Kenai Peninsula College continually reminds students to stay on track to graduate in the shortest time possible, saving both time and money, by tackling 15 credits each semester. In addition, registration periods are staggered so students closest to graduating have priority to ensure they secure seats in required courses.

Veteran students were the first group of KPC students eligible for fall semester priority and they were able to register for classes last Friday. Admitted, degree-seeking students with senior status had access to the registration platform today. Each day for the remainder of this week, juniors, sophomores and freshmen in turn will gain access to registration. Students who are in pending, degree-seeking status can begin registering on April 11. The public registration period opens at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, April 18 and everyone is reminded that registering early is important as KPC classes tend to fill rapidly.

New 3-D/Sculpture Studio open house set

Since Cam Choy, associate professor of art, arrived at the Kenai River Campus in 2013 he has worked tirelessly to establish a state-of-the-art studio classroom where he could effectively teach the art of sculpture, his preferred medium.

When it was decided that the KRC mechanical technology lab was antiquated and needed to be retired, Choy worked closely with facilities planners to visualize a transformation of the space in KRC’s Ward Building. The space needed several important modifications to ensure proper ventilation, adequate work stations, and areas for welding metal, working with wood, plaster and clay for producing and firing ceramics, and providing for a gas-fired foundry for metal casting and molding.

The new space is a major expansion of the Anna Leah Fosset-Goodrich 3-D Art Studio, formerly located in a maintenance bay that held pottery wheels and a kiln.

“Sculpture and ceramics have been offered here in the past with limited resources and space. The new space will allow for both studio areas to be offered with appropriate facilities,” Choy said. “The vision for this type of studio began in 2003 with a generous donation from the Damon Foundation to develop a facility for 3-dimensional arts.”

The studio is a fully functioning, 3,200 square feet open air work space with several specialty areas dedicated to specific types of mediums. The studio provides student artists with dedicated spaces for woodworking, welding and fabrication, molding, foundry work, ceramics, and plasterwork.

“Our new facility would be the envy of any other 3-D art program. We have the equipment, space, and support to allow students to explore their creative visions. Along with new equipment, we have a fantastic facilities crew providing a high level of technical support for the studio,” Choy said. The grand opening of the new studio space will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, April 22 in Ward Building room 104. The public is invited to visit with Professor Choy, enjoy light refreshments and tour the facility. For more information, contact Choy by emailing cchoy2@kpc.alaska.edu.

Blood donation: An easy way to save lives

This will be the last community reminder to sign up for the blood drive happening from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursday, April 7, in Blood Bank of Alaska’s LifeMobile (in the KRC Res Hall parking lot). Donors must schedule an appointment, present photo identification and are reminded to drink plenty of fluids and eat well prior to donation. Appointments can be made by calling Leslie Byrd at 262-0253 or emailing lbyrd4@kpc.alaska.edu.