HCC recruiter goes five-for-five leading up to the first day of school
Aug 27, 2015
Houston Community College kicked its recruiting efforts into high gear leading up to the start of the Fall 2015 semester. With previously planned activities and the implementation of Operation Eagle, one HCC recruiter hit five events in five days.
Lynn Herrera represented HCC at two College Application Boot Camps, sponsored by the Fort Bend Independent School District (FBISD) College and Career Readiness Department at Bush and Hightower High Schools. Over 500 high school seniors and their parents attended the two events and learned about the college application process, financial aid and scholarships. In addition to visiting with the college reps, students had the opportunity to begin their online college applications with Apply Texas.
“Programs like these are helpful for both students and their parents,” Herrera said. “They learn about programs they may not have previously considered, as well as met someone who can answer their questions and help them get a jump start on the application process.”
Herrera also joined the Operation Eagle Team for a two-day stint in this grass-roots campaign to increase visibility of the HCC brand leading up to the start of school. The team made the decision to incorporate Herrera’s previously scheduled visit to the United Way Inter-Agency Expo into its route for the day. Team members, including Herrera, visited with dozens of agencies and organizations that work with potential students; agencies were provided with brochures and contact information.
“Although glad to receive the information for their clients, a number of the agency staff that we spoke with were also interested in HCC programs either for themselves, their children, or a friend,” Herrera said.
During her second day with Operation Eagle, the team visited both agencies and individuals, including Catholic Charities, San Jose Clinic, SEARCH Homeless Services, Career Recovery and Resource Inc., Workplace Solutions, and Covenant House.
Herrera joined the HCC Southwest Public Relations team as they handed out information and free giveaways to over 3,200 families at the Walmart Baker-Ripley Back-To-School Fair, completing day number five of her recruiting journey.
“Brochures and websites are great tools, but there is nothing quite like being able to get your questions answered by a real person,” she said. “So whether I’m talking about college with a 6-year-old or a 36-year-old, I always remember that this person is a potential HCC graduate!”
Herrera has worked as a recruiter for more than 23 years at Houston Community College and knows the key to HCC’s success is helping all students open the door to their future.