Discover Rio successfully impacted the student body last week during the bi-annual Club Rush event that featured pie tosses, club orientations, student services booths, and a Jarritos DJ who played upbeat music during the entire two-day event.

Hosted by ASRHC, Discover Rio gave opportunity to clubs, student services, and ASRHC themselves to promote their services to new and returning Rio Hondo students.

Club Rush showcased booths set up along the breezeway of campus. Some returning clubs at the event were the Creative Writing Club, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Forensics Speech and Debate, and GSA (Gay-Straight-Alliance) who had their familiar “Wheel of Fortune” game set up.

Student Maria Cortez said, “I like that Rio [Hondo] tries to encourage people to join clubs because it a great way to meet new people”.

This semester, two news clubs made the effort to be publicized this year by providing food and treats to prospective students.

The Spanish Club, who gave away free cups of Horchata and Tamarindo beverages at the event, are a new club who formed to “celebrate Spanish language and culture”.

According to member Kristen Suarez, they plan to take their members on trips where they can learn and partake in Spanish culture. They meet every other Tuesday at 1:00 p. m. but the meeting place is currently in the process of being established.

The Green Tech Club, also new to Rio Hondo, sold ice cream and popsicles from their cardboard cut out ice cream truck. This club strives to “conserve the planet” by partaking in ecological activities such as recycling, composting, and solar power charging with a self-built solar power charger.

They also participate in beach cleanups and go on hiking and camping trips. GTC meets Wednesdays at 12:00 p. m. in T101, near the Rio Hondo “windmill”.

Jarritos, a great supporter of Rio Hondo, provided free Jarritos drinks to students attending Club Rush and had a disc jockey playing a variety of music throughout the days.  A few students held a dance-off with each other and a large group of students also formed a line dance to “Caballo Dorado” and “Cupid Shuffle”.

“I liked that they were calling all the clubs out to dance and participate,” said Alex Cruz, Rio Hondo student.

The Student Services also presented their booths to spread the word about the help that they can provide to students.

Out at the event was the Transfer Center, Disabled Student Services Program, Veteran’s services and many more.

ASRHC didn’t fail to bring the fun to the event when they offered a free inflatable obstacle course that was to the students after filling out a waiver. They also held a pie toss in which faculty and staff volunteered to get “pied” to help raise money for the Helping Hands Clothing Exchange Program.

Because children have growth spurts in their early childhood, ASRHC and ICC collect new and slightly worn children’s clothing so that Rio Hondo student parents of children under five years old can exchange old clothes for new ones without having to pay.

One of the volunteers included Vice President for Student Services, Henry Gee who had a blast being pied countless of times.

Gee had a great attitude about it all and claimed to have participated to support the Rio Hondo community as much as he could.

When asked how it feels to be pied in the face, Gee responded, “ It tastes mostly like chocolate,” while laughing and licking the chocolate and whipped cream off his face.

The event is held every semester in the early weeks, and this was definitely no exception to the previous great events. ASRHC’s efforts to bring students together to “discover rio” in its entirety was a success, as well as a great memory to enjoy through the Fall  2013 semester. Club meetings will begin the week of September 23.

For those of you who participated, contact the clubs of your interest for more information­­ regarding meetings and upcoming events.

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