Five reasons to attend the second annual SGA Spring Awareness Day

The second annual Spring Student Government Association's (SGA) Awareness Day will take place on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Student Recreation Center Courts. Here are five reasons you should consider attending. 

1. Get to know more about over 150 clubs and organizations. 

Awareness Day brings together almost all of the clubs and organizations at Rider. The list includes recreational sports, major-focused clubs, honor societies, community service organizations, student government and leadership groups, campus media, fraternities and sororities, religious organizations, multicultural organizations, and locally based activities. With 10 more groups participating this year, you're bound to discover a new way to get involved on campus.

2. Expand your social circle as a transfer or second-semester freshman.

SGA president Ryan Hopely '17 is hoping to especially see transfer and second-semester freshman students at the Spring Awareness Day.

“Spring Awareness Day serve a very different purpose than Fall Awareness Day,” Hopely says. “This year, we are specifically focusing on transfer students and first-years who may need more information. Many freshman were not thinking about getting involved when they first started college, but now may feel more comfortable branching out.”

Hopely can speak about being engaged. Along with being SGA president, he is the community impact intern for the Bonner Program, a resident advisor in Poyda Hall and a brother of Sigma Phi Epsilon.

First year student Lenin Young '19, a communications major, attended the awareness day in the fall, but found that it was overwhelming to consider juggling outside activities while also getting used to his new routine and the demands of college. "I'm ready to get involved now that I'm settled," he says. "I am excited to check out the clubs related to my field, especially the Rider University Network."

3. Keep your new year's resolution to get more involved.

Remember back at the beginning of the year when you resolved to leave your room more often? To meet new people? To find a cause you care about? Awareness Day can be your first step toward keeping that promise to yourself.

And, even if you are already part of a group, the event provides many additional options for getting involved. 

Kimmy Ortiz '17, who attended in the fall, says, "I think everyone should visit the awareness fair. Whether you're a sophomore or second semester senior, it's never too late to get involved on campus.” Ortiz herself is a sister of Phi Sigma Sigma and writes for The Rider News. “There’s always an opportunity for everyone, and you never know of possible connections for future internships and jobs.”

4. Gain experience and bolster your resume. 

Being involved on campus helps build your resume, teaches leadership skills, and allows you to form connections that can be useful when you graduate and are looking for a job.

Young plans on attending the fair tomorrow. “I want to find an activity or club in my major to gain real experience that I can add to my resume.”

"Involvement at Rider changed my life," says Hopely. "I have grown into a better, stronger and more confident version of myself and am very fortunate to have a strong network built from these involvements. I'm confident they will help me get into a graduate program and a job in higher education."

5. Collect cool stuff. 

Who doesn’t love free things? Many clubs and organizations give out candy, stickers, pens, and more to those who visit their tables. And who knows? Maybe along the way, you'll discover a club or organization that interests you and takes you down an unexpected path. 

All officers should check-in at the SGA registration table in the SRC gym between 11 and 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 11, for set-up. 

For more information, visit the Facebook event page.