Bakersfield College has put on several events since the school year began two weeks ago to help students find resources and make connections with the start of the new Fall 22 semester. These “Welcome Weeks” saw BC host events to encourage student engagement and help new and returning Renegades find their way around campus.  The last day of the event was the student involvement festival.

“I’m most excited about meeting people and getting more people into our program,” Umoja club Vice President Alexis Brown said.

Over the last two years, Bakersfield College has seen a drop in not only students but in activities and engagement from peers due to COVID-19. This year they are trying to get back in full swing and help the students get involved.

The event started off with the Folklorico Club dancing the day away with their dancing and outfits. This is the first Folklorico club at BC.

“I’m most excited about teaching some of these kids here at BC some moves, and I can’t wait to get the group started,” said club president Isabell Ramirez. They will be teaching their members dances and having showcases throughout the year.

The student involvement festival was filled with vendors, clubs, small businesses, and organizations, from Bakersfield College personnel to the surrounding Bakersfield community. Within BC they had representatives from all sorts of organizations such as the Consent Project, which aims to promote healthy relationships, and to chemistry club which puts on experiments to get students excited about science. The event also featured a variety of clubs that are eager to start back up or start for the first time, such as the International Student club, which connects fellow international students to each other NAMI, which is advocating for mental health.

Booths on Financial literacy, community outreach/ partnership, spirituality, and creativity all were busy giving out information to many BC students and faculty walking around the campus center to gain new, or more, knowledge of the school’s offerings.

More information on what type of Bakersfield College student organization, clubs, and resources are available through the Bakersfield College website under the student life section.