Student Involvement: The Great CPTC Get Together

It was a typical Washington day for most people in Lakewood — clouds and all — but not for Clover Park Technical College students and staff who were celebrating their fourth annual Spring Fest, May 26, 2016.

“Students and staff are often separated in their programs, but we want to get together for a fun community event,” said Ali Pau, CPTC manager of student engagement. “This is our biggest event of the year.”

During this year’s event, now coined “the Great CPTC Get Together,” students had a chance to connect and relax in between classes with free food, games and activities.

“It’s awesome having school everyday and then having this and coming here for some free fun,” said Marissa Billings, a CPTC Massage Studies student.

All activities and food were free for students and included a rock wall, mini bungee jumping, petting zoo, inflatable hamster ball racing, live music, face painting, a photo booth, and balloon animals. Lunch was provided by Jimmy Johns and Ice Cream Social.

“It’s a lot of planning and prepping, but it’s all worth it in the end,” said Myra Morales, CPTC Associated Student Government president. “It’s an event that all students look forward to — we all want free lunch,” she laughed.

The students, faculty, staff and kids who attended loved the outcome.

“I absolutely loved the bungee jumping,” Billings said after completing a series of flips and turns on the mini bungee jump rental.”

There were also various booths set up around the event for student organizations and clubs with games and giveaways.

“The amount of participation we see of people, clubs and organizations getting involved is amazing,” Morales said. “We all get really excited.”

The Cybertech Club set up a project they’ve been working on where students could play everyday items like a drum by just touching them — from fruits and vegetables, to forks and padlocks.

“We have this at our booth because it’s just a lot of fun,” said Collin Willis, a CPTC Computer Networking & Information Systems Security student. “We like doing cool things with tech that is outside of everyday class.”

Students could also get involved in organizations such as the CPTC Foundation, which raises money for accounts for helping students and emergency funding.

Bottom line, it’s a great way for CPTC to “get together” and connect, Pau said.

“I see so many faces of students I haven’t seen before so it’s a great way to reach out to them and share with each other, showing all the things we have to offer,” Pau said.

And CPTC students said they felt the love.

“They are really about their students here, they really do care,” said Rachael Surerus, a CPTC Graphics Technology student. “There are always so many events and student activities. Our schools fun — they make it fun."