Many students of Daytona State College’s diverse and vibrant community have found a place to share their interests and pursuits through various student clubs. Isabella Pitts, Carolyne Korn, and Cristina Pruna lead the charge and aspire to continue building successful student organizations on campus.
Hispanos Unidos-Isabella Pitts
The Hispanic Club at Daytona State College started in the Spring of 2023. Since then, it had a substantial presence on campus, bringing the Hispanic and Latin community together.
Picture by Maria Fernanda Castillo Enriquez.
Pitts is a native of Lawrenceville, Georgia. Her family moved to Florida when she was little, and she was raised as a “Florida girl.” However, her Hispanic background connects her to Puerto Rico, where her Abuelita is from.
She is a part-time college student and part-time waitress at Café One. Pitts graduated with her Associate of Arts in May 2024, although she is staying at DSC for another semester.
“I did not know what I wanted to do,” Pitts said. She realized she wanted to become a science major and obtain a degree in plant science. “During the upcoming fall, I will take some classes to meet the UF Agriculture College’s requirements for transfer students,” she said.
In 2023, Pitts became a member of Hispanos Unidos. “A friend convinced me to join,” she said. “It changed my life…I felt very connected with the people.” For the first time in three years, she felt like she had made friends at DSC.
She decided to become president when the position opened. “Everyone seemed pretty accepting of me becoming a president,” Pitts said.
According to Pitts, members can expect to find a strong support system, community, and friends at Hispanos Unidos. “[People] can experience what diversity and inclusion look like… among immigrants, DACA recipients, and international students, [the club] has a lot to bring to the table,” she said.
Members will meet in Building 150, room 405, or the “Quanta room.” The day and time will be announced.
Some of HU’s plans for the fall of 2024 include supporting Volusia County’s disadvantaged communities. The club intends to volunteer for organizations like Provision Packs and Hope Place.
Pitts said that Hispanos Unidos gave her a sense of inclusion and community. “No matter where they [members] are from… I want them to feel like they belong,” she said.
Business Club-Carolyne Korn
The Business Club at Daytona State College serves as a space for students to network, interact with people, build confidence, and improve business skills and public speaking.
Picture by Carolyne Korn.
Korn is a native of South Africa; she moved to the U.S. in 2018. After transferring to Mainland High School and almost completing her Associate of Arts while attending there, she graduated and continued her education at DSC to pursue a bachelor’s degree in accounting.
She had several reasons for becoming an accountant: “I always liked math, my brain understands numbers, and my mom is also an accountant… I love structure,” she said. In South Africa, she was able to take accounting classes in high school. Currently, she hopes to become a certified public accountant or CPA. She is also a server at Texas Roadhouse.
According to Korn, one of the positive outcomes of being a member of the Business Club was its impact on her group work perspective. She said that it “changed” after joining. “They [members] are on top of tasks and make me feel that I can delegate responsibilities,” Korn said.
She also emphasized the club’s efforts to attract more guests and offer business-oriented activities. “The club has been focusing on giving back to the community and inviting guest speakers from Region Banks to talk about students’ loans, car payments, and how to maximize credit,” Korn said.
According to Korn, the club seeks to be very active in the community. Currently, members are working on a back-to-school drive for the upcoming school year and work with Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA).
During the fall semester, the club will meet at 11 a.m. on Wednesdays, and the meetings will be conducted virtually and in person.
When asked what she would tell newly admitted and returning students, Korn emphasized the Business Club’s ability to provide a supportive environment. “We are a friendly and welcoming group of people,” Korn said, “Members will become friends for life.”
WISE (Women in STEM) Club-Cristina Pruna
WISE Club’s mission is to “promote the empowerment of women by serving, supporting, and inspiring their pursuit of knowledge with the STEM fields.” The club is not “female” or “science and engineering” exclusive. Everyone is welcome.
Picture by Cristina Pruna.
Pruna is a Miami native and a first-generation American. Her parents are originally from Cuba. Her curiosity and love for the sciences started when, as a young girl, she began teaching herself topics such as mathematics. She is an “autodidact.”
She is currently majoring in astrophysics. “The complexity of it pulled me in,” she said, combining it with her interest in the not-so-easy world of Ballet. Pruna dances at Ormond Ballet during her free time. She is also a bartender, server, and math and science tutor at DSC’s Academic Support Center.
While taking Chemistry 1 with Dr. Bell, Pruna realized that WISE was not as active. Various students discussed how to bring it back, set the officers’ positions, and considered her a presidential candidate in the Spring of 2024. “I kind of took the lead from the very beginning and knew that I wanted to be president,” Pruna said.
Pruna stated that being part of the Club has encouraged personal reflection and reciprocal enrichment among members. “I found that having a group that teaches individuals to bring their best forward and make their voices be heard is a great way of keeping its members involved and making it enjoyable for everyone,” she said.
The meetings for the Fall of 2024 will be decided once the school year starts. Pruna said that they will most likely happen midday on a normal school day.
Pruna’s plans for the fall include several partnerships. “A professor is conducting a Citizen Sampling and Education Program,” she said “We take water samples to gather data on water quality, which can be a great confidence builder in terms of sampling techniques, scientific autonomy, and environmental awareness.” Other plans include a partnership with Embry Riddle’s Astrophysics Research Team, support for the college’s garden, and promoting members’ new ideas and visions.
Pruna welcomes students to join WISE, “If you’re passionate about pursuing science outside of the classroom, then there is room for you in the Club,” she said. Pruna encourages everyone not to be afraid to ask and pursue the “wrong questions” in life and in science.