As we are now in the third week of class, Sinclair is aware of the struggles many students face when entering campus for the first time, and understands how hard it can be for them to connect with new people in a new environment.
In an attempt to help students connect and enrich the college experience Sinclair throws an annual event called Winter Wonderland.
Winter Wonderland is held in building 8’s basement stage area Jan. 30, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is completely free.
The event takes place every January, each year with a different theme. This year’s theme is sports because of Super Bowl LII on Feb. 4, 2018.
Winter Wonderland is put on by the Student and Community Engagement department and organized by Kates Brommeland, Coordinator of Student Engagement. Brommeland has been in this role for three years and has 11 years of experience at Sinclair.
She started in the pre-college program, and then moved into the Coordinator of Student Success position, eventually moving on to run the scholarship program through the completion office.
Winter Wonderland offers a wide variety of activities such as: chances to win prizes, giveaways, flag football, a movie, hot chocolate, popcorn, games, music and more.
Student and Community Engagement teamed up with Sinclair’s Marketing Department to promote Winter Wonderland.
They use social media, Sinclair T.V., bulletin boards, and whiteboards to spread word about the event. Advertisements will begin to come out two weeks before the event, so students can make time in their busy schedules to come out.
Students can also check the Sinclair website and flyers around school for more up to date information. The Campus Activities Board and other departments pitch in to help fund the event.
It is usually a large turnout, as last year’s Winter Wonderland brought in around 200-300 people. Winter Wonderland is a great way for students to integrate themselves into campus and jump start their college experience.
Winter Wonderland will also have information on other events going on through the semester sponsored by the Student and Community Engagement department. One of these is a series of Ted Talk like presentations called Sinclair Talks.
There are 15 total this semester that deal with issues relevant to students varying from help to those with undecided majors to dealing with math anxiety to learning more about the K-9 program in the police academy.
There are also special engagement Sinclair Talks. These usually last anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half. Special engagement Sinclair Talks have many different perspectives on a topic and are more deeply involved than regular Sinclair Talks.
Winter Wonderland is an opportunity for students to see what building 8 has to offer, as they provide a wide range of services. These include resume and cover letter assistance, as well as job searching and interview help. It is also where students can find information about and join student clubs and organizations on campus.
Furthermore, employers post job openings there and look for qualified Sinclair students and alumni to hire.
Those who enjoy Winter Wonderland and want to get involved in making similar events happen can contact Kates Brommeland, M.A. at the Office of Student & Community Engagement, building 8, room 8025.
Haley Edwards
Reporter