Campus Life & Activities
Student Life
Once you become a Rattler, you become part of a dynamic and diverse group of students, many of whom will become your life-long friends. Whether you live on campus or commute to campus, every week you will find opportunities to join in activities with campus clubs, play intramural sports, or cheer on one of the 12 Rattler athletic teams.
Get Involved!
This is one of the most unique times of your life, so take the opportunity to discover who you are, what you like, and who you want to be. Getting involved in campus life can teach you things beyond the classroom. This is your chance to meet new people, experience different cultures, try something new, help others in need, learn new skills, and just enjoy life!
Why get involved?
There are hundreds of reasons why getting involved will help you succeed. Below are a few reasons why many students have decided to get involved.
Meet friends that will last a lifetime.
Students who are successful at Otero have friends who support them when times get tough. When you get involved, you become part of a team of students who will help to ensure your success. You will also learn that students who are involved seem to be able to find a great balance between work and play while they improve the campus community.
Make your application or resume stand out.
Your academic courses will lay the ground work to ensure that you have the technical skills and knowledge to proceed to your next endeavor. Employers, grad school selection committees and recruiters are all looking for people who not only have the knowledge, but who have practical experience that will encourage their success beyond the classroom. Getting involved in campus life will give you that practical experience to build your leadership skills, practice problem solving, deal with difficult situations, manage people and learn how to work effectively in a team.
Make a difference.
Students at Otero are passionate about making our world a better place. Our students are currently involved in many projects that make our campus and community a better place.
Student Organizations & Athletics
| Organization | Description |
|---|---|
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The student body of Otero College is represented by an Associated Student Government
(ASG), presided over by the student body president. The ASG considers and makes recommendations
regarding student affairs and the disbursement of student activity fees. The ASG is
responsible for working with the Director of the Student Center and/or those others
responsible for the supervision of activities in coordinating and promoting student
activities. ASG promotes activities for the entire student body attending Otero College.
|
|
|
Agriculture Club |
The Agriculture Club fosters interest in agriculture for students by organizing agriculture
related extra-curricular activities. Members are involved with providing an all-inclusive
forum for students engaged in agriculture related activities and organize program
events. |
|
Alpine Club |
The Alpine Club is dedicated to exposing students to the joys of outdoor recreation
in the wild lands of Colorado. Members participate in activities such as rock climbing,
hiking, backpacking, skiing and biking. Membership is open to all interested students.
No prior outdoor recreation experience is necessary. |
|
Art Club |
Activities for the Art Club include trips to the Denver Art Museum and Colorado Springs
Fine Arts Center. Students volunteer with the Otero Arts Festival in the spring and
host the Otero Student Art show. Video Club encourages students to develop their talents
in creative videoing projects and to make videos in a professional manner. Its purpose
is to bring out students’ innovations. |
|
Play chess! The Otero Chess club helps you develop your problem-solving skills, concentration,
logical thinking, focus of thought and self-discipline. |
|
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The Cosmetology Career Academy student organization enables Cosmetologists, Hairstylists,
Nail Technicians, and Estheticians to participate in a professional student organization.
The organization is based on competencies that business and industry representatives
have deemed critical to job success. Membership is open to all students attending
the Cosmetology Career Academy. |
|
|
Cricket Club |
Contact TBA. |
|
Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) |
Contact Tim Knabenshue 719-468-1548. |
|
Fencing Club |
Contact TBA. |
|
Gaming Club |
Contact Jeffrey Reed 719-384-6807. |
|
CRU (Campus Crusade for Christ) |
Cru is a caring community at Otero passionate about community and connecting people
to Jesus. Campus Crusade for Christ restarted at Otero in Spring 2018 under the new
United States organization name Cru. Otero Cru celebrated 1 year of coming back to
Otero in January 2019. About 10-12 students attend weekly gatherings that include
Bible study and games every Thursday at 6 pm during the spring semester. Student leaders
develop and lead every study with the guidance and mentorship of a senior pastor and
volunteer leader. Cru sponsors activities like snack packs during finals, science
talks, debates, and game nights. This spring Otero Cru was able to donate 10 cents
for every questionnaire completed to the Aruna Project. Otero Cru along with two other
Southern Colorado Colleges (UCCS and CSU-P) collected 970 questionnaires and donated
a combined total of $97 to the Aruna Project. Otero Cru does various activities on
and off campus during the semester, and some activities offer scholarships to help
students cover some or all costs to attend thanks to local churches, ministries and
private donors. We had a student leader attend and represent Otero at the Cru Winter
Conference in Colorado Springs on January 2, 2019 and was able to meet all other Cru
organizations across the state. Otero Cru offers mission trips for spring and summer
breaks in general missions, healthcare missions, and athletic mission camps in the
United States and abroad. |
|
The International Relations Organization is interested in promoting exchanges between
people of different cultures, ethnic traditions, nationalities and religious differences.
They coordinate a number of intercultural activities on campus and throughout the
area to provide opportunities to both share and learn and promote involvement in campus
life and personal enrichment through culturally diverse experiences. |
|
|
LGBTQ Club |
Otero LGBTQ club is a student-organized school club that aims to create a safe, welcoming,
and accepting school environment for all students, regardless of sexual orientation
or gender identity. |
|
Non-Traditional Students Organization |
The Non-Traditional Students Organization’s mission is to encourage, support, and
respond to the unique needs and responsibilities of all non-traditional students contributing
to the successful completion of their educational goals. Membership is open to any
non-traditional student (i.e. returning, married, parenting, career change, and transitional). |
|
Students with a desire to participate in stage productions are welcome to join the
Otero Players. All participants gain experience in performance and aspects of technical
production. Emphasis is placed on presenting a varied program of drama, music, and
dance to the campus and community. |
|
|
Phi Theta Kappa is a national honor society of two-year colleges. The Otero Delta
Rho chapter offers qualified students support from fellow scholars of all ages, ethnic
backgrounds, economic levels and fields of study, as well as opportunities for scholarships.
To be eligible for membership, a student must be enrolled at Otero, must have completed
at least 12 semester hours of course work leading to a recognized transfer degree,
have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00, and have earned a minimum of 3.5 GPA for the
previous semester. |
|
|
Psychology Club |
Contact TBA. |
|
The mission of the President’s Leadership Program (PLP) is to develop and train emerging
leaders at Otero College through a one- or two-year academic leadership program. The
objective of PLP is to provide academic, experiential and service learning programs
designed to foster and cultivate leaders who are: ethical, visionary, critical and
innovative thinkers, committed to action, empowering of others, rational and intuitive,
open to possibilities and servants of the broader good. The program serves as a bridge
between Otero College and the greater community by continually developing partnerships
with area leaders, businesses and community service organizations. The program is
limited to scholars who are accepted into the President's Leadership Program through
an application and competitive process. |
|
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Student Nurses’ Association |
This organization acquaints the student nurse to the professional responsibilities
of nursing, providing opportunities for leadership, and growth through collegial relationships.
Membership is open to all students admitted to the nursing program. |
|
Residence Hall Student Association |
Residence Hall Student Association works to provide activities for residence hall
residents and to create a more livable and enjoyable atmosphere while students are
attending Otero College. |
|
Teacher Candidate Community (TCC) |
Contact Darlene Blackford 719-384-6865. |
|
TRiO Club |
Contact Todd Werner 719-384-6941. |
|
Turning Point USA |
Turning Point USA’s mission is to educate students about the importance of fiscal responsibility, free markets, and capitalism through innovative campus activism and non-partisan, thought-provoking discussion. TPUSA teaches through speaking events along with games such as Trivia, Jeopardy and Bingo and always has food and prizes! Contact: Andee Leininger 719-384-6891 |
|
Video Club |
Contact TBA. |
Other organizations are started every year as interest develops. Students are encouraged to work through the Associated Student Government and sponsors of existing organizations and clubs to organize and develop new organizations.
Intercollegiate Athletics
Otero offers 12 intercollegiate sports. The competitive spirit of athletic competition creates a bond of support among all students as they cheer on their Rattlers.