Sororities, fraternities, religious-based groups, and others set up booths in the Smith
University Center (UC) on Wednesday, August 28 to promote student involvement on campus and in the
community.
SAFE Federal Credit is one organization that was in attendance. SAFE offers different
banking options to students including free checking accounts and free personalized debit cards.
Membership Development Officer Ashley Christenbery was in the UC assisting students.
“This is really to promote SAFE because many college students don’t know that we are around,”
Christenbery said.
Another organization, The Naomi Project, participated in the fair. The Naomi project is a safe
houses in Florence that services victims of abuse by providing shelter and support. Safe house volunteer
Gwen Hayes was there to inform students how to get involved and volunteer.
“The Naomi Project is something like a parent to get you back on your feet,” Hayes said.
Hayes went on to say everyone can participate in volunteering at the safe house and encourages
students to get involved.
One student organization, Riot at the Rim, had a booth set up to invite students to join. The
organization holds a raffle where members can win items such as a flat screen television. Members can
enter their name multiple times by attending athletic events. Senior psychology major and captain of the
women’s soccer team, Yasmin Bunter, was at the event representing Riot at the Rim.
“Riot at the Rim is basically trying to get more students to come to more athletic events,” Bunter
said. “The raffle doesn’t take place until the end of the game to ensure that people stay throughout. The
more games a student attends, the more chances they have at winning a prize from the raffle.”
The Student Nursing Association (SNA) was in attendance this semester. The FMU chapter of
SNA is a now opening membership to pre-nursing students. Junior nursing major and vice president of
SNA, Kristi Verjans, was at the booth to educate fair participants about the organization.
“This is a great way to meet people,” Verjans said. “There are two meetings in a month and a
convention is held every semester where members travel to different nursing schools.”
A recently formed organization on campus, FMU Ducks Unlimited was at the fair for the first
time. Ducks unlimited is a national organization that raises money to preserve the wetlands.
Cody Simpson, senior political science major is involved with FMU Ducks unlimited.
“We raise money for the wet lands,” Simpson said. “Ducks Unlimited is a local organization as well as
national and the dues are $15.00.”
A Carowinds representative was also in the UC giving away free tickets to students.
Freshman elementary education major Brooke White said she enjoyed her first student
involvement fair and joined Habitat for Humanity during the event. White also said she wished there was
an education-related organization for her to join.
Students can excect another involvment fair during spring 2014. For more information on the
organizations that were present, visit the student affair office in UC 205.