Winter 2026 Student Involvement Fair

Students connect, engage with student life opportunities on campus

Pictured: students pose in front of a camera at the Winter 2026 Student Involvement Fair

Crowds of students found their way to Gaiser Hall on Jan. 14 for the Student Involvement Fair. This event happens at the beginning of each term, bringing new opportunities for students to connect with on-campus events, clubs, and organizations.

The bustling hall was full of tables with members of different clubs and departments on campus. Attendees sipped on free coffee from Pacific Perks and snacked on a variety of cookies baked by Clark's culinary students. A photo booth with a winter backdrop stood at one end of the hall, with a line of students waiting to be photographed with whimsical props. There was even a table of robots that would take your picture and draw your caricature.

The snacks, drawings, and photo booth weren't the only things adding an extra layer of fun to the event — the passport stamp activity helped motivate students to engage with more tables. Each time a student interacted with a booth at the event, they received a stamp on their paper "passport". Once they earned enough stamps, they could exchange the passport for a $5 gift card to use at the Tod and Maxine McClaskey Culinary Institute.

One table that drew a lot of attention was the Philosophy Club. Their booth was decorated with vines, cozy blankets, and ambient lighting — all evoking the warmth and kind of community one might find at their club. When asked about joining, student and club member Kalila said, "It's one of the best things I did." Professor Rummel, manager of the club, spoke about the environment they create at their meetings. "This club helps develop critical thinking and diversity for everyone," he said.

Students, staff, and faculty were all excited to share their clubs with potential future members.

"It's nice to see everyone come out and learn about the clubs," said Faith, a student and assistant at Archer Gallery.

Pictured: students promoting the Philosophy Club behind a decorated table

Pictured: Faith, a student and assistant at the Archer Gallery

Spotlight on Campus Moms Connect Club

Pictured: Members of Campus Moms Connect gather for their first meeting

One of the clubs at the fair was Campus Moms Connect, a new group founded by student Ceirra Murphy to support student parents on campus. The club held its first meeting this week and aims to connect student mothers with resources and community.

Ceirra, the mom of an 11-month-old daughter, said she started the club after struggling to find support as a new parent beginning her college education. She was determined that motherhood would not delay her education, despite facing the challenge of finding resources and support from others. She felt on her own but worked hard to piece together a network of resources both on and off campus.

"I planned on starting this club since I started school because I want to make those resources more accessible, and I want to give mothers an opportunity to be in the same room as other people who are going through the same thing they are," Ceirra said. "I want to work on building that community." 

Ceirra started at Clark just after turning 18, and she often felt like an outlier among her peers as a young mother. Spending time with other student mothers helped change that perspective.

"There are a lot more parents on campus than we think about," she said.

She also noted that some campus events are becoming more family-friendly, including Spring Fest and the Activity Programming Board's movie nights.

Ceirra hopes to extend that welcoming environment to Campus Moms Connect. Her goal is to tailor the club around the needs and interests of the members, and she plans to invite guest speakers, host workshops, and dedicate meetings to sharing resources.

Several Clark resources have been helpful to Ceirra, including the Basic Needs Hub, which provided her with diapers and wipes, and the Penguin Pantry. She was also connected to off-campus resources through Workforce Education Services (WES). Hoping to make the process easier for others, Ceirra plans to compile all of the resources she's found and share them at an upcoming meeting.

"I want resources to be a big part of it because I feel like there's so much help that parents can get, and it's hard to take those steps to find them," she said. "I want to help people with that. We can get together and study or have play dates. I want to also build community and friendship so that it still feels like a warm place to be."

Campus Moms Connect meets every other Thursday. While the group is geared towards mothers, all are welcome to attend.

Clubs and Programs that Participated in the Fair

Stay Connected

To keep up with upcoming events, view the Events at Clark page.

To learn more about these clubs and other student life, visit the ASCC Clubs & Programs page.

Photos: Clark College/Masha Yaremenko and Carly Rae Zent

Story by Malena Goerl, Staff Writer; Masha Yaremenko, Digital Media Student Intern; and Carly Rae Zent, Digital Media Specialist, Communications and Marketing