There’s a wealth of opportunity waiting for students at Schoolcraft to take advantage of, but it’s all about knowing where to look. 

The first step is just getting involved. Doing so, however, can prove to be a difficult task for new students arriving on campus. 

What is there to do? How do events start? What does the process look like? 

It’s easy to be unsure of where to start, but luckily, there are answers to all of these questions and more. Anyone looking to positively affect the Schoolcraft community with exciting events, parties and other gatherings can do so by joining the Student Activities Board (SAB) who host meetings every Wednesday at 3 p.m. in the lower level of the VisTaTech Center. 

This student-led club is one of twenty plus that are run out of the Student Activities Office (SAO.) What makes SAB notable is their intent to hold exciting events and provide students with a variety of different interests and enriching activities to participate in all across campus. This is accomplished through the careful and diligent work of the club’s members, aided by their eagerness to create a welcoming environment for new participants. This allows for a system where they can learn how events at Schoolcraft are created and run while being able to take part in the experience with their own unique ideas.

Second year SAB president Keenan Lowe leads the group with enthusiasm and big goals to match. He has overseen the growth of the club since COVID-19 shut campus down and is now looking towards the future. 

“It is really just giving me more of a drive to deliver and really give the students what they’re looking for and also bring to students what they didn’t know they were looking for,” said Lowe. Students are kind of just stuck right now going to class, then going right home. I want students to want to stick around after class. Whether there’s an event happening, or they met new friends. They’re actually wanting to stick around.”

This goal has made reaching students one of Lowe’s primary objectives. He wants SAB to continue thriving after he ends his reign as president, and he believes the best way for that to happen is by listening to what students, who are becoming a more and more common sight on campus.

“I really want to change the student environment,” said Lowe. “Since I have been here, I’ve been able to speak with students and hear what they’re interested in. They’re willing to interact and be social, so it’s really just bringing them what they want, delivering that with a good time included so they will want to be able to come to the event and have a good time.” 

Lowe puts this community passion into every aspect of his club, with pride for the work he and his members commit to. He wants others to have the same opportunities and for their voices to be heard. SAB spends their meetings discussing future events and how to execute them, and is always looking for inquiring students to become active and passionate participants.

“I just think it’s really good to be creative,” said SAB member Evan Allen. “Pick our minds and be really open since I feel like high school didn’t really have a lot of activities for people to get to know each other that well and I’m glad we can kind of make these events just for that.”

One such event coming up this holiday season is the Halloween Party on Oct. 26 which takes place from 7 p.m. until midnight in the lower level of the VistaTaTech Center. With free admission, there are plenty of activities to take part in for students to enjoy.

Attendees can expect a DJ, dancing, mini pumpkin decorating, caramel apples, a photo station, games, scary movies and a costume contest including prizes for scariest, best superhero and best overall costume categories. These parties are a staple to students, and a great way to spend the holiday season.

“I’m enjoying the responsibility of planning out parties,” said Jennifer McKenna, vice-president of SAB, and organizer of the Halloween Party. “It’s been fun figuring out what the student body wants to have and fulfilling those requests. Hopefully this year and further into the years to come, we’ll be able to have more events, more things to come interact with and really get to know one another. That way it’s not just a school experience.”

This is far from the only event hosted by SAB as well. The club offers students many opportunities to relax from stressful studying and test taking by having fun and partying with their friends. And of course, joining the process by learning how to set up and plan events is also encouraged, along with being  a great way to meet new peers and see their hard work pay off. Campus life doesn’t have to end in the classroom. Anyone who wants to create an environment where students are able to have fun with events can do so right at the source of the action: SAB itself.

If you are interested in joining the Student Activity Board, contact the Student Activities Office by phone at 734-462-4422 or e-mail at [email protected].