As Jefferson Community College begins yet another new semester, spring 2023, students are working hard to attract not only local students, but students from across the region. 

Gianna Donahue, a student government trustee at the school, is helping JCC branch out, showing off what's important and new, especially to those at Fort Drum. 

“Just having that home connection, knowing that you're not the only student who has military background or there's other students who are able to relate to you, or even faculty who can relate to you. Like Angie,” Donahue said.

Angie is Angela Hogan, and she says she helps military students plan their education at JCC. That means she is helping nearly half of the student body at Jefferson because they have some sort of a military connection. 

“They are incredibly important. I'm a veteran, so I'm very connected to them,” Hogan added.

In recent years, the college has also looked to grow in a different way, reaching out of region students. Students from all over New York all over the nation, and even international students.

“So this is our residence hall. This is where anybody who is out of state is more than welcome to come on to campus and have a residential family home here at JCC,” Donahue added.

And while not unheard of, dorms on community college campuses aren't an everywhere thing. And it certainly helps this school attract those students from all over.

“This is where students are able to come cook, use an air fryer or cook their home meals if they're missing home for a little bit,” Donahue said.

A residence hall with a brand new common area to help students who are from all over get to know one another.

“It really just brings people out of their rooms down here, you know, everybody likes a meal. So it's been a great addition. I think the residents have been very happy with it so far,” Matt Gorman, director of residence life and housing.

Brooke Beleza said she came to JCC from Ontario, Canada and she said she takes advantage of the new common area. 

“Being able to come here after the class closed and make food yourself and being able to make whatever you want when you want and gives you like a sense of feeling like you're at home, like your mom is making a meal for you,” Beleza said.

And like so many of the out-of-town students, Beleza is here partly because of athletics. Not only has JCC just introduced e-sports as a program, but it will soon have a brand new athletic complex and a brand new sport, lacrosse. The lacrosse teams should begin next year.

“Yeah, I think it's makes it a more vibrant campus for sure. And it also allows our community to use the facilities. And you know, we have all summer long, we don't typically have many students on campus. So that's an opportunity for us to engage with the community,” Dr. Daniel Dupee, JCC’s Administrator-In-Charge said.

It's why students like Donahue want to take part in so much more than just what happens in a classroom.

“You can just see and watch connections grow and grow and grow between students,” Donahue said.