Oakland University Students gathered at the Stinson Center on March 17 for the Shamrock Social, a St. Patrick’s Day-themed networking event hosted by the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA) in collaboration with Business Professionals of America (BPA). The event aimed to bring students together in a relaxed setting while encouraging meaningful and professional connections across campus organizations.
Held from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., the Shamrock Social was open to all students, but was directed primarily toward business and STEM students. The social featured themed decorations and informal conversation as students moved throughout the space, meeting peers from different majors and student organizations.
Camila Carbajal, the event coordinator and president of ALPFA, said the goal of the event was to foster connections between students while maintaining a fun and welcoming atmosphere.
“The purpose of this Shamrock Social event is to bring STEM and business students at OU together to meet new people, connect and have a good time,” Carbajal said.
Several student organizations collaborated to host the event, including Business Professionals of America for Oakland University and the Electric Racing Association. Organizers said the partnership helped broaden participation and showcase the social side of professional organizations.
Guillermo Valenzuela Gomez, president of the Electric Racing Association, said collaboration helps break down barriers between disciplines that often work together outside of college.
“Business and engineering students often clash, and they need to be able to come together to work properly,” Valenzuela Gomez said. “Events like this allow us to work more efficiently when we’re more in sync.”
Students who attended said the casual setting made networking feel more accessible. Emily Romero, an attendee, said she attended after being invited by a friend and appreciated the laid-back environment.
“There should be more emphasis on events like this,” Romero said. “They bring professional opportunities just by spending a couple of hours conversing and getting to know each other.”
Other attendees emphasized the value of meeting students outside their usual academic circles.
Jeremy Abraham, an electrical engineering student, said he had not attended many networking events earlier in his college career but now sees their importance.
“It’s a great opportunity,” Abraham said. “I didn’t realize that this many people would show up, so it’s cool to see.”
Izabela Camaj, co-sponsor of the event and president of BPA at Oakland University, said the collaboration reflected how business and engineering fields intersect in the professional world.
“In the real world, these are the two fields that communicate with each other the most,” Camaj said. “This gives students a chance to meet and collaborate early on.”
Events like the Shamrock Social also highlight the role of student organizations in shaping campus culture. By creating inclusive spaces centered on connection rather than competition, organizers said they hope to encourage long-term involvement and collaboration among students from different academic backgrounds.
As the event continued, students exchanged contact information and discussed shared interests. Organizers said the Shamrock Social demonstrated how student-led collaboration can create inclusive spaces that blend community building with professional development.
