Activity Fair helps students find a home in Maverick Country
A walk through The University of Texas at Arlington’s campus on Aug. 31 showed that no matter what interests a student brought to UTA, there was a place for them to thrive.
Interested in rockets? There’s a group for that. Super into reptiles? There’s a group for that, too. Looking to meet those with whom you share a cultural background? Come aboard.
A staple of Maverick Stampede since 1981, Maverick Cookout & Activity Fair Day introduced students to more than 200 organizations, departments and off-campus vendors. At tables and tents spread across Brazos Park, Library Mall and the University Center Mall, students learned about campus groups focused on everything from academics to politics, matters of faith, hobbies and cultural awareness.
For some students, getting involved with a group provided more than just a chance to meet new friends. Jyotirmoy Sarker, a junior electrical engineering major and joint organizing secretary of the Bangladesh Student Organization, said he had just three days to leave his apartment after a pipe leak last year. A fellow group member opened his home to him, giving him a place to stay for three months.
“That’s the power of this organization,” Sarker said. “Members will help people in any way they can.”
That dedication to serve also extends off campus. Global Medical Training is a student organization that takes members on annual medical mission trips abroad. At UTA this week, member Kimberly Tran brought her two adorable dogs to bring attention to the club—Lil’ Phi, a Maltese poodle, and Lucky, a long-haired chihuahua.
“In this group, we’re basically strangers who go to another country to help strangers, and it brings everyone closer together,” Tran said. “It’s also a great way to work with doctors and other professionals to get a feel for what health care is really like.”
Dalton Lawing, senior biology major and founder and president of UTA’s Herpetology Club, the university’s reptile and amphibian fan club, said he loved seeing the wide variety of interests represented.
“There are so many interesting and unique clubs on campus,” he said. “I’ve seen so many other ones that made me think, ‘Wow, I would have never thought of that.’”
Yen Pham, a junior aerospace engineering major, is the project manager for the rocketry division of Aero Mavs, a group dedicated to designing, building and testing rockets and fixed-wing aircraft. She wants to inspire the next generation of engineering students while making friends who share her interests.
“Once I joined, I was able to meet people in my major more easily, so that definitely stood out,” she said.
Mariam Mohamed, a freshman commuter student majoring in aerospace engineering, took a slightly different approach, attending in hopes of discovering new interests.
“I’m really interested in joining clubs,” she said. “I like to get involved and want to be a well-rounded person and join things that I have never been a part of before.”
Regardless of one’s interests or background, getting involved outside of the classroom can help put a student on the path to success, said Tristian Brooks, student development specialist with UTA’s Division of Student Affairs.
“Students who are more involved are more connected to their academics, peers and professors,” Brooks said. “Having students join organizations that they like gets them different experiences that will benefit them after college.”