THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011
CAMPUS
PAGE 7A
Working to bring graduates back to the hill
MARSHALL SCHMIDT
mschmidt@kansan.com
The Jayhawk experience doesn't have to end after students graduate, and the KU Alumni Association works to ensure that it doesn't. It provides hundreds of events each year to give students and alumni alike the ability to connect and celebrate their years at Kansas.
"We exist to connect alumni to the University no matter where they live or how long they've been away from the hill," said Jennifer Sanner, senior vice president of communications for the association. Through the organization, alumni have the opportunity to support recruitment efforts by assisting with events and writing letters to prospective students. Alumni living in Kansas also advocate their legislators to fund higher education.
To keep alumni connected, the association sponsors 525 events across the country, half of which do not revolve around athletics. These include networking receptions, tours of museums and community service projects.
"The KU Alumni Association's mission says it all. "Everything we do strengthens KU," said Stefani Gerson, coordinator of student programs. "Alumni are the ever important thread that keeps a university connected with the past, present and future."
The Student Alumni Leadership Board acts as a liaison between the KU Alumni Association and the
Student Alumni Association.
"The goal is to help foster connections with the alumni association while you're on campus with the hopes of staying connected with alumni association and KU after walking down the hill," said Hunter Hess, senior from McPherson and president of the Student Alumni Leadership Board.
Hess has served on the Alumni Leadership Board since September 2008 and as president since January 2011. He points to leadership development, event planning and a connection between students and alumni as being part of his experience on the board, which consists of 40 members.
"The board serves as the connection between the current KU campus and the alumni association, and we provide the student perspective regarding events," Hess said.
Student members of the alumni association are given the opportunity to meet alumni through various events during the year, such as the upcoming Dinner with a Dozen Hawks on Oct. 26. Members will dine and converse with distinguished KU alumni from numerous career fields to get a better idea of what life after graduation is like.
Other sponsored events include Wake Up KU on Oct. 19, where members receive hot chocolate and coffee at Wescoe Beach. The association also invites student members to a dinner during finals week and sponsors Home Football
Friday, where all students are invited to enjoy free food, drinks, dessert, music and yard games at Adams Alumni Center from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Friday before a home game.
The association also supports the Jayhawk Network that students may use to connect with graduated members. In addition to a T-shirt, members receive a water bottle, drawstring backpack, pint glass or a portfolio each year they are in school at Kansas. More than 1,000 students belong to the association, which costs $25 per year or $75 for four years.
During the summer, association staff put on 143 events in 90 days, traveling more than 83,000 miles around the country to the association's 61 chapters, 20 of which are located in Kansas. The events, called the Hawk Days of Summer, saw a turnout of more than 8,000 javahaws.
Since 1996, alumni in the Kansas City area have enjoyed the Rock Chalk Ball held in April each year, which is a black tie event organized to celebrate being Jayhawks for life.
"The association helps KU students understand KU tradition and interact with alumni at events to get a sense of how a lifelong Jayhawk commitment can be beneficial." Sanner said.
More information about upcoming events can be found at www.kualumni.org.
— Edited by Rachel Schultz
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
The KU Alumni Association isn't just for graduates. Students can join for $25 a year or $75 for four years.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
University alumni participate in the Bay Area Win Tour on July 24, one of the events of the Hawk Days of Summer.
Employers know Baker students are prepared to care for their patients with confidence.
2011 | Friday, Oct. 28
SCHOOL OF NURSING Visit Day 3-5 p.m.
2012 | Fridays, Jan. 27 & April 13
- Tour the facilities where you'll take classes and clinicals.
- Meet students, faculty and staff.
What You'll Do & See
- Ask questions and learn more about nursing school and the nursing profession.
Visit days are held at Baker's School of Nursing campus at Stormont-Vail HealthCare, Pozez Education Center, 1505 SW 8th Ave., Topeka.
Baker offers traditional and degree completion programs. Classes start in the spring and fall.
REGISTER ONLINE
www.bakerU.edu/son_visit
Questions? Contact Janet Creager
jcreager@stormontvail.org
1:888.866.4242
YOUR TRUSTED LAWRENCE OPTOMETRIST
you might need to get your eyes checked!
CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT
936 IOWA | 785-838-3200
HILLCREST SHOPPING CENTER
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