Members of the UMSL Accounting Club, including master’s students Angela Truesdale and Thomas Fabry and Associate Teaching Professor in Accounting Marcia Countryman, speak with students during the annual Involvement Jamboree. (Photos by Derik Holtmann)

Shantavia Fuller enjoyed cheering in high school, so when she first arrived on campus as a student at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, she immediately asked the University Program Board if there was a cheer team she could join.

Although UMSL previously did have a cheer team, UPB told her, there wasn’t an active organization on campus anymore. If Fuller could find four other people interested, she could start a new cheer team. So that’s exactly what she did.

Fuller and other members of the newly formed Triton Cheer and Dance Club were on hand to recruit new members and chat with students looking to join new organizations across campus at the annual Fall Involvement Jamboree hosted by the Office of Student Involvement on Wednesday.

Even St. Louis’ sweltering August weather couldn’t bring down the mood at the event, which relocated from its usual location on the Recreation and Wellness Center East Lawn to the Millennium Student Center. In addition to the Triton Cheer and Dance Club, groups such as the Indian Student Association, Able-Disable Partnership, Catholic Newman Center, Voices of Jubilation choir and Tritons United participated in the event.

In total, representatives from 11 fraternities and sororities, 18 campus departments and over 25 student organizations filled tables around the rotunda and in the Century Rooms to connect with students looking to get involved on campus, make new friends and build their resumes.

Jalen Walker-Wright, a May 2024 Business Administration graduate currently pursuing his MBA, serves as OSI’s graduate intern of student activities. He said nearly 200 students registered for the event. He was excited to see so many students on hand, and he hoped the event could help them find their place at UMSL.

“I’m just hoping that students are able to find their home here on campus, whether they get involved with part of a campus department or they join a student organization and become an officer, and just really bring more of their energy, their talent, their vibrancy to campus,” he said.

Members of the Muslim Student Association interact with attendees at the annual Involvement Jamboree on Aug. 28. (Photos by Derik Holtmann)

That’s certainly something Max Hood has found to be true as the vice president of UMSL’s Hispanic Latino Association. A native of Guadalajara in the Jalisco state of Mexico, Hood said he’s always found it important to represent his culture and passions at the university. He connected with lots of students interested in Hispanic and Latin culture throughout the day and is excited to see what the semester brings.

“I always want students to feel like they’re seen on campus,” he said. “I think that’s any mission statement for any organization, but especially the Hispanic Latino students here at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. I want them to have an outlet to go to and feel inspired about their culture.”

Students also had the chance to connect with clubs and departments that could help them in their future careers.

Kabita Rokka is pursuing her master’s in supply chain analytics, and she’s found plenty of opportunities to get involved in the field as president of the Supply Chain & Transportation Club, which aims to educate and provide students with opportunities to increase their understanding of the supply chain and transportation field. In partnership with the Supply Chain Executive Advisory Board and the Supply Chain Alumni Board, the club offers networking opportunities, panel events and facility tours throughout the semester.

“Any student from any department who has an interest in supply chain, transportation, logistics, they can be a part of our club,” she said. “Our club hosts different kinds of events, like panel discussions and a speed networking event with around 25 to 30 people representing different companies. We can have interactions with them, and they offer us internships and sometimes jobs as well. So, this is one of the benefits of being involved in the club, because you can be a part of such networking events.”

Students can learn more about different events and student organizations by visiting Triton Connect.