RELEASED: Nov. 26, 2003

DANVILLE, KY—The phrase most commonly heard from the admission office when referring to Centre's Colonel Corps is "We couldn't do what we do without them."

The corps is a group of 60-70 Centre student volunteers who assist the admission office by conducting campus tours and hosting lunches and overnight stays for prospective students. Corps members also help with open houses and student panels.

Christina Garcia, a junior biochemistry and molecular biology major from Elizabethtown, Ky., joined the corps because she thought it would be a good way to talk to students who were in the same situation she was in a few years ago and to give them her perspective of the college experience.

"I try to have fun with it and keep things interesting," Garcia said. "And give them examples of how the professors make Centre unique."

Fellow Colonel Corps member and classmate Jake Sparks agrees with Garcia.

"I remember how stressful the college search process can be," the physics major from Owensboro, Ky., said. "So I enjoy the opportunity to try to make it easier for others."

John Gahan, a prospective student from Hagerstown, Md., went on a one-on-one campus tour with Garcia.

"It was really informative," he said. "I liked it because we were able to go around and see a variety of places. I'm used to being in a big crowd on tours, which is far less engaging."

The corps members answer questions to help make the prospective students at ease when they visit the campus.

"I hope that any information I give them, questions I can answer or fears I can calm, will only help make their college search easier," Sparks said.

Ned Frazer, assistant director of admission at Centre and corps advisor, said, "It's really nice for the prospective students to have a peer to answer their questions."

Corps members also depend on their tour groups to help them as well.

"On the first tour I ever gave it was raining. I was walking backwards on the tour and the members of my group were directing me around puddles," Garcia said.

Corps guides walk backwards to have face-to-face contact with their guests.

For the Colonel Corps, their hard work pays off.

"It's been rewarding to see people I remember from tours or overnight visits choose to come to Centre," Sparks said.

To find out more about the Colonel Corps contact Ned Frazer at (859) 238-5353 or e-mail frazern@centre.edu.

Prospective students interested in taking a tour of Centre's campus can visit http://www.centre.edu/web/admission/, call (800) 423-6236 or e-mail admission@centre.edu.

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