{"id":44315,"date":"2026-05-14T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/?p=44315"},"modified":"2026-05-09T13:21:13","modified_gmt":"2026-05-09T17:21:13","slug":"yourvoice-is-there-a-community-at-sinclair","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/tartan-news\/2026\/05\/14\/yourvoice-is-there-a-community-at-sinclair\/","title":{"rendered":"YourVoice: Is there a community at Sinclair?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Over the years, Sinclair College has served a wide range of students; from recent high school graduates to adult learners balancing work and family life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a more commuter-heavy campus with no active sports for students to attend, opportunities for larger events on campus are limited. Questions often arise about how connected students really feel to the campus community and how engagement plays a role in their college experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Karmyni VanPelt<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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Karmyni VanPelt, criminal justice student at Sinclair. <\/strong>CONTRIBTUED<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

VanPelt is a first-year student in her second semester at Sinclair, majoring in criminal justice. She said she chose to attend Sinclair for its location and affordability<\/p>\n\n\n\n

VanPelt said she feels a sense of community exists on campus on a small scale, mostly in classrooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou make your little friends in classes, and then you go study together in the library,\u201d VanPelt said. \u201cBut there aren\u2019t sports teams for students to attend, so maybe it is lacking a little.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although she is aware of campus events through emails and posters, VanPelt said work and class schedules often prevent her from attending. She believes adding sports can strengthen connections on campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMaybe like a basketball team or something, so there\u2019s more community and there\u2019s a sport people can go to,\u201d VanPelt said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zenon Cardenas<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cardenas is a computer science student who has been enrolled at Sinclair for several years but recently began attending classes on campus. He said he sees multiple smaller communities rather than one unified one on campus.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Zenon Cardenas, a computer science major. <\/strong>CONTRIBUTED<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not a Sinclair community, it\u2019s communities in Sinclair,\u201d Cardenas said. \u201cPeople tend to form strong groups, but they\u2019re separated.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite that, Cardenas spoke highly about Sinclair\u2019s affordability, facilities and academic environment, mentioning that students and instructors seem invested in learning. While Cardenas feels supported by peers and professors, he says some support is available when needed, but notes unfamiliarity with Sinclair\u2019s leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t remember the name of the dean,\u201d Cardenas said. \u201cI could tell you the name of maybe two of my teachers, but not the higher-ups.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jessie Ngowoh<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ngowoh is a biology major almost done with her degree at Sinclair. She said her sense of community at Sinclair has changed over time. During her first semester, she became involved in Sinclair African Students Association and student government, where she found strong connections. As classmates graduated, that sense of community faded.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Jessie Ngowoh, a biology student. <\/strong>CONTRIBUTED<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cI think Sinclair does have engagement,\u201d Ngowoh said. \u201cBut you have to find a community you belong to.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ngowoh said students who are involved in organizations are more likely to stay on campus and use the shared spaces like the library and other common areas, while others often attend classes and leave. Looking ahead, she said she hopes Sinclair continues to find ways to encourage students to connect and engage throughout their time on campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While students’ experiences vary, many agree that community does exist, but in a small, student-driven space rather than across a whole campus. For some, that connection comes from classrooms and clubs, while others move through campus without engaging beyond their classwork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Sinclair continues to serve a diverse, commuter-focused student body, students’ outlook suggests that strengthening that connection may depend on individuals doing, but also being provided more opportunities for that engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jacie Moore, reporter<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out more from The Clarion:<\/p>\n\n\n