The Office of Student Engagement and Leadership at Colorado State University – Pueblo is set to bring some exciting events and activities to campus for students during the 2015 spring semester.

First is the Distinguished Speaker Series with former basketball coach Ken Carter. The Hollywood movie “Coach Carter” was made about his experiences, and he will speak about them in the Occhiato University Center Ballroom Tuesday at 7 p.m.

CSU-Pueblo alumnus and former basketball player Kevin Coates will be introducing Coach Carter at the event.

The speakers, who will be a part of the series for the year, are decided by a committee of staff and students, and then the booking agency is contacted about them.

“All we do is contact the booking agency of the speakers’ bureau, and they coordinate everything for us as in dealing with the managers and speakers’ rates. We do not meet with the guest speaker until they come to speak on campus,” said Gena Alfonso, director of Student Engagement and Leadership.

Chicago’s famous Second City Comedy Tour will be back to perform on campus Thursday, Jan. 29, at 7 p.m. at the Hoag Recital Hall.

“Second City brings a different cast every year, and this year there will be eight performers coming to CSU-Pueblo,” Alfonso said.

The last event in this year’s Distinguished Speakers Series will be a performance of the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, who will perform Thursday, Feb.19, at the Hoag Recital Hall at 7 p.m.

“We haven’t decided who will be introducing the performers, but we’ll be contacting someone from either the art department or the CSU-Pueblo dance team,” Alfonso said.

Another big event coming up this semester is “CSU-Pueblo’s Got Talent,” which has been taking place on campus every semester for the last few years.

This talent competition will take place Saturday, Feb. 28, at 7 p.m. at the Hoag Recital Hall. Those, who wish to participate, should have their entries in by Thursday, Feb. 26, at 5 p.m.

The panel of judges for “CSU-Pueblo’s Got Talent” has not been decided but will consist of faculty and staff members from campus. The winner of the competition will receive a $300 grand prize, and the first and second runners-up will receive $200 and $100 prizes respectively.

Another event scheduled this semester is a show by comedian Jeffery Jay, who will perform Wednesday, March 18 at 7 p.m. at the Hoag Recital Hall.

College Night at Movies will continue to take place one weekend a month, where the first 150 students to sign up at SEAL office will get a free movie ticket  for Saturday night at Tinseltown Pueblo. Signups will begin at 8 a.m. on the Monday prior to movie night.

“If students forget to sign up, they can show up at the theater and most of the time we have extra tickets to give away,” Alfonso said. “Students are required to present their valid student ID when receiving the tickets.”

Finally, one of the biggest events of the year, the Student Leadership and Involvement Awards Banquet will take place Tuesday, April 14, at 6 p.m. in the OUC Ballroom.

“Nominations for the student leadership awards will open soon, and they are due by March 18 on Pack Link,” Alfonso said. “A committee of staff and students will vote on the winners.”