A Sweet Treat For Valentine’s Eve

To celebrate Valentine’s Day, the JCCC Student Lounge will be hosting another fun, and interactive event. Students can attend the Cotton Candy and Chorus event on Feb. 13 from 12 -2 p.m. in GEB 154, the Student Lounge.

Students will be able to compete in two challenging song games:

• “Finish the Lyric: Valentines Edition,” which allows students to listen to a portion of a song and attempt to finish the lyrics when it cuts off. The first person to name the correct lyric wins.
• “Keyword Song Challenge,” in which students will hear a “keyword” and then attempt to sing or name a song that includes that keyword.

This event will allow students to bring friends, make new ones, and celebrate Valentine’s Day, all while enjoying free cotton candy, while supplies last.

– Sammie Magee

Get A (College) Life In The County 

Hanging around JCCC as a college student can feel surprisingly tough if you don’t know the right spots. You can only sit in the student lounge for so long, and when the library closes at 9 p.m., the big question hits. “Where should we go next?”

After talking with students at JCCC, I made a list of go-to hangout spots that people actually recommend, and trust me, there’s no gatekeeping here. Whether you’re looking for live music, trivia nights, arcades, or just somewhere to unwind after class, there’s more out there than you might think.

Students mentioned Fox & Hound for some Burgers and Billiards, Guitars & Cadillacs for some swing dance lessons 6-7pm or to learn a line dance from 7-8pm, Up-Down for its various events, and Brew Lab, known for live music, trivia, and even upcoming arcade additions.

If karaoke is more your thing, Johnny’s Tavern and Tanner’s Bar & Grill rotate regular karaoke nights that students swear by.

For bigger group outings, District Eat and Play in Overland Park keeps things lively with games and a social atmosphere. Dave and Busters offer a free Tuesday Trivia night for groups up to 6.

One thing to keep in mind is that some venues like Fox and Hound may start turning away guests under 21 after 10 p.m., so it’s always smart to check ahead. Luckily, there are still late-night options like Tap In’s and Topgolf, which often run “after-hours” deals so students can keep the night going without blowing their budget.

– Harper Wainscott

Sweat With Spring 2026 Wellness Series Drop-In Classes

When you’re on campus, and want to get in a quick 40-50 minute workout, you are in luck. Take advantage of JCCC’s Spring 2026 Wellness Series of drop-in classes provided by JCCC’s Student Wellness.

These quick workouts are free for all JCCC students attending classes, require no registration, and welcome all.

To view the class schedule, enroll in the Virtual Student Wellness Canvas course (must be logged in to use this link).

After enrolling, go to Home and you will find announcements and the list of classes offered in the Spring 2026 Wellness Series.

During the Spring 2026 Wellness Series Feb. 2 to March 13, the center offers the following classes:

Mondays

• 12 p.m. Build & Burn GYM 022
• 1 p.m. Pilates Fusion GYM 007
• 2 p.m. Tai Chi GYM 007

Tuesdays

• 3 p.m. Zumba GYM 007

Wednesdays

• 1 p.m. Wellness Walk GYM 003

Thursdays

• 9:30 a.m. Yoga GYM 007
• 4:15 p.m. Mixed Flow Yoga GYM 007

Questions? Stop by the Barbara Gill Lifetime Fitness Center GYM 103 or call 913-469-4432 during business hours, Monday-Thursday 6 a.m. – 9:30 p.m., Friday 6 a.m. – 7 p.m., Saturday 6 a.m. – 3 p.m. and Sunday 1-5 p.m. Or email Student Wellness.

– Mike Kemper

Jazz Programs At The Winterlude Festival

The Winterlude Jazz Festival will be taking place in the Midwest Trust Center at Yardley Hall and Polsky Theatre on March 7 and 8, an opportunity to support and celebrate jazz.

The weekend lineup is looking pretty sweet with both days packed, including JCCC’s own Jazz Band playing on Sunday, and the New York native jazz composer Arturo O’Farrill and his group, the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, headlining.

The  festival will highlight a jazz ensemble led by Ryan Heinlein, director of the JCCC Jazz Band, an opportunity to showcase one of JCCC’s many jazz courses.

The Midwest Trust Center is also offering discounted tickets for students at only $5. This goes for all events, not just the Winterlude Jazz Festival.

– Ian Buhrle

Peer Into Your Future At The Career Development Center

One of the many invaluable resources on campus is the Career Development Center, or C.D.C.. Located on the second floor of the Student Center, it is nestled in the left corner of the Student Success Center, along with the counseling and financial aid offices.

The C.D.C. helps beef up your resume and LinkedIn page, and keeps you up-to-date on internship and career opportunity information.

Last semester they launched a Canvas course, so if you haven’t already, let’s enroll, as it will make the rest of this article much easier to navigate.

Once you are in, take a minute and check out the plethora offerings.

Unsure which direction to take as you start your educational journey? Might I suggest:

• Getting to know yourself and what makes you tick.
• Taking some assessments to help narrow down what career you may be a good fit.
• Meeting with one of the career coaches for some one-on-one guidance.

A bit further along the path, how about a resume review  or a look at current job postings?

Throughout the semester, the C.D.C. hosts several career panels, professional workshops, and a wide range of other career-related activities. Check out the calendar for dates and times.

And the best part is that all of this is available, easily accessible, and free.

– Justin Prowell