The Student Government Association (SGA) is gearing up for another fun-filled semester at Amarillo College and will kick things off with a slate of Welcome Week activities that coincide with the start of spring classes on Jan. 18.

SGA-sponsored Welcome Week events take place on the Washington Street Campus and are free and open to all AC students. Additionally, a family friendly Block Party is designed to give students who are parents a chance to involve their youngsters in the back-to-school festivities, too.

“We want students to know that there’s a lot more to college than going to classes,” said Carmen Nava, SGA president. “We want to create opportunities and an atmosphere that encourage everyone to develop relationships, get involved and grow in ways that lead to success in life.

“Welcome Week is our way of establishing a welcoming tone for the semester, and this year we’re planning to offer more activities to get our student-parents involved, events they can bring their kids to, where the little ones can bond with each other and the College.”

Welcome Week events on the Washington Street Campus are as follows:

Jan. 18: Welcome Back Boxes giveaway, 11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m., at Clock Tower
Jan. 18: Campus-wide Laser Tag, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Clock Tower
Jan. 19: DIY Jellyfish Air Plants (create your own), 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., at Clock Tower
Jan. 19: Block Party for all ages (pizza and fun with Legos) 6-7:30 p.m., at Byrd Building, second floor lobby
Jan. 20: Badger Connect Club Fair for networking, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., at Clock Tower
Jan. 20: Free Money Gameshow – test your trivia knowledge/win cash, 6-7 p.m., at College Union Building (CUB), Oak Room

Nava says SGA has a wealth of activities planned beyond the semester’s first week, not only events geared toward AC students, but service projects to be spearheaded by SGA membership.

Jan. 24-28, for example, is SGA Service Week, and the membership will be coordinating collection of hygiene and food items which they plan to deliver to Whittier Elementary School. While there, they also will help students make posters and write notes of appreciation to members of the armed services.

In March, SGA will deliver meals to students at AC’s East and West campuses because they cannot always take advantage of events predominantly conducted at Washington Street.

SGA’s spring calendar of events is still being tweaked, and there will be something to do virtually every week of the semester. Among the events to be watching for are Jeopardy @ Night on Feb. 16; Let’s Talk about Sex on Feb. 17; Movie Night on March 31; and Easter Egg Hunt on April 14. Soon thereafter, on a date still to be determined, SGA will once again present its noontime spring festival, Badgerama, featuring live music and free lunch for students at the Clock Tower.

Anyone interested in finding out more about SGA membership or activities can call 371-5259 or simply stop ty the Student Life offices in the Byrd Building, room 413. Weekly meetings are at noon each Wednesday, and all AC students are invited to attend and find out more.

-Amarillo College