open House. It’s easy to apply to the college afterwards; Enrollment Managers are always eager to help new registrants and the CVCC Foundation generously assists with financial aid or other funding needs. Red Hawk Nation is glad you showed up: after all, CVCC wouldn’t be here without you!

CVCC would like to thank all of our 2023 Ready. Set. SOAR Open House event sponsors, and also recognize the food truck vendors who participated in the Food Truck Rodeo on main campus. Without your support and influence, this fantastic event would not have been possible.

Food Trucks: Chugar Frappe, Taco King Foodtruck, Dipperz Mini Donuts, Dirty Thumbs, Urban Flavor, Papaw’s Delightful Dogs, WaffleChick, Gas-Up