As a Christian liberal arts college, Azusa Pacific University draws in students interested in the arts and humanities, while the school has also established top programs in STEM fields and nursing. A distinguishing factor that makes APU special is the initiative students take to cultivate community across majors and academic fields through a lively culture of creative clubs on campus.
When most people think of a creative college club, blacksmithing probably isn’t the first thing that comes to their mind. Blacksmith Club president, Madelyn Firestone ’25, a games and interactive media major, is proud to continue the club’s unique mission to be a place where anyone and everyone can learn how to metalwork. “We provide a space on campus where people can try out metalworking without any prior experience or artistic background,” she said. The club meets weekly to work on projects of members’ choosing and are excited to continually grow in attendance and share their skills with newcomers of all majors. “It’s such a fun hobby, but it can also open up doors for careers,” Firestone said. “We are teaching people practical skills such as welding that they can incorporate into different careers later in life.” Students interested in joining can contact the club at [email protected].
For students looking to find a club with a little less fire that still brings the heat, Variety For One (VFO) is a perfect opportunity to express themselves through dance and exercise. Art major and incoming club president Shawnee Starke ’26 wants VFO to be a creative outlet for those from any academic background. The hip-hop dance team combines exercise and expression with ministry by performing both on and off campus and participating in team building through service. “We have a variety of majors on the team because some students don’t have a creative outlet built into their program, so it’s cool to see them step into this space and know that it’s like their third home on campus,” Starke said.
Each semester, VFO puts on a themed showcase that includes group dances, small group dances, singing, poetry, and spoken word performances. This spring, the club performed Grace In Motion, a show focused on bringing awareness to the rise of Christian hip-hop and rap. The club also hosts workshops for all students followed by auditions for those that are interested in joining the team. For updates and information about the club, check out their Instagram.
For students interested in different kinds of movement and how to put it to use in original short films and animations, the Creation Nation club is the perfect fit. Creation Nation is designed to give animation and cinematic arts students a space to take a break from their projects and connect with their peers through movie and game nights. “When I went to the club events as a freshman, I met other people with similar interests and challenges, and that made me want to keep the club going for the next generation of animators to feel welcomed and relaxed,” said club president and animations major Isaiah Baidoo ’27.
This spring, the club held their first showcase where students could submit short films they made in class. Animation and cinematic arts students were invited to attend the showcase as well as the rest of the APU student body. “I wanted to find an inclusive way for everyone on campus to see the hard work put into these short films,” Baidoo said. To get involved with the club, students can follow them on Instagram.
Focusing on a different kind of storytelling, The West Wind, a club with a longstanding legacy on campus, provides students with other ways to cultivate their creativity. The club publishes a yearly printed collection of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and 2-D art pieces from students of a variety of majors. “The West Wind has provided me with the space to find people with the same gravitation toward art and expression, giving me the opportunity to appreciate different kinds of artistic styles and backgrounds,” said co-editor-in-chief Saundri Luippold ’25, an English and honors humanities double major.
Students interested in serving as an editor for the West Wind or submitting their work can email [email protected] or follow them on Instagram for more information. The club hosts a reading party in the fall and a release party in the spring where attendees can receive physical copies of the journal and hear from accepted authors.
For students that love to make others laugh through improvised storytelling and enjoy being part of a team, the Zukeepers Improv team is the perfect club. Zukeepers is APU’s improvisational comedy team that hosts four free shows each semester. Auditions take place in August, and the team holds weekly practices where they play improv games to prepare for their shows. “Being on the team is a great time to leave everything at the door and be silly,” said Aidan Rajkowski ’25, vice president and acting major .
The club’s goal is to cultivate a team that uplifts each member. “In the auditions, we often look for great team players, not the funniest person in the room,” said president Sadie Cowing ’25, an acting and honors humanities double major. “We have many students on the team that are not acting majors, and we encourage everyone to apply.” Be on the lookout for announcements about auditions and show dates on Instagram.
Another way to make friends while having your moment to shine is by joining The Marquee, APU’s musical theater club that is open to all majors. For their monthly cabarets, any student can sign up to perform a song that fits the theme of the cabaret. The club’s mission is to make a safe space for students to perform without fear of judgement. “Many of our club members are theater majors, but members who are not in artistic majors also feel free to sign up to perform stress free knowing they will always have a supportive audience,” said club vice president and incoming president Thea Ramirez ’26, an acting major and music minor.
This spring, the club held their first special event, The Marquee Sings: Les Miserables. An opportunity to audition for the special event was extended to students who had performed in previous cabarets. The show was also a fundraiser for the Entertainment Community Fund, which provides financial supplements to performing artists in America.
No matter your grade, major, experience with artistic expression, or interests, APU is a campus with a lively creative culture that positively impacts and enhances the student experience. So whether you’re looking for a new hobby, ways to get involved on campus, or you miss a specific activity you participated in during high school or at home, student-led clubs are ready to welcome you with open arms to celebrate the creative expressions of individuality that make the APU community so special.