At UTA, there’s a club for that
From Starbucks on the west side to the Bluebonnet Ballroom on the east side, the University Center (UC) was packed this week with more than 150 student groups and about 2,000 students looking to connect based on mutual interests and services.
Toward the middle of the UC was the Korean Culture Association (KCA), the official Korean language representative organization in the Modern Languages Department.
“Korea has a lot of unique aspects to its culture, and our group is dedicated to implementing them here at UTA,” said Elana Collins, junior president of KCA. “Our ultimate goal is to take what we find beautiful and amazing about Korean culture, share it with Mavericks and appreciate it in our own ways.”
KCA host numerous events throughout the year like Chuseok (mid-autumn festival) and Seollal (Korean New Year) festival celebrations, Norebang nights, movie nights, language learning workshops, game nights and so much more. In addition, KCA has three dance teams open to members and non-members to join.
Valencia Favors, a sophomore accounting major, found her home at one of KCA’s dance workshops during her first semester at UTA.
“When I went to the dance workshops, I found I really belonged at KCA,” Favors said. “The people I was able to meet through KCA and the dance teams have become my friends, and I’m really grateful for that.”
The biannual Maverick Activity Fair, which began in 1981, is held at the start of each fall and spring semester. It’s a chance for campus and community representatives to showcase involvement opportunities at UTA and for new and current Mavericks to expand their involvement beyond academics.
“We really hope students are able to find a place to call home and be around people who share the same interests,” said Michael Onuchovsky, assistant director of student organizations.
Leand Celedonio, a senior marketing major, and Tyler Johnson, a junior marketing major, were spearheading recruitment efforts for the UTA Pickleball Club. The club started last year and already has 40 members.
“Pickleball is an up-and-coming sport,” said Celedonio. “It’s very beginner-friendly, and we have a lot of opportunities for community building.”
Johnson said the hype around Pickleball is true, and anybody at UTA is welcome to join the club.
“Last year we had a good turnout at our Halloween tournament,” said Johnson. “There was a $150 cash prize, so there was a little competition on the court, but we typically play for fun and to hang out with each other.”
If Mavericks are interested in reigniting their passion for reading, the Diversity Reading Nook is the place to look.
“We are place for readers to connect with people who like a fantasy fiction format. And we also provide a safe space for our members to speak about major themes in the books we read,” said Makayla Quinlan, a junior history major.
Ben Taqi, a history major and political science minor, said since joining Diversity Reading Nook he’s read more books than he did in the last five years combined.
“It’s been really nice to rekindle something that everyone had in common when they were younger,” Taqi said. “It’s been awesome to be able to reignite that passion.”