At the beginning of the school year, the Student Engagement and Leadership (SEaL) club hosts an event for all students called the Involvement Fair. The Involvement Fair is the best place to get to know the different clubs and organizations provided on Cabrini’s campus. At the fair, students have the chance to walk around Grace Hall, and talk to presidents and other representatives about the organizations being presented.
The Involvement Fair is the one place where students are able to meet other students with similar interests and sign up for any club or organization they want to join. All the tables provided information on how to sign up and become involved.
Cabrini offers up to 50 different clubs and organizations students can join. If they’re looking for an organization that helps the community while working closely with others, students can consider signing up for Campus Ministry. According to the Cabrini website, “Campus Ministry provides opportunities for students to meet others with similar interests and works to develop students’ faith lives through engagement with the Cabrini University community and local, national, and international service.”
Campus Ministry is involved in many different events including two retreats, service trips and community nights. The most popular event is PB&J night where students take a van out to Philadelphia and hand out sandwiches to people who are experiencing homelessness. The club consists of three peer ministers including Aislinn Walsh, Mignon Toppino and Fernando Cornejo. The campus minister is Rosa Altomare and Father Carl is the director.
“Campus Ministry is a space where anyone can come hang out, doesn’t matter your faith background,” Toppino said. “We just want to be able to spread the word of what we are doing and help as many people as we can to understand what we do and see if anyone wants to get involved.”
Freshman Marisa Linsky said she would definitely join Campus Ministry. In high school, she was a part of her Campus Ministry and really enjoyed the retreats. One of the things she liked about Cabrini is that they offered more retreats to be a part of.
If students are looking to join a club that is a big part of planning events on Cabrini’s campus, as well as leadership opportunities, they should visit the Student Engagement and Leadership office. In addition to putting on campus events, SEaL oversees the Campus Activities and Programming Board and the Student Government Association, which help students work on leadership skills.
SEaL is responsible for hosting most events that are held on and outside of campus. Some of their most popular events include Cabrini Night at the Phillies, Cavalier Spirit Week, Freak Week and the Mr. and Ms Cabrini Pageant.
Sophomore Amanda Lynn is especially fond of SEaL and greatly recommends signing up.
“You get to be involved and there are so many great opportunities,” Lynn said. “Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone.”
If interested, talk to Anne Filippone, Executive Director of Student Engagement & Leadership, Amber LaJeunesse, EdD, Director and Lisa Podolsky, Assistant Director for Leadership Development.
Students who appreciate and want to learn about the Hispanic culture, are welcome to join the new incoming club, Pura Vida. The goal of Pura Vida, run by president Alex Sanchez, is to embrace Hispanic culture within the Cabrini community. They help the Hispanic community outside of campus by doing fundraisers and try to create events as a safe zone. The club wants to recruit new members as well as find leaders within the community that will adequately continue “La Familia.”
Cabrini really wants to have their students become active on campus. The Involvement Fair is an especially good way for freshman to learn about what Cabrini has to offer.
Freshman Rachel Marek, says she would look into joining SEaL and even consider becoming a student ambassador.
“Being an English major, I would think about joining any type of writing club like poetry club and would like to get involved in extracurricular activities,” sophomore Jason Coladonato said.
