The Aug. 28 Engagement Fair was a magnet for first-year Bobcats looking for ways to connect with like-minded peers outside of class and to stretch themselves with new experiences, new interests and opportunities.

“This is the biggest Engagement Fair we’ve had,” said Associate Director of Student Engagement Jahmil Effend. “A lot of students are telling me they think it’s amazing. The number of opportunities can be overwhelming because there’s so much to do on campus. They’re getting to meet the people that run these organizations.”

The Engagement Fair is the largest event organized by the Office of Student Engagement each year as way to empower, educate and engage the Quinnipiac community in a culture of co-curricular development. In addition to over 190 student-led organizations, the fair also offered tables promoting university student programming and offices to generate a grand total of 215 campus opportunities represented at the Engagement Fair.

“We run it every fall as a kickoff and starting point for our students,” said Effend. “It’s really important that students get connected and involved as much as possible and engaged with opportunities outside of the classroom.”

At a table topped by rods and lures, Quinnipiac Fishing Club president Nathaniel Bartels, ’28, said the fair’s huge surge of student interest was so unexpected, he had to call for backup to replenish club stickers and other giveaways.

“I knew that there would be a bunch of people who like fishing, but I didn’t know how many people would want to take their time out of their day to come see what the club’s about,” said Bartels.

Connor Gray, ’29, clocked the club’s fishing poles from a distance and charted a direct course for the table, where he signed up.

“I saw the rods and got excited. I like freshwater fishing -- I’m not good at; but I’ll do it,” Gray said.

Bartels joined the club last year and said his involvement at Quinnipiac has given him an awesome experience as a club member and a student leader.

“When I got into Quinnipiac I was looking to see if there’s a fishing club and I reached out to the club president,” said Bartels, who ended up joining the president in helping to build up the club, which offers freshwater and saltwater fishing experiences.

“It wound up being an awesome experience, bonding with a bunch of like-minded gentlemen,” said Bartels.

The co-ed club also signed up a lot of new female members at the Engagement Fair, he said.

“It’s just awesome seeing a little club expanding very quickly,” Bartels said. 

Ben Albers ’29 said he had just arrived at the Engagement Fair when the Quinnipiac Fishing Club caught his eye.

“I signed up. I do it for fun, but I’d love to get into it,” said Albers.

Albers said his plan was to continue his journey at the fair to see what else he might want to join.

“I think this is awesome – I’m glad the school is having this giant club fair,” Albers said.

First-year Bobcat Grace Grand, ’29, and her friends joined the stream of students surging the Quad’s walkways at the Engagement Fair.

“It’s kind of overwhelming at first, but it’s been really nice to see all of the different opportunities that you have on the campus. There’s a lot of different things you can do and a lot of different people you can meet,” said Grand. “I just looked at the Book Club table, so I’m really excited about that.”

Morgan Neamtz, ’29 said she and her friends made a plan to come out to the Engagement Fair.

“I was looking for the Religious Club, which I ended up finding, which was super-cool; and I’ve kind of just been browsing around to see what else is up,” said Neamtz.

Quinnipiac Women Empowered student marketing director Grace Conneely-Nolan, ’26, MS ’27, said the club was drawing a lot of interest at the event and that her interest was sparked while attending a lot of club events as a first-year student.

“I wanted to be part of something outside of classes. I wanted to be more part of a community,” said Conneely-Nolan. “We’re an org that empowers and advocates for women on campus and off campus. You don’t have to be a woman to join, just someone who wants to support women. It’s a great chance to meet friends and to get more educated. There’s so much you can learn from getting involved.”

Conneely-Nolan said Quinnipiac helps students make the most of their organizations and what they have to offer the student community.

“We meet in the Student Org suite, and we’re able to reserve a bunch of different spaces that hold a lot of people, depending on which events we have going on,” said Conneely-Nolan. “Usually, the Piazza is where we’re at, because it’s a nice space to gather and lot of people will come in from the dining hall or from doing work for classes.” 

For the first time in Quinnipiac history, the annual Engagement Fair took place during Quinnipiac’s new Common Hour programming. Held each Tuesday and Thursday from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m., Common Hour is dedicated time devoted to creating university community engagement. No Mount Carmel classes are scheduled during Common Hour.

Chief Experience Officer Tom Ellett said he was thrilled to see the huge number of Bobcats who came out and got involved in the excitement of this year’s Engagement Fair. 

“It is fantastic and shows that students really do want to connect and be involved with their peers. They want make a difference with an interest-based club, a discipline-based club, an arts club, a community service club, a leadership organization, a sports club…and all of these clubs and organizations started with an idea from a student,” said Ellett.  “It’s amazing to think that these were all started and sustained by students.”

Alpha Pi Omega Quinnipiac chapter president, Kathryn Skidmore, ’26, was tabling for the co-ed national service fraternity.  Skidmore has been a chapter member for four years.

“I feel like the amount of community service that I’ve been able to do, and the friends and relationships that I’ve been able build, have been super-beneficial to my college experience,” Skidmore said. “I always know I have people to go to that I can talk to, and the community service that we have done has really been heartwarming and impactful on my life.” 

Student Government Association (SGA) vice president of public relations MollyAnn O’Malley, ’26, MS ’27, said getting involved with SGA has elevated her experience as a student leader. 

“In high school, I never did anything advocacy based. Most of my involvement was in the arts and theatre, which I still do here. But coming to college, it was just a really cool experience being able to advocate for the students,” said O’Malley. “I ran for SGA my first year as a brand-new student; but we have people who get involved at many points in their college career.”

Gabriella Cozzi, ’29, said she found several opportunities to get involved around campus, including signing up with Quinnipiac Symphony Orchestra.

“I came here looking for the orchestra, because I talked to the orchestra director when I came to their last performance and she said they needed a percussionist. I’ve actually joined a few clubs so far today, and I’m looking for more – I’ve also joined Women Empowered and the Gender and Sexuality Alliance,” said Cozzi. “Seeing all these clubs is absolutely insane, but its super-cool. I think it’s very important for the college community, and it’s awesome to see all the people that are walking around and getting involved.”

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