Students excited for return to Atlantic Cape campuses for Spring 2022 semester

MAYS LANDING — Students at Atlantic Cape Community College returned to campus on Monday, Jan. 24 excited for the start of the Spring 2022 semester.

“It’s my second semester so I’m excited to be socializing,” said Carlos Villarrubia, 18, of Egg Harbor Township, a Health Science major.

Monday was the first day of classes at the college’s three campuses after the start of the spring session was delayed a week due to the spread of the omicron variant of COVID-19. The delay also gave students, faculty and staff time to comply with the college’s vaccination or testing mandate that went into effect on Jan. 3.

In Mays Landing, students were greeted with bagels, doughnuts and coffee from the Student Government Association. In Cape May County, the SGA hosted a "Welcome Back" table for students with notebooks, pens, hand sanitizer, and other supplies.

Villarrubia and Karelys Rodriguez, 21, of Pleasantville, who is studying psychology, picked up a snack in between classes at the Mays Landing campus Monday.

Rodriguez agreed that getting to be on campus was a happy moment, noting that it was also the first semester she was able to take in-person classes.

View photo album from event on flickr.

Health Sciences majors Lauren Cabrera, 19, of Egg Harbor Township and John Catapang, 19, of Pleasantville said they were most looking forward to their chemistry class this semester.

Meanwhile, in the cafeteria Early College High School students from Absegami High School, seniors Zoe Greblunas, Daphne Kershenblatt and Sophia Fagan, were enjoying lunch. The students were enthusiastic about having a class together this semester, before graduating in the spring with both a high school diploma and an Associate’s Degree from Atlantic Cape.

“I really like my classes, so I’m just excited about learning,” said Kershenblatt.

In a message to the college community Monday, President Dr. Barbara Gaba welcomed the Spring 2022 semester.

“I would like to welcome back all of our new and returning students as well as our faculty. Thank you to the entire college community - faculty, staff, and students - for your flexibility at the start of this Spring Semester. Postponing the start date of this semester was no easy task, but a necessary one as we navigate through the continuing COVID-19 pandemic to keep everyone safe,” Gaba said. “I wish all of us in the Atlantic Cape community a semester filled with learning, high performance, and accomplished goals.”

The Student Government Association has several more upcoming events for students in January including a Pizza and Vaccine pop-up clinic for COVID-19 vaccinations 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 26 at the Student Center in Mays Landing; a Snack and Vaccine pop-up clinic for COVID-19 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, Jan. 27 at the Cape May County campus in Room 113; and an Eat and Greet lunchtime networking event at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 27 across all three campuses (Student Center in Mays Landing, Room 203 in Atlantic City, and Room 113 in Cape May County).

For more information on upcoming SGA events, visit atlantic.edu/sgaconnections.

COVID testing is available on all three campuses. For a complete schedule, visit atlantic.edu/covid.

In addition, the college continues to offer its Three Free Credits program for all students and a free laptop for students taking six or more credits this semester. Visit atlantic.edu/exclusives for more information.