Three Campus Clubs Collaborate on Fundraiser

Three clubs on campus collaborated for a fundraiser this February, creating bath bombs and selling them on campus. Chemistry Club, Engineering Club and Her Campus SAU all worked together and sold more than 100 bath bombs.

Alex Axup, Secretary of Chemistry Club and Campus Correspondent for Her Campus SAU, said the idea originated during a Chemistry Club meeting this past December.

"Nick Schaffner, VP of Chemistry Club, had the idea to make bath bombs," Axup said. "It went really well as a fun club meeting activity, and then developed into the idea of being a fundraiser."

Axup said the Chemistry Club thought a fundraiser could be a good recruiting opportunity for the club.

"We do a lot of fun things, but most people don't find out because they are scared off by the word ‘chemistry,'" Axup said. "I am a math and secondary education major and still enjoy being part of Chemistry Club because of fun activities and the outreach we do with the community and younger students at elementary schools."

With Axup also being a member of Her Campus, she knew they could help with marketing and social media for the fundraiser.

"Her Campus has a great social media following and a PR and marketing director, so we knew we would be able to make and post good content on our social media platforms to gain publicity and produce more sales," Axup said.

The Engineering Club became involved on a more logistical level. 

"Chemistry Club reached out to us and asked if we would have any way of producing custom molds for making bath bombs," Chris Sulich, Engineering Club President, said. "We brainstormed and determined that we could, by 3D modeling and printing our own shapes and then using the vacuum former (sometimes called thermoforming) to create a negative of the shape."

After deciding on heart and bee shapes, the 3D shapes were printed. Each took about an hour to print.

"Once we had several of each shape, we started the vacuum forming (thermoforming) process to produce the molds," Sulich said. "The thermoformer works by heating up a sheet of plastic so that easily wraps around and forms to whatever shape is on the vacuum platform. The platform that the objects sit on is connected to a vacuum and it sucks the plastic down to the shapes ensuring a tight fit, producing a better mold."

In January, while Engineering Club was working on the molds, Chemistry Club was working on the bath bomb recipe. By early February, the making of bath bombs was underway.

"We met up in groups a few times in the chemistry department and at our monthly meeting, then personally made the bath bombs in our own rooms every night leading up to and during the sale week so we could keep up with orders," Axup said.

With Chemistry Club and Her Campus manning the sales table in the Beehive, members sold more than 100 bath bombs, exceeding their expectations.

"Each club was able to make a profit," Axup said. "Chemistry Club is planning a field trip for the end of the year, as well as making liquid nitrogen ice cream for kids at the Dance Marathon Big Event. And Her Campus is planning a spring semi-formal dance in March."Sulich said Engineering Club is always open to collaborating with other clubs.

"This year the Engineering Club produced laser engraved clipboards for the Model United Nations Club to take to their conferences," he said. "We also work closely with the Design Hive, which produces ornaments at Christmas."

Currently, they are collaborating with the History Club to try and build a large-sized catapult, big enough to launch pumpkins and watermelons.

"We're also engaging in a project were we're working with a SAU Alum on an ornamental piece for their home," Sulich said.

Axup said she hopes more clubs on campus branch out and work with other clubs, especially ones that you wouldn't expect.

"It's great to get multiple people involved in projects," Axup said. "Not only do many hands make light work, but it also helps with exposure for all the clubs on and campus, and you get to meet new people!"