Killeen Daily Herald
Central Texas College students connected with their peers Wednesday, as members of more than 10 campus organizations participated in “Join A Club Day.”
The clubs, which range from academics to politics and food, had several delegates on hand at the student center providing information and hoping to acquire new members.
“(Clubs) are great because they help students who feel like they are on the outside, feel like they are a part of something,” said Leonard McIntosh, president of the Culinary Hospitality Arts Club. “It gives them a chance to interact with other students and feel like part of the CTC community.”
McIntosh said the culinary club hosts several activities, including cooking at college and community functions and dining out at restaurants in Austin.
“We try to have fun and be out there helping others as well,” said McIntosh, a culinary arts student. “We welcome all students, not just the ones in the culinary arts program.”
Many of the clubs are formed around a specific topic or interest. Julia Anderson represented the Central Texas College Criminal Justice Club, which boasts of more than 20 students interested in the career field.
“It’s great because (the club) opens up a lot of doors for students who want a career in criminal justice,” said Anderson. “It really gives them a chance to see all the jobs and careers available to them.”
Anderson, the club’s president, said the criminal justice group has visited local prisons and attended an autopsy at the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office.
While the culinary arts and criminal justice clubs have been active at the community college for more than five years, a campus employee attended the event to gauge interest for a club he hopes will last just as long.
Michael Hunter, an information technology and security integrator for the college, said he wanted to start a robotics club, an idea that came to him after speaking with teachers from local middle and high schools.
“There are robotics clubs and programs at these schools, but if those students graduate and come here, they might not be able to continue that,” he said.
“My main goal today was to see how people might be interested in joining (such a club),” said Hunter, who added that if he can get enough students, he will proceed with the college’s approval process, which includes finding a sponsor, writing a constitution, electing club officers and getting approval of the Student Life Office.
Steve Williams, an engineering student who is involved in several clubs and serves as president of the Central Texas College Conservatives, said campus organizations play a vital role in students’ lives.
“We are trying to enhance students’ activities and trying to get them to be more involved,” said Williams. “We want them to excel, academically, politically and to learn to think for themselves and become active and engaged.”
Campus clubs
For more information about Central Texas College’s clubs and student organizations, go to www.ctcd.edu/stu_life/clubs.htm.