FSU Panama City Fall Club Rush

The fall semester sparks a new beginning for students and faculty alike at FSU Panama City. During the first week of classes, tables lined the walls of the first floor of the Holley Building as students and faculty participated in Club Rush. Club Rush is the event that allows students to sign up for organizations that are hosted by their peers here at FSU PC. This semester, FSU PC is offering many different clubs for students of all interests and abilities to take part in.

For certified divers, FSU PC hosts the SHARC Club. According to the club’s president, Johanna Thompson, “SHARC Club is a way to connect divers and generate interest in the diving community.” Divers will practice a variety of fun techniques including boat dives and shore dives. Additionally, SHARC Club also hosts beach cleanup events. Thompson, a junior in Professional Communications, states that “SHARC Club is a great opportunity to dive with peers and lifelong buddies.” Currently, SHARC Club is expected to meet every Thursday at one o’clock on the first floor of the Barron Building. For more information, contact Johanna Thompson at jt23n@fsu.edu. 

Seminole Life on Canvas, more commonly known as Art Club, is a great way for students of all backgrounds to unwind through arts and crafts. Robert Kustom, a junior in Professional Communications, mentions that Art Club is open to artists of all abilities, skill levels, and interests. “Art Club’s mission is to connect students together through expressions of art,” says Kustom. Students can try many different mediums such as pottery, painting, and potpourri, as well as outdoor mediums like chalk. For student engagement, Art Club hosts events like pumpkin carving and fundraisers. In the past, Art Club has taken field trips to visit art galleries in the area. To learn more about Art Club, contact Gregory Shakes at gks23a@fsu.edu or Robert Kustom at rjk23b@fsu.edu. 

The Intramurals and Recreation club organizes pop-up events for students who are looking for excitement and adventure. Featured activities include but are not limited to sports like basketball and pickleball, kayaking, and yoga sessions on the bay. Caleb Honoré, a junior in Communications at Gulf Coast State College who plans on transferring to FSU PC in January, says “The Intramurals and Recreation club highlights the health benefit of sports and recreations in our community.” Holding both on-campus and off-campus events, the club intends to connect the student body with the surrounding community through recreational activities. Events will be held once a week, and they are open for anyone who is interested in participating. Contact Caleb Honoré at cmh25e@fsu.edu or Bryanna Morgan at bm23c@fsu.edu for more information.

The Psychology club provides a space for students to hang out and have a great time while also learning about psychology. According to Brenna Mcquire, a senior in the Psychology program at FSU PC, “The Psychology club serves as a gathering place for people to decompress, learn about psychology, and promote mental health.” The Psychology club holds study groups, and fun activities like movie nights, trivia, and bingo. Club members will explore a broad range of topics related to psychology such as ongoing research in the field, and graduate programs for those who wish to continue their studies. For more information and updates, contact the club’s academic advisor, Dr. Kelley Kline, at kkline@pc.fsu.edu.

Students who love to play ping pong can join the Ping Pong club. The Ping Pong club is all inclusive, meaning anyone who wants to play is welcome to join in the fun. The club hosts ping pong tournaments featuring matches for students to compete in or watch. Free food will often be provided for students to snack on during some of the tournaments. The club offers a great opportunity for students to hang out and make friends over a shared love of ping pong. The Ping Pong club meets at 5pm on Tuesdays in the Barron Building. To learn more, students can contact Lin Ai Liao at ll23t@fsu.edu or join the club’s GroupMe.

For major events, students can join the campus’ Communications club. The Communications club is a student-led organization that provides a great opportunity for students to expose themselves to the art of event planning. The Communications club is notorious for hosting the largest and reportedly most enjoyable events on campus and having the highest participation rate among students. Some of their most notable events include a major luau on the bay and an on-campus toy drive where 1,500 toys were collected and donated to the Toys for Tots foundation. The Communications club is also known for hosting a themed Murder Mystery Dinner. Previous themes include Halloween, Mardi Gras, and an 80’s prom. The theme for the upcoming Murder Mystery Dinner in Spring 2026 will be The Great Gatsby. To learn more about the Communications club, students can contact Dr. Laurie Lawrence at llawrence@pc.fsu.edu. 

Another notable club at FSU PC is the Spanish club. In the Spanish club, students have the opportunity to learn about different aspects of Latino culture. The meetings are in English. Twice a month, the Spanish club hosts a language table completely in Spanish, where people who speak fluent Spanish and those who are looking to hone their Spanish speaking skills can meet. The language table meetings are open for anyone who is interested. Starting in late September, the Spanish club will host events in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, with the first event being kickoff trivia on September 24th. Other events include outdoor movie night, a food truck event, and Zumba sessions. Meeting times for the Spanish club are to be determined. Contact kgibson@pc.fsu.edu for updates on the club.