Clubs + Activities, Undergraduate Programs

Student Life Spotlight: “Clarkson’s Got Talent” with Kelsey from the Office of Student Life

Hi! My name is Kelsey Sheehe and I am a senior this year at Clarkson, studying Applied Mathematics and Statistics. For the past five and a half semesters I have been a student employee for the Office of Student Life. The Office of Student Life, or OSL, is located in the Student Center and creates programs and spaces to foster student leadership development, civic responsibility, and community engagement. The OSL team consists of 16 Student Life Ambassadors, or SLAs, including myself, and three Professional Staff members. 

Members of the Office of Student Life staff, clad in green and gold Clarkson gear, pose for a photo by the Student Center.
Working as a Student Life Ambassador

After my first year as a Student Life Ambassador, I was fortunate to be promoted to one of the managers! I manage the Student Center Front Desk and am one of the friendly faces who rent out equipment like pool sticks and ping pong paddles. I also approve events posted to the Clarkson Knight Life page and ensure that all clubs and organizations on campus are set up for success when planning and hosting events. In addition to working at the Front Desk, OSL also staffs the desk in the Student Organizations Suite, where we handle club finances and budgets to make sure that things like student reimbursements go smoothly.

When our team isn’t working at the OSL desks, we are busy planning and running some of the events at Clarkson, including Orientation & Convocation and Martin Luther King Day of Service. And most recently, the 11th annual Clarkson’s Got Talent event, held on March 1, 2024!

“Clarkson’s Got Talent” featured the following student performers:
  • ‘On the Moon’ performing “Come Together” by The Beatles
  • Meilin Lamanna singing “Pure As The Driven Snow” from The Hunger Games
  • ‘The Harmonic Oscillators’ performing “Go the Distance” from Disney’s Hercules
  • Bryant Connolly and ‘The Wrench Show’
  • Ilya Sterin on the piano singing “Barbie Girl” as requested by the judges
  • Chidiogor Ofodum’s spoken word performance
  • Arash Bahrololoomi playing the cajon
  • The musical stylings of Anna Tverdokhlebava
  • Elizabeth Schneider singing “There Ain’t No Grave” by Cageless Birds
  • Mehdi Mortazavi Yazdi playing rumba-flamenco
  • Naga Radhakrishnan & Arash Bahrololoomi playing the Indian drum and Persian frame drum
  • Grace, Kaura, Allison, and Priya representing the Clarkson Dance Ensemble

The 1st place winner, who won $300 on their Knight Card, was Ilya Sterin who not only played the piano, but also beautifully sang his take on the song “Barbie Girl” that one of the judges requested.

The 2nd place winner, who won $200 on their Knight Card, was Chidiogor Ofodum with their very moving and emotional spoken word performance.

The 3rd place winners, who won $100 on their Knight Cards, were Naga Radhakrishnan & Arash Bahrololoomi who combined the unique Indian drum and Persian frame drum to create an amazing rhythm and song.

This event went great, and I loved seeing all of the unique performances! This event was led by OSL Pro Staff Member, Ryleigh Gaige, as her first solo event, and she did an amazing job. She advertised the event throughout the semester, coordinated with student organizations to help run it (like the Clarkson Union Board), directed the event, and delegated tasks to the OSL student workers. As a student worker, I love getting opportunities like this — not only to support my education financially, but also to have so much fun working events and with amazing staff!

Join the Office of Student Life team

The Office of Student Life is currently accepting applications for Student Life Ambassadors for next semester. If you are interested in applying click on this link: OSL SLA Application Link and apply.

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