New Opportunities Abound at Festive Alcalá Bazaar

The walkways throughout campus were alive with the sights and sounds of possibility Tuesday afternoon as the biannual Alcalá Bazaar returned to the University of San Diego.  

Colorful booths filled Paseo de Colachis as enthusiastic student leaders tried to connect with hundreds of their peers through posters, pamphlets, personal greetings and even over megaphones. 

The bazaar is held each fall and spring to kick off the semester. It’s an event that allows students to discover the multitude of opportunities and resources available both on and off campus, including student organizations, university centers, local vendors and more. 

Two-hundred and twenty organizations participated in Tuesday’s event. 

“The Alcalá Bazaar is a great tradition on campus as it provides an opportunity for students to find community in a variety of involvement opportunities on and off-campus,” says Associate Director of Student Activities and Involvement Manda Sayegh, who has helped organize the event for seven years and considers it her favorite event of the school year. 

“It’s wonderful to see students come as first-time participants and then a few years later serve as student organization leaders looking to recruit new students,” Sayegh says. “It’s a full-circle experience that keeps on giving.” 

— Story and photos by Matthew Piechalak, video by Alé Delgado