The spring PAWS EXPO campus and community resource fair showcased more than 30 organizations from across the university and the Pueblo community.
The event took place on Jan. 22 at the Occhiato Student Center’s Great Hall and fireplace area from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Each organization set up a table displaying information and giveaways for students.
Representatives from each group spoke with the students about the programs, resources, and opportunities they offered.
The campus organizations included both academic and student-led groups. One of the featured resources was TRIO, a federally funded program aiming to help students attend college.
One of the TRIO programs at CSU Pueblo is the Educational Opportunity Center which offer resources such as helping students and parents complete their FASFAs, other scholarship applications, and admissions applications.
The center assists students attend any college, not just CSU Pueblo. The program helps low income and first-generation students, but any student can go to the office located on the third floor of the LARC for any assistance. The program also hosts virtual meetings if parents cannot make it to the office in person.
“We have deadline dates for scholarships and if you don’t do them, you’re losing out. Oftentimes we have people getting loans. Parents are actually refinancing their homes so that their kids can go to school. We’d rather they not do that,” said advisor Theresa Vega.
Another campus-focused organization at the resource event was Campus Connections, a mentoring program for “at-risk youth from Pueblo” which educates them about the different opportunities on campus that can guide them in positive directions.
“I absolutely love it. It has shaped the person I’ve become today and it’s helped me direct where I want to be after I graduate,” said Brecken Dobb, a bachelor’s intern for the program and a former mentor. “It’s just an awesome experience to be able to see the change in the students from start to finish.”
Other campus organizations included Black Student Union, Latinx Student Union, and Prizm, among others.
Chi Alpha Campus Ministries, a Christian group at CSU Pueblo, provides small group gatherings and weekly large group services to students.
“Really what we are all about is just building friendships with each other, living life together, exploring faith, and talking about big questions that have an impact on how we live our life,” said staff member Josiah Herrera.
Many of CSU Pueblo’s individual departments were also represented at the resource fair, including the Department of Music.
“I’ve been telling students that they don’t have to be a music major or minor to be involved in music in some way. We have a lot of students on campus that may have done band in high school or choir or just love music, and they want something creative and fun to do during their school week,” said Director of Choral Activities and Assistant Chair for the Department of Music, Jennifer Bruton. “They can take a private lesson or join band, choir, or jazz band and just get involved and have something fun in the midst of their academic schedule.”
Ballet Folklorico, a group focused on traditional Mexican dance, was also at the event. The group performs at various events and offers dance classes at different skill levels.
Brandy Mendoza Gandara, a student in the program, offered advice to those considering joining.
“Be confident and just be okay with giving yourself time to grow because you’re not going to get it the first try. I didn’t feel comfortable the first time especially performing, but I feel like with time you’ll be okay with it,” she said.
The Career Center at CSU Pueblo provides services such as helping students develop their resumes and connecting students to job opportunities. They offer events such as the Career Fair which brings numerous employers under one roof for students to introduce themselves and to provide their resumes. Another event they host is the JCPenney Suit-Up event where students can receive up to 45% off certain brands for nice business attire.
Fair encouraged students to go to the Career Center in the LARC and a student worker can unlock the Career Closet located in the OSC for students to look through.
“The Career Closet contains donated business attire, and we pretty much have all sizes, and you can find some shoes in there as well,” said student worker Audra Fair. “You can take whatever you need and there is even a try-on room.”
In addition to campus resources, many local businesses and organizations from the Pueblo community tabled at the event including the Pueblo YMCA, Mariposa Center for Safety, Compass Rose Counseling, Pueblo Community Health Center, and the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.
Students who missed the spring PAWS EXPO are encouraged to keep an eye out for flyers around campus advertising upcoming events hosted by the university’s resources and organizations.
