Cerritos College

Cerritos College Holds High School Counselor Conference

Local High School Counselors Spend a Day on Campus

High school counselors from local districts came to Cerritos College on Friday, December 5 for the 2008 High School Counselor Conference.

“We are trying so hard to connect with the high schools,” said Renée DeLong Chomiak, Cerritos College dean of counseling services.

The counselors spent the day learning about Cerritos College and what it has to offer their students when they move on to their post-secondary education.

Acting President Bill Farmer spoke to the counselors about the positive changes that are happening around campus, including changes to the college’s leadership, infrastructure, educational programs and partnerships. 

There was a Cerritos College student panel that spoke with the counselors, as well.  The students told the counselors the things that they liked about this school and how they have benefitted from choosing to attend Cerritos College.

The panel was very diverse.  It included local students, as well as students that moved here specifically to attend Cerritos College.  There were also students that came here directly out of high school and one that originally attended a 4-year-university and then decided to come here instead.

One student on the panel was Brian Cummings.  He came to Cerritos College from Salinas just so he could major in the woodworking program on campus. 

Luis Mendez went to Downey High School and is now in the Cerritos College Scholars’ Honors Program. 

“They really identify the students that want to succeed and they give you personalized attention and counselors,” Medez told the visiting counselors.  “The more you get involved, the better you’ll do.  It [Cerritos College] is a community.” 

After the counselors heard from Cerritos College staff, administrators and students they were given the opportunity to take a tour of campus and received presentations about some of the programs and services offered here, such as the Health Occupations and Career Tech Education programs.

The conference was a campus wide endeavor with faculty, staff, programs and students all participating to make it possible.

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The Campus Connection, December 8, 2008