On Friday, September 12, Student Activities (StuActs) held a Get Involved Club Fair. As dozens of tables decorated with posters, sign-up sheets, and candy bowls filled the Grubbs Quad, students eagerly made their way from booth to booth. All student-led clubs were invited to host a table, connect with new students, and expand their network within the Loomis community. This event replaced the previous Harvestfest, allowing students to become involved in club activities earlier in the school year.
Ms. Markowski, the Director of StuActs, explains that “the club fair gives students an opportunity to get involved on campus,” developing and bettering the Loomis Chaffee community. Ms. Markowski also shared that there were well over 100 clubs that participated this year, allowing students the chance to discover novel interests. Many established clubs, such as the Loomis Chaffee Log, the Debate Society, and Model United Nations (MUN) were present. The event was also an opportunity, nonetheless, for new clubs to show their faces for the first time, such as the Fishing Club.
Ms. Markowski emphasized that clubs are more than simple extracurricular activities: they give students the chance to mingle with each other, thus enabling the building of social connections across campus, and developing skills such as leadership and teamwork. “Joining clubs helps students meet like-minded peers and feel more connected to the school,” she said.
Many club leaders agree with Ms. Markowski’s perspective. Junior Elizabeth Mullany, founder of the Shamrock Society and co-president of Girls Who Code, said: “I love the club fair because there really is something for everyone, and if there isn’t a club that matches your interests, you can start your own. It gives students the chance to pursue their passions and connect with people who share them.” Shamrock Society is an Irish-heritage student society, and Girls Who Code attempts to break down the gender barriers in emergent AI technologies.
The annual club fair is about creating opportunities for students and helping them find their place, especially for those new to the Loomis community. By walking from table to table and speaking directly with club leaders, students are gifted the opportunity to discover organizations they may not have considered before. With options ranging from affinity and service groups to performance ensembles and lighthearted social clubs, the fair this year highlighted the multifaceted and diverse student body on the Island.
