Santa Rosa Junior College students gathered in Emeritus Quad and Plover Hall to browse financial aid information and engage with student clubs on Wednesday.
SRJC Student Financial Services educated students on financial assistance programs including FAFSA, the California Dream Act and SRJC scholarships during the Financial Aid Fun Fair. The department hosted a “Cash for College” workshop which assisted students in completing financial aid applications.
“These workshops are available year-round but they are emphasized in January, February and March due to the March 2 FAFSA deadline,” said Rachel Cutcher, director of Student Financial Services. “I’m extremely proud of what we offer at SRJC. We are the number one provider of scholarships among California community colleges thanks to the incredible work of our SRJC Foundation and the lasting impact of the Doyle Trust with over $6 million granted annually.”
Beyond tuition, financial aid can help cover essential expenses such as housing, transportation and food. Cutcher encouraged all students to apply, stressing that many assume they are ineligible.
“The number one thing students do is tell themselves, ‘That’s not for me,’ but financial aid and scholarship support is for you,” Cutcher said.
In tandem with the Financial Aid Fun Fair, Club Day brought excitement to campus as student organizations set up booths and recruited new members.
Vice President of Clubs Andrew Simmalaychanh played a key role in organizing the event.
“I’ve been working to foster and grow new clubs while strengthening our long-standing ones,” Simmalaychanh said. “We currently have about 50 clubs on campus, which is a record for me, though we’re still working to reach the historical record of 70.”
Student clubs cover a wide range of interests, from academic and cultural groups to advocacy and recreational organizations. Simmalaychanh noted that many clubs start small, with just a few members, but can grow significantly after events like Club Day.
Clubs showcased their missions at Club Day and offered students an opportunity to get involved.
Voices of Valor, a newly formed veterans support club, debuted at the event. The group hopes to reach the approximately 300 veterans who attend SRJC, according to club member Kyle Knapp.
“The club will be a place for veterans to connect, share experiences, and learn about available services,” Knapp said.
Daniel Lionett represented Students for Recovery (S4R) and promoted mental health and substance abuse awareness. The group developed a safe space for students to connect and organize events on campus such as the upcoming screening of The Wisdom of Trauma by addiction specialist Gabor Maté.
The Second Chance Club, represented by new member Jason Reid, provides support and resources for formerly incarcerated students at SRJC. At Club Day, members connected with students, shared their experiences and directed them to services both on and off campus.
The Disability Resources Department also participated in the event. Derek Harold, who works in testing support services, explained how the department assists students with accommodations ranging from note-taking assistance to specialized testing environments.
The department is located on the third floor of the Bertolini Student Center. Students who have questions about eligibility or need assistance applying for services can schedule an appointment with a disability specialist.
“A lot of students don’t even realize they have learning disabilities, and getting the right support can be tremendously helpful for their academics,” Harold said.
