During the July 4th holiday weekend, a staff member from the Student Recruitment office had two encounters that exemplified an experience many of us share as employees at our community's college. Both interactions left the staff member with that warm and fuzzy feeling often associated with meeting residents who deeply value the College, just as we do. These chance meetings reinforced the importance of and appreciation for the numerous opportunities our institution provides for students. For the FSCJ family, it’s our collective sense of purpose.

Both individuals—a middle-aged server at a Springfield neighborhood bistro and a young worker at an ice cream shop just a block away—shared their hopes and aspirations that attending FSCJ would enable them to realize dreams that have either been delayed or are poised for takeoff. Their enthusiasm mirrored the faith that many place in the College and the promise of higher education. The recent high school graduate at the ice cream shop shared her dream of becoming a pilot, while the server conveyed that even a delayed logistics career dream is still a dream worth pursuing.

Although the Open House last month, which welcomed more than 830 prospective students, marked the final major recruitment event for the 2024-25 cycle, our recruitment efforts continue in earnest throughout the summer. For the 25-26 recruitment cycle, we welcome the opportunity to collaborate with departments across the college on or in support of your recruitment initiatives. Simply send us an email with the subject: Dive into Manta Ray Nation! to join our recruitment initiatives. There are countless dreams in our community that our collective efforts can bring to fruition.

June recruitment by the numbers:
Events: 26
Student Connections: 1,381
Individual tours: 17
Attendees: 40

Upcoming July events:
10th: Career Source Virtual Education Fair
11th: Community Resource Fair hosted by State Representative Kiyan Michael (R) – Florida House District 16
16th: Level Up Program Summer Camp/Tour @ Downtown Campus
26^th: 2025 Clay County Back to School Bash
29^th and 31^st: Pepsi Career Fair

The voices of our staff and faculty are just as important in the recruitment process as those of our student recruiters. We want to hear from you, and our prospective students would greatly benefit from your insights as they explore Manta Ray Nation. If you’re interested in participating in recruitment events, please contact us at fscjrecruitment@fscj.edu with the subject line “Dive into Manta Ray Nation.”