With more than 20,000 visitors coming to San Diego State, Explore SDSU had its highest attendance to date on March 15.

The event, which usually draws between 10 to 15,000 people, brings SDSU administrators, advisors, faculty, staff and students together to serve prospective students, alumni and the greater community.

Explore SDSU helps future students filter their interests and talk to current students, faculty and staff. The event had an information fair featuring SDSU’s different colleges and departments, campus tours, family and student organization villages and academic workshops. There was also live entertainment by student performers at the new Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union.

Administrative Support Coordinator for Enrollment Services, Belinda Sanborn said this is the one event SDSU has, after students are admitted, that allows them to get a look at what the school has to offer. Sanborn has been helping with the event for about nine years.

Students were eager to be involved in the event as well.

Photo by Jenna Mackey, Senior Staff Photographer

“I actually was here last year as an admitted freshman and that’s how I got involved,” financial services freshman and volunteer at a business booth Victoria Zakinova said.

This year’s Explore SDSU featured a science and engineering sampler where people of all ages were able to visit different labs and have hands-on experiences with science. The workshops ranged from making ice cream with liquid nitrogen to learning about stem cell research and tissue regeneration.

“I think the event is important because it brings together advisors, representatives in student groups, campus administrators and various student organization in one place at one time,” Professor and biology department Vice Chair Andrew Bohonak said.

Associated Director for Enrollment Services Sandra Temores-Valdez said this year they have had more student volunteers from student organizations than previous years. She said that what makes this event unique is that allows the opportunity for student-to-student interaction.

Delta Gamma sorority members worked the event to inform attendees about their sorority.

“It gives incoming students a better idea of what a sorority is or what different organizations are just so when they come in it’s not all brand new,” Delta Gamma member Emily Gross said.

A total of 76 tables were dedicated to student organizations, in the student organization village.

“If we didn’t have the student support for the organizations half of this wouldn’t be possible,” said Sanborn.

With 358 tables representing SDSU’s different departments, majors, and student organizations, future students could see what they are interested in and get their questions answered at the same time.

“Explore SDSU is an excellent opportunity to showcase what SDSU has to offer to them,” Temores-Valdez said.

 Photo by Jenna Mackey, Senior Staff Photographer