James Berridge, Lions Eye Writer jrb1055@psu.edu

The Student Involvement Fair this year was an abbreviated success.  Due to weather conditions on Wednesday, January 14, the Student Involvement Fair, which showcases all of the clubs that Penn State Brandywine campus has to offer, was cut short.  The fair, during common hour, only lasted 30-minutes, but still made students aware of the vast variety of clubs they may want to consider.

A sense of excitement was evident when walking into the Student Involvement Fair.  Each club had a table set up around the perimeter of the gymnasium so students could walk around and visit while enjoying a cold refreshment or snack.  Tables were set up by the members of the various clubs, highlighting what they do and how to get involved.

While interacting with members of different clubs, it was obvious that each once spoke highly about their cause.  Paul Alberici, a member of Penn State Brandywine’s THON group, was no different.

“I enjoy being a member of THON because you are able to meet the people who really need your help; the people whose lives you can impact by being a member of THON is overwhelming.” Alberici said.

For students who may be unaware, THON is the largest student run philanthropy in the world.  It brings together students from the entire Penn State community to form a dance marathon that continues for 46 consecutive hours during a weekend in February.  The club raises money for the Four Diamonds Fund which supports children suffering from cancer at the PSU Hershey Medical Center.  Last year, THON raised more than 13.34 million dollars to help find a cure for children’s cancer.

Olivia Shiner, a member of the Student Government Association, enjoyed being involved in her club.

“We are the voice of the student body,” Shiner said.

The Student Government Association works with Penn State Brandywine executives to plan events, make decisions and team up with other branch campuses to work on issues involving the Penn State community.

With all of the hustle and bustle of the spring semester, extra time is hard to find, but being involved in a club has many advantages.  Whether it be THON, the SGA, or the Lion’s Eye, being a member of these clubs provides students with a sense of community that they may not get from just attending class.  Being involved also looks great on resumes.  So do some research, find a club that may be of interest and get involved.