Spring Kickoff welcomes new students beginning at LCCC

Bobby Belknap arrived at Laramie County Community College’s Spring Kickoff knowing this semester marked a turning point.

“I’ve thought about health care for a long time, but this felt like the moment to finally commit,” Bobby said.

For years, the idea of working in medicine lingered without becoming a concrete plan. That changed after a family experience brought the work of nurses and medical providers into sharper focus. Watching care unfold during a loved one’s recovery from breast cancer transformed interest into intention. Earlier steps, including first aid and CPR training, had already pointed in that direction. This spring marked the decision to move forward.

Bobby is beginning the nursing program through LCCC’s Health Sciences & Wellness Pathway, with long-term goals that extend beyond clinical practice. Looking ahead, Bobby hopes to return to South High School as a health and human sciences teacher, continuing a family connection to education. Spring Kickoff, which is similar to an orientation event, represented the first step in that longer journey.

For students starting in January, that first step can feel different than arriving in the fall. Spring semester students are joining a campus already in motion, often after plans shift, careers change or circumstances evolve. Spring Kickoff exists to make clear that starting midyear does not mean starting behind or starting alone.

That message was reinforced by LCCC President Dr. Joe Schaffer, who shared a personal story during the event about Remi, a golden retriever whose job around the house is sometimes unclear, but whose constant presence became a metaphor for the kind of support students can expect at LCCC.

“Part of the structure that we’ve created here is to make sure you know that you’re loved, you’re welcome, and you belong here,” Joe said. “And that there’s always somebody by your side, helping you succeed. It’s okay to reach out and say, ‘I need help.’”

Dr. Schaffer connected the story to the college experience, telling students that challenges are inevitable, whether academic, personal or financial. When those moments arise, students are not expected to navigate them in isolation. Support comes from instructors, staff, classmates and peers, as long as students are willing to ask for help and stay connected.

Through introductions, activities and conversations with faculty and staff, students learn where to turn when coursework becomes difficult, schedules feel overwhelming or uncertainty creeps in. The goal is not to eliminate struggle, but to make sure no student faces it alone.

That structure is reinforced through the college’s Guided Pathways model, which helps students clearly understand how courses connect to degrees and careers. Scott VanHorn, Trades & Technical Studies Pathway coordinator, told students that pathways exist to remove confusion, reduce unnecessary credits and help students move efficiently toward their goals.

Scott emphasized that success often comes down to habits developed early: showing up, communicating with instructors, leaning on peers and using available resources. Building relationships, Scott said, helps students stay engaged and confident as expectations increase.

“Success doesn’t happen by accident,” Scott said. “It comes from showing up, communicating early, and leaning on the people who are here to help you along the way.”

That sense of connection resonated with students like Alexxa Barraza, a student in the STEM Pathway who recently transferred to LCCC after previously attending San Diego State University. Spring Kickoff offered an opportunity to meet instructors, connect with peers and put faces to names before classes began.

“It already feels like a really supportive place,” Alexxa said. “Meeting people right away made it easier to feel comfortable and excited about starting the semester.”

For Bobby, the event reinforced that beginning in the spring was the right decision. 

“Being here made it feel real,” Bobby said. “It helped to know there are people ready to help along the way.”