Showcasing Clubs & Orgs at DelVal: Student Programming Board

by Hannah Citron

The quad was filled with students one recent Friday evening. The sounds of laughter erupted from the mechanical bull and inflatable obstacle course. Whether they were holding a custom street sign or some kind of food, not a single student was empty handed. The aromas of sweet shaved Kona Ice and spicy Empanada Mama filled the air.

DelVal’s annual Block Party attracted nearly 300 students, and it couldn’t have been done without the work and dedication provided of the Student Programming Board.

The Student Programming Board is a student run organization that fully plans and runs the fun events that happen every weekend. From the Hypnotist show to Bingo, S.P.B., the group makes activities happen throughout the year.

“[Student Programming Board] is a way to connect with students and connect them with each other,” S.P.B.’s President, Andrew Szalus, said. “It’s a really great shining example of what clubs can do to foster a sense of community on campus.”

Alex Sutton, the organization’s advisor said, “It’s more than just a club. It’s a great way to build community, especially if you look at our events. We average 200-300 students each time, which is about one fourth to one fifth of heads in beds here on campus.”

As fun as their events are, the Student Programming Board isn’t just about the community aspect.

“It’s one of the most unique forms of leadership development we have here on campus,” said Sutton. “From the perspective of event leading, running things, and also the fact that you’re interacting with that percentage of your peers in different capacities depending on your role at the time.”

The Programming Board gets the opportunity to bring one of a kind events to life.

Szalus and Sutton shared some of their favorite events to run, which included Restaurant Night, an event unique to DelVal. Through Restaurant Night, students got the opportunity to experience an authentic restaurant experience, but in a classroom in the Life Sciences Building. The Programming Board spent hours decorating, creating the menu, training to be servers and “chefs”, and making the overall experience the best that it could be.

Sutton spoke about how much she loved the event “We even had a group attend dressed up in prom dresses and taking pictures.”

The only thing that Sutton and the Programming Board care about is that the students have a great time.
To find all their events, check out the This Week At DelVal emails, the event calendars spread all over campus, or email Alex Sutton at alexandria.sutton@delval.edu.

Here is a list of upcoming events: