Transfer Fair planners, Jody Baggett and Camesha Handy.

Melfa, VA – On Tuesday, November 5, Eastern Shore Community College held its first Transfer Fair.  This event was planned and organized by Camesha Handy, Success Coach and Jody Baggett, Lead Counselor, who felt that ESCC students could benefit from additional support in navigating the transfer process. They wrote a mini-grant which was funded by ESCC’s College Foundation Board to host this event.

ESCC’s students and the visiting transfer representatives wholeheartedly indicated that this first fair was an overwhelming success. Students and their families described this event as helpful in making necessary contacts and having pertinent questions answered enabling them to take steps necessary for a successful transfer. Students and their families indicated that this event was most helpful and answered questions necessary to enable them to make a successful transfer.  Transfer representatives said that their time was well-spent at ESCC and that they found this event to be extremely worthwhile. All indicated that they would be interested in attending any future events or transfer fairs to be held at ESCC.

Over one hundred students and prospective students attended this event which included a welcome by ESCC’s president and a keynote address provided by Bonnie Tracy, Assistant Registrar for Transfer Affairs at Christopher Newport University.  Students had an hour and a half to meet with the college representatives to ask questions and gather information. All attendees were included in a luncheon that followed.  Students earned “Transfer Fair Tokens” by participating fully in this event which they could use to purchase college planners, notebooks, and other college supplies.

Fifteen college and university transfer representatives from several states attended this event, providing ESCC students and parents as well as others from the community with information about the transfer admissions process, degree programs, deadlines, financial aid, scholarships, and other related issues. Many of the participating colleges and universities have Guaranteed Admission Agreements in place with ESCC and were able to provide ESCC students with additional contact and Open House information.

The Transfer Institutions and Their Participating Representatives were:

•         Bluefield College–Cathy Payne

•         Liberty University–Catherine Scott

•         Old Dominion Distance Learning–Daphne Bell

•         Radford University–Mallory Griffith

•         Regent University–Yanina James

•         Salisbury University–Ledesa Eddins

•         Trinity College, DC–Adam Parliman

•         Virginia Tech–Jane Todd

•         Virginia Wesleyan–Nelson Davis

•         Wilmington University–Michael Cylc

•         Christopher Newport University–Bonnie Tracey

•         The Arts Institute of Virginia Beach–Travis Wall

•         University of Maryland Eastern Shore–Sanada Spellman

•         Virginia Commonwealth–Shanee Crews

•         Virginia State–LaTrece Walden

It is hoped that ESCC will be able to continue to make its Fall Transfer Fair an annual event.