More than 800 students from throughout Warren County had the chance to see all the Hinds Community College Vicksburg-Warren Campus has to offer during a student preview day.

Students from St. Aloysius, Warren Central, Vicksburg and Porter’s Chapel were given the chance to tour the campus and learn more about the program offerings during a college carnival recruiting event March 2.

“Raymond brought a group of recruiters over here and we set up different booths and had hot dogs and snacks for the kids,” said Marvin Moak, vice president of the Vicksburg-Warren Campus. “The kids went into the auditorium where they heard testimonials and different things about the campus and different programs we offer. We gave them tours of the facilities and showed them around.”

Students had the chance to see the career technical programs and general academic programs offered at the school and also gain a familiarity with the campus as they work to decide where they will attend college.

“Academics, careers technical, everything we do here on campus,” Moak said of what the tour included. “It also allowed them the opportunity to see where their counseling, registration, the bookstore, everything was so that whenever they came on campus they’d already have a level of comfort.”

Moak said some of the campus’s most popular programs are welding, culinary and early childhood. They also offer programs in business administration and nursing at the Vicksburg campus.

“I think it is always good to have the doors opened up so the community can come in and see what is going on with the college and also see what types of programs are being offered,” Moak said.

Students also had the chance to learn more about financial aid, registering for classes and the admission process to the school during the event.

“You get a lot of help here and many opportunities to succeed here,” said Anaya Peoples, a dual-enrolled Vicksburg High School student.

Before students got back on their buses to leave, they were treated to an assortment of games to put a little fun into the college tour experience.

Some of the students in attendance had previous experience at the school and have already gotten a leg up on college through the career technical programs offered by the Vicksburg Warren School District and recently expanded to the local private schools. In those programs, students enroll in classes at Hinds and many of them receive dual credit towards their degrees.

“I’m studying culinary arts here,” said James Turner an 11th grader at Warren Central. “It’s been a good opportunity for me to learn how to create certain things in the kitchen.”

The campus will also be hosting a large Spring Signup Day April 10 where high school students and adults will be able to register early for summer and fall courses.