LSU Engineering Clubs Are Integral Part of Student Experience

College student clubs play an important role in campus life by giving students opportunities to explore interests, build friendships, and develop leadership skills outside the classroom. By participating in clubs, students learn how to work as a team, organize events, communicate effectively with others, and feel more connected to their college. With nearly 40 engineering clubs at LSU, the College of Engineering is providing students with incredible opportunities and, most recently additional funding thanks to a fund set up by LSU College of Engineering Dean Vicki Colvin.

“Our Engineering alumni, many of whom are now donors, really want to support students because they have fond memories of the clubs they were in while at LSU,” Colvin said.

This Student Organization Support (SOS) fund will help LSU Engineering student clubs meet their goals, whether it be building a junkyard car to race, traveling to out-of-state conferences, or purchasing materials for presentations.

"Student clubs are a good springboard to connect with companies, and clubs are a good way for students to develop leadership skills in a low-risk environment."

Roberto Champney, Director of Data Processing and Strategic Analysis for the LSU College of Engineering.

Lemons Racing Club, an LSU Engineering student club that was founded in 2023, will benefit from the SOS fund by purchasing car parts to complete their “lemon” car to race in the 24 Hours of Lemon Race each spring.

“The Lemons Racing Club has meant a lot of different things to me over the years, but currently, it’s an opportunity to teach people and build a community of people with similar interests,” LSU Lemons Racing Club President Joseph Hosford said. “The purpose of our club is to teach people hands-on skills and get them to solve unique problems. The dean’s funding would mean everything for us because car parts and racing are so expensive. With the funding, we’d be able to buy a roll cage and all the safety equipment needed to race.”

LSU Engineering student clubs will be able to apply for the SOS funding once a year and will also be asked to submit a report soon after they receive the SOS funding to explain who was impacted and how they benefitted from the funding.

Though SOS funding is available, Director of Data Processing and Strategic Analysis for the LSU College of Engineering Roberto Champney expressed the importance of the student clubs continuing to reach out to businesses for funding to foster good working relationships in the community.

“Student clubs are a good springboard to connect with companies, and clubs are a good way for students to develop leadership skills in a low-risk environment,” he said.

During a recent meeting with LSU Engineering student club representatives, Colvin expressed her desire to not only help the clubs with their financial needs, but also explained the importance of joining one.

“When you go out and get a job, your employer is going to want to know that you did something and had initiative in some way,” she said. “The experience of student clubs is where you’re going to show that. It’s going to help you figure out what you want to do, help you develop your own professional identity, and land a good job.”

Colvin also believes that student clubs will become even more important as automation performs aspects of engineering.

“Once that happens, your people skills, your project skills, and your communication skills are going to be at the forefront,” she said. “I see student clubs becoming more important, so we want more of them.”

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