The School of Natural Resources boasts a variety of clubs through which its students can get involved. Student involvement is always encouraged, but in the whirlwind of classes and responsibilities that define the college experience, this sentiment can fall between the cracks.
Current students say it’s important to know how the clubs offered by CAFNR foster an environment of growth, community and innovation, allowing its students to get the most enriching education possible. For students wanting to branch out and receive as many professional opportunities as possible, SNR clubs are just the place for them to be.
Thomas Schwent, senior environmental sciences student, has been a Meteorology Club member since his freshman year, and now serves as the club’s StormReady Coordinator. His contributions made the university’s recent StormReady designation, presented by the National Weather Service, possible. Schwent entered college with knowledge of and excitement for the meteorology club, but he never could have guessed the impact it would have on his life and career.
“The opportunity to enhance storm preparedness across campus was something I was not anticipating I was going to have a platform to do,” said Schwent. “The meteorology club has enabled me to go to the National Weather Association and American Meteorological Society conferences over the past few years, which have allowed me to network, meet new people and have an immense network that I couldn’t have even dreamed of when I first arrived at the university.”
Emily Schifferdecker, a senior environmental sciences student, gained traveling opportunities through Meteorology Club.
“My favorite professional opportunity through the meteorology club was attending the Severe Storms & Doppler Radar Conference over spring break my sophomore year,” said Schifferdecker. “I got to travel with a bunch of my friends to Ankeny, Iowa, and the meteorology club covered our hotel and transportation costs.”
While travel and professional development opportunities are a vital feature of these clubs, just as important is the community being cultivated in these spaces every day.
“I definitely feel way more connected within the college and the School of Natural Resources. It’s just widened the scope of who I can go to for support,” said Emma Knudson, senior environmental sciences student and president of the Women in Natural Resources Club.
The club’s vice president and a sophomore environmental sciences student, Presley George, shared that she was heavily encouraged to get involved as a freshman, and expanded upon a powerful lesson her time in the Women in Natural Resources club has taught her.
“By putting myself out there, I opened up so many opportunities for myself and I am really excited for what is to come,” said George. “My clubs are one of my favorite things about being at Mizzou.”
These spaces and organizations act as a beacon for like-minded individuals.
“Just taking the time to slow down and experience joyful moments together creates really beautiful community,” said Knudson.
With club-centered events like CAFNR Week, Homecoming and U.S. Farm Report College Roadshow throughout the school year, it’s even more important to highlight the ways SNR clubs and organizations enrich the college’s community and bolster the academic aspirations of its students.
Whether it be a place to collaborate and socialize or an avenue for professional development, the impact of SNR clubs is felt on students and their resumes alike.
This story was written by a student enrolled in Sci Ag Comm 2150, which gives students the opportunity to explore public relations and journalistic writing with real-world experience in CAFNR.