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PINAL COUNTY, Ariz. – The punch list has been punched. The touch-up paint has dried. The installed glass has been shined with shiny glass cleaner.
And the new front door of Central Arizona College’s Aravaipa Campus will swing wide open on Tuesday, Sept. 18, for a grand re-opening celebration that the entire community is invited to attend.
This family event will run from 5-7 p.m. and is free.
Guests will take a celebratory excursion through the new-look campus which has moved its front door from across the parking lot to the majestic green corridor dotted with giant shade trees and canvassed by a mountain backdrop.
The ore cart with its tumbled rock scattered to the side of the steel rail segment touts the history of the area and the growth that the Aravaipa Campus represents.
In 2008, the voters of Pinal County approved a nearly-$99 million bond to expand educational opportunities throughout Pinal County. Fruition to Eastern Pinal County comes in the form of the Aravaipa Campus expansion.
Food, music and tours of the campus will take place throughout the evening; however, that is just the beginning.
The evening begins promptly at 5 p.m. when Katy Wilkins and STARLAB make a heavenly appearance in the Aravaipa Campus gymnasium.
An inflatable indoor planetarium that provides a detailed view of the nighttime sky, STARLAB can accommodate groups of 20-25 adults and children at a time. Wilkins will offer her ongoing presentations throughout the evening.
“My public presentations usually consist of some short stories and how to locate constellations and some other interesting facts,” she said.
The inflatable planetarium was purchased when Central Arizona College’s SEMAA (Science Engineering Mathematics Aerospace Academy) program was being offered at CAC.
Wildman Phil Rakoci will display his critters from 5-7 p.m. on the open-air stage at the cafeteria with a special 30-minute presentation taking place from 6-6:30 p.m.
Known for his blend of humor and nature, Rakoci’s iconic programs are filled with fun and facts as he expertly combines hands-on demonstrations with lessons featuring:
• Respect for wildlife and the environment
• Animal defenses and their roles
• Ways to identify dangerous creatures and harmless animals
• Separation of fact and fiction in the world of spiders, scorpions, lizards, snakes, and other such creatures
• Life cycles and the web of life.
Check out Rakoci’s website at http://www.desertwildlife.net/.
Locally iconic science professor Dr. Beth Krueger will present Birds of the Sonoran Desert in B111 at 5:15 p.m. with an encore presentation at 6:30 p.m.
Field Research by CAC Science Students will unveil their findings at 5:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. also in B111. Krueger partners with the Nature Conservancy to provide her students real experience in the field.
Also from 6-6:30 p.m., CAC will host its Phi Theta Kappa Induction in E115. PTK is the national honor society for two-year college students.
Classrooms and a variety of facilities will be teaming with activity from 5-7 p.m., including the technology building which will offer woodworking demonstrations by the class in session that evening.
Members of the Street Rods class will display their vehicles outside the technology building for visitors to view.
The new library will be open for tours and information as the staff explains the exciting new partnerships taking place with the public libraries in Pinal County.
Student Services staff members will be available in B113 to help anyone interested in attending CAC, while those interested in GED and ESL programs will be able to meet with staff members about upcoming classes. Information on Early Start, First Step, Promise for the Future and College for Kids also will be available.
The CAC Students Leadership will serve as ambassadors as they guide visitors to the various activities throughout the evening.
While an RSVP or preregistration is not required, CAC would appreciate those who are considering attending to please visit www.avcgrand.eventbrite.com and register. For more information, please contact Stella Garcia at 520-494-5204/stella.garcia@centralaz.edu.
In the coming weeks, CAC will be releasing stories on the history of the Aravaipa Campus.
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