The Student Commons transformed into a bustling networking event when the Students’ Association’s Clubsfest took over the building on Jan. 16.
Clubsfest is presented at the beginning of each academic year. The event, held in the E-building, brings some of the 92 clubs out to show off their communities and find new members.
The recent Clubsfest is unique because it was the first one held during the winter semester.
The SA’s clubs and community coordinator Sienna Benson, 25, said they “wanted to have a bigger opportunity to create more of an awareness for clubs and to be able to have more members.”
Benson herself is an Algonquin grad and worked part time for the SA when she was a student. She believes Clubsfest is a great way for students to get involved in the campus community.
“It’s fantastic for the students to be able to see what we have on campus,” Benson said. “A lot of students don’t even know we have clubs on campus, so it’s a nice outlet to show something different from school or academics.”
Jason Smithson, 30, has been the president of the Algonquin Historical European Martial Club, or HEMA, for the last four years. Along with promoting his club, he wants to bring awareness to a fencing class on campus and wants people to have somewhere to learn outside of classes.
“Examining historical evidence and finding ways to academically apply fencing is something that not a lot of people get to play around with, especially not on your own without having to do it as a school project,” Smithson said. If you do it at your leisure, “it makes a difference.”
A newer club that was represented was the Algonquin Makers Club, led by Carter Turnbull, 20, a computer engineering student.
His club, only a year old, does prototyping and connects makers with business to give them what they need to make their products. They are also planning an event to teach people how to 3-D print and program their own dancing robot.
“We want to make it easier for people to make their ideas into reality,” Turnbull said.
Kashish Sharma attended Clubsfest for the first time. Having just come to the college this semester, she is excited to join a like-minded community.
“There are a hell of a lot of activities here and there’s so much to explore. It’s amazing,” Sharma said, looking around at the plethora of clubs. “The versatility is definitely there, so I am enjoying all the activities.”
Coordinator Sienna Benson encourages more students to come out and find the benefit of clubs.
“It’s fun to have something you’re really interested in and want to be a part of,” she said. It’s a great opportunity to “learn new skills, new information, as well as creating a community on campus.”
To learn more about clubs, join one, or create your own, visit www.algonquinsa.com/clubs.