MOUNT VERNON — Traditional colleges have student unions and student councils, and now the Knox County Campus of Central Ohio Technical College has a student activities board, the first of its kind at a COTC extended campus.

The president of the group, Rebekkah Rudder, said the Newark campus sponsors all kinds of activities, such as game night and movie night, but they are always held at the Newark campus.

“People from the extended campuses are welcome,” Rudder said, “but on the Knox campus we have a lot of displaced workers, and a lot of single moms who depend on part-time jobs and maybe child support. They don’t really have the gas to drive to Newark for the special events.”

Rudder and a handful of other students got together and decided to get something started in Knox County. The activities are open to everyone affiliated with COTC, but based here so Knox Campus students can attend and not have to drive so far.

Although it took some time to get the group off the ground, Rudder said SAB is gaining momentum.

“We are newly formed,” she said. “We’ve done a few fundraisers, and we won an award for our very first blood drive. It was a success. ... So far, the biggest thing we are doing now is the cornhole tournament [Oct. 3], but we have a lot more things planned.”

Rudder said SAB members, in addition to planning activities and social outings, are available to assist students with things such as tutoring and how to take advantage of local agencies such as Jobs & Family Services. In addition, she said, SAB is interested in giving back to the community.

“In November,” said Rudder, “we’re going to do a change drive called ‘Make Change Happen.’ We will collect pocket change from all the students to adopt a family from Interchurch for Christmas. We’re also collecting winter items to donate to Interchurch. We’re going to be collecting canned goods, and we’re also going to be collecting items for the women’s shelter.”

The group also plans a holiday party for students and their children.