Texas A&M University-San Antonio kicked off the spring semester Jan. 21 with “Clay Casa,” an event that gave students a chance to paint ceramic pieces.
Hosted by the Campus Activities Board, the event took place from 6-9 p.m. in the Vista Room on the fourth floor of the Central Academic Building.
“Clay Casa” was the board’s first event of spring 2026, just one day after the first day of classes.
The event allowed students to unwind, be creative and connect with other classmates early in the semester.
By 6 p.m., there was already a line of students waiting outside the Vista Room, ready to get in and begin painting.
The event was free for students and was hosted in collaboration with Clay Casa, a local pottery-painting company with multiple locations around San Antonio.
Clay Casa employees Bailey Williams and Mireya Gonzales helped students choose a ceramic item to paint. Students picked between a ceramic bowl, mug or a plate and paint it however they wanted.
Williams and Gonzales said Clay Casa offers a lot more ceramic options at their actual studio locations, but for campus events they bring a smaller selection to keep things simple.
Students were focused on painting, laughing with friends and enjoying the moment.
Pop music by artists such as Bruno Mars and Usher played in the background, and CAB provided free Domino’s pizza for everyone attending.
Many students showed off artistic skills, painting designs worthy of art majors. Some painted detailed patterns, others painted Snoopy, and a few even included the school logo. Materials also included “Twilight”-themed stencils.
One of the biggest debates of the night was deciding whether you were team Edward or team Jacob, which added to the fun and theme of the event.
Michelle Gervais, a criminal justice junior, said that she found out about the event through CAB’s instagram page. It was Gervais’ first time attending a CAB event, and she said she really enjoyed painting a bowl.
Gonzales explained what happens after the event ends. Once students finish painting, the ceramics are labeled, packed and taken back to the Clay Casa studio to be glazed and fired in ovens. The process takes about five days, or a week at most. After that, the pieces are brought back to campus to return to the students.
This is Clay Casa’s third year coming to A&M-San Antonio; Gonzales and Williams said they love hosting the event here. Williams said A&M-San Antonio is her favorite college to visit because of the students’ energy.
CAB Director Emily Banda explained how the idea for the event came together. She said students had been requesting a pottery-related event, and painting ceramics was the closest and most accessible option. CAB’s goal is to create events where students can relax, have fun and make memories with their classmates.
“I’d like for students to look back on these memories and remember they painted this ceramic bowl or mug back in college,” Banda said.
