Photo By Nikki Namdar

By Manny Colon
[email protected]

ORLANDO  — West Campus Student Government Association greeted the college’s new students and returning students with a Welcome Back Cookout on Thursday, Sep. 3.

This event also served as a means to get all of the students informed of the different extracurricular organizations and clubs Valencia has to offer including SGA.

SGA president Robert Stio says that extracurricular activities are important in college progression. “I’ve been a huge advocate of this since I became SGA president. It shows a sense of unity within the school.”

The event consisted of a number of acts including balloon figures, body artist, parrot shows and on-stage talent by The Travelin Max Show.

The balloons and body art was exhibited by Lester and Susan McNeely, a married couple from Harmony, Fla with 35 years of entertainment experience. While the students waited in line to have their faces and arms painted by Susan, Lester entertains the people on the line by making balloon animals or other shapes and give them away as souvenirs.

According to some SGA members, the cookout was an amazing success and many students, new and returning alike, wanted to join SGA.

“We’ve had an overwhelming response!” Stio exclaimed.  “We get about 10 students coming to our office per day.”