Student clubs and organizations add to the educational experience at Sinclair.
Sinclair Community college along student engagement offer a variety of student clubs and organizations that range in a variety of different topics.
Sami Gibson a Criminal Justice Science for Corrections major is a second year student and president of Brite Signal Alliance, Sinclair’s gay straight alliance. “The thing that interests me most about BSA is the diversity. There is a lot of different walks of life there. The club doesn’t just consist of people from the LGBT Community, there is also many supporters.”
Brite Signal Alliance has brought a variety of events to Sinclair campus including Diversity Day, Transgender Day of Remembrance and Sinclair’ all-inclusive Once Upon a Prom.
In a similar sense there are a variety of other student clubs including ACES, WiSTEM and UAAMP that support other minority groups like women and the African American student body. These clubs provide support and give minority groups a voice on campus.
While Brite Signal Alliance and similar clubs cater to special interest groups those are not the only types of clubs Sinclair has to offer. There are also a host of academic clubs available including Psychology, Hospitality and Culinary, Art and Criminal Justice.
KC a psychology major is also a member of a variety of clubs including sociology club and psychology club on campus and is still looking for more to be a part of. “I liked the idea of being able to talk about stuff and people being able to relate” KC says about her experience, “Because we are in the club for a mutual interest. Also to learn more about a certain topic.”
While student organizations bring with them a fun, social atmosphere, academic clubs also provide students with networking, experience and support outside of Sinclair.
“I get to meet new people.” Janell Pennington says. Pennington is a Meeting and Event Planning major who is a new member of the Hospitality and Culinary Club, “It relates to the career field I’m entering, that helps on resumes as well as networking. With bake sales, the event planners are the ones who will be running it and that’s more experience.”
USA News stated in 2011 that student organizations provide five main resources to students: Building a connection to their schools, forming a community on campus and interaction with those outside, self-discovery through passions and strengths, boosting one’s resume and helping to teach leadership and time management skills.
“For me Brite SIgnal has helped me feel more comfortable talking in front of a group of people.” Gibson says, “Because of this I am more active in my classes. I have also developed skills in being friendly towards others and making friends with people. I have become more open minded about the views of others. I feel the skills that I have developed will help me with my future career.”
UniversityParent.com says career opportunities are the fundamental resource a club can offer. Being active in the community that pertains to your major and networking with fellow students who will someday be in that field make student clubs invaluable, “Encourage the college student in your life to take advantage of those opportunities and it will enhance your student’s future career, enrich the college experience, and give her a great chance of post-college success.” UniversityParent.com also mentions the potential of scholarship opportunities that can come with clubs when transferring to a four year institution or applying for grants.
When it comes to joining a club that interests you Pennington says, “Just do it. You may learn something you didn’t in class and participate! You will make friends and have more items for your resume! Clubs always look good on a resume!”
“The school should most certainly support the clubs!” KC says, “They offer more than learning, they help students make connections to others who enjoy the same things and overall boost student morale.”
Students who need help finding out about clubs and other student engagement activities can meet with Kates Brommeland, Student Engagement Coordinator in room 8025.
“I work with the advisors to provide guidance and support,” Brommeland says, “I give the forms that are needed, communicate space availability, suggest what events may look like and guide clubs to make an event successful. Likewise club leaders can come to my office and I can talk to them and provide that information.”
Brommeland hopes her presence this year in the student engagement department will help streamline the process between the student clubs and the school so that students can create events that showcase their skills in the most effective way.
“Clubs provide that real word experience, promote students contact, they provide connections and support, making new friends.” Brommeland says, “I can even think back to my college experience and some of the lifelong friendships I developed were through the clubs and organizations I was involved in”
Brommeland believes student organizations provide leadership opportunities beyond what is conventional. How to type up meeting notes, communicate and connect with outside agencies, problem solving and conflict management are all areas Brommand feels clubs provide students a second way of learning.
Students who can’t find what they are looking for in clubs can also look into starting their own club. Brommeland aids students in finding resources and bringing together what’s necessary for students to meet the criteria of building a new club.
For students seeking clubs, engagement activities or staring a club contact Student and Community Engagement Department.
Building: 8025
Phone: 512-2509
James Duty
Contributing Writer